1998 Ford F-150 complaints

1998 FORD F-150 MUFFLER BOLTS SHEARED OFF ON BOTH SIDES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MUFFLER BOLTS CAME OFF OF THE ENGINE SIDES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 90,866 MILES, AND THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHAT ISN'T WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK? WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT...SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN, INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY STAY ON, BOTH DOORS ARE RUSTING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM, KNOB TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE FELL OFF AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, FRONT BRAKES CALIPERS STUCK AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS RUSTED OFF TWICE, TRANSMISSION WENT UP AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES, RADIATOR RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE HEADLINER IS FALLING DOWN OFF THE CEILING. I'VE PROBABLY MISSED SOMETHING BUT CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD. *TR

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, FRONT-END BEGIN TO SHIM. SHIM BECAME SO HARD SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 45 MPH. LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY HUGE PIECE OF TREND COMING OFF & BEING LEFT ON HIGHWAY. SLOWLY PULLED OVER THINKING A BLOW-OUT & FOUND FRONT-LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TOP LAYER OF TREND GONE, BUT NO AIR LOST. *TR

1998 FORD F150. CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT FORD RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO REACH SOMEONE AT FORD ON THE PHONE AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. HE BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE A REAL PERSON TO ANSWER THE PHONE NOT A MACHINE. *KB

FORD ISSUED TSB 99-20-7 COVERING COOLANT LEAKS IN 1999. I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MAY OF 2008. THE PROBLEM IS THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO FAILED TO RECALL OR INFORM THE OWNERS. THE RESULT WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY IS A LOWER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT COSTING $1500-2300 IF THE ENGINE HAS NOT SEIZED IF THE ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCE HYDROLOCK (ENGINE SEIZURE) REPLACEMENT COSTS ARE MORE THAN $4000. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PERSONS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I'M INCLUDING WEBLINKS TO REVIEW. HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS THEN REPLACED BY A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE JACKED THE VEHICLE UP, REPOSITIONED THE SPRING, TIED IT DOWN WITH WIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE REMEMBERED A RECALL HE HAD SEEN AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

SERVICE GUIDE INDICATES TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE EVERY 30,000 MILES ( EXCEPT E$OD TRANSMISSIONS ) MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK . MECHANIC RELATES FAILURE DUE TO DIRTY TRANSMISSION FLUID . I HAVE TO REPLACE E4OD TRANSMISSION . *TR

WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AT 7AM, MY 1998 FORD F-150 WAS ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE APPROXIMATELY 10PM ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATEY 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED WITHOUT PHYSICAL FORCE. THE WINDOW MECHANISM WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WINDOW TO ROLL DOWN. THE WINDOW HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,815.

I WOKE UP TO A WHOOSHING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD BANGING ON MY DOOR WITH MY NEIGHBOR SCREAMING THAT MY FORD F150 WAS ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE CHIEF, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OUR CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PRIOR TO THIS FIRE. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW MELTED TO MY DRIVEWAY AND WE HAVE SOME DAMAGE TO OUR HOME. *TR

A SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE BLOCK IN MY 1998 TRITON 5.4 F-150. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST. LOOKING IT THE PROBLEM ONLINE I'VE REALIZED IT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WERE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WITH A HOLE IN THE BLOCK SHOOTING OUT UNBURNED GAS TO THE LIVE SPARK PLUG IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE FORM OF A RECALL, IF NOTHING ELSE TO INSPECT AND IF THE PROBLEM DOES EXIST, FIX IT. WOULD AN INSPECTION REALLY FIND THE DEFECT THOUGH? FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT PRETTY MUCH HAPPENS ALL AT ONE BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY FOUR THREADS HOLDING THESE PLUGS INTO THE BLOCK. HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM DOES GET ADDRESSED SOONER THAN LATER, IT'S NEVER TO SOON TO CORRECT A PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE SAFETY OF HUMAN LIFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL ARRIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I AM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF FORD CUSTOMERS WITH A F150 4.2L V6 1998 THAT HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE BECAUSE OF A LEAKY GASKET. MY TRUCK HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT, BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER IN '05 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. RAN GREAT UNTIL I WENT TO START IT IN THE MORNING ONE DAY AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND IT KNOCKED LIKE CRAZY. I HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX IT, WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT STRETCHES ACROSS THE BOARD. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WE HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THIS RECALL FIXED ON OUR F150 FORD TRUCK. EVERY TIME WE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. *TR I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE LETTER SENT TO US AND THE NEWS IS URGING PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN, IF THERE ARE NO PARTS TO REPLACE IT WITH!!!

