1998 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 WITH THE TRITON 5.4L ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES IT TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY BLOW SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN NONE OF FORD'S PUBLICATIONS THAT COME WITH THE VEHICLE DOES IT STATE THAT THESE SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE RETORGUED AT A CERTAIN MILEAGE. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURED AT 91,000 MILES. FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW FACED WIT A $3500 REPAIR TO KEEP MY TRUCK RUNNING. DOESN'T SOUND "FORD TOUGH" DOES IT? I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS POSTED ON MESSAGEBOARDS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING, INNOCENT PEOPLE CAN NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY FORD. WE BOUGHT FORD BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A VEHICLE THAT WOULD LAST AND PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE. REPLACING A CYLINDER HEAD SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS ENGINE!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

THE TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PH THE TORSION BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED. SCC

TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD. PH

TORSION BAR SNAPPED CAUSING TRUCK TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE. I WAS TOLD I WAS FORTUNATE I WASNT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME THEY HAD MANY ( OVER 50) BREAK SOME WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SHOULD REPLACE AT NO COST TO OWNER ONLY HAD 21,552 , 1998 F-150 DEALER WANTED 500.00 AT FIRST THEN CLAIMED PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY LABOR( JACK DEMMERS IN WAYNE,MI.48185) PLEASE HELP THIS ISNT FAIR.

WE HAVE A FORD F150 CLUBCAB PICKUP. IT WAS PERFORMING FINE AND I CAME TO WORK AND WENT TO START IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. MY HUSBAND CAME TO HELP ME AND IT FINALLY STARTED BUT IT HAD A SEVERE KNOCK IN IT. HE TOOK IT TO THE GARGAE FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE. NO WARNING PF ANY SORT. IT HAD GREAT OIL PRESSURE , CHNAGED FREQUENTLY, COOLANT WAS FINE ETC. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON IT FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL. WE NOW HAVE HEARD OF 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM AROUND OUR SMALL COMMUNITY. FORD SAYS THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AS IT IS JUST A BULLETIN NOT A RECALL PROBLEM. THE GARAGES AROUND HERE HAVE TOLD US THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IF FORDS WOULD EVEN PAY HALF OF THE $3600 REPAIR WE WOULD BE SATISIFED BUT THEY TELL US NO.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL SEEMS TO JERK AND SLOW TO STOP. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THERE IS A TICKING NOISE, IT SEEM TO BE COMING FROM THE FIREWALL. THE ABS LIGHT HAS CAME ON SEVERAL OCCASION. I'VE HAD BOTH SET OF BRAKES SERVICED AND ROTORS TURNED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND STILL HAVE PROBLEM. *NLM

HEATER CORE WENT OUT AT 58,000 MILES. WHEN TURNING ON H HEAT IT WOULD PRODUCE A GRAY WHITESH MIST COMING FROM THE VENT. HE TOOK TRUCK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $50.00 FOR THE PART, BUT ONLY $500.00 FOR LABOR.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FAILED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY DOOR LIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE, ALSO THE DOME LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT TIME INTERMITTENTLY HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. *TT

WHEELS: RIM IS CRACKING STRAIGHT INTO THE BEAD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

THE ANTI- THEFT ALARM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL HOURS. THE WYNNE FORD DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AFTER THEY CHECKED IT BUT IT STILL GOES OFF. ALSO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT.*AK

THE PAINT ON THE TAIL GATE IS COMING OFF IN SHEETS. LEAVING JUST THE PRIMER COAT. NOT CAUSED BY RUST OR DAMAGE. *JB

ON DELIVERY OF VECHICLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND BREAK DEFECT BREAKS DO NOT STOP WHEN USEING THEM FOR REGULAR USE AT EVEN SLOW SPEEDS RESULTING IN ALMOST HITTING OTHER VECHICLES I HAVE TO TRY AND STOP VECHICLE FROM FAR AWAY DISTANCES

