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 →
BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS HAVE CRACKED. BOTH DOORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 TO 50 MPH DRIVER HIT AN TREE. DAMAGES WERE ESTIMATED AT $10,000. ALSO, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING 10MPH, AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. TURNED VEHICLE AROUND, AND SAW SPARE TIRE LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONTACTED A DEALER, DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO, CABLE WHICH CONTROLS THE SPARE TIRE WILL LOOSEN, ALLOWING CABLE TO RUB OR BREAK, EVEN IF IT IS FULLY TIGHTENED DURING NORMAL OPERATION. *AK *ML
BRAKES FAIL WHEN DEPRESSED, THEN GRAB AT LAST SECOND. DEALER PERFORMED A BRAKE SERVICE CONSISTING OF GRINDING THE METALLIC PADS BUT PROBLEM IS WORSE AND BRAKES NOW GROAN UPON STOP. *AK
COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TORSION BAR ON THE FRONT LEFT OF VEHICLE. BREAK IS ABOUT SIX INCHES FROM THE FRONT OF THE BAR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR IN EXCESS OF THREE HOURS ON LEVEL GROUND WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. HAVE OVER 30 WITNESSES THAT CAN ATTEST TO WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A SCHOOL BUS WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK *ML
IN COLD WEATHER, A 2-3 SLIP DETECT OCCURS ON MODERATE HILLS AT LOW ACCELERATION. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION SENSORS, AND THE SLIP DETECT CODE WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. PROBLEM IS RE-OCCURING AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, BUT SLIP DETECT CODE NOT BEING STORED IN COMPUTER. I'VE REFERENCED TSB 99-9-6 (NHTSA ITEM SB606428) TO DEALER, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TSB IS IRRELAVENT AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN WILL HAVE TO BE DROPPED TO INSPECT THE INTERNAL SENSORS AT A COST OF $1,200. PLEASE (IF POSSIBLE) SEND ME THE FULL TEXT OF TSB 99-9-6 AND/OR NHTSA ITEM SB606428 SO THAT I MAY USE IT AS BACK-UP UPON MY NEXT VISIT TO THE DEALER. I WILL ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT I'VE FILED AN ISSUE REPORT HERE AT THE ODI. REGARDS, ERIC SLAN
HOSE CLAMP CAME LOOSE, CAUSING COOLANT LINE TO LEAK ONTO COIL AND SPARK PLUGS. *AK
SHEET METAL STRESS CRACK DEVELOPING AROUND THE WINDOW FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. IT STARTED OUT VERY SMALL AND HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE SUDDENLY/UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. MANUFACTUER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
CRACK IN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BEYOND WINDOW MOLDING. *AK
TORSION BAR BROKE IN HALF CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *MJS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES DURING NORMAL BRAKING BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SLIDE. DRIVER HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER ,AFTET THE TRUCK HAS SET FOR A WHILE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND NOT THE ABS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS A 3/4 INCH CRACK DEVELOPING FROM ABOUT 1" FROM THE ROUNDING FROM THE BOTTOM REAR CORNER OF THE OUTSIDE WINDOW MOLDING (METAL PART OF THE DOOR) AND HAVE NOTICE AVERY FORD 150 I'VE LOOK AT HAS THIS DOOR CRACK. AND OVER HAFE OF HAVE THEM HAVE THEM ON BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER DOORS. THERE SEEM TO BE A DISIGN FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOESN'T WANT TO SAY YES TO. AND FIX THE FLAW AND NOT JUST PUT A BAND-AID FIX ON IT. YOU SPEND ANY WHERE'S FROM 22,000 TO 29,000 NOT INCLUDING TAX AND ALL THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS DRILL WELD AND BONDO. THAT'S A POOR ENGNEERING DESIGN. I COULD UNDER STAND IF THE TRUCK ONLY COSTED $1000 NOT ONLY IS THERE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR STARTERS. LETS GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL?*AK
DEAL HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX BOTH BRAKES AND THE DOOR CRACKS: BRAKES STILL DO NOT WORK AND DOOR CRACKED AGAIN. DEALER NOW WILL NOT FIX THEM AGAIN. *AK
FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR SNAPPED IN TWO, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH ROAD. THE TRUCK PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT, AS THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. FORD REPLACED ONLY ONE TORSION BAR: I AM AFRAID THE OTHER TORSION BAR WILL ALSO BREAK. *AK
FRONT LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, CAUSING SUPPENSION TO DROP ONTO THE GROUND . THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED CAUSING THE FRONT END TO FALL. ON THE DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EXCEED 30 MPH BECAUSE TRUCK WOULD BEGIN TO BOUNCE AND CAUSE STEERING DIFFICULTY. I AM EMPLOYED WITH AN AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIER AND THE ENGINEERS AT WORK TELL ME THAT HAD I BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WOULD HAVE MORE THAN LIKELY ROLLED THE TRUCK. I DRIVE A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE TO AND FROM WORK AND MOST OF THIS MILEAGE IS VIA THE FREEWAYS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESSEARCH AND FIND THAT MANY FORD 1998 4X4 F150'S HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS ASSURED ME THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE A FAULTY PART AND YET NO RECALL FROM FORD. THE SECOND ITEM IS A CRACK IN THE SHEET METAL OF THE DOOR. I DISCOVERED THIS LAST NIGHT AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM MANY F150 OWNERS ON THE INTERNET. ALTHOUGH I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ONLY LAST NIGHT I WILL BE RETURNING ONCE AGAIN TODAY. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY FORD. *AK
I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR "SPARK KNOCK" FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR NOW. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. THE FORD TECHNICAL REP. HAS LOOKED AT IT ATLEAST TWO TIMES. WHEN IN DRIVE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED YOU CAN GIVE THE TRUCK GAS AND IT WILL KNOCK. AND WHEN IT IS PULLING A TRAILER IT KNOCKS. I WISH TO GET THIS FIXED OR REPLACED. *AK
BOTH DOORS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKS IN THE METAL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING UPON& DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL GOES PASSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING PEDAL MISAPPLICATION AND UNWANTED SPEED, RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
REMOVED ORIGINIAL UNUSED SPARE TIRE FROM UNDER FRAME LOCATION. THE FORD F-150 UNDER FRAME MOUNTING DESIGN CAUSED 8 WEAR POINTS (FROM VIBRATION) AT LEAST 3/16" DEEP INTO OUTER SIDEWALL. THIS HAS CREATED A POTENTIAL UNSAFE TIRE BLOWOUT CONDITION. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONLY 16 MONTHS (@16,295 MILES) AND FIND THIS NEW SPARE NOW UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED AND OTHER OWNERS NOTIFIED OF THIS SITUATION IF WARRANTED. I WILL BE CONTACTING UKIAH FORD THIS WEEK AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS TIRE REPLACED. CONTACT ME IF NEEDED. KEN JOHANNES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-70R16 )
ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH RUNNING BOARD GETS SLIPPERY WHEN WET / IN VERY COLD WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM. *AK *YC
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CRACK FOUND ON DOOR, I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHERS EXERIENCING THIS PROBLEM
TRUCK ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN EVER IT RAINS OR GETS WET. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX 4 TIMES, STILL LOCK UP.
