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Ford E SeriesModel year report

1998 Ford E Series Problems

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
18,500miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Ford E Series (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1998 Ford E Series. The part named most often is tires, with 7 complaints (54% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and equipment (1). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 18,500 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 8 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Tires: “The inside passenger side duel tire tread separated while driving at 55 MPH. Consumer heard a noise from the tires and 15 minutes later the entire tread blew off the tire. It damaged the wiring, frame and body. This was not a recalled tire. Consumer no longer trust the remaining tires, Ford or firestone.”

NHTSA complaint #10033530, filed 2003-09, 18,500 miles

Equipment: “I have not had an incident with my 1998 Ford expedition, but I am scared senseless having read the many reports by owners who have. I have two daughters ages 3 and 7 who ride daily in our family vehichle. I am urging you to consider a mandatory recall on expeditions with similar cruise control systems to the 2000 models. Please don't allow anyone else to suffer or die.”

NHTSA complaint #10127323, filed 2005-07

Fuel system: “I have a 1998 Ford diesel van that I have just purchase about a couple of months ago. The former owner gave me a clue of a problem that I didn't pick on when I bought it. He said don't fill the tank full or the fuel will overflow. Well it does overflow full or not but worst with a full tank. Ford and the NHTSA had issued a recall for possible cracking of fuel tanks in van's like mine. The recall was for 1997 thru 2001 econoline_van's. I took it to a Ford dealership in charleston sc but they refused to look at it and told me that no recall was ever made on my van. …”

NHTSA complaint #10070392, filed 2004-01, 71,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,400 and 71,000 miles.

33%0–1033%10–250%25–5033%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 18,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

19981999320002002200320042005
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1998 Ford E Series → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 8 on record; the latest 8 are shown.

Other model years of the Ford E Series

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2008519,0000———Not enough data
20051050,0006———Not enough data
2003573,5002———Not enough data
200269,7932———Not enough data
2001665,0002———Not enough data
2000695,1052———Not enough data
19981318,5001———Not enough data
19971628,6501———Falling

All Ford E Series model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Ford E Series have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1998 Ford E Series as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Ford E Series is reported most often?

Tires is named most often, in 7 complaints (54% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 1998 Ford E Series been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Ford E Series reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 18,500 miles and the middle half falls between 9,400 and 71,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.