BOTH OF THE DOOR FRAMES ON MY 98 F-150 HAVE CRACKED AND CONTINUE TO GET BIGGER. I BELIEVE THEY WILL CRACK COMPLETELY THROUGH THE ENTIRE DOOR. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT FORD WON'T PAY TO FIX IT UNTIL YOU MAKE THEM. PLEASE HELP THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS THAT FORD HAS FRAUDULENTLY SOLD KNOWN DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH , VEHICLE WAS IN FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE BUMPER WAS PUSHED INTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

PARKED VEHICLE AT AROUND 7:20 AM AND AT AROUND 8:30 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE A FUSE BLEW OUT, AND WAS REPLACED ONE TIME. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. STEREO AND SPEAKERS WERE INSTALLED EARLY IN 1999 PROFESSIONALLY. THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO THE HOUSE. WILL MAIL 35 MM PICTURES TO BRUCE YORK.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVING WAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY DOWN. *AK

I CURRENTLY HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 4.2L ENGINE THAT HAS 65000 MILES AND AM EXPERIENCING HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD MOCO STATS THERE IS NO TSP'S OR RECALLS REGUARDING THIS. I PULLED THE OWNERS NOTIFICATION 98B33 OFF YOUR WEB SITE. MY ENGINE BUILD DATE IS NOV 1997 AT THE ESSEX PLANT. I AM IN THE ARMY AND AM STATIONED IN GERMANY. THE DEALERSHIP HERE QUOTED ME 2500.00 FOR THE ESTIMATE. AT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE U.S. ESP PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL DEALER. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED. FORD WILL NOT GIVE PART TO ME AT NO COST TO FIX THERE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AND LOWER INTAKE MANIDOLS GASKETS AND ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKETS. THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND CAN'T GET ME STRAIGHT ANSWERS. I AM CONTINUING WORKING WITH MY DEALERSHIP. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL SIT ON THIS UNTIL MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT ON THE 22 JANUARY 2003.

1998 FORD F-150 SUPER CAB WITH THIRD DOOR. INTERIOR LAMPS AND 'DOOR AJAR' INDICATOR LAMP STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, RUNNING LAMPS OFF, WHETHER VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, AND ALL DOORS A SECURELY CLOSED. THIS PROBLEM GOES AWAY ON VERY HOT DAYS.

FORD DENIES THAT THE CYLINDERS HEAD ARE DEFECTIVE, YET I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. DT

THE SPARE TIRE HAD GOUGES THAT DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE TIRE'S SIDEWALL. DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS TYPE OF TIRE WEAR, WHEN THE TIRE IS PLACED IN THE SPARE TIRE'S CRADLE WAS FAIRLY COMMON WITH FORD TRUCKS. CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING DEFECTIVE TIRE. *TT *JB

THE SPARE TIRE WAS INOPERATIVE (WRANGLER R7/S, P265-70-R17). *NLM *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 20MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH REAR AXLE FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. DRIVER WAS EJECTED 40 FEET AWAY INTO A DITCH. DUE TO THE SEVERE DAMAGE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN MY 1998 FORD F-150

TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING NEITHER ARE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE REPLACED BULBS RELAYS AND SOCKETS HAVE TRACED WIRING ALL TO NO AVAIL. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH A SPARK PLUG (CYLINDER #2) BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING COIL PACK. DEALER ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT OF CYLINDER HEAD IS $3400. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IS VERY COMMON IN F150'S PARTICULARLY WITH THE 5.4 V8 ENGINE. THIS IS A STOCK ENGINE, WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 100K MILES. PLUGS SHOULD NOT BLOW OUT OF CYLINDER FOR NO REASON. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO PROJECTILE OR RISK OF FIRE. BASED ON MY INVESTIGATION, FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. MORE INFO AT: HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=4ABD0A2337942B5D2ED89C308E5C3975&THREADID=88853 DT *TR

A LOT OF F 150 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED STRESS CRACKS IN THE SHEET METAL OF THE DOORS. CAN I GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THAY TELL ME NO. DT

