1998 Ford F-150 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 10 — 1997–2004.

19971999
Complaints
1,624
Crashes
96
Fires
107
Injuries
61
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1141 complaints

Gasoline Fuel System

Avg mileage:141,481 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:6
#2110 complaints

Structure:Body:Door

Avg mileage:56,825 mi
Crash-related:1
#382 complaints

Tire Defects

Avg mileage:109,568 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Ford F-150.

Gasoline Fuel System
141
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Avg Miles
141,481
Structure:Body:Door
110
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,825
Tire Defects
82
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
109,568
Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar
64
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,082
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
60
complaints
Crashes
Fires
5
Avg Miles
88,165
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
60
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
84,592
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
58
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
1
Avg Miles
86,500
Tires:Tread/Belt
54
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
57,600
Unintended Acceleration
53
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
8
Avg Miles
110,135
Engine & Cooling
51
complaints
Crashes
Fires
5
Avg Miles
99,438
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
46
complaints
Crashes
Fires
29
Avg Miles
107,705
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
40
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
173,723
Electrical Faults
38
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
19
Avg Miles
125,047
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
37
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
76,750
Automatic Transmission
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
86,286
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
29
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
147,636
Air Bags:Frontal
25
complaints
Crashes
24
Fires
1
Avg Miles
102,500
Visibility:Windshield
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
15
Avg Miles
118,620
Interior Lighting
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,000
Suspension Failures
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
159,015
Suspension:Front
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
61,000
Fuel System
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
169,978
Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
96,333
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
90,000
Engine Problems
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
138,170
Hydraulic Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
146,577
Transmission / Drivetrain
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
170,449
Steering Defects
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
167,334

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Ford F-150

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,100,000 vehicles.

11V385000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
~1,100,000 affected

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.

Other Ford F-150 Years

1998 Ford F-150 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1998 Ford F-150 has 1,624 NHTSA complaints, 96 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Gasoline Fuel System with 141 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Gasoline Fuel System (141 complaints, avg 141,481 mi); Structure:Body:Door (110 complaints, avg 56,825 mi); Tire Defects (82 complaints, avg 109,568 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 103,368 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Ford F-150 include 96 crash-related reports, 107 fire reports, 61 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,100,000 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Ford F-150?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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