Problems · by component

1998 Ford F-150 electrical system problems

90 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford F-150 cite electrical system, 6% of all 1,418 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
90
6% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
40
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2021Electrical system, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11444287
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11219156
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 27, 2005. THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION FAILED TO PROPERLY SHUT OFF PERTAINING TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000. .*BF CONSUMER STATED WHEN ENGAGING SPEED CONTROL, THE ENGINE WOULD MISSFIRE SO BAD, THAT I WOULD CUT THE SPEED CONTROL OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2019Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 11195825
“REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 15, 1998 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V161000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , SUSPENSION MY REAR SUSPENSION IS BAD - HAS THIS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON MY VEHICLE? GEM MODULE IS HAVING TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN READING THIS PART HAS CAUSED A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR THIS FORD MODEL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2016Suspension, Electrical systemODI 10864573
“SHOCK UPPER MOUNT SIMPLY FELL OFF CAUSING DRIVER SIDE REAR SHOCK TO DRAG GROUND. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION ALSO NOTICED AT THE LOCATION OF THE RUSTED OUT MOUNT LOCATION THAT THE REAR WIRING FOR THE TAIL LIGHT WERE SEVERED CAUSING TRUCK TO NOW BE STUCK IN PARK. ALSO WHILE INSPECTING NOTICED REAR FRAME IS SIMPLY FALLING APART AND OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE FRAME ARE WEAK AS WELL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AFTER DOING RESEARCH I AM FINDING MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ONLINE BUT NO MANUFACTURE RECALLS. WHY ISN'T FORD DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? I'VE NEVER SEEN FRAMES DO THIS. TRUCK NEEDS FULL FRAME REPLACEMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2015Suspension, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 10716950
“POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT AT/OR NEAR THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH. MOST NOTICEABLE AT COLD START, AND COMING FROM UNDER/INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN UPPER COVER CASTING. WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL, YEAR, THE HAZARD SWITCH IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN UPPER COVER CASTING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY SMOKE, THERE IS A MORE THAN SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL SHORTING NOISE COMING FROM WITHIN THE COLUMN ITSELF. DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT REMOVE THE COVER MYSELF TO TARGET LOCATE THE ISSUE, I HAVE LEFT IT UP TO A FEW MECHANICS AND DEALERS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE (PROBABLY BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS WARMED UP BY THE TIME I GET IT TO A DEALER) ISSUE USUALLY IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT COLD START, AND MORE AGGRESSIVELY WHEN OUTSIDE/INSIDE CAB TEMPS ARE AT OR BELOW FREEZING, BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE DURING WARMER WEATHER. I CAN GET THE SOUND/NOISE OF THE ELECTRICAL SHORT TO STOP BY TOUCHING OR ENGAGING THE HAZARD SWITCH A FEW TIMES. AND USUALLY WHEN THE ISSUE STARTS THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WILL IMMEDIATELY FLASH SUPER FAST AT THE SAME TIME, ALL ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT ME ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN THE TEMPS REACH AROUND OR BELOW ZERO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2014Electrical systemODI 10584786

Showing 6 of 90 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.