Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Ford F-150 problems
Owners filed 1,418 complaints about the 1998 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Apr 1997 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (183).
Complaints
1,418
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
84
Reported by owners
Fires
98
Reported by owners
Injuries
58
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling183
- Fuel system, gasoline181
- Tires159
- Structure142
- Suspension132
- Vehicle speed control123
- Service brakes, hydraulic107
- Steering96
- Electrical system90
- Power train84
- Visibility64
- Wheels44
- Air bags42
- Equipment21
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
100
159
142
189
102
105
79
112
42
43
41
24
51
147
23
11
14
6
4
5
1
7
1
1
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 100 |
| 1999 | 159 |
| 2000 | 142 |
| 2001 | 189 |
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 105 |
| 2004 | 79 |
| 2005 | 112 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2007 | 43 |
| 2008 | 41 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 147 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
183 reports1 crash14 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER AS A RESULT THE ENGINE BLEW APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
181 reports1 crash6 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST CORROSION. IN 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.”
Tires
159 reports7 crashes
“TIRES STARTED TO SEPARATE AFTER ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES I DO NOT HAVE EXACT MILEAGE AT THIS TIME BUT CAN GET AN APPROXIMATE TIRES FAILED IN THE FIRST 1000 MILES THE BRAND IS FEDERAL ,:TYPE IS COURARGIA M/T SIZE IS LT285-75R17. *TR”
Structure
142 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I have multiple issues that hit all around same time. Body rusted and water leaks getting the bcm wet which causes the truck to go haywire, lights flashing, doors locking and unlocking, radio stays on, caused multiple things to stop working, fuel tank leaks when filling it up where the fuel tank fill hose rusted into the tank, causing multiple vacuum leaks and horrible running conditions and truck dies if not holding clutch, gas and brake at light. Rear trailer wiring plug when it's connected causes multiple lights to stay on even though vehicle not running and everything off. Also melted all wires on 2 trailers causing shorted out lights, replaced clutch 2 times since purchase on 3rd clutch and mechanics not sure why even after showing them I am properly using the clutch system, not pulling heavy loads, or driving it like a race truck. ABS system light won't shut off even though no codes or problems with abs system, multiple vacuum leaks and can't get rid of running lean and bad O2 sensors even after replacing them all.”
Suspension
132 reports3 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION CALLED "THE DEATH WOBBLE". OCCURS AS SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH. OCCURS IF ROAD IS SOMEWHAT BUMPY. OCCURS OFTEN AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. IT REQUIRES THAT I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH BEFORE IT STOPS. THIS IMMEDIATE NEED TO SLOW DOWN IF DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING ME (ESPECIALLY A LARGE TRUCK.)”
Vehicle speed control
123 reports11 crashes40 fires2 related recalls
“SINCE PURCHASE 6/24/1998 RIVERSIDE FORD SUMNER WA NON TIRE SIZE NOT CALIBRATED 22570R16 CAUSED ACCELERATED ODOMETER MILES BY 100,144 MILES UNAWARE TACOMASPEEDOMETER I PAID $55.14 ON APRIL 13, 2013 JUNE 11, 2013 AT TITUS WILL DEALERSHIP RECEIPT 203,997 WAS INVOLVED IN MVA MAY 13, 2019 OTHER PERSON CITED 'FAILING TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY' THE MILEAGE INDICATES 232,350 EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED MY RECEIPT 6/11/2013 AT 203,997 COMMERCE WEST DECEITFUL APPRAISER WILLFUL INTENT TO DEFRAUD ONLY HAVE 28,353 MILES IN WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO TOTAL VEHICLE? CARFAX COLLECTING DATA IS AS INCORRECT AS WORDS USED NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPT/PACIFIC COAST FORD INDICATES A BAD ODOMETER MARCH 6, 2008 R&R AXLES ON JUNE 6, 2008 EXP BAD TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED W TRANS ASSEMBLY ON RECEIPT BAD ODOMETER CARFAX COLLECTED DATA IS INCORRECT NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS' CARFAX CONTRADICTS OWN POLICY ON REPORT 'NOT ALL ACCIDENTS REPORTED' INCONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS CARFAX DISSEMINATING FALSE INFO CARFAX CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW 2010 ODO MILEAGE 238,624 BUT IN 2013 INDICATES 208,438? NO ODOMETER TAMPERING ON REPORT CARFAX NEVER SENT ALLSTATE ANY REPORT MAY 21, 2019 THE RECENT MAY…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.