Total Complaints
9 filings
FORD XL · model year
1998 FORD XL
9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDXL carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 XL is suspension with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:horn (1) and vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (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 XL, 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.
9
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM:LINES AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140726STEERING
THE TRUCK SQUEAKS SO LOUD AT 0 MPH, JUST SHAKE TRUCK SIDE TO SIDE AND IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE. ITS THE FRONT AND REAR END BUSHINGS DUE WITH SOME STEERING PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFEAT AND NOT WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. NOT SURE ABOUT THE SUSPENSION BUT IT PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS WHOLE PROBLEM.. AS I RESEARCHED RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS IT WAS INFACT A RECALL. I HOPE YOU HONOR YOUR RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH ITS A 1998 MODEL. EVERY FORD FROM THAT YEAR I COME ACROSS HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW SOLD ME THIS TRUCK WHO WAS THE LAST OWNER AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO THE HONORABLE THING AND FIX THE MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I ASK FOR NO MORE THAN WHAT YALL ACKNOWLEDGE AS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THANK YOU AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURE TO FIX THIS LONG TIME PROBLEM. I'VE INFORMED (PURSUANT TO 49 U.S.C. 30118 (D) OR 30120 (H). ...I'VE
Mileage: 100,387
20140726SUSPENSION
THE TRUCK SQUEAKS SO LOUD AT 0 MPH, JUST SHAKE TRUCK SIDE TO SIDE AND IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE. ITS THE FRONT AND REAR END BUSHINGS DUE WITH SOME STEERING PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFEAT AND NOT WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. NOT SURE ABOUT THE SUSPENSION BUT IT PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS WHOLE PROBLEM.. AS I RESEARCHED RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS IT WAS INFACT A RECALL. I HOPE YOU HONOR YOUR RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH ITS A 1998 MODEL. EVERY FORD FROM THAT YEAR I COME ACROSS HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW SOLD ME THIS TRUCK WHO WAS THE LAST OWNER AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO THE HONORABLE THING AND FIX THE MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I ASK FOR NO MORE THAN WHAT YALL ACKNOWLEDGE AS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THANK YOU AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURE TO FIX THIS LONG TIME PROBLEM. I'VE INFORMED (PURSUANT TO 49 U.S.C. 30118 (D) OR 30120 (H). ...I'VE
Mileage: 100,387
20070929SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM:LINES AND FITTINGS
AIR COMPRESSOR THAT KEEPS THE AUTOMATIC SELF LEVELING KEEPS GOING ON ,AND SOUNDING VERY LOUD . MY TRUCK IS GOING DOWN IN THE REAR END, NOW IT DOES NOT WANT TO WORK, I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THEY WERE OK . NOW I HAVE NO POWER GOING TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR OR ANY POWER TO THE AIR BAG SOLENOIDS ,SO NOW I'M RIDING ON THE REAR END AND ITS NOT SAFE!! *TR
20050903POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 5/25/2003 I PURCHASED A 1998 FORD XLT [XXX] AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT IT HAD A WARRANTY LEFT OF EITHER 1 MONTH OR 1000 MILES LEFT ON IT. THIS SUV TURNED OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE BY JULY 2ND 2003 I HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON IT WHICH IN TURN SET ME BACK $600.00 ALSO MY SUSPENSION LIGHT KEPT GOING ON I ALSO WAS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 8-15-03 I TOOK MY SUV TO AAMCO AND PAID $2712.85 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION I CALLED STEVENS CREEK NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME AT LEAST PAY HALF BUT TO NO AVAIL THEY SAID NO TOO BAD. FURTHER MORE BY PAYING ALL THIS MONEY OUT I GOT BEHIND ON MY CAR PAYMENTS AND TO NO AVAIL IN NOVEMBER 2004 MY SUV GOT REPO . PLEASE HELP I FEEL THAT STEVENS CREEK NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID HALF. I HAD ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 8 WEEKS BEFORE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. NOW MY CREDIT IS EVEN BLEMISHED MORE THAT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. DISAPPOINTED IN SAN JOSE. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 INFORMA
Mileage: 5,200
20050903SUSPENSION
ON 5/25/2003 I PURCHASED A 1998 FORD XLT [XXX] AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT IT HAD A WARRANTY LEFT OF EITHER 1 MONTH OR 1000 MILES LEFT ON IT. THIS SUV TURNED OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE BY JULY 2ND 2003 I HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON IT WHICH IN TURN SET ME BACK $600.00 ALSO MY SUSPENSION LIGHT KEPT GOING ON I ALSO WAS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 8-15-03 I TOOK MY SUV TO AAMCO AND PAID $2712.85 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION I CALLED STEVENS CREEK NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME AT LEAST PAY HALF BUT TO NO AVAIL THEY SAID NO TOO BAD. FURTHER MORE BY PAYING ALL THIS MONEY OUT I GOT BEHIND ON MY CAR PAYMENTS AND TO NO AVAIL IN NOVEMBER 2004 MY SUV GOT REPO . PLEASE HELP I FEEL THAT STEVENS CREEK NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID HALF. I HAD ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 8 WEEKS BEFORE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. NOW MY CREDIT IS EVEN BLEMISHED MORE THAT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. DISAPPOINTED IN SAN JOSE. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 INFORMA
Mileage: 5,200
20050903SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON 5/25/2003 I PURCHASED A 1998 FORD XLT [XXX] AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT IT HAD A WARRANTY LEFT OF EITHER 1 MONTH OR 1000 MILES LEFT ON IT. THIS SUV TURNED OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE BY JULY 2ND 2003 I HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON IT WHICH IN TURN SET ME BACK $600.00 ALSO MY SUSPENSION LIGHT KEPT GOING ON I ALSO WAS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 8-15-03 I TOOK MY SUV TO AAMCO AND PAID $2712.85 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION I CALLED STEVENS CREEK NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME AT LEAST PAY HALF BUT TO NO AVAIL THEY SAID NO TOO BAD. FURTHER MORE BY PAYING ALL THIS MONEY OUT I GOT BEHIND ON MY CAR PAYMENTS AND TO NO AVAIL IN NOVEMBER 2004 MY SUV GOT REPO . PLEASE HELP I FEEL THAT STEVENS CREEK NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID HALF. I HAD ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 8 WEEKS BEFORE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. NOW MY CREDIT IS EVEN BLEMISHED MORE THAT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. DISAPPOINTED IN SAN JOSE. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 INFORMA
Mileage: 5,200
20050808CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 WINDSTAR IN EARLY JUNE 2005.. SHE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STARTED UP AND DROVE 1/4 MILE OR SO AND THEN STARTED TO BRAKE AGAIN TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CARS IN FRONT OF HER. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED FOR A MOMENT, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE EXPERIENCED TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THAT CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN JANUARY 2005. IN APRIL 2004, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AT A STOP SIGN. BOTH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE MODULE WERE REPLACED. THIS COST A SMALL FORTUNE. BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ONCE A YEAR OR MORE DURING THE ENTIRE TIME WE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT NEGLECTED AND STILL FAIL COMPLETELY. THIS ACCIDENT LEFT MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS EXPECTING A BABY, BRUISED AND BATTERED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED A
Mileage: 20
20040604VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT DESCENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ,AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
20021004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR
Compare 1998FORDXL 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 XL have?▼
The 1998 FORD XL has 9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD XL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD XL is SUSPENSION with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Is the 1998 FORD XL 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.