Total Complaints
29 filings
FORD FORD TRUCK · model year
29 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDFORD TRUCK carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 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 FORD TRUCK is tires with 9 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (3) and unknown or other (2). 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 1 investigation file overlapping the 1998 FORD TRUCK. 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.
Total Complaints
29 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 9 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
FRAME RUST REAR. SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF. REAR OF TRUCK LOOSE. REPAIR DONE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. ONLY 90000. MILES. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
FRAME RUST REAR. SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF. REAR OF TRUCK LOOSE. REPAIR DONE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. ONLY 90000. MILES. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
WHILE RIDING BACK HOME FROM WALMART, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BOOM THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CONSISTENT ROARING LOUD NOISE. FRIGHTENED I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT THE GIRL OUT AND AWAY FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE , BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE. CAUGHT A RIDE HOME AND HAD A FRIEND DRIVE IT TO MY HOME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FEW SHOPS TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS WRONG . THERE WASN'T ANY LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT TOO. THREE MONTHS BEFORE I HAD OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP DONE FOR THE TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAD HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN BECAUSE I HAVE TWO OTHER CAR GOES ON GAS. THE BOSS WHO CHECK THE MOTOR SAID REASON THE MOTOR WENT BAD WAS BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM ITS COMPONENT, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO THROW A ROD. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR THE BEST GASKETS AND PARTS SO MY TRUCK COULD BE BACK THE SAME AGAIN LIKE BEFORE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD EXHAUST WORK DONE BEFORE THE MOTOR , BY ANOTHER SHOP FOR EXHAUST BECAUSE NOT E
Mileage: 154,000
TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW. *TR
Mileage: 146,000
TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW. *TR
Mileage: 146,000
1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. RECALL WAS COMPLETED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *TR
Mileage: 229,000
PROBLEM WAS SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IDIOT LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD COME ON AND OFF. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND DAMAGED THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX. DEALER COULD NOT REMOVE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE TO IT. HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND MODULES AT A COST OF $1,040. LIVE NEAR MORRO BAY, CA WHERE CLIMATE RANGES FROM 35 TO 85 DEGREES (NO EXTREMES) AND TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. NO EXCUSE FOR SEAL TO FAIL. OLD WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. WOULD LOVE TO SUE BUT OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE A HUGE WASTE OF TIME. NEXT TIME, WILL PURCHASE A JAPANESE BUILT TRUCK. *JB
Mileage: 109,436
ON FEBRUARY 25, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AND SLOW DOWN. AFTER SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I INSTRUCTED EVERYONE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SMOKEY SMELL. I THEN CALLED KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC MY EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE. NEXT, THE KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND HE COMMENTED ON THE NUMBER OF FORD WINDSTARS THAT HE PICKS UP ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER OBSERVING MY VEHICLE, HE STATED THAT IT IS PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT IT COULD NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I JUST GOT A BRAND ?NEW TRANSMISSION? TWO YEARS AGO. HE THEN TOWED MY VEHICLE TO SPRINGFIELD FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA (6 MILES AWAY). ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2005, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF SPRINGFIELD FORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THE VEHI
Mileage: 77,345
BOTH REAR TIRES ON VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *MR *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER, THE TIRES WERE NOT FOUND. *JB
UNDERSTAND TIRE VALVES ARE BEING LOOKED AT, FORD DEALER IN FT. MYERS REPORTED THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *DT *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770146
Mileage: 31,789
WHILE TAKING A SHORT TRIP THIS WEEKEND. (UNDER 70 MILES) I NOTICED A SUDDEN VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF OUR MOTOR HOME AND WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SEVERAL OTHER NOISES AS THE MOTOR HOME ROCKED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DISCOVER THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE SIDEWALL OF WHAT WAS LEFT BLOWN OUT IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE TWO PLACES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL RECREATIONAL VEHICALS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. DT
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TREAD SEPARATED FROM FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HAD TIRES REPLACED. GOODYEAR SENT RECALL ABOUT TIRES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR 1998, FORD 15 PASSENGER VAN ,GOODYEAR, WRANGLER TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16. *AK *YD
TREAD SEPARATION ON LOAD RANGE E TIRE ON REAR OF 1TON VAN. 4 PLY 2 POLY 2 STEEL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)
THE TREAD CAME OFF, BUT THE TIRE ITSELF DID NOT LOSE ANY AIR.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 1PT TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
VIBRATION IN STEERING,DEALER CHECKED & FOUND PLY SEPARATION IN BOTH FRONT TIRES. REPLACED ALL SIX TIRES FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS. FIRESTONE WOULDN'T RESPOND UNLESS THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, CRASH OR A FATALITY. READING OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE ON AN RV FORUM. BLOWOUTS AS LOW AS 300 MILES. MY TIRE DEALER SAID THIS PLANT HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL018 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
THE TUBES TO THE REAR HEATER RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT CAUSING ME TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE IN THE WINTER. *AK
FIRESTONE REFUSSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, THEY SAY IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD BLOW OUT. THE TIRE CLEARLY HAS A DEFECT. NOW WHAT DO I DO WE LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ON 99% IN TOWN DRIVING FOR WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE IN ON A TRIP. THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST NEW TRUCK AND NOW THIS. THANK YOU,PLEASE REPLY.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PY TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPERATED AND I ALMOST ROLLED THE VAN.( DOT NUMBER: W2MO IPI TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
I HAD A TIRE GO FLAT ,WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT OFF AND COULD'T FIND ANY THING IN THE TIRE . I PLUGED THE LEAK .IFILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR ,PUT IT BACK ON THE TRUCK . IN ABOUT AN HOUR IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. I TOOK IT OFF AGAIN , IT WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE PLUG. I PUT ANOTHER PLUG IN IT AND THIS TIME I CHECKED IT . IT WAS STILL LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA ,I PUT THE NUMBER 3 PLUG IN IT.IT STILL LEAKED AND IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE WAS TRYING TO COME APART. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND TOLD HIM I HAD A BAD TIRE . HE SAID THEY WEREN'T HAVING ANY TROUBLE [A BIG LIE ] .HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA HOW I SCREWED THE TIRE UP. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE PATCHED .WE ARGUED HE COULDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD.I ASKED HIM WHY A TIRE RATED AT 65000 MILES WOULD GO BAD AT 22000 MILES ? HE SAID I WAS LUCKY AS HELL TO GET THAT MUCH OUT OF IT. THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF THEY LEFT A PART OF . IT SEEMED MUSHY. I GOT MAD AT HIM ,AND WENT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER ,AND OR
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.