NORMAL DRIVING, LOW SPEED THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD SUBDIVISION, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING GAS TANK TO BE DRAGGED ON THE GROUND CREATING A HOLE IN TANK. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITHIN A HALF OF A BLOCK FOLLOWING DRAGGING OF TANK. FIRE AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. TANK WAS REPAIRED NEW STRAPS WERE INSTALLED. *TR UPDATED 08/12/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ. 08/17/10

1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS 2. I HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS AND 3 COIL EJECTIONS FROM CYLINDER HEAD SO FAR 3. RETHREADING THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH HELICOIL KITS HAD TO BUY NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND NEW COILS I HAVE ONE COIL AND SPARK PLUG. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION. ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL OR DRIVE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR POSITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN 2005. HE CALLED THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN MARCH OF 2008. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PARTS IN OVER A YEAR FROM FORD TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT FORD DID NOT INFORM THEM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL FIRES. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 LITER V6. THIS HAD BEEN A GREAT TRUCK AND HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE OTHER DAY I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND THEN THE I THREW A ROD. DID NOT THICK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME, BUT LATER I WAS CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. I HAD BEEN REGULAR FORD CUSTOMER, BUT NO MORE. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F150 TRUCK EJECTED A SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM'S. NUMEROUS WEBSITES HAVE STATED THE HEAD DESIGN IS FLAWED AND ONLY ALLOWS 3 THREADS TO CATCH. UPON EJECTION OF THE SPARK PLUG THE THREADS ON THE ENGINE HEAD ARE REMOVED. FORD HAS A NEW DESIGNED ALUMINUM HEAD TO OMIT THE PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T IT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A RECALL? NOT ONLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY LOSING POWER, BUT A BAD DESIGN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL IN THE INTERIM. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,365.

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 1998 F150 FORD PICKUP HAS LEAKED FOR YEARS AND NOW THE WATER HAS CORRODED THE GEM MODULE TO THE POINT WHERE I AM EXPERIENCING UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED AND WORRIED THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE OR CAUSE A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHILE I AM DRIVING THE TRUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY AT FIRST WOULDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I MENTIONED THE FORD BULLETIN ##15773. THEN THEY SAID THAT THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD DO IS REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR $1,300 DOLLARS. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND IT IS CLEAR THAT FORD MANUFACTURED A FAULTY WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

1998 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD NEAR BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, BURNING WIRES, PLASTIC COMPONENTS, HOOD AND FENDER BEYOND REPAIR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 20 MINUTES UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF, KEYS OUT OF IGNITION. FLAMES WERE 2 FEET HIGH AT TIME OF NOTICE; NEIGHBOR SAVED FURTHER DAMAGE TO TRUCK AND HOME. *TR

WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES AT HIGH SPEEDS DISTRACTING THE OPERATION ON THE VEHICLE. ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR

1998 F-150 5.4L TRITON I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 2 YRS. AND PUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY AT 124,000. OTHER THAN MAINTENANCE (NOT INCLUDING SPARK PLUGS) HAVE CHANGED BOTH CV SHAFTS AND BEARINGS IN THE FRONT. FEB. 3, 08 WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRECURSOR IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG FROM THE HEAD STRIPPING THE THREADS. IT OCCURRED VERY QUICKLY WHILE COASTING DOWN HILL AT 55 MPH. NOT HARDLY WORKING THE ENGINE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY, I HAD BEEN WITH A FRIEND WHEN HIS 2000 F 150 4.6L BLEW A SPARK PLUG FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS. THIS ACTION ALMOST STALLED MY TRUCK OUT BEING AT LOW RPM TO BEGIN WITH IT RATTLED VIOLENTLY. I WAS AFRAID MY 10 YR OLD BROTHER AND I WOULD HAVE TO WALK FOR HELP. NOT FUN IN NY IN FEB. A PASSERBY CAME TO OUR AID. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME BY A FRIEND. STILL TRYING TO FIND A SUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE REPAIR. THOUSANDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO VARIOUS WEBSITES, DEALERS, AND EVEN TO FORD. SOME INSTANCES HAVE RESULTED IN FIRES DESTROYING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. IGNITED BY A STRAY SPARK PLUG AND FUEL MIST FROM THE CYLINDER. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY FORD. MOST REPAIRS RUN $2,000 - $4,000 EACH TIME A PLUG A SPIT. MANY VEHICLES HAVE UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 12/30/2007. IT HAD RUN A LITTLE ROUGH AT START UP FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO 12/30/2007. THEN ON THAT DAY A LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THE 4.2 ENGINES HAVING PROBLEMS. AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH IT YET. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS ENGINE. IF THEY KNOW IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM TO START WITH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT LOBE WOULD NOT FIRE AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150, WHICH HAS A 5.4L ENGINE. AT 100,000 MILES THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW. THEN ON A TRIP BACK FROM IDAHO FALLS IDAHO THIS MONTH TO MY HOME IN LINDON, UT THE #1 PLUG BLEW. BASED ON RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE SECOND TIME MY PLUG BLEW, I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY ICE COVERED HIGHWAY (I-15 JUST NORTH OF BLACKFOOT, ID). WHEN #1 WENT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND MY SPEED DRASTICALLY DECREASED. THIS COMBINATION MADE ME LOSE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY POSSIBLY ROLLING MY TRUCK. LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND THE OVERWHELMING INCIDENTS, I THINK IT IS TIME SOMEONE TOOK ACTION AGAINST FORD. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A DEATH! IF NOTHING IS DONE, THEN THE GOVERNMENT IS AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS SCRAPING ACROSS THE ROAD. WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, HE REALIZED THAT THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FELL AND WAS DRAGGING ACROSS THE ROAD. HE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,700. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

