1998 Ford F-250 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 14%of 56 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,166miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Ford F-250, 14% of the 56 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,166 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While starting my Ford truck with the 5.4 l engine I heard a very loud pop and the engine ran as if the head gasket blew. A non-Ford mechanic verified the no. 3 spark plug on the passenger side blew out and stripped the threads from the cylinder head insert that this Ford dealer inserted to repair an earlier blown spark plug. The old insert for the previous failure was removed and replaced with a new type according to the Ford mechanic. This is the second time for this to happen. On july 10, 2003, approximately 1 yr and 2 days before this failure the no. …”
NHTSA complaint #10082335, filed 2004-07, 35,890 miles“Spark plug gets blown completely out of the engine block and destroys the engine coil. The engine then needs to be rebored to be repaired to be drivable. This occurs while driving the vehicle and has now happened to us twice while the vehicle was under no load.”
NHTSA complaint #10326286, filed 2010-04, 96,833 miles“The truck was started and the spark plug blew out from the engine. The truck was taken to a local dealership. They stated it wasn't a problem. The next time, the spark plug blew out while traveling on the highway at 55 MPH. The consumer had to coast to the side of the road. Please provide details.”
NHTSA complaint #10099084, filed 2004-11, 59,500 miles“The evening of july 26th, 2011 approximately 10:00pm est, an engine fire occurred in our 1998 Ford F-250 truck (ext cab, triton v-8 engine, lariat ed). The F-250 had been parked in a remote parking area on the interior area of the mason county fair grounds. Due to county fair activities during that day, the truck had not been started for over 10 hours when this fire occurred. The local fire department was called and extinguished the fire. It totaled the engine, buckled the hood, blistered the paint, etc. Luckily there was no property damage, nor was there any bodily injury. …”
NHTSA complaint #10416605, filed 2011-08, 153,169 miles“Spark plug number four had blown out of head, consumer managed to get vehicle to a mechanice and was informed that head was made of aluminum and engine was made of iron, this is what caused the spark plugs to blow, right head was replaced for a total cost of $1900, partial reimbursement ws given to consumer.”
NHTSA complaint #891434, filed 2001-06Related service bulletins
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes…
- 10014666Mar 7, 2005Intermittent rough idle - non-commanded egr (exhaust gas recirculation valve) flow.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% |
| 2012 | 12 | 5% |
| 2011 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 4% |
| 2008 | 15 | 8% |
| 2007 | 3 | 5% |
| 2006 | 17 | 8% |
| 2005 | 17 | 12% |
| 2004 | 44 | 29% |
| 2003 | 24 | 21% |
| 2002 | 23 | 15% |
| 2001 | 21 | 10% |
| 2000 | 33 | 10% |
| 1999 | 66 | 11% |
| 1998 | 8 | 14% |
| 1997 | 29 | 10% |
| 1996 | 28 | 16% |
| 1995 | 34 | 18% |
| 1994 | 18 | 15% |
| 1993 | 29 | 22% |
| 1992 | 14 | 12% |
| 1991 | 8 | 7% |
| 1990 | 10 | 9% |
| 1989 | 7 | 6% |
| 1988 | 4 | 6% |
| 1987 | 6 | 16% |
| 1986 | 5 | 13% |
| 1985 | 3 | 14% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford F-250
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsTires
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford F-250
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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