MY98 FORD F150 4-2L MOTOR THEW A ROD FOUND COOLENT ON THE PLUGS JUST LIKE THE HUHDREDS OF OTHERES BUT NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLOM WITH THIS MOTOR NOW ITS 3K TO 4K TO FIX IT I DONT KNOW WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN BUT IT MAKE A GREAT LAWN ORNMENT I HOPE SOME ONE IS LOOKING INTO THIS THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME
1998 Ford F-150 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 132,000 MILES, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE #4 CYLINDER AND CAUSING A HYDROLOCK CONDITION. I REPLACED THE MOTOR. PRIOR TO THE HYDROLOCK, I HAD NOTICED COOLANT LEVELS DROPPING FOR A YEAR OR SO PRIOR BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND JUST PERIODICALLY TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I NOTICED LOTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.
DT: PRIOR TO THE FIRE TOOK A TRIP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 12:50 AM 7/5/05 IN THE MORNING. IT HAD BEEN SITTING TURNED OFF FOR 12 HOURS, AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE WAS PAID OFF 2 MONTHS AGO, ANOTHER WAS A RECALL. SOME OF VINYL SIDING MELTED, RESULTING IN $2500.00 DAMAGE. THERE WAS ALSO BLACK RESIDUE ON THE CARPET INSIDE THE HOUSE.*AK
DT: CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL FIRES. CALLER SAID CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AND BRAKE FLUID WAS IN WIRING. CALLER HAS DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK
DT: CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE REGARDING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE AN ODI NUMBER. WHILE DRIVING SHE TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND TIE ROD END BROKE OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 30, 2005. THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE TIE ROD END TO BREAK. *AK
DT: CONSUMER SAID THAT SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN VEHICLE AT ABOUT 30 MPH UP HILL. THIS HAPPENED IN THE DAY TIME. CONSUMER SAIDTHAT HIS VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHICH CYLINDER. CONSUMER DID REPORT THIS TO FORD.*AK
COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY DEISGN OF THE FRONT COVER GASKET CAUSING A BENT ROD DUE TO UNCOMPRESSIBLE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS.
REFERRAL FROM INS CO.
I WAS AT THE STORE SHOPPING AND WALKED BACK TO MY TRUCK AND IT WAS GIVING OFF A VERY STONG ELECTRICAL SMELL. I STARTED THE TRUCK AND COULD NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. I TURNED IT OFF AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BURNT TO A CRISP AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. I FOUND OUT THIS IS BEING RECALLED ON 2000 AND 2001 FORD F-150'S. THIS RECALL IS THE SAME PART THAT IS ON MY TRUCK. I OWN A 1998 AND NOT A 2000 OR 2001. I FEEL THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ANY F-150 REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME EXACT PART THAT IS BEING RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY BAD PROBLEM THAT YOU SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THESE FAULTY PARTS ON THEM.
I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE TIE ROD OF MY 1998 F150 CAME APART.ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO STEERING PERIOD. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THIS WAS BAD ,NO BAD TIRE WEAR, NO SHAKING ,NOTHING. BETWEEN THE TOWING ,REPLACING THE PART & AN UNNEEDED ALIGNMENT IAM OUT 200$ WHICH IS CHEAP COSIDERING WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED.
