1998 Ford FORD TRUCK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
109,436 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 21 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Tires: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 14 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 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10216032 · 2008-01-25 (January 25, 2008)
TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324621 · 2010-04-09 (April 9, 2010)
WHILE RIDING BACK HOME FROM WALMART, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BOOM THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CONSISTENT ROARING LOUD NOISE. FRIGHTENED I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT THE GIRL OUT AND AWAY FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE , BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE. CAUGHT A RIDE HOME AND HAD A FRIEND DRIVE IT TO MY HOME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FEW SHOPS TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS WRONG . THERE WASN'T ANY LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT TOO. THREE MONTHS BEFORE I HAD OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP DONE FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116074 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
ON FEBRUARY 25, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AND SLOW DOWN. AFTER SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I INSTRUCTED EVERYONE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SMOKEY SMELL. I THEN CALLED KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC MY EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE. NEXT, THE KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND HE COMMENTED ON THE NUMBER OF FORD WINDSTARS THAT HE PICKS UP ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER OBSERVING MY VEHICLE, HE STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751130 · 2001-08-26 (August 26, 2001)
VIBRATION IN STEERING,DEALER CHECKED & FOUND PLY SEPARATION IN BOTH FRONT TIRES. REPLACED ALL SIX TIRES FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS. FIRESTONE WOULDN'T RESPOND UNLESS THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, CRASH OR A FATALITY. READING OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE ON AN RV FORUM. BLOWOUTS AS LOW AS 300 MILES. MY TIRE DEALER SAID THIS PLANT HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL018 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751130 at NHTSA ↗