Total Complaints
1 filings
FORD F-250 SD · model year
1998 FORD F-250 SD
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDF-250 SD carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 F-250 SD is steering:linkages with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 F-250 SD, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021122STEERING:LINKAGES
WHILE TRAVELING AT APROX. 25 MPH THE TIE ROD END ON THE RIGHT SIDE DISCONNECTED WITH NO WARNING CAUSING THAT TIRE TO TURN OUT WORD WITH THE OTHER STILL STRAIGHT. THEN IT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER SIDE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED DOING THE SAME THING WITHOUT ANY WARNING IT WOULD HAPPEN.THESE PARTS ARE POORLY PUT ON BY THE MANUFACTUER. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT A GREATER SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERIBLE ACCIDENT CAUSING GREAT INJURY OR DEATH TO ME OR OTHERS. THERE IS BARELY ANYTHING HOLDING THESE ENDS ON STOPPING THEM FROM COMING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS IT SHOULD REPLACE ALL OF THE MANUFACTUERS PARTS JUST TO BE ABLE TO LINE THE TRUCK BACK OUT OF COURSE THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THERES ANY THING I CAN DO TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEM AND SEE IF THIS IS A REACCURING PROBLEM WITH OTHER TRUCKS LIKE MINE FROM THE FORD COMPANY. DT
Compare 1998FORDF-250 SD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD F-250 SD have?▼
The 1998 FORD F-250 SD has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD F-250 SD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD F-250 SD is STEERING:LINKAGES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1998 FORD F-250 SD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.