Page 24 of 28 · complaints 1,151–1,200 of 1,381

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 →

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Sep 8, 1999CA

MUFFLER RATTLES WHEN ON IDLE.

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed Sep 8, 1999CA

ABS SENSOR.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 7, 1999NY

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT, VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP AND WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES REAL HARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP. *AK

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Sep 7, 1999PA

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LUGS: NUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THE WHEEL ON SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE WHEEL ALSO CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE STOPPED SAFELY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Sep 6, 1999FL

NO SUMMARY

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 2, 1999MA

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SWAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 27, 1999IL

WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUES TRAVELING, RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Aug 26, 1999SC

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND CHANGES GEARS SPORATICALLY, DEALER REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER AND TORQUE CLUTCH SOLINOID BUT THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAVE HEARD OTHER F150 OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT SAME PROBLEM.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 23, 1999TX

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES EXPERIENCES SUDDEN SURGES/JERKING MOTIONS, WHICH HAS NEARLY CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES, SEVERAL REPAIRS (TRANSMISSION, SPARK PLUGS AND COMPUTER UNIT), HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SURGE. MJS

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Aug 13, 1999ME

DEALER SAYS SERPENTINE BELT CAN BE EXPECTED TO REQUIRE FREQUENT REPLACEMENT (ANNUAL) ON VEHICLE TO CORRECT SQUEALING NOISE.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle AssemblyCrash
Filed Aug 11, 1999CA

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT A IMPACT OF 25 MPH. SEAT BELT FAILED TO STAY LATCHED, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP FOR INSPECTION. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 10, 1999CT

TRUCK WAS ASSEMBLED WITH THE WRONG MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO OTHER TRUCK COMPONENTS. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 5, 1999TN

WHILE DRIVING ON A WET SURFACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER IN THE BRAKES. THEN THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE SKIDS. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Aug 4, 1999CO

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT BACK BRAKES GRAB, BUT THE FRONT BRAKES DO NOT, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. AT 22,000 MILES THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. AT 28,000 MILES THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 29, 1999MI

THIS IS MY SECOND TRUCK (FRIST ONE WAS 1997 W/TWO CRACKED DOORS WHICH DEALER BOUGHT BACK) WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SHEET METAL ON DOORS CRACK AT THE AT THE WINDOW TRIM DO TO STRESS CREATED WHEN RAISING AND LOWERING WINDOW. FORD WON'T ADMIT PROBLEM

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 19, 1999CT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 12, 1999CT

VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED WITH WRONG MOTOR MOUNTS FOR STANDARD TRANSMISSION NOT AUTOMATIC. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Jul 8, 1999IA

THE TORSION BAR IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION, AND IT BROKE WHILE MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I'M WORRIED THAT IF IT BROKE WHILE IT WAS PARKED, IT COULD BREAK AGAIN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY HAD CHANGED SEVERAL OTHER BROKEN TORSION BARS, IN FACT WHEN I CALLED THEM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, THEY NEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT PART HAD FAILED. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THEY REPLACED THE TORSION BAR WITH ANOTHER EXACT SAME TORSION BAR. I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THIS PART OR THE DEPENDABILITY OF MY $30,000.00 TRUCK.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 7, 1999TX

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 30, 1999OH

A/C WATER IS LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE . DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO SOLUTION. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 30, 1999CA

DUE TO DEFECTIVE THROTTLE LINKAGE AND PCV VALVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 24, 1999PA

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WASHER WORKING IMPROPERLY. DEALER/MFR. WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jun 17, 1999MO

ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jun 7, 1999FL

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, UNDER WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH. TRUCK IS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jun 4, 1999NY

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY @ 40MPH. PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL @ 70MPH BEFORE PEDAL RELEASED AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT TIME OF INCIDENT. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jun 1, 1999NC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE NO START CONDITIONS AFTER RAINSTORMS, REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEMS. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 28, 1999FL

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN THREE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION, AND DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WERE THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, AND THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED THREE TIMES. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed May 28, 1999WV

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PASSAGER'S SIDE DOORS HAVE CRACKS WITHIN THE FRAME AND PANEL. BOTH DOOR'S ARE RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES REAR BRAKE'S WILL LOCK UP. *AK

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed May 28, 1999MN

LEAF SPRINGS BECAME MISALIGNED WITHOUT ANY HEAVY DUTY TOWING OR OFF ROADING. RECALL SAID THEY COULD FAIL UNDER HEAVY WORK. BEFORE RECALL CLIP WAS INSTALLED, THE SPRINGS BECAME MISALIGNED. TOOK TO DEALER, INSTALLED CLIP AND SAID FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SPRINGS. LEFT THEM IN MISALIGNED POSITION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 26, 1999UT

IN WET AND COLD CONDITIONS VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES WITH NO WARNING. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLS, ALTERNATOR LIGHT COMES ON. TO RESTART VEHICLE, DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY HAVE NOTIFIED THE MANFACTURER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 26, 1999WI

ON-GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKES LOCKING UP DURING 5 MPH OR MORE; CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER. BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed May 25, 1999TX

FAILURE OF SPARE TIRE PRIOR TO REQUIRED USE DUE TO SPARE TIRE CARRIER BRACKETS CUTTING INTO SIDEWALL. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 14, 1999TX

ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 12, 1999MD

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON SUNDAY ,9 MAY 1999 WHILE TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS IS NORMAL OR A VALID COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 11, 1999TX

THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON ACCELERATING. *AK

Tires
Filed May 7, 1999MI

SIDEWALL TIRE WEAR ON SPARE TIRE. RETURNED AS A WARRANTEE ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265X70RX17 )

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Apr 30, 1999MI

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RIGHT TORSION BAR BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT END TO DROP DOWN ABOUT ONE FOOT.DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TRUCK IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 1999NC

NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME I HAVE TO FORCE GEARSHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. NOW, AFTER 11 MONTHS GOING INTO THIRD GEAR OCCASIONALLY GRINDS. THIS IS NOT ONLY VERY AGGRAVATING, BUT DANGEROUS AS WELL. CARS WITH AUTOMATICS HAVE TO SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET INTO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT CLASHING THE GEARS ANYMORE THAN NECESSARY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND OF COURSE THEY SAID ALL WAS WELL. I EVEN WENT THROUGH THE HASSLE OF GOING TO ANOTHER DEALER, DRIVING 2 MORE IDENTICAL TRUCKS, AND THEY DID THE EXACT SAME THING EXCEPT FOR THE 3RD GEAR PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE OK, SO REALLY THE ONLY THING LEFT ARE THE SYNCHRONIZERS. PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHANGED BY TEMPERATURE OR ANY OTHER OUTSIDE INFLUENCES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Apr 22, 1999TX

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, I NOTICED AN ABANDONED VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL BEHIND THE VEHICLE TO MY RIGHT TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN MY TRUCK DID NOT NOTICEABLY BEGIN TO SLOW, I ATTEMPTED TO BRING MY TRUCK TO A COMPLETE STOP. I INCREASED PRESSURE ON TH BRAKE PEDAL. THE TRUCK BEGAN VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND SLOWLY BEGAN TO DECREASE SPEED. AFTER APPROX 100 YDS I FELT THE BRAKES BEGAN TO GRAB AND WAS PULLED FORWARD AGAINST THE SEAT BELT. I HAD ALREADY TRAVELED AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE, AND ONCE THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK THERE WAS NTO ENOUGH SPACE LEFT TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS RESULTED IN MY TRUCK RAMMING INTO THE ABONDED VEHICLE AT 5-15 MPH. *AK

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Apr 21, 1999TN

SPARE TIRE DESIGN PLACES THE RUBBER SIDEWALL DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL UNDERCARRIAGE, RESULTING IN FRICTION/DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. MJS

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Apr 19, 1999AZ

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE TO POP OFF, AND THE CONSUMER LOST THE SPARE TIRE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Apr 14, 1999MO

LOOSE NUT ON DRIERS SIDE WIPER ARM CAUSED WIPERS TO FAIL DURING HEAVY RAIN.

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 12, 1999CO

NO SUMMARY

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Apr 12, 1999VA

STEERING FAILURE, FOUR REPAIR ATTEMPTS, PROBLEM CONTINUES.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 29, 1999TX

WHEN DRIVING BOUT 30-35 MPH ON THE BEACH, DRIVER HIT A LOG WHICH BENT THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. THE DRIVERS' SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNITIL AFTER THE DRIVER HIT HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING MINOR INJUIRIES. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Mar 28, 1999PA

PURCHASED F150 IN JUNE 1998. 8/98 HAD MINIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM - FAN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN KEY TURNED OFF. IN 9/98 LOST SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, COULD HEAR RELAYS CLICKING. 10/98 REPLACED MAIN FUSE BOX DUE TO ARCHING BETWEEN TERNMINALS. 1/99 LOST SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER/4 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH, COULD HEAR RELAYS IN DASH AGAIN. 1/99 REPLACED MAIN SWITCH BOX AGAIN DUE TO ARCHING BETWEEN TERNMINALS. 3/99 OCASSIONAL PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WASHER SWITCH. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, IF IT WAS RESOLVED, ETC, BUT INDICATED THE NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNEL WAS OUT OF THE PART. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 25, 1999PA

TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AT 40-43 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Mar 24, 1999TX

WHEN COMING TO STOP AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP TO/ OVER 3000 RPM, THEN LUNGED FOWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Mar 24, 1999TX

THE REAR SEATBELTS AND LATCHES DO NOT ANCHOR THROUGH THE "SLIT" WHERE THE SEATBACK AND THE SEAT CUSHION MEET. THE BELTS (AND LATCHES) COME UP THROUGH HOLES IN THE SEAT CUSHION ITSELF. THESE HOLES ARE LOCATED FOREWARD OF THE LINE WHERE THE SEATBACK AND SEAT CUSHION COME TOGETHER. AS A RESULT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SNUG THE CHILD SEAT BASE AGAINST THE BACK OF THE CAR SEAT. EVEN WITH THE BELT VERY TIGHTLY PULLED THE CHILD SEAT MOVES SEVERAL INCHES FOREWARD AT THE BASE AND ROTATES SIDEWAYS. THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL THE CAR SEATS I HAVE TRIED TO FIT IN THE VEHICLE SPECIFY THAT THE BELTS MUST COME THROUGH THE SLIT WHERE THE SEAT CUSHION AND BACK MEET. IS A MODIFICATION AVAILABLE TO REMIDIATE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE THE INSTALLATION SAFE!! THANK YOU. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 18, 1999OK

TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. THE CRASH INVOLVED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. DAMAGES TOTALLED $7,000.00. TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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 →