Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD NAVIGATOR · model year
1998 FORD NAVIGATOR
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDNAVIGATOR carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 NAVIGATOR is vehicle speed control:cruise control with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (1) and structure (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 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 NAVIGATOR, 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060619FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IT WAS ORDERED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE SWITCH WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED.
Mileage: 85,000
20051014FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ON 9/25/2005 ABOUT 2:30 AM MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BY FORD. APPARENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON IT WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE VILLA AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THEIR REPLY "GET A LAWYER". *NM
Mileage: 112,000
20050223STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE OPENING THE REAR DOOR, THE HINGES BROKE CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REAR DOOR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOUND. *JB
Mileage: 140,000
20030210TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB
20011206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES DEFECTIVE AND FRAME RUSTED
20011206STRUCTURE
BRAKES DEFECTIVE AND FRAME RUSTED
Compare 1998FORDNAVIGATOR 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 NAVIGATOR have?▼
The 1998 FORD NAVIGATOR has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD NAVIGATOR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD NAVIGATOR is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and STRUCTURE.
Is the 1998 FORD NAVIGATOR 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.