1998 Ford F-150 Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 138about this part
- Share
- 10%of 1,381 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 138 complaints about the body and structure of the 1998 Ford F-150, 10% of the 1,381 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I own a 1998 Ford 150 pickup and the gas tank straps have rusted through and it is dangerous. I have been told that there is a recall from Ford but when I took my truck to the Ford dealer I was told that if a recall was on the news that it many be a year before the recall letters are mailed. Is this true? I worry because how many people may lose their lives over the year it takes to get the letters mailed out...”
NHTSA complaint #10415587, filed 2011-07, 70,000 miles“We just returned home from a 15 hour drive from nc, we were lucky this happened in our town going about 20 instead of on the highway where we were doing 75+, our cable holding our spare tire broke and the tire fell onto the road...thank goodness no one was behind us.!”
NHTSA complaint #10343332, filed 2010-07, 100,000 miles“Cracks have formed in the both doors of my 1998 f150 xlt at the base of the window. My concern is for the integrity of the door and the resultant rusting that may occur. Also, both windows don't operate properly....as they don't move up and down freely. I have seen the same cracks on several other f150s in recent months.”
NHTSA complaint #10003224, filed 2003-01, 44,000 miles“I have a 1998 F-150 at the bottom of the window my doors are splitting and starting to rust I know its happening quite a bit I work in the industry and see this on a regular basis also the Ford dealers do have a fix for this problem but the consumer pays it is not covered why?”
NHTSA complaint #10132433, filed 2005-08, 80,000 miles“In 2012, I replaced my gas tank because severe corrosion had eaten numerous small holes into the top of the tank so it could not be filled over 3/4th without leaking. Flakes of rust were falling onto the top of the tank from the frame x-member causing these holes. The frame x-member was not addressed and the new gas tank began to leak within a year and a half of replacement. The engine was just recently tuned up by a Ford dealer because it was intermittently vibrating. Within 6 months of this tune up, the engine lost full power with finding of grossly contaminated fuel. …”
NHTSA complaint #10648523, filed 2014-10, 120,000 milesBody and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 | 24 | 6% |
| 2022 | 14 | 2% |
| 2021 | 36 | 3% |
| 2020 | 22 | 3% |
| 2019 | 32 | 2% |
| 2018 | 193 | 8% |
| 2017 | 112 | 8% |
| 2016 | 199 | 10% |
| 2015 | 148 | 8% |
| 2014 | 31 | 2% |
| 2013 | 48 | 2% |
| 2012 | 24 | 1% |
| 2011 | 33 | 2% |
| 2010 | 92 | 11% |
| 2009 | 34 | 10% |
| 2008 | 23 | 6% |
| 2007 | 31 | 6% |
| 2006 | 44 | 8% |
| 2005 | 77 | 7% |
| 2004 | 104 | 5% |
| 2003 | 32 | 8% |
| 2002 | 45 | 5% |
| 2001 | 65 | 5% |
| 2000 | 66 | 6% |
| 1999 | 95 | 9% |
| 1998 | 138 | 10% |
| 1997 | 226 | 8% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 18 | 3% |
| 1994 | 33 | 5% |
| 1993 | 13 | 2% |
| 1992 | 8 | 2% |
| 1991 | 8 | 3% |
| 1990 | 4 | 1% |
| 1989 | 8 | 4% |
| 1988 | 9 | 6% |
| 1987 | 5 | 5% |
| 1986 | 9 | 15% |
| 1985 | 3 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford F-150
201 complaintsEngine cooling
174 complaintsTires
152 complaintsSuspension
132 complaintsVehicle speed control
116 complaintsBrakes
114 complaintsSteering
96 complaintsElectrical system
87 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
83 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
66 complaintsWheels
44 complaintsAir bags
42 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford F-150
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology