Problems · by component
1998 Ford Expedition structure problems
25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Expedition cite structure, 3% of all 851 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
25
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHEN IT RAINS EVERYTHING INSIDE GOES DEAD AND IT WILL NOT CRANK. CAN BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT SHUTS OFF ON YOU . THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL EVERYTHING DRIES OUT OR ITS NOT DAMP OUTSIDE ANYMORE.I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON COMPUTER AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS COMING BACK TO THE FUSE PANEL GETTING WET BECAUSE OF POOR DRAINAGE COMING FROM WINDSHIELD , SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT IT HAS CAUSED FIRES. IHAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11/2 YEARS AND DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS OR ANYTHING FIXED ON IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANKS. [XXX] *TR”
“UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WHILE CHANGING MY OIL, I OBSERVED THAT THE REAR STRAP OF MY FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE AND WAS NO LONGER SECURING MY FUEL TANK IN PLACE. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK STRAPS AND UPON RESEARCHING GUIDANCE FOR REPLACING THE STRAPS, I FOUND MANY ARTICLES ONLINE REGARDING A FUEL TANK STRAP RECALL FOR 1997-2001 F150'S, HOWEVER IT APPEARS THAT THE EXPEDITIONS, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE F-150'S, WERE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I'M VERY LUCKY THAT I FOUND THE RUSTED STRAP BEFORE THE TANK DROPPED AND POTENTIALLY RUPTURED, CAUSING INJURY TO ME, MY WIFE AND OUR INFANT SON. IF THE GAS TANK STRAP RECALL CANNOT BE EXTENDED TO COVER EXPEDITIONS, I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON WHY THE EXPEDITIONS ARE NOT COVERED. THANK YOU. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE BUMPER AND REAR AXLE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO COVERED WITH RUST AS WELL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARM THAT CONNECTED THE REAR END TO THE FRAME FRACTURED IN HALF WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.”
“DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE FRONT OF BUMPER RIPPED OFF AND WAS COMING UP ON WINDSHIELD, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONTACT HEARD SOME FLAPPING COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. ABOUT 20 MILES FURTHER OF THE BUMPER CAME OFF. *AK”
“WHEN ENTERING THE TRAVEL TRAILER INTERIOR WAS MADE OF AES , A GAS OR CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE RED EYES AND A BURNING SENSATION IN THE LUNGS. *AK”
Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.