1998 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

THERE IS A HAIRLINE CRACK RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOW FRAME FORMING ON DOOR.*AK

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE; DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED; MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD PAY ALL EXCEPT 20%, WHICH WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE WITH TORSION BARS PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT EVEN TRYING TO MAKE BETTER QUALITY PARTS AVAILABLE. *YH

WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN GARAGE THE DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BROKE. FEBRUARY 1999 THE TORSION BAR ON THE PASSENGER BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH. FORTUNATELY IN EITHER CASE NO INJURIES. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FAILURE, BUT AFTER CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AND THE DEALER WHERE THE TRUCK NEEDED TO BE TOWED EITER STATED THIS IS A PROBLEM. MY FAMILY NOW FEELS FOR THEIR SAFETY NEXT TIME WE DRIVE IN THE TRUCK. I NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE TORSION BARS USED ON THAT YEAR TRUCK. *AK

OUTSIDE SHEET METAL FATIGUE AT LOWER REAR CORNER OF BOTH DOOR WINDOWS ADOUT 1/4" FORD WON'T REPAIR.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. VEHICLE FINALLY HIT TREE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

VEHICLE WAS SITTING AROUND ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES IN OFF POSITION AND CONSUMER SMELLED AN ANTI FREEZE ODOR BEFOR EXITING VEHICLE. AFTER RETURNING FROM SHOPPING ,VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARMENT WAS CALLED, CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CRACKING RIGHT ABOVE DOOR HANDLE NEAR WINDOW. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A SPLIT AROUND THE RIM, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 49000 MILES, TIRES WERE BRIDGESTONE FUELER 684, SIZE P265/75R16, SEARS REPLACED TIRES. *SLC

WHEN CONSUMER CLOSES DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS THERE ARE STRESS CRACKS ON MOLDING. THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT.*AK

RT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING APROX 50 MPH. FRONT RT OF TRUCK DROPPED AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL.

PASSENGER'S SIDE RIGHT TORSION BAR COLLASPED AND BROKE WHICH CAUSED PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE TO DROP DOWN ON ONE SIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED TORSION BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 30 MPH, APPLIED BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CONSUMER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DROPPED TO LOW 1 TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. IT FELT LIKE A BRAKE LINE LEAK. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SENSOR. *AK

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT AN INJURY DURING THIS INCIDENT, WE WERE VERY LUCKY. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION. I HAVE NOTICED ON DIFFERENT WEB SITES THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER IF SOMETHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

LUGS: NUTS REQUIRE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO TIGHTEN. *AK

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. THE TORSION BAR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK

MECHANIC CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSES OF LOUD NOISES WHEN STEERING AFTER ENGINE IS WARM. *AK

REAR WINDOW FRAME LEAKS. THREE MODEL YEARS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON. FORD IS AWARE AS WELL AS ENGINEER DEPT. EMPLOYEES OF FORD AVOID THIS SLIDING WINDOW TYPE BECAUSE THEY'RE AWARE OF OVERSIZED WINDOWS THAT MUST BE HAMMERED INTO FRAME TO GET THEM INSTALLED IN THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. UPON MY ARRIVAL BACK HOME AFTER VACATION IN FLA. FORD SAYS "OUT OF WARRANTY" IT LEAKS VERY HEAVY DURING RAIN.I RECOGNIZED THE LEAKS AT 59,000, AND DROVE HOME WITH JUST OVER 60,000. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, SUDDENLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER VEHICLE OFF TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, AFTER PULLING OVER, CONSUMER THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER THEN SMELLED RUBBER, HE THEN WALKED AROUNG THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE TREAD WAS GONE, THE PLASTIC COWING IN THE FENDER WELL WAS GONE AND THERE WERE SMALL VACUUM HOSES HANGING DOWN, THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED, HOWEVER THE TREAD WAS GONE FROM MOST OF THE TIRE.*JB

IT STARTED WITH DOME LIGHT STAYING ON CONSTANTLY - SO WE GO WITHOUT A DOME LIGHT AND IT IS UNSAFE AND QUITE THE NUSANCE. NEXT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY - WEATHER SEEMS TO PLAY A FACTOR.*AK NEXT THE IGNITION SWITCH CHIME STARTED STAYING ON CONSTANTLY WHEN KEYS AREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION...AGAIN WEATHER SEEMS TO BE A FACTOR. INITIALLY WIGGLING THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES GET THE CHIME TO STOP BUT NOW I HAD TO REMOVE THE GEM FUSE(15) AS IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CHIME TO QUIT. I HAVEN'T CHECKED YET WHAT ELSE THAT FUSE IS USED FOR. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL F150 OWNERS - SO FORD NEEDS TO FIX IT!!!!

