FORD FORD · model year

1998 FORD FORD

20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998FORDFORD carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 6 fires, 8 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 FORD is tires with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:cruise control (2) and suspension (1). 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 74 investigation files overlapping the 1998 FORD, and 2 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.

20
Complaints
2
Crashes
6
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
SUSPENSION1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1
AIR BAGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1

Recent Complaints

20070911FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH (ACCORDING TO INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR) - FORD CLAIMED THEY SENT 3 RECALL NOTICES, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY UNTIL 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIRE - I SUFFERED PERSONAL PROPERTY AND OTHER DAMAGES AND FORD HAS REFUSED LIABILITY. *TR

20060124FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 4:00 AM BY ITSELF. IT WAS LAST DRIVEN 14 HOURS PRIOR TO CATCHING ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID IT STARTED WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS LOCATED.*AK

20051102FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I WAS DRIVING FROM THE STORE ON 10/27/05 ,WHEN I STOP TO A RED LIGHT AND I SAW SMOKE COME FROM THE SIDE AND FRONT OF THE CAR. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME ,WHEN I GOT HOME I RAN UP THE STAIRS TO WHERE I LIVE AND EXPLAIN TO MY BOYFRIEND SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE CAR HE WENT DOWN STAIRS TO CHECK AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY HOOD MY BOYFRIEND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE AND WE ALSO DROVE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH WE GOT NO ANSWERS. NOW ON 10/28/05 WE HAD A WRECKER TO TOW THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SO THEY WOULD SEE THE DAMAGE THEY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND WE WERE INFORMED THERE'S NO RECALL ON THE FORD WINDSTAR GL, BUT THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I ASK THE MANAGER WHAT DID HE SUGGEST HE SAID, CALL MY INSURANCE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT I TOWED THE CAR TO A ELECTRITION AND HIS DESCRIPTION WAS THE PIGTALE WAS BURNT AND ALSO THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS BURNT UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I DON'T KNOW MU

20050604FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY WIFE WAS TEACHING AT THE LOCAL JR. COLLEGE HERE IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA. SHE PARKED THE TRUCK AT APPROX. 6:45PM ,HER CLASSROOM FACES THE PARKING LOT. FROM THE SECOND FLOOR SOME OF HER STUDENTS COULD SEE SOMETHING ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT, IT'S APPROX. 8:40PM BY NOW. THE CAR WAS SEEN BY THE GROUNDSKEEPERS AND SERCURITY TO HAVE WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMOKE AND SPARKS OF FIRE COMMING FROM THE HOOD. THEY ATTEMPTED TO USE FIRE EXTINGUSHERS BUT THE FLAMES AND FIRE BY THIS TIME WAS TO HOT.SOON AFTERWARDS THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. MOST OF THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THAT ENGULFED THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE INCLUDING THE ROOF DRIVER DOOR AND THE TIRE COMPLETLY MELTED AWAY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE'VE SPOKEN WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WE WHERE ASKED VERY POINTANTLY EXACTLY WHAT DID WE EXPECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY.WE CAN'T IMAGION A MORE LUDACRIS QUESTION! WE WHERE TOLD THAT THE LEGAL DEPT. AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD GET BACK WITH US IN 24-48HRS. WE'VE EXCEEDED 48HRS + NOW...

20050426FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DRIVING 1998 FORD EXPEDITION V8 5.4 LITER... DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE # 4 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, CAUSING A VERY LOAD BANG FOLLOWED BUY LOAD EXHAUST, ESCAPING FROM THE PLUG HOLE AND HIGH VOLUME OF FUEL VAPOR AND SOME FUEL, THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME A SMALL FIRE STARTED WHICH MY HUSBAND PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY, I AM CURRENTLY A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO CHILDREN AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AT ABOUT 600.00 AN OCCURRENCE... NOR CAN I AFFORD THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH MYSELF AND CHILDREN. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC IS SAYING THE WHOLE HEAD MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS TORN UP THE TREADS.(ALUMINUM HEAD AS WELL) THIS WILL COST ME ABOUT $1500-2$000. TO HAVE REPAIRED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND TONS OF MECHANICS AND THEY ARE ALL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 LITER !!! WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? WHO'S SUPPOSE TO WATCHING OUT FOR THE LITTLE POEPLE. *A

