1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

ON MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2003 I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP. I FOUND THAT GASOLINE WAS RUNNING ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME AND LEAKING RATHER HEAVILY ONTO THE PAYMENT. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO A NEARBY AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER FOR EXAMINATION. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD A CRACK AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE LEAKING FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICAN THE CRACK APPEARED TO BE UNKNOWN INCLUDING ANY DAMAGE. I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURANCE WITH GEICO FOR THE $277.87 REPLACEMENT LINE. SINCE I HAD A $250.00 DEDUCTIBLE, THE COST WAS MOSTLY BORNE BY ME. THE OWNER OF THE SERVICE CENTER, SAID HE NEVER HAD A CRACKED FUEL LINE IN ALL HIS YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE. I ALSO IN MY 50 YEARS OF OWNING VEHICLES HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A INCIDENT. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE EXTRAORDINARY DANGER THIS TYPE OF LEAK COULD CAUSE A MOTORIST, WITH GASOLINE LEAKING ON TO THE PAYMENT. OBVIOUSLY A DISCARDED CIGARET OR OTHER IGNITION COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS FIRE AND PERHAPS INJURY OR DEATH.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED? I PLAN TO WRITE FORD, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE. SINCERELY, JOHN WATERS. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE WHILE MAKING TURNS COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO BROKEN TIE ROD. *AK

THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT AT 30,000 MILES WHICH CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPRAY ONTO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE. CURRENTLY, AT 40,000 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED ,CAUSING FRONT LEFT CORNER OF VEHICLE TO DROP UNEXPECTEDLY POSSIBLY DAMAGING SWAY BAR, SHOCK ABSORBER AND RELATED BUSHINGS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THERE IS NO COVERAGE, RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS THAT COVER DAMAGE/DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH EXPEDITION AND FORD MODELS. *AK

1998 F-150 WITH 75000 MILES. SPARK PLUG #2 BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 30 MILES/HOUR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM FOR "BLOWN SPARK PLUG" THE NUMBER ONE HIT IS FOR WWW.F150ONLINE.COM A FORD ENTHUSIAST GROUP. THIS SITE, LINKS TO LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVIING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. ONLY 6 THREADS ARE HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN PLACE. SINCE A BLOWN SPARK PLUG ALMOST ALWAYS RESULTS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO THE CONSUMER IS AROUND $2000 - $3000 DOLLARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AT A MINIMUM.

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO EASILY MOVE THE WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE AND PULL/PUSH BACKWARD AND FORWARD. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

IT STARTED WITH DOME LIGHT STAYING ON CONSTANTLY - SO WE GO WITHOUT A DOME LIGHT AND IT IS UNSAFE AND QUITE THE NUSANCE. NEXT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY - WEATHER SEEMS TO PLAY A FACTOR.*AK NEXT THE IGNITION SWITCH CHIME STARTED STAYING ON CONSTANTLY WHEN KEYS AREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION...AGAIN WEATHER SEEMS TO BE A FACTOR. INITIALLY WIGGLING THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES GET THE CHIME TO STOP BUT NOW