CONSUMER ADVISED THAT THE NORMAL OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS RESULTING IN THE METAL DOOR FRAME BREAKING DUE TO LACK OF REINFORCEMENT BETWEEN THE DOOR AND FRAME. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT ON THE BRAKE LINE THERE IS A FLAT END THAT GOES INTO THE MAIN BRAKING SYSTEM THAT SUPPLIES THE BRAKE FUEL TO THE REAR BRAKES.THAT FLAT END BROKE OR WORE OFF, RESULTING IN BRAKE FUEL LEAKING OUT,CAUSING NO BRAKE POWER. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. NLM

PE 98 024 / TIE ROD END FAILURE: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVEY TRAFFIC OF 10-15 MPH THE TIE ROD END BROKE ON THE LEFT FRONT CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

BOTH TIE ROD ENDS FELL OFF VEHICLE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.AK

ON 14JUN01 MY TRUCK HAD 20709 MILES ON IT. CHARAPP FORD REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS IN ORDER TO PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. THIS CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH INVOICE#20709. ON 17JUL02 MY TRUCK WAS INSPECTED AT MURRAY'S FORD IN DUBOIS, PA WITH NO PROBLEMS, MILEAGE 29978, INVOICE # C09529. ON 19SEP02 I HAD MURRAY'S CHECK A RUBBING SOUND FROM MY FRONT BRAKES. THEY FOUND THE BRAKE PAD WAS MISSING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKES RESULTING IN METAL TO METAL CONTACT. THIS REQUIRED NEW BRAKE PADS AND NEW ROTORS. MY TRUCK HAD 31378 MILES, INVOICE # C12269. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE CONSIDERING I DO NOT OVERLOAD MY TRUCK NOR DO I TOW AT ALL. I BELIEVE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, OR POOR WORKMANSHIP.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES ARE WARPED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

AXLE SEAL ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE IS LEAKING AND CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL, ALSO NOT ONLY ON MY TRUCK BUT MANY OTHER TRUCKS LOCALLY THE PAINT IS CRACKING ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND STARTING TO RUST NEAR THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE WINDOWS. THEY ARE ONLY LITTLE SPOTS BUT VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR: UPWARDS OF $300- $500 DOLLARS.

DRIVER DOOR CRACKED LOWER LEFT REAR AT BELT MOLDING. *AK

DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD THREADS THAT HOLDS THE SPARK PLUG FAILED. THE NON-FORD MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A RARE EVENT, SEEING ONLY 3 INCIDENTS ON THE 10 YEARS HE'S BEEN REPAIRING. HOWEVER, IT IS COMMONLY REPORTED BY F-150 AND LIGHTNING OWNERS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&POSTID=686548. *AK

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO SIDEWAYS. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE THE FRONT END NEEDED REPLACING PLUS TIRES THE ESTIMATE IS $983.45. *SCC

WHILE TRAVELING AROUND A CORNER CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TIE ROD : INNER AND OUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,. THEY REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER TURNED STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD SOMETHING FALL, STEERING WHEEL SPUN IN CIRCLES. DEALER DETERMINED THAT LOWER STEERING SHAFT BROKE AND FELL OFF.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WITH NO WARNING. *AK *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TIE ROD CAME OFF BACKING UP.*AK

TIE ROD END CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED WE WERE TOLD BOTH BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC MADE THE COMMENT TO US THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FORD F-150'S WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND KNOW OF OTHER GARAGES REPORTING THE SAME. WE FEEL FORTUNATE WE WERE NOT INJURED. WE TRAVEL THE INTERSTATE MOST OF THE TIME AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH AND WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED FOR SURE. WE FEEL THAT THE REPAIRS NECESSARY ON A TRUCK OF THIS LATE MODEL IS EXCESSIVE AND WONDERED IF A RECALL WAS IN ORDER. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WHICH FORTUNATELY WAS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

DRIVERS DOOR HAS CRACK IN STEEL NEAR WINDOW ABOUT HALF INCH LONG AND IS GETTING BIGGER. PAINT ON ROOF, HOOD, AND DRIVERS DOOR IS CRACKING AND STARTING TO PEEL AWAY.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FORD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT LEFT REAR TREAD SEPERATED. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE , THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 46K MILES, FORD F150 1998. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATES THAT TREAD SEPERATED TOTALLY AND SUDDENLY MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP OFF THE GROUND. *SCC