1998 FORD F-150 FUEL TANK FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL TANK FELL FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE BACKING OUT OF HIS GARAGE. HE STATED THAT BOTH THE STRUTS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE BROKE. *KB

1998 FORD F150- 66,000MI. DEVELOPED A SERIOUS OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON AND FORD IS WELL AWARE OF IT'S RECURRENCE. BESIDES COSTING $2000.00 TO REPAIR, IT IS LEAKING HEAVILY ONTO AN EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING SMOKE AND POTENTIAL FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS THE FIFTH AND SIXTH CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,250.

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD F150 FROM CAR MAX IN LAS VEGAS. I ALSO PURCHASED CAR MAX'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JIFFY LUBE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DROVE IT HOME, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1 MILE. JIFFY LUBE DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THEY SERVICED THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO USE IT. JUMPING IT DID NO GOOD, THE BATTERY WAS NOT LOW. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO CAR MAX IT WAS TOWED ON A FLAT BED TRAILER, SO THE WHEELS NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND. I CALLED CAR MAX THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD IT SCHEDULED TO LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CALLED ME THAT FOLLOWING DAY AND ASKED IF THE TRUCK WAS SMOKING WHEN I LAST DROVE IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS NOT AND THAT IT DROVE FINE. THEN THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND CONTINUED TO ACT AS THOUGH I HAD CAUSED IT. ON MY NEXT DAY OFF, I RODE MY BICYCLE TO CAR MAX AND CHECKED THE TRUCK'S ODOMETER AGAINST THE MILEAGE JIFFY LUBE WROTE ON MY RECEIPT. THERE WERE 28 MILES PUT ON MY TRUCK SINCE THE OIL CHANGE. CAR MAX WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY BLEW THE MOTOR IN MY TRUCK, BUT DENY IT. MY SON HAD DONE MOST OF THE OIL CHANGES ON THE TRUCK, SO I HAVE NO PROOF OIL CHANGES WERE DONE, SO CAR MAX DENIED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CALLED FORD AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH ISSUE ON THE TRUCK, EVEN THOUGH FORD CHANGED THE HEAD STARTING WITH LATER 1998 MODELS, DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY ASKING HOW THEY CAN DENY AN ISSUE, WHEN THEY PUT OUT I

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE PRESENT. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A HOSE. WHEN THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED, THEY FINISHED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE FAILURE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY ASKED FOR THE VIN. THE DEALER THEN CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE DUE TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY SENT NOTIFICATIONS, BUT THE CONTACT NEVER RESPONDED. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FUSE BOXES. THERE WAS ALSO PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A WIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SWITCH, BUT THE CONTACT STILL HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE DEALER FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH, BUT IT CONTINUES TO TAKE FOUR OR MORE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS PAID $200 IN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN BOTH COLD AND HOT WEATHER AND THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE DISCONNECTED WIRE WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 229,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

