1998 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

I WOKE UP TO A WHOOSHING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD BANGING ON MY DOOR WITH MY NEIGHBOR SCREAMING THAT MY FORD F150 WAS ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE CHIEF, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OUR CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PRIOR TO THIS FIRE. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW MELTED TO MY DRIVEWAY AND WE HAVE SOME DAMAGE TO OUR HOME. *TR

A SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE BLOCK IN MY 1998 TRITON 5.4 F-150. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST. LOOKING IT THE PROBLEM ONLINE I'VE REALIZED IT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WERE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WITH A HOLE IN THE BLOCK SHOOTING OUT UNBURNED GAS TO THE LIVE SPARK PLUG IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE FORM OF A RECALL, IF NOTHING ELSE TO INSPECT AND IF THE PROBLEM DOES EXIST, FIX IT. WOULD AN INSPECTION REALLY FIND THE DEFECT THOUGH? FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT PRETTY MUCH HAPPENS ALL AT ONE BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY FOUR THREADS HOLDING THESE PLUGS INTO THE BLOCK. HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM DOES GET ADDRESSED SOONER THAN LATER, IT'S NEVER TO SOON TO CORRECT A PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE SAFETY OF HUMAN LIFE. *TR

THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK ON MY F150 TRUCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO FALL AND BECOME LODGED UNDER THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS EQUIPPED WITH SKID PLATES AND LIKELY PREVENTED FUEL SPILLING OR A FIRE. THE RESULTING TOW AND REPAIR BILL WAS $1100. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH FORD, BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IGNORED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL IN THE INTERIM. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,365.

MY 1998 FORD F150 TRUCK EJECTED A SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM'S. NUMEROUS WEBSITES HAVE STATED THE HEAD DESIGN IS FLAWED AND ONLY ALLOWS 3 THREADS TO CATCH. UPON EJECTION OF THE SPARK PLUG THE THREADS ON THE ENGINE HEAD ARE REMOVED. FORD HAS A NEW DESIGNED ALUMINUM HEAD TO OMIT THE PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T IT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A RECALL? NOT ONLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY LOSING POWER, BUT A BAD DESIGN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS THEN REPLACED BY A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE JACKED THE VEHICLE UP, REPOSITIONED THE SPRING, TIED IT DOWN WITH WIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE REMEMBERED A RECALL HE HAD SEEN AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NORMAL DRIVING, LOW SPEED THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD SUBDIVISION, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING GAS TANK TO BE DRAGGED ON THE GROUND CREATING A HOLE IN TANK. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITHIN A HALF OF A BLOCK FOLLOWING DRAGGING OF TANK. FIRE AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. TANK WAS REPAIRED NEW STRAPS WERE INSTALLED. *TR UPDATED 08/12/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ. 08/17/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATEY 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED WITHOUT PHYSICAL FORCE. THE WINDOW MECHANISM WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WINDOW TO ROLL DOWN. THE WINDOW HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,815.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN MARCH OF 2008. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PARTS IN OVER A YEAR FROM FORD TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT FORD DID NOT INFORM THEM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL FIRES. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 LITER V6. THIS HAD BEEN A GREAT TRUCK AND HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE OTHER DAY I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND THEN THE I THREW A ROD. DID NOT THICK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME, BUT LATER I WAS CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. I HAD BEEN REGULAR FORD CUSTOMER, BUT NO MORE. *TR

1998 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD NEAR BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, BURNING WIRES, PLASTIC COMPONENTS, HOOD AND FENDER BEYOND REPAIR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 20 MINUTES UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF, KEYS OUT OF IGNITION. FLAMES WERE 2 FEET HIGH AT TIME OF NOTICE; NEIGHBOR SAVED FURTHER DAMAGE TO TRUCK AND HOME. *TR

