1998 Ford F-250 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Ford F-250.

19971999
Complaints
77
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Ford F-250 Problems

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

#17 complaints

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

#26 complaints

Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar

Avg mileage:55,000 mi
#34 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Considering a 1998 Ford F-250?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Ford F-250.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
55,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Side/Rear Glass
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Flasher Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other:Storage
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Ford F-250. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Ford F-250

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-250 Years

1998 Ford F-250 — FAQ

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

Is the 1998 Ford F-250 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Ford F-250 has 77 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Ford F-250?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (7 complaints); Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar (6 complaints, avg 55,000 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (4 complaints). 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-250?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 55,000 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-250?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Ford F-250 include 2 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 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-250 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-250?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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

Wider context: See the full Ford F-250 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1998 Ford F-250

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99