1998 Ford E-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
89,147 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 50 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 12.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 3; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 3; Tires: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 8; 2002: 7; 2003: 10; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014636 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE FUEL TANK HAD STRESS CRACKS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 92,917 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026801 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED WITHOUT ANY INSULATION BETWEEN THE GAS TANK AND FRAME, SO METAL WAS RUBBING METAL WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. *AK CONSUMER'S BIG PROBLEM WAS THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DIDN'T NOTIFY HIM OR OTHERS LIKE HIM. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044915 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE CONSUMER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE SENSORS. SINCE THEN, THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681211 · 2015-02-04 (February 4, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD E-150 EQUIPPED WITH A CCI AIRTOUCH PNEUMATIC GAS/BRAKE. THE MODEL WAS UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CAUSE OR WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, TREES, AND A STREET LAMP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051302 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
FAILURE OF BALL JOINT IN STEERING LINKAGE ATTACHING PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO STEERING LINKAGE. THE RESULT WAS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THIS OCCURED ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. THE PART WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED. THE BALL CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET, A POTENTIALY FATAL FLAW.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551188 · 2000-03-02 (March 2, 2000)
POWER STEERING PUMP AND FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED, ON THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025873 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
MY 1998 FORD E-150 VAN HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES GOING FROM THE TRAN TO THE RADIATOR. THESE LINES WERE PLACED AGAINST THE OIL PAN AND THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE WHEN MANUFACTURED. THE FRICTION OVER THE YEARS HAS CAUSED THESE LINES TO DEVELOPE A LEAK. THE WARRENTY THAT I BROUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LINES, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEMSELF HAVE SHOWN NO REAL INTEREST IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE DESIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN SEARCH A WAY AS TO NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF PRESURE RUBBING A…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124856 · 2005-06-09 (June 9, 2005)
AT ONLY 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING OR PULLING ALSO SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD ENDS, BACK WINDOW LEAKING,VALVES CLATERRING,TIRE WEAR 3 SETS REPLACED, BODY PANELS RUSTING,STEP BUMBERS COMPLETLY RUSTED AWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140301 · 2005-10-20 (October 20, 2005)
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THE TRUCK STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO STALL. I CALLED CLARK FORD AFTER HEARING ABOUT A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS AND THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC AND THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THIS RESULTED IN ALSO A RADIATOR SPLIT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894156 · 2001-08-13 (August 13, 2001)
POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD. PUMP LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894156 at NHTSA ↗