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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
118,432 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Ford F-150 Owner Comments

problem #14

May 312019

F-150

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Faulty intake manifold gasket leaking coolant in piston bore hydrolocked motor over night

- Livonia, LA, USA

problem #13

Apr 012016

F-150

  • miles
Was parking truck and before I even knew it the whole truck was on fire ! no not know what cause it.

- Mayfield, KY, USA

problem #12

Feb 031999

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle lost power and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger side cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #11

Mar 122015

F-150

  • 92,435 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 1998 Ford F-150 V6 4.2 liter with 92435 original miles. I woke up this morning and started my truck up and there was a loud knocking coming from the motor. My anti-freeze was low. I now have the same problem as earlier posts of a bent rod and need a new motor. I believe Ford Motor Company should have had this motor recalled and properly fix the problem. Glad they have the job because I am about to losing mine. Walking 6 miles to work today.

- Reno , NV, USA

problem #10

Jan 132014

F-150

  • 77,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked anti freeze into the number two cylinder as a result the engine blew apart. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.

- Marne, MI, USA

problem #9

Jul 232014

F-150 8-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Traveling home towing my boat and another spark plug blows out. Tried to fix on the side of the road for 3 hours in 90 degree heat. Had to wait to get my truck towed and then another for my boat.

- Semmes, AL, USA

problem #8

Oct 112010

F-150 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the road and my spark plug blows out. It left me stranded on the side of the road.stranded. Then you have a cost of towing the vehicle somewhere. Then the repair cost.

- Semmes, AL, USA

problem #7

May 122014

F-150 8-cyl

  • 145,555 miles
I have now had 3 spark plugs eject themselves from the motor. To me there is a risk of fire being that the plug is exposed as well as fuel/fuel vapors since the plug is out of the head. There is also a manifold exhaust leak due to the studs breaking off in the motor. These heads are of poor quality and should have been recalled.

- Madison, TN, USA

problem #6

Jan 012012

F-150

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning, accompanied by a loud noise from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection where the contact was advised that the spark plugs did not have enough thread and separated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 152,000.

- Nickelsville, KY, USA

problem #5

Jan 012010

F-150 6-cyl

  • miles
Incident #1 intermittent electrical contacts in engine bay affecting charging system, emissions, and drive systems. Ford dealer diagnosed as "bad alternator" and "bad wiring harness". after I brought it back without having repairs done, I cleaned and lubed all connectors. All problems went away. I ended up having to buy a new battery due to damage done by the faulty connections. The problems had been intermittent and progressively got worse before I cleaned and lubed all connectors, this problem cost me a battery, and almost caused me to wreck as the battery died at night on the highway. With no battery and no alternator, the vehicle stalled, lighting died, etc. Incident #2 leaking timing cover gasket and lower intake gaskets. At this moment the vehicle has 127K appx miles on it, and it is currently sitting as I will not drive it until it is repaired, all miles put on vehicle have been "light" miles (no heavy towing, no overloading of vehicle, no excessive speed, etc). Ford issued a bulletin stating that there was a problem with gaskets up until roughly 1/16/98. They then issued a customer satisfaction remedy that did not cover the full gasket set or all affected engine model years. According to the bulletin, my engine (mfg date prior to 9/97) is affected, according to their customer satisfaction remedy it is not eligible. In my book, this is something that needs to be the basis of a recall. Engines have died with as little as 50K miles on them, I have never had a vehicle that I was honestly scared to drive until now. I will most likely be performing my own repairs on this vehicle due to Ford's incompetence.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #4

Dec 122012

F-150

  • 154,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving the vehicle at a normal speed I started to lose power and the truck began to misfire.the problem had been known to Ford, because our mechanic received an E-mail bulletin from Ford directly. Which stated the problems with the F-150. I have copies of this bulletin. Needless to say I was fortunate that this did not occur on the highway because my son and I would have been killed. Because the truck just lost total power.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #3

May 222013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 394,056 miles
I was driving, and the truck started losing power, and sputtering, I finally got it to a mechanic and he found that there were 3 cracked coil pack assemblies. These were replaced and it runs fine. This could have been a bad deal if I had been in a situation pulling into traffic, crossing a rr track or something similar. This idea of individual coils on each spark plug is not a good idea, and dangerous. I realize there are a lot of miles on my truck, but this could happen at any time.

- Chandler, TX, USA

problem #2

Nov 252012

F-150

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle started to misfire and a loss of power to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who advised that water had entered where the spark plugs were located. The contact was advised that the spark plugs would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 153,000.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #1

May 072012

F-150

  • 147,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150. The contact stated that smoke was seen coming from under the hood area. The vehicle caught on fire and the contact extinguished the fire by throwing water on the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. The failure and current mileage was 147,000.

- Menoken , ND, USA

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