1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

I JUST READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT FORD TRUCK OWNERS HAVING TIE ROD PROBLEMS. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER. I HAD ONE TIE ROD BREAK TWO WEEKS AGO, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAD NOT YET OPENED THE LETTER. *AK

SEE ODI 10091339 -IN EXAMINING THE FAILED PART THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION CAUSING A WEAKNESS OF THE CABLE. RATHER, THE RETAINING LUG AT THE END OF THE CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE SHEARED AS A RESULT OF ROUTINE DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER TIME. IN PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT PART FROM FORD, I FOUND THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LIFT MECHANISM TO ADD A TENSION RELIEF SPRING TO PREVENT THE LIKELY HOOD OF A CABLE FAILURE SUCH AS I EXPERIENCED. OLD PART: F75Z*1A131*BC NEW PART 2L3Z*1A131*AA THIS INDICATES THEIR RECOGNITION THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL PART. AS THESE VEHICLES AGE THERE WILL BE INCREASED CHANCE OF FUTURE FAILURE FROM CABLE STRAIN INCURRED DURING ROUTINE USE. *JB

I TOOK MY 1998 FORD F150 V6 FOR A MINOR REPAIR AND WHEN I CHECKED WITH MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT HE FOLDED WATER IN THE OIL. MECHANIC INFORMED ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT.*AK DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE KNOWN ISSUE WITH CETAIN FORD ENGIINES AND I FELT I WS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH A LEAKING HEAD GASKET PROBLEM

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE FRONT TIE RODS FAILED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

SPARK PLUGS</A> BLEW OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PLUGS WERE THE ORIGINALS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *TC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE SPARE TIRE SUPPORT CABLE ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL BENEATH THE TRUCK, BOUNCE, AND STRIKE THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE UNIT HAD NOT SHOWN PRIOR SIGNS OF WEAR WHEN THE SPARE TIRE WAS LAST SERVICED ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO. THE UNIT HAS BEEN CYCLED PROBABLY FIVE TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF "THUMPING" WHICH WOULD INDICATE A LOOSE FITTING OF TIRE IN THE SPARE WELL. WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED DUE TO THE LOW SPEED AND LOCATION, A RELEASE ON A HIGHWAY WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. I PLAN TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART AND WILL RETAIN THE DAMAGED UNIT FOR INSPECTION.*AK

POSSIBLE MIRROR DEFECT ON 1998 F150. *MR THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR STRUCK A MAILBOX. THE MIRROR COLLAPSED AND THE MIRROR INSIDE HAD BECOME DETACHED, FLEW THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW, STRUCK THE CONSUMER IN THE CHIN AND FLEW OUT OF THE DRIVER WINDOW. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE MIRROR COLLAPSED AS DESIGNED TO, HOWEVER, THE MIRROR DETACHED FORCEFULLY LANDING IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD HAD SHEARED OFF FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIE ROD AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

1998 F-150 XLT EXTRA-CAB, BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS HAVE A CRACK IN THE LOWER REAR CORNER OF THE WINDOW MOLDING. FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THE DOOR ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED REFERENCE MESSAGE # 12071. AFTER CONTACTING FORD THEY SAID THEY WERE SHOWING A RECALL FOR MY VIN# EVEN THOUGH IT IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM. THE EVENTUAL RESULT WILL BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE DOOR WHICH WILL SERIOUSLY COMPROMISE MY SAFETY OPERATING THE VEHICLE.*AK