1998 F-150 5.4L TRITON I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 2 YRS. AND PUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY AT 124,000. OTHER THAN MAINTENANCE (NOT INCLUDING SPARK PLUGS) HAVE CHANGED BOTH CV SHAFTS AND BEARINGS IN THE FRONT. FEB. 3, 08 WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRECURSOR IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG FROM THE HEAD STRIPPING THE THREADS. IT OCCURRED VERY QUICKLY WHILE COASTING DOWN HILL AT 55 MPH. NOT HARDLY WORKING THE ENGINE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY, I HAD BEEN WITH A FRIEND WHEN HIS 2000 F 150 4.6L BLEW A SPARK PLUG FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS. THIS ACTION ALMOST STALLED MY TRUCK OUT BEING AT LOW RPM TO BEGIN WITH IT RATTLED VIOLENTLY. I WAS AFRAID MY 10 YR OLD BROTHER AND I WOULD HAVE TO WALK FOR HELP. NOT FUN IN NY IN FEB. A PASSERBY CAME TO OUR AID. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME BY A FRIEND. STILL TRYING TO FIND A SUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE REPAIR. THOUSANDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO VARIOUS WEBSITES, DEALERS, AND EVEN TO FORD. SOME INSTANCES HAVE RESULTED IN FIRES DESTROYING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. IGNITED BY A STRAY SPARK PLUG AND FUEL MIST FROM THE CYLINDER. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY FORD. MOST REPAIRS RUN $2,000 - $4,000 EACH TIME A PLUG A SPIT. MANY VEHICLES HAVE UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES AT HIGH SPEEDS DISTRACTING THE OPERATION ON THE VEHICLE. ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 1998 F150 FORD PICKUP HAS LEAKED FOR YEARS AND NOW THE WATER HAS CORRODED THE GEM MODULE TO THE POINT WHERE I AM EXPERIENCING UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED AND WORRIED THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE OR CAUSE A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHILE I AM DRIVING THE TRUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY AT FIRST WOULDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I MENTIONED THE FORD BULLETIN ##15773. THEN THEY SAID THAT THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD DO IS REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR $1,300 DOLLARS. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND IT IS CLEAR THAT FORD MANUFACTURED A FAULTY WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK POSITION. ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL OR DRIVE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR POSITION. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 12/30/2007. IT HAD RUN A LITTLE ROUGH AT START UP FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO 12/30/2007. THEN ON THAT DAY A LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THE 4.2 ENGINES HAVING PROBLEMS. AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH IT YET. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS ENGINE. IF THEY KNOW IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM TO START WITH. *TR

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150, WHICH HAS A 5.4L ENGINE. AT 100,000 MILES THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW. THEN ON A TRIP BACK FROM IDAHO FALLS IDAHO THIS MONTH TO MY HOME IN LINDON, UT THE #1 PLUG BLEW. BASED ON RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE SECOND TIME MY PLUG BLEW, I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY ICE COVERED HIGHWAY (I-15 JUST NORTH OF BLACKFOOT, ID). WHEN #1 WENT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND MY SPEED DRASTICALLY DECREASED. THIS COMBINATION MADE ME LOSE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY POSSIBLY ROLLING MY TRUCK. LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND THE OVERWHELMING INCIDENTS, I THINK IT IS TIME SOMEONE TOOK ACTION AGAINST FORD. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A DEATH! IF NOTHING IS DONE, THEN THE GOVERNMENT IS AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS SCRAPING ACROSS THE ROAD. WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, HE REALIZED THAT THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FELL AND WAS DRAGGING ACROSS THE ROAD. HE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF.*CN

I HAVE AN 1998 FORD F-150 ,THE BACK GLASS IS LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS . NOW I HAVE WATER DAMAGE TO MY SEATS AS WELL AS MY ROOF LINER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,700. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS THE FIFTH AND SIXTH CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,250.

1998 FORD F150- 66,000MI. DEVELOPED A SERIOUS OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON AND FORD IS WELL AWARE OF IT'S RECURRENCE. BESIDES COSTING $2000.00 TO REPAIR, IT IS LEAKING HEAVILY ONTO AN EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING SMOKE AND POTENTIAL FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE PRESENT. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A HOSE. WHEN THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED, THEY FINISHED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE FAILURE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY ASKED FOR THE VIN. THE DEALER THEN CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE DUE TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY SENT NOTIFICATIONS, BUT THE CONTACT NEVER RESPONDED. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FUSE BOXES. THERE WAS ALSO PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE DRIVEWAY, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000.

1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS 2. I HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS AND 3 COIL EJECTIONS FROM CYLINDER HEAD SO FAR 3. RETHREADING THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH HELICOIL KITS HAD TO BUY NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND NEW COILS I HAVE ONE COIL AND SPARK PLUG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT LOBE WOULD NOT FIRE AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PLACE IT INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO PARK. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PARKING LINKAGE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 130,000.