1) DRIVING AND THE FIRST THE RIGHT SIDE WHEEL POPPED, THEN ABOUT A2 WEEKS LATER THE LEFT SIDE POPPED 2) UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE 3) HAD TO BUY NEW BALL JOINTS YES WE STILL HAVE THE ONES FROM THE FACTORY, THE FACTORY PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE, THE NEW PARTS ARE
MY 1998 FORD 150 CAUGHT FIRE AT THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED WITH THE MOTOR OFF. SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED A FIRE WAS SEEN AND PUT OUT. THE UNIT WAS MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK *SC *JB
DT: ON 5-16-2005 VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DASHBOARD AREA WAS CONSUMED. NO WARNING PRIOR TO FIRE. HAD BRAKE SERVICED SHORTLY BEFORE FIRE. NO INDICATION WHETHER IT WAS AN ELECTRIC OR FUEL FIRE. CONTACT STATED FORD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME WHAT COMPONENT CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT, AND POLICE WERE PRESENT AT THE SCENE.*AK
DT: SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF GRILL . CONSUMER GOT OUT OF CAR AND PUT FIRE OUT. THAT MORNING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND HE HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE A FEW TIMES, AND IT WENT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD IT REPAIRED. HAS NOT CALLED MANUFACTURER.*AK
OVERNIGHT HYDROLOCK CONDITION, CAUSED BY FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS, CAUSING IMMEDIATE AND UNFORSEEN INTERNAL DAMAGE UP TO AND INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PISTONS, RODS, CRANKSHAFT, AND BEARINGS. WE WERE NON-INFORMED DUE TO FORD'S NEGLET TO SEND APPROPRIATE RECALL NOTICES FOR BOTH VEHICLES OWNED BY OUR FAMILY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE INTERNET COMMUNITY, AND ALTHOUGH FORD DID ISSUE RECALL NOTICES, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY TO OUR CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS TOO LATE TO TURN IN A RECALL. THE RESPONSE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM ETHICAL IN MY EYES, AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND BE OUT THE MONEY THAT THIS WILL COST THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THESE ARE HONEST, HARD WORKING CITIZENS THAT HAVE BELIEVED IN FORD FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM TO COME UP AND TO HAVE THEM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, REMOVES ANY SHRED OF CONFIDENCE STILL REMAINING IN TODAYS MANUFACTURED GOODS.
1998 FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA AND BURNT THE FRONT END OF TRUCK FROM THE CAB AREA FORWARD.
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WHEN A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT STARTED AT THE COMPUTER BOX. CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING 9 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *AK *BF *NM
DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THEY FOUND AN EXHAUST LEAK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE BOLTS CONTAINED CONDENSATION AND HAD RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES. *JB
WATER LEAKED INSIDE ENGINE MIX WITH OIL CAUSING LOCKUP
FORD F150 DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIEROD BALL JOINT FAILED.THE TIEROD COMPLETLY SEPERATED FROM STEERING KNUCKLE. THE TRUCK WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. NO DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AND WILL BE INSTALLED.
1.WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, RETURNED HOME. TRIED TO START MY TRUCK THE SECOND DAY TO BRING IN THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK!!! ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN !!!! 2.RIGHT LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL AND CYLINDER. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7 3.ENGINE FAILURE, BENT RODS!!!!! HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE!!
WHILE PARKED FOR SEVENTY TWO HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AK *BF *NM
DT: 1998 FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS. ONLY INFORMATION THAT CALLER HAS IS A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES ON LATER MODELS. DID CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE NOTHING TO BE DONE. LOST ALL THE THINGS INSIDE THE CAB OF TRUCK, LOSS WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $1,200 - $1,500. FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. *AK
HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 V6 FORD F-150 PICK UP, REGARDING COOLANT/WATER LOSS, SO HAVE CONTINUALLY DONE COOLANT MAINTENANCE. STARTED THE TRUCK UP LAST SATURDAY 5/7/06 AND THE ENGINE MADE AN AN AWFUL SOUND, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THE DAY BEFORE. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC YESTERDAY, AND THEY SAY THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH WILL COST $4,000.00 PLUS. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM F-159 V6 OWNERS, 1997-2000. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPOSSESSED, AS I STILL OWE $4,000 PLUS ON IT. I CANNOT AFFORD THE REBUILT ENGINE REPAIR, AND NOW HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO, I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND LOOKING FOR WORK. FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS, AS THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY F-150 OWNERS. A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS CURRENTLY ON-GOING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO A CONSUMER WEBSITE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN JOIN THIS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2L ENGINE FOR THE PAST 3 WINTERS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS THAT WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN AT HIGH RPM. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK. I RECENTLY FOUND ON THE WEB NHTSA RECALL # 98V007. WHICH SEEMED TO DESCRIBE MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DELARER, THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL
WHEN I STARTED MY 1998 FORD F-150 TODAY, A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE OCCURRED AND FINALLY A ROD SHOT OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK'S OIL PAN. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT. UPON INVESTIGATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 4.2 LITER ENGINE. APPARANTLY FORD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX IT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE HEAD GASKET GOING BAD PUTTING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CREATING THE FAILURE. PLEASE HELP OTHERS SO THAT WON'T HAVE TO SHELL OUT $2,500 FOR A NEW ENGINE OR POSSIBLE GET HURT FROM FLYING PARTS!
