Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD UTILITY VAN XH · model year
1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH
3 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDUTILITY VAN XH carries 3 consumer safety complaints 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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1998 UTILITY VAN XH is steering with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1) and electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1998 UTILITY VAN XH, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
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 | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070718ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DOOR AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER DOOR IS CLOSED AND DRAINS BATTERY BY THE DOME LIGHTS STAYING ON OVER NIGHT. *AK
20050418LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE CHIMING OF THE DOORS BEING OPEN DOES NOT TURN OFF, ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE DOORS WIL NOT LOCK BECAUSE IT THINKS THE DOOR ARE OPEN. *AK
Mileage: 74,000
20040405STEERING
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Compare 1998FORDUTILITY VAN XH to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH have?▼
The 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH.
Is the 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1998 FORD UTILITY VAN XH; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.