MY 1998 FORD F-150 FITS THE SUMMARY OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V171000. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN WITH THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER REASON, INCLUDING THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR BECAUSE THEY STATE IT IS NOT A FORD RECALL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NHTSA SITE INDICATES AS A (RECALL DATE OF 10/07/97) BECAUSE FORD HAS TO MAKE A RECALL NOTICE. MY INDICATOR IS OFF BY ONE (IT SAYS I'M IN 'R' WHEN RALLY IN 'P' AND SO FORTH). 'I UNDERSTAND NOT DOING A MASS RECALL FOR THIS, BUT WHEN A VEHICLE IS IN FOR A MANDATORY RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL CATCHING FIRE, ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING ANOTHER KNOWN DEFECT AS INDICATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V171000. ALSO, IT IS IN FOR DAMAGE RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE REPLACING THE FUELS TANK AND MANY OTHER ITEMS ATTACHED TO IT (I.E. LINES ETC.) THEY DON'T FEEL IT IS WARRANTED TO ADDRESS ANOTHER NHTSA RECALL RELATED TO THE LEAF SPRING POTENTIALLY PUNCTURING THE TANK. THAT IS CAMPAIGN #98V161000. REGARDS, STEVE. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 F150 PICKUP WITH A 5.4 ENGINE THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT IN GETTING THE #4 SPARK PLUG REMOVED. THIS IS A $1200 TO $2200 REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE BY FORD NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS PLUG HAS IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR A 100K MILES, I HAVE 97K. ALL MECHANICS KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO BUY A SPECIAL TOOL TO TRY TO REMOVE THIS PLUG. PROBLEM IS IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN THEY HAVE TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO DO THIS. THIS IS WERE THE PROBLEM LIES. FORD IS ACTING LIKE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND/OR I SHOULD GET OVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A 1998 OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T KNOW THIS UNTIL THEY REACH 100K MILES AND WANT TO REPLACE THIS PLUG. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A MANDATORY RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KEEP GETTING SCREWED FOR SUCH A HUGE REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD KNOCKING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO EXAMINE THE NOISE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD FRACTURED AND POPPED SHOT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE THREADED AND COILED. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED UNDER AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 8/10-07, THE COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I ARRIVED HOME. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND PLANNED TO TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO THE MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS OPEN DURING THE WEEK. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES THAT WEEKEND AND I MONITORED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THAT MONDAY MORNING, LOUD KNOCKING CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT I'VE THROWN A ROD AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A TSB REGARDING DEFECTS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE (WHICH WOULD CAUSE A THROWN ROD), BUT CONSUMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED, ONLY DEALERS. TSB99-20-7 WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED AS AN OWNER? NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE OR THE ENGINE CHECKED OUT IF I HAD SIMPLY BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL NOTIFICATION, INSTEAD OF A TSB? TO DEALERSHIPS. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

I LEFT MY 1998 FORD F150 PICK-UP TRUCK IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHILE I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS. I LEFT ON MONDAY JULY 30. I WAS CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT AROUND 9:00PM AND NOTIFIED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE REPORT SUSPECTED EQUIPMENT FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT, BUT VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND TOWED FROM PROPERTY. *TR

STRAPS RETAINING THE FUEL TANK FAILED RESULTING IN THE FUEL TANK DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY RETAIN TANK WITH RATCHETING TIE DOWN STRAP AND GET VEHICLE HOME SAFELY. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY AS THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE AND OR INJURIES.*AK

WE OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 THAT WE BOUGHT USED FOR MY SON. MONDAY HE CALLED ME FROM INDIANA WHERE HE IS WORKING AND SAID HIS TRUCK STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIREMAN TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE ON THIS RECALL. NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE TRUCK OR GIVE US AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE OF THE FORD RECALL. HE HAS THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CA. HOW DO I HANDLE THIS ISSUE. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F 150 WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST , NO WARNING TRUCK WOULDN'T START FINALLY STARTED, BUT IT WAS KNOCKING YOU COULD SMELL ANTI FREEZE, CALLED TOW TRUCK AND THE ENGINE WAS GONE, ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH IGNITED SEPARATELY. THERE MAY BE A RECALL BUT THE CONTACTWAS UNFAMILIAR OF WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE IF THE RECALLWAS NOT REPAIRED. THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER FROM THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

I STEPPED INTO MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK, AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. SNAPPED INTO TWO PIECES. WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANICS, THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT A PIECE OF 1" ROUND STEEL SHOULD NOT JUST SNAP. *AK

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WE HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THIS RECALL FIXED ON OUR F150 FORD TRUCK. EVERY TIME WE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. *TR I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE LETTER SENT TO US AND THE NEWS IS URGING PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN, IF THERE ARE NO PARTS TO REPLACE IT WITH!!!