MY 1998 FORD F-150 FITS THE SUMMARY OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V171000. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN WITH THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER REASON, INCLUDING THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR BECAUSE THEY STATE IT IS NOT A FORD RECALL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NHTSA SITE INDICATES AS A (RECALL DATE OF 10/07/97) BECAUSE FORD HAS TO MAKE A RECALL NOTICE. MY INDICATOR IS OFF BY ONE (IT SAYS I'M IN 'R' WHEN RALLY IN 'P' AND SO FORTH). 'I UNDERSTAND NOT DOING A MASS RECALL FOR THIS, BUT WHEN A VEHICLE IS IN FOR A MANDATORY RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL CATCHING FIRE, ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING ANOTHER KNOWN DEFECT AS INDICATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V171000. ALSO, IT IS IN FOR DAMAGE RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE REPLACING THE FUELS TANK AND MANY OTHER ITEMS ATTACHED TO IT (I.E. LINES ETC.) THEY DON'T FEEL IT IS WARRANTED TO ADDRESS ANOTHER NHTSA RECALL RELATED TO THE LEAF SPRING POTENTIALLY PUNCTURING THE TANK. THAT IS CAMPAIGN #98V161000. REGARDS, STEVE. *TR

HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 8/10-07, THE COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I ARRIVED HOME. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND PLANNED TO TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO THE MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS OPEN DURING THE WEEK. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES THAT WEEKEND AND I MONITORED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THAT MONDAY MORNING, LOUD KNOCKING CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT I'VE THROWN A ROD AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A TSB REGARDING DEFECTS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE (WHICH WOULD CAUSE A THROWN ROD), BUT CONSUMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED, ONLY DEALERS. TSB99-20-7 WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED AS AN OWNER? NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE OR THE ENGINE CHECKED OUT IF I HAD SIMPLY BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL NOTIFICATION, INSTEAD OF A TSB? TO DEALERSHIPS. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150 LD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ALUMINUM RIM BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE WHEEL LIP RIM DETACHED AND CAUSED A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO MORE RIMS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I LEFT MY 1998 FORD F150 PICK-UP TRUCK IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHILE I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS. I LEFT ON MONDAY JULY 30. I WAS CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT AROUND 9:00PM AND NOTIFIED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE REPORT SUSPECTED EQUIPMENT FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT, BUT VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND TOWED FROM PROPERTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE SNUG TOP COVER THAT IS USED TO SECURE THE CARGO AREA FELL DOWN THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. HE FELT THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE FALLEN ON HIS HEAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGES IS 45,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB

STRAPS RETAINING THE FUEL TANK FAILED RESULTING IN THE FUEL TANK DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY RETAIN TANK WITH RATCHETING TIE DOWN STRAP AND GET VEHICLE HOME SAFELY. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY AS THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE AND OR INJURIES.*AK

WE OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 THAT WE BOUGHT USED FOR MY SON. MONDAY HE CALLED ME FROM INDIANA WHERE HE IS WORKING AND SAID HIS TRUCK STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIREMAN TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE ON THIS RECALL. NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE TRUCK OR GIVE US AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE OF THE FORD RECALL. HE HAS THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CA. HOW DO I HANDLE THIS ISSUE. *AK

THE 1998 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK 4.2 LITER V6 ENGINE THREW A ROD DURING STARTUP ONE MORNING. THE ENGINE HAD 70,000 EASY MILES ON IT. NO TOWING, RACING OR HARD DRIVING. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4200.00 WITH A JASPER ENGINE AT MR. ENGINE BECAUSE FORD WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL UNLESS I PAID THEM $7500.00 FOR A NEW FORD ENGINE. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS SAME VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME $2200.00 AT 50,000 MILES TO REBUILD THE ORIGINAL, AND THE SECOND TIME $1800.00 TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL WITH A REMANUFACTURED JENNINGS TRANSMISSION AT 160,000. FROM ALL I HAVE HEARD FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ENGINE GASKET DEFECT AND STILL HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION ,AND BELIEVE THIS NEEDED TO BE REMEDIED BY FORD. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF 4.2 LITER 1997 THROUGH 1999 ENGINE FAILURES. I LOVE MY TRUCK, BUT WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F 150 WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST , NO WARNING TRUCK WOULDN'T START FINALLY STARTED, BUT IT WAS KNOCKING YOU COULD SMELL ANTI FREEZE, CALLED TOW TRUCK AND THE ENGINE WAS GONE, ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ONTO THE HEADS AND THE BOLTS HAS RUSTED. THE FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN AN EXHAUST LEAK, WHICH HAS BEGUN TO LEAK INTO THE CAP OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE BOLTS MUST BE DRILLED OUT IN ORDER TO BE REMOVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.