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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 2 NHTSA variants

1998 Ford F-250Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 57 owner complaints for the 1998 Ford F-250. Most complaints involve suspension (14) and service brakes, hydraulic (11). The EPA rates it 11–15 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
11–15mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Jul 2011
Owner complaints
57
Top: suspension
Fuel cost / yr
$4,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Remedy pending

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 29, 2011NHTSA 11V385000

Engine and engine cooling: diesel

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Engine and engine coolingReported Dec 5, 2007NHTSA 07V553000

Equipment: electrical

Free remedy

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

EquipmentReported Aug 28, 2007NHTSA 07E066000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

57 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 1998 – Nov 2018
  1. Suspension14
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  3. Structure9
  4. Engine and engine cooling8
  5. Tires4
  6. Fuel system, gasoline4
  7. Steering4
  8. Visibility3
  9. Air bags3

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

By model year

Complaints for each F-250 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996187
1997343
199857
1999830
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Suspension

14 reports
“1998 FORD F-250 STEEL TIE-ROD WERE SUFFICIENTLY WORN, LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CAUTIONARY LETTER FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHICH STATED IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE STEERING LINKAGE INSPECTED EVERY 15,000, WHICH PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW AND IMPROVED STEERING COMPONETS, THE LEFT OUTER STEERING TIE ROD SOCKET DISENGAGED FROM THE BALL ON THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE MAKING A SLOW GRADUAL LEFT TURN. THIS FAILURE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2006Steering, SuspensionODI 10164778

Service brakes, hydraulic

11 reports
“WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, BRAKES LOCK AND RELEASE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF VEHICLE TO STOP. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED QUICKLY, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL. WHEN TRAVELING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE, IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY FAIL. IF DRIVING ON EXTREMELY WET ROADS AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. BRAKES PADS AND/OR ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO IMPROPER WEAR. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RESOLVE. HOWEVER, SINCE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO DISCUSS VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE A BRAKING DEFECT HOWEVER THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. COPIES OF ALL REPAIR ORDERS AND SERVICE NOTICES FROM FORD ARE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS CORRESPONDENCE TO THE DISPUTE REOLUTION BOARD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2000Service brakes, hydraulicODI 720812

Structure

9 reports
“ON APRIL 9TH 2011 MY FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE TANK WAS HANGING BY THE FUEL LINES AND TANK NECK. THE TRUCK IS A FORD F-250 LIGHT WITH A 24 1/2 GALLON FUEL TANK, THAT HAS 102000 MILES. I REPLACED BOTH STRAPS AT A COST OF $34.00. I PAINTED THE NEW STRAPS TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2011Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10399672
All 1998 F-250 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
4.6L 8-cyl · 5.4L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Natural Gas

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131815$4,300592
F250 Pickup 2WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131715$4,300592
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121614$4,600635
F250 Pickup 4WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131614$4,600635
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121613$4,950684
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111513$4,950684
F250 Pickup 2WD CNG
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
101411$4,200639
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 18 hwy · $4,300/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 17 hwy · $4,300/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 16 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    11 city · 15 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD CNG
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    10 city · 14 hwy · $4,200/yr
    11
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Ford F-250 as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1998 F-250 questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Ford F-250 have?

10 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1998 Ford F-250 problems?

Owners filed 57 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are suspension (14), service brakes, hydraulic (11), structure (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1998 Ford F-250 get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Ford F-250 at 11–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026