1998 Ford E-350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1998 Ford E-350 most often describe tire tread separations and blowouts, especially on vans used as motorhomes and 15-passenger shuttles, followed by brake complaints such as pulling, lockup and ABS behavior. A second cluster involves the 5.4L and 7.3L diesel engines — spark plugs ejecting from the cylinder heads and, on the diesel, fuel tank lining breaking down and clogging the fuel system.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 14 complaints (22%)
   • median 69,000 mi at 16.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe tread peeling away from the casing, sidewall bulges and sudden blowouts, sometimes on tires with little mileage and sometimes while parked or at low speed. Several owners were told by the dealer that the failure was a road hazard, while others reported no help beyond a discount on replacement tires. Many of the reports come from motorhome conversions and 15-passenger shuttle vans, and owners mention checking remaining tires for bulges or cracks. Reported across a wide mileage range, including tires with only a few thousand miles on them and at highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect all tires, including the spare and duals, for bulges, cracks and uneven wear, and check the DOT date codes; on a camper or shuttle conversion, ask how old the set is and whether any have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tire blew up in driveway. The tread layers blew apart and the force split the sidewalls on both sides. I do not dare drive the van until other firestones are replaced. If I had been driving a youth group or my family on the freeway (my normal use of the van), it would have been disastrous. It is a miracle that this tire exploded while not being driven. (tiresize: lt225/75r1)”

   NHTSA complaint #751665, filed 2001-09

   “The left front steer tire tread just came off - the tire was still holding air and did not go flat until the motorhome slowed down and got off the highway - all that's left was steel cord all the way around - these tires should not be used on motorhomes as could kill a lot of families. What should I do with the tire? Should I replace all 6? Should firestone replace them ? There is about 5000 miles on this set of tires. (DOT number: vdil1xd329 tiresize: lt22575r16)”

   NHTSA complaint #742617, filed 2001-03
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pull, lockup and ABS trouble

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 41,132 mi at 11.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2022

   Owners describe the van pulling to one side under braking, a front wheel locking and skidding on wet or loose surfaces, and pulsation or shaking when stopping from higher speeds. Some reports involve the ABS engaging on its own or the ABS light staying on, and in a few cases the pedal went to the floor. Complaints mention repeated parts replacement and ABS repairs without a lasting fix. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 120,000 miles, often noticed in wet or loose-surface stopping.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test braking on a wet or gravel surface and watch for pull or lockup, check that the ABS light goes out after start-up, and ask for brake and ABS service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I believe the events leading to the failure in my motor home started with the first recall (sept. 2007)that said that a fuse-able link had to be installed in the brake system to prevent a possible fire hazard. I complied. Shortly there after my ABS light started blinking on and off irregularly. Then after a very few miles it stayed on all the time the engine was running. I called the dealer where the recall was performed and they said that the ABS had nothing to do with the recall issue . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10219988, filed 2008-03, 25,760 miles

   “Brake failure resulted in vehicle rear ending another vehicle. While attempting to stop the vehicle's brakes failed and as a result the vehicle rear ended a stopped vehicle. The vehicle was rented from uhaul. A uhaul technician came and inspectd the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed in for repairs ( ohio traffic crash report).”

   NHTSA complaint #10052212, filed 2003-12
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 113,230 mi at 7.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2020

   Complaints describe a loud bang followed by a miss and loss of power when a spark plug blows out of the aluminum cylinder head, occasionally cracking the head or coil. Owners report the repair being done with a thread insert, and some note it recurring on different cylinders as mileage climbed. Several owners attribute it to few threads holding the plug in the head. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 290,000 miles, often shortly after a plug change or during normal driving.

   What to check: Ask whether any cylinder has been repaired with a thread insert, listen for an exhaust-like tick from the engine bay, and have a mechanic check plug torque and thread condition before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Ford e350 van 5.4l v8 blew a spark plug when starting engine. Spark plugs was changed by Ford dealer at 90,000 miles plug blew with 122,000 miles. Ford dealer removed head, installed spark plug insert and charged me $1700.00 . I believe spark plugs should never blow out of cylinder head when installed by a Ford trained mechanic. The spark plug Ford uses has only 6 threads on it. That is not enough threads for a aluminum head. This is a engine design error.ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10000330, filed 2002-12, 122,000 miles

   “Original owner of 1998 Ford e350 extended-length xlt. At the time of the incident, the car had about 98,000 miles. I was at a stop light, the light turned green and I proceeded through the intersection. I couldn't have been doing more than 15 MPH. I heard a loud bang and then the van started to make a loud noise. I put the van in neutral and coasted through the intersection. I had the van towed to butterfield Ford. They told me that the spark plug had blown out of the cylinder, plug coil broke in half, cracked the head. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10143517, filed 2005-11, 98,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank lining breaking down (diesel)

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 198,910 mi at 11.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2011

   On diesel vans, owners describe loss of power and rough running, with flakes of tank lining found in the fuel filter. One report notes the dealer confirming fuel system delamination, and another describes a cracked tank with fuel dripping when full. Repairs involved replacing the fuel tank or fuel system parts. Reported mostly between roughly 80,000 and 280,000 miles on higher-mileage diesel vans.

   Recall 01V114000

   What to check: On a diesel, look inside the fuel filter housing for flakes or sediment, ask whether the tank has been replaced, and check for fuel odor or drips around the tank when full.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel tank lining deteriorating. I have found flakes in my last four fuel filters. Vehicle loss of power, then rough running. The flakes are in the filter I have added between tank and fuel pump. They are small pieces of grey or silver paint. I am going to have to replace fuel tank in order to rectify the problem. I replaced the filter this morning, put approx. 90 miles on van and found several ounces in the filter this evening.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251254, filed 2008-12, 276,100 miles

   “The vehicle had a cracked fuel tank. Currently, the manufacturer is conducting a recall for this defect. However, based on the information provided by the consumer, the manufacturer did not include this vehicle in the recall although it has all the symptoms as those which are included. Provide further details. Recall campaign; NHTSA campaign id number : 01v114000. The consumer stated that the failure was repaired at her expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096736, filed 2005-01, 78,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering wander and vague control

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 1.2 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2002

   Owners describe the van wandering and the wheel jerking when a bump or pothole is hit, requiring constant correction. Complaints mention steering gear box replacement, sometimes more than once, without solving the problem, and dealers saying nothing further could be done. Reported at highway and moderate speeds, including on vans with low reported mileage.

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed over uneven pavement and note any wander or wheel kick, then have the front end and steering gear inspected for play before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering gear box has a loose spot in it. While on the road if a bump or hole is hit the vehicle will jerk out of control and wander. The steering gear box has been replaced three times and problem still exist. Dealer has been contacted and claims they can do nothing more for it. Vehicl was delivered from the factory with this defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #834349, filed 1999-02

   “When driving at 40 to 50 MPH, if the consumer hits a bump or anything in the road that is metal or hard, the steering wheel jerks and shakes, and the vehicle will go from side to side without prior warning.”

   NHTSA complaint #834343, filed 1999-02

Buying note. On this model year, check tires, brakes and steering carefully with a test drive, and on 5.4L or 7.3L diesel vans ask specifically about past spark plug repairs and fuel tank or filter condition. Service records showing recent brake and front-end work are worth more than the odometer alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.