SUDDEN AN SPONTANIOUS BREAKAGE OF TORSION BAR AT LOW SPEED WITHOUT HITTING ANY OBSTICLE OR POT-HOLE IN ROAD.*AK

TORSION BAR FAILED CAUSING LOWER LEFT SIDE TO PULL TO THE GUARDRAIL, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE. *SLC

CRACKS ARE ON BOTH DOORS AT THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF EACH WINDOW. IT SEEMS TO BE FATIQUE DUE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE WINDOWS

TIE ROD END FELL OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35-40 MPH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. >PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT, AND THEN CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE WITH SPARE. ABOUT 50 MILES LATER,TIRE CAME COMPLETLY OFF VEHICLE. VEHICLE CRASHED IN THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND DID SOME DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HIM.*AK THE SPARE WHEEL THAT WAS USED DURING REPLACING FLAT TIRE CAME OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE COATING THAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALLED FOR COATING BREAKDOWN AND CAUSING THE LUG NUTS TO COME LOOSE AND SPIN OFF. ( THE TIRE MAKE AND MODEL WAS NOT GIVEN) *YH

DIFFERENTIAL UNIT BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND BEEN REPAIRED/REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. PROBLEM REOCCURRED AGAIN, AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRING, BUT STILL KNEW THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE BAR FAILED WITHIN TWO DAYS OF EACH OTHER-WE HAD THE FRONT RIGHT FIXED THEN LATER THAT DAY AFTER GETTING THE RIGHT FIXED. THE LEFT SIDE WENT OUT. IT WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING AND WE DISCOVERED ICE IN THE BAR. IF WE WERE DRIVING FASTER I WOULD OF LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY IN THE CLIMATE THAT WE LIVE IN-SNOW, ICE ARE APART OF OUR DAY. WE HAVE READ THIS IS A PROBLEM HAPPENING TO MOST TRUCKS. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A RECALL SO NO ONE GETS HURT OR IS INCONVIENCE LIKE WE WERE-TOTAL DAYS WITHOUT TRUCK 5. *AK

WAS MOVING 15MPH WHEN A POP SOUND WAS HEARD. RIGHT SIDE WENT DOWN. WAS BARELY ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER & INFORMED IT WAS TORSION BAR THAT HAD SNAPPED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND STALL WHEN STARTED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH THE ENTIRE TIME VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE VEHICLE NEEDED WAS A TUNE-UP AND WAS ASSURED THAT AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMAL, THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEIR ONLY ANSWER FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TO KEEP BRINGING VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIRS.*YH

CONSUMER GOT IN VEHICLE AND TORSION BAR ON LEFT SIDE BROKE. DEALER HAD NO EXPLANATION, THEY REPAIRED IT. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. CONSUMER CHANGED HIS OWN OIL & HOPING THIS WASN'T A PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

THE DOORS ARE CRACKING AT THE WINDOW. THIS IS VERY COMMON IN ALL THE 97-01 F150'S I'VE LOOKED AT. FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT DOES NOT WANT TO COVER IT IF IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND IT WEAKENS THE STRUCTURE CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THE WELDS HOLDING THE ROOF TO THE SIDE PANELS ARE CRACKING DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAB ROOF. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT EITHER. THIS ALSO HAS TO WEAKEN THE STRUCTURE CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM. IT IS NOW QUITE APPARENT WHY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY'S CRASH TEST DID SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE CAB OF THE F150. I HOPE YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS, AND PUT PRESSURE ON FORD TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND HOPEFULLY COME UP WITH A REPAIR. THANK YOU. *AK

BOTH DOORS HAVE CRACKS IN THE METAL BELOW THE WINDOW ABOUT 3-4 INCHES FROM SIDE OF DOOR. CRACKS ARE ABOUT 1 INCH LONG. *AK

1998 FORD 150 LARIAT TRUCK OUTSIDE MIRRORS DISCOLORED RENDERING THEM USELESS. YOU CAN BARELY SEE IN THEM DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THEM. THE MIRROR TYPE HAS THE TURN SIGNAL BUILT IN BEHIND THE MIRROR. FORD REPLACED THEM ONCE AND NOW SAYS THAT THEY NO LONGER MAKE THAT TYPE BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE NATURE BUT WILL NOT OR HAS NOT OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE. THEIR NEWER VERSION HAS THE TURN SIGNAL BUILT ON THE OUTER PERIMETER OF THE MIRROR BODY INSTEAD OF BEHIND THE MIRROR GLASS. *LA