Mileage: 125,000

20050309CrashSEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK

Mileage: 112

20050309CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK

Mileage: 112

20050115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS GALORE--I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, PERIOD--LET ALONE A WINDSTAR. TAILGATE LOCK NEVER OPENED WITH KEY. DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 6 MONTHS LATER. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT. DOWN TO SLIDER ONLY THAT OPERATES WITH KEY AND IT TURNS VERY HARD. INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON....AND STAYED ON. REMOVED FUSE AND WINDOWS SHARING FUSE ALSO WOULDN'T GO UP--WAS WORTH IT TIL I HAD TIME TO GO AROUND AND REMOVE EVERY SINGLE INTERIOR BULB IN THE VEHICLE. REPLACED FUSE JUST TO HAVE WINDOWS OPERATE. DOOR AJAR SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED SECURELY AND ACCOMPANYING WARNING BELL CONTINUES TO GO OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN IT DROPS TO GOING OFF WHEN I SLOW TO A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN WHEN I SPEED UP. ABSOLUTELY THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED IN MY LIFE. POS -- DOES NOT MEAN POINT OF SALE. HINT: FIRST WORD MEANS "PIECE" AND SECOND WORD MEANS "OF." YOU GET THE IDEA. *NM

20041222FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

'98 FORD EXPEDITION - CAR FIRE - CAR DESTROYED. DROVE 1.8 MILES FROM MY HOME AND WENT INTO A STORE. 5 MINUTES LATER I COME OUT TO THE CAR ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD BUILT A CAMPFIRE ON THE ENGINE HOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. INSURANCE DID INVESTIGATION BUT COULD NOT PROVE ANYTHING - NOT ENOUGH LEFT TO FIGURE IT OUT. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

20021115TIRES

JULY 2002 GOING NORTH ON I65 IN THE EDGE OF LOUISVILLE KY DRIVING APX 55 MPH THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE DUEL TIRE BLEW OUT WITH THE OUTER RUBBER AND STEEL COMING OFF THE CASING OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF TWO BLOWOUTS. THE SECOND HAPPENED OCT 2002 IN FLORIDA ON I 75 NEAR OCALA. THE FIRST TIRE WAS REPLACED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER IN COLUMBUS INDIANA AT NO COST> THE SECOND WAS REPLACED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER IN OCALA, FL. AT A 60% COSTING ME 50.24. I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME 50% OF THE COST OF THE TIRES ON ANOTHER TIRE THEY SAID I NEED TO UPGRADE TO THE CORRECT TIRE THAT SHOULD OF BEEN PUT ON THE M/H BY FORD FIRESTONE WANTS ME TO PUT 4 TIRES THAT ARE THEIR BETTER DESIGN FOR MH USAGE. THEY WILL GIVE ME ONLY 50% ON 4 TIRES SAYING I ONLY NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES. I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES SEPERATE IN THE LAST 3,000 MILES OR SO. I DO NOT THINK THESE TIRES ARE SAFE AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO MIX THE TWO DIFFERENT TIRES. I AM STUCK WITH 7 FIRESTON

20020514TIRES

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH DRIVER AND OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES (MISSISSIPPI UNIFORM ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, WILDERNESS AT M/S, W2HL1PY088, RIGHT REAR). NLM

20011015TIRES

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH DRIVER AND OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES (MISSISSIPPI UNIFORM ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, WILDERNESS AT M/S, W2HL1PY088, RIGHT REAR). NLM

19990421VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YC

19990315EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED.

19990315POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES.

19990312STRUCTURE:BODY

ADHESIVE ON ROOF LINER FAILED.

19990217

ZX2 - NO SUMMARY

19990217

ZX2 - NO SUMMARY

19990104EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR REQUIRING THE HEADLIGH DIMMER SWITCH TO BE ON THE STEERING COLUM. THAT IS NOT ONLY INCONVIENIENT, ITS DANGEROURS. IT IS EASIER TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP REACHING TO DIM YOUR LIGHTS. PLEASE ALLOW THE ON-FLOOR "FOOT CLICKER" SWITCH AGAIN.

19980405SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF ROAD, VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, TURNED WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. FLEW ABOUT 50-60 FEET OVER A CREEK AND ROLLED OVER, INJURING BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

Compare 1998FORDFORD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 FORD FORD have?
The 1998 FORD FORD has 20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD FORD?
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD FORD is TIRES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL and SUSPENSION.
Is the 1998 FORD FORD 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.