REAR LEAF SPRING SNAPPED UNDER NORMAL USE, FRAME CAME DOWN ON THE AXLE DUE TO FAILURE. MJS
REAR OF LEFT SIDE FRAME CRACKED PIECE FELL OFF @ T/HITCH MOUNT
THERE IS A CRACK DEVELOPING IN THE DOOR SHEET METAL AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE BELT MOLDING. COULD LEAD TO DISASSEMBLY OR FAILURE OF DOOR
CRACK DEVELOPING ON DOOR, AT REAR SIDE OF WINDOW, 2" ABOVE BOTTOM OF WINDOW. ALMOST EVERY F-150 OWNER WHO'S HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT HIS/HER TRUCK AND FOUND SAME PROBLEM. FORD NOT MAKING ANY EFFORT TO REMEDY.
CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. WENT TO RELEASE IT BY TAPPING BRAKES & PUSHING BUTTON., CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ENGAGED. VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. HIT OFF BUTTON & VEHICLE INCREASED IN SPEED. HIT BRAKES HARD & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM WHEELS. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & RESTARTED. ENGINE WOULD RACE & CC STILL BE ENGAGED. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN AGAIN & HEARD A POP. RESTARTED VEHICLE & TRIED TO REENGAGE CC & FAILED TO ENGAGE. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK
I HAVE HAD THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY THE DEALER 3 TIMES. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AGAIN FOR THE 4TH TIME. I'M HOPING NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND FIND A FINAL FIX.
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT OR EVEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL CHOKE A LITTLE THEN STALL. CONSUMER TOOK TO FORD. BUT DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK.
AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. ENGINE IT IS RUNNING ROUGH AND DOWN SHIFTING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTOR WHICH CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO HAD A RECALL FOR THE THROTTLE AND THE JAMES HODGE FORD (1800-675-5447) CLAIMED THEY DID THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND GAVE DRIVER AN INVOICE. BANOTHER FORD DEALER STATED THE PREVIOUS DEALE R DID NOT FIX THE PART THAT WAS ON RECALL WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE BUSHINGS ON THE SPINDLE ARE TOO BIG WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP/GRIND AND OVERHEAT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH THE FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING A LOST OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL LOCK IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF MOVEMENT FROM THE PASSENGER. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURE/DEALERSHIP. DEALER ORDERED THE WRONG PART TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ORDER THE CORRECT PART. *AK
THERE IS A CRACK (1/2" IN LENGTH) THAT HAS DEVELOPED ON THE OUTER SHEETMETAL OF THE DRIVERS DOOR ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER NEAR THE L SHAPED WEATHERSTRIPPING. THIS CRACK IS GROWING WEEKLY AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IN AN ACCIDENT IS MY MAJOR CONCERN AS THE CRACK CAN ACT AS A "CRUMPLE" JOINT. COSMETICALLY IT IS ALSO LIKELY TO BEGIN TO RUST IF NOT CORRECTED AS THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL AROUND THE CRACK.
CRACKS APPEARING IN DOOR
AS STATED, THE DOOR IS CRACKING AT THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF THE WAY UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN NUMEROUS F150 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CRACK. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE COMPROMISE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEED AS WELL AS DURING A CRASH.
DOOR SHEET METAL CRACKING AROUND WINDOW. UNKNOWN AFFECT TO INTEGRITY OF DOOR.
CENTER CONSOLE LOCATED ON THE 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT HAS A CUP HOLDER / STORAGE COMPARTMENT. HOWEVER, CONSOLE WILL LOCK IN THE UP POSITION, BUT WILL NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO DRIVER POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *YC
SPARK KNOCK I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE IT HAD 2000 MILES ON IT. I AM WORRIED THE THING WILL LOCK UP OR CATCH FIRE OR BLOW UP. IT HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT. THEY TELL ME IF I WAS IN CANADA THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ON THOSE MODELS FOR THE VERY SAME THING WHY NOT ON THE AMERICAN MODELS?
WINDSHIELD FAILURE.
GEAR SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE.
LUG NUTS RECALL.
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 →