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE BEING PARKED FOR 5 MINUTES. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TOP FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRE HAD A SHORT. HE DISCONNECTED IT TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE.*AK *BF *NM
1998 FORD F150 [XXX] EXTENDED CAB, 4.2L V6 CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE STARTED APPROXIMATE 45 MINUTES AFTER BEING DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MONTHS PRIOR THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING AND I BEGAN TO HAVE INTERMITTENT BLOWING OF FUSE #13. FIRE MARSHALL WILL DOCUMENT THE FIRE ON 4/22/05. STARTING POINT OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I HAVE AN FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 V6 ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-5,000 MILES. IN 2001 I NOTICED IT WAS LOSING COOLANT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED TWICE SINCE THEN. COMING HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY, I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 EVERYTIME I STOPPED AND THE ENGINE IDLED. TOOK IT TO PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HE CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP. HE WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS GETTING READY TO BLOW. THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND MINE HAS LASTED MORE THAN MOST. I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB OTHER F150 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE. MINE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GONE OUT BEFORE NOW, BUT I CHANGED THE OIL REALLY WELL. NOW I'M OUT $4,000 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. *NM
MY 1989 F-150 TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM, OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. THE TRUCK WAS UNATTENDED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MINUTES AFTER IGNITION. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO DRIVER'S SIDE, WITHIN 15" - 20" INCHES OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS APPARENTLY THE FUEL FOR THE FLAMES THAT BURNED PLASTIC COMPONENTS. BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS SPOTTED AND EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY, THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. FORD VIN [XXX]. *AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A CLANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD FOR SOURCE. HAD A RELATIVE TO START THE TRUCK WHILE I EXAMINED THE ENGINE FOR CAUSE. SHORTLY AFTER 2ND START AND STOP, OIL BEGAN DRIPPING UNDER VEHICLE. HOLES HAD BEEN KNOCKED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OIL PAN. I HAVE THE 4.2L V6 ENGINE IN MY FORD F-150. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE THROWN ROD.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT. *AK THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL PLUGS. ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMERS RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING TO SERVICE MANAGERS, THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE ALUMINUM HEAD 5.4 L V8 ENGINE. THE YEARS THAT WERE AFFECTED WERE 1997-2002. *SC *JB
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK
WHILE PARKED FOR THIRTEEN HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND 3 OTHER MECHANICS IN MY AREA. I HAVE A 98 FORD F150 WITH THE V6 4.2L MOTOR. IT HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 115,000. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3000 TO 4000 MILES AND THE COOLANT EVERY 3 YEARS. I HAVE LOOK INTO INTERNET FORUMS AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE 100S OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS - MOST WITH FAR LESS MILEAGE. *JB
AT SOME POINT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 1998 FORD F150 PICK-UP STOPPED WORKING. AS I SELDOM USE IT I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WAS OUT. NEXT THE #13 FUSE FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT FUSE FAILED IMMEDIATELY. WITH THIS FAULT I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OUT OF PARK IF STARTED IN PARK. THE ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. TOOK TRUCK TO EARNHARDT'S FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY TRACED PROBLEM TO SHORTED BRAKE PRESSURE SAFETY SWITCH AND SPEED CONTROL SERVO. DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID. ALL THREE DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS COST $3,100 DOLLARS. THE MECHANIC (KEN TUEFFEL) STATED I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THE TRUCK DID NOT CATCH FIRE. WITH THE RECENT NEWS REPORTS ON THE FORD PICK-UP CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH CAUSING FIRES I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THESE SWITCHES FOR YEARS AND OWE ME A REFUND ON THESE REPAIRS.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN ALL SUDDEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK.....*AK