FUSE BOX GETTING WET. RESULTING IN MALFUNCTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONETS. IE LIGHTS FLASHING OFF, SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING, 4X4 KICKING IN AND OUT, ECT.*AK

I STARTED UP MY TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND AS I PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE II NOTICED A SLIGHT SLIPPAGE IN MY TRANSMISSION, I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT BECAUSE AT THE TIME THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT 10 DEGREES AND I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME COLD. AS I TRAVELED APPROX. 1/2 MILE I NOTICED AS I WAS ACCELARATING THAT THE TRUCK SEEMED TO NOT WANT TO GO, I WAS ABLE TO NURSE IT ANOTHER 1/2 MILE TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE WHERE I DISCOVERED THAT THE HOSE POPPED OFF NEAR THE RADIATOR AND POORED OUT TRANSMISSION FLUID. I PUT THE HOSE BACK ON AND TIGHTENED IT BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO PUT 6 QTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BACK IN. THIS SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND I THOUGHT THAT ALL WAS OKAY, BUT, I WAS WRONG! ON JAN.8TH ,2001 I NOTICED THAT AS MY WIFE AND I WERE OUT THAT IT WAS BEGINNING TO CATCH HARD WHEN I WAS STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. WELL BY THE TIME I GOT HOME WHICH WAS 10 TO 15 MINUTES LATER I STOPPED BY MY MAILBOX AND I WAS TRYING TO EDGE UP CLOSER AND IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, BUT I NOTICED THAT I COULD GO BACKWARDS WITH NO PROBLEM. WELL I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THAT I PROBABLY BURNED OUT THE "BANDS" IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT COULD COST ME ANYWHERE BETWEEN 800 TO 1700 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR DEPENDING ON HOW MANY WERE BURNED OUT. THATS WHERE I,M AT NOW AND IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET FORD TO HELP ME, HA,HA!*AK

BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE CRACKING AND SEPERATING BETWEEN THE TREADS HAD THEM CHECKED AND FOUND THE THE CORDS ARE SEPARATING BETWEEN THE LAYERS OF THE TIRE AND ARE NOT SAFE TO USE !!! I HAVE JUS REPLACED THESE TWO FRONT TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND [BFG] AND THERE IS NO COMPARSON ON HOW MUCH BETTER THE TRUCK HANDLES A DRIVES I STILL HAVE THESE TIRES AND HAVE CONCTACED FIRESTONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND OF COURSE THEY WANT THEM SO NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE THE DEFECTS IN THESE OTHER WILDERNESS TIRES THANK YOU JEFF. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE JUST BLEW OUT. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, P23570R16, DOT W208. HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK *SLC

DOOR AJAR LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT, AND CARGO LIGHT STAY ON HAS IF A DOOR WERE OPEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE ALL CLOSED. IF THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION , AND THE IGNITION IS OFF AND THE DOORS ARE SHUT, THE CHIME/TONE CONTINUES TO GO OFF.*AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 20 MPH AND HAD AN ACCIDENT, HIT AN OIL TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE WIRE FROM AIR BAG SENSOR WAS SEVERED. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FRONT SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG AND LACERATIONS ACROSS FOREHEAD. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 2 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE THE FLY WHEEL NOW MAKES NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. I DONT BELIEVE THEY DID SO. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TRUCK RUNS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE EXPLODED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

INTERIOR LIGHT PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MANY 1998 F-150 AND RANGERS. IT IS A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING WITH THE INERIOR LIGHT ON, ESPESIALLY WITH TINTED WINDOWS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL IS SPLITTING WHEN CONSUMER CLOSES DOOR. THERE ARE CRACKS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, EXTERIOR IS SHOWING BIG CRACKS. FORD WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, WHILE MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO PARK ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR GOING BACKWARD CRASHING THROUGHT THE GARAGE DOOR AND INNER WALL OF HOME. *SLC

WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO PARK LOCKING PIN IN TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. THEREFORE, VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD. CONSUMER HAS TO USE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP CAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS PART FAILS 95% OF THE TIME. *SLC

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE THE ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO REDUCE SPEED. NLM

TREAD ON THIS TIRE CAME COMEPLETELY OFF TIRE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TIRES WERE INFLATED TO PROPER LEVEL AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES. ONLY REASON THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES WAS THE FACT THAT TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD AIR UNTIL I COULD SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THIS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/R7016)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/R7016 )

RECALL 98V007000/THROTTLE ICING: SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR. *AK 2 GOODYEAR WRANGLER AP TIRE'S TREAD IS COMPLETELY GONE, SIZE P255/70R16, DOT PDCUF8WR038. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE HAS A PING SOUND WHEN FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SLC