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO POOR QUALITY PARTS. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE, CAUSING A BENT ROD, MEANING $3000. ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUED A RECALL AND FIXED A SIMPLE GASKET, $400 PROCEDURE MAXIMUM. FORD CONTINUES TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HELP! *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 98V09500/NSA#111PAW FOR THE LUGS:NUTS. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.*AK

UPON STARTING VEHICLE ON MY DRIVEWAY A LOUD BANG AND SUBSEQUENT KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM ENGINE. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT ENGINE FOUND WATER IN INTAKE CHAMBER AND BROKEN ROD AND PISTON. MECHANIC ADVISES AN ENGINE REBUILD WILL BE REQUIRED AND IS FAMILIAR WITH A HYDRO LOCK PROBLEM WITH THE 4.2 L FORD V6 ENGINES. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD F150 FROM CAR MAX IN LAS VEGAS. I ALSO PURCHASED CAR MAX'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JIFFY LUBE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DROVE IT HOME, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1 MILE. JIFFY LUBE DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THEY SERVICED THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO USE IT. JUMPING IT DID NO GOOD, THE BATTERY WAS NOT LOW. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO CAR MAX IT WAS TOWED ON A FLAT BED TRAILER, SO THE WHEELS NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND. I CALLED CAR MAX THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD IT SCHEDULED TO LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CALLED ME THAT FOLLOWING DAY AND ASKED IF THE TRUCK WAS SMOKING WHEN I LAST DROVE IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS NOT AND THAT IT DROVE FINE. THEN THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND CONTINUED TO ACT AS THOUGH I HAD CAUSED IT. ON MY NEXT DAY OFF, I RODE MY BICYCLE TO CAR MAX AND CHECKED THE TRUCK'S ODOMETER AGAINST THE MILEAGE JIFFY LUBE WROTE ON MY RECEIPT. THERE WERE 28 MILES PUT ON MY TRUCK SINCE THE OIL CHANGE. CAR MAX WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY BLEW THE MOTOR IN MY TRUCK, BUT DENY IT. MY SON HAD DONE MOST OF THE OIL CHANGES ON THE TRUCK, SO I HAVE NO PROOF OIL CHANGES WERE DONE, SO CAR MAX DENIED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CALLED FORD AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH ISSUE ON THE TRUCK, EVEN THOUGH FORD CHANGED THE HEAD STARTING WITH LATER 1998 MODELS, DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY ASKING HOW THEY CAN DENY AN ISSUE, WHEN THEY PUT OUT INFORMATION TO THEIR DEALERS ON STEPS TO TAKE WHEN SERVICING THE F150. SHE ASKED WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO. I TOLD HER I WAS NOT ASKING FORD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR BECAUSE I AM PAYING FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO CONTACT CAR MAX AND TELL THEM THAT THE MOTOR BLOWING UP WAS NOT MY FAULT, SO CAR MAX WOULD COVER IT, AS THEY SHOULD ANYWAY. SHE TOLD ME NO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE 1997 AND 1998 FORD F150'S. PLEASE HELP. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F150 AS SOON AS IT GOT TO 100,000 MILES THE OIL PUMP GOES OUT AND IT STARTS TO LOOSE COOLANT BUT NOT LEAKING IT ANY WHERE. AS I HAVE FOUND OUT THESE ENGINES BETWEEN 80,000 AND 100,000 DO THIS. MANY FORUMS READ THE SAME PROBLEM FOR EVERY 4.2L DOES THIS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CAUSING THE MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 115,000.*AK UPDATE 04/30/07*TR

PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE (68,000 MILES) ON 1998 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L ENGINE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO OIL LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH RESULTED IN BENT ROD. THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 1998-1999 BUT DID NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS. NOW THEY WANT $4000-5000 FOR NEW ENGINE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1998 FOR F-150 ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE MORNING OF 02/09/07 HE HAD NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WESTERLY TIRE, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 76000.*AK