EARLY LAST YEAR (2004) MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 4X4 P/U. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY WERE FINE. I USED THE TRUCK WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE NEXT 6-8 MONTHS. THEN ONE DAY WHILE AT WORK I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY TRUCK HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED IT WAS ON FIRE AT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH (AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THE SWITCH WAS A PRESSURE SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE BRAKE) SO I CUT THE WIRING TO STOP THE CURRENT FLOW AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CAUGHT IT EARLY ENOUGH SO NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TRUCK. JUST SOME MELTED WIRING THAT I REPLACED. (BEING AN ELECTRICIAN HELPED) I COULD NOT USE THE TRUCK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND TOOK A DAY OFF WORK UNTIL I FOUND A SWITCH AND I REPLACED IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (ANTELOP VALLEY FORD IN LANCASTER, CA) TO GET A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT TO THEM THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT SWITCH I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND SAID THEY HAD NO REPLACEMENT FOR IT, THEN SAID THEY COULD ORDER IT FOR ME AFTER I SHOWED THEM WHERE IT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. THEY NEVER TOLD ME IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS SWITCH, THAT UPSETS ME MORE THEN ANYTHING! I WENT TO POWER FORD IN VALENCIA, CA AND THEY HAD A SWITCH IN STOCK THAT I PURCHASED. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE SWITCH THAT I GOT FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE BURNT UP ONE WAS A NON-FAULTY SWITCH? LOW AND BEHOLD, MY C
MY 1998 FORD F-150 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT DOES NOT WORK NOW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TRUCK'S CRUISE CONTROL WIRING, WHICH I READ THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING IN FORD TRUCKS. MY VIN IS [XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CATATROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 52000 MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO 3.8L ENGINE TSB NOTICE. ON DISASSEMBLY BY PROFESSIONAL GARAGE THEY INDICATED HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS CAUSING THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING TO FAIL, (SIMILAR TO 3.8L FAILURES).*AK
PARKED TRUCK IN DRIVEWAY. RUNNING FINE. 2 HOURS LATER STARTED TRUCK. WHITE WATER VAPOR FROM EXHAUST AND ROD KNOCKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING HYDROLOCK. REMOVED ENGINE REPLACED ROD PISTON AND BEARINGS. HAVE OLD PISTON AND ROD.*AK
1998 FORD F 150. HEADLAMPS FAILED AT NIGHT IN A BLIZARD, CAUSING LOSS OF SIGHT AT A MEDIUM RATE OF SPEED RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WILL NEED A NEW MULTIFUNCTION POSITIONAL DIMMER SWITCH IN COLUMN REPLACED.*AK
CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES FIVE TIMES BEFORE IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WERE TWO PIECES MISSING FROM THE SWAY BAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER FOR VEHICLE COULD NOT FIND THE DEFECTS. HOWEVER , THE DODGE DEALER FOUND THE DEFECT.*AK *TC
THE R/H TORSION BAR BROKE AT LOW SPEED TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BAR IS BEING REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. AFTER SEEING ALL THE REPORTS ON LINE, I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE.
COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING SLOWLY WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS. BLOWN LOWER INTAKE GASKET, FILLED CYLINDER AND BROKE # 2 CONNECTING ROD. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVING WAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY DOWN. *AK
ACCELERATOR DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE ON VERY COLD DAYS. IN NEUTRALL THE ENGINE REVS AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. I HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WHILE APROACHING INTERSECTIONS. I REALLY NEEDED TO LAY ON THE BRAKES. MY VEHICLE IS 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 5.4 ENGINE. I NO THERE IS A SAFTEY RECALL (98V007) FOR THE SAME VEHICLE WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE BUT MY TRUCK TRUCK HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEIR WAS A KIT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE KIT IS FOR THE 4.2 LITER ENGINE . *AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Ford F-150 → · Every F-150 year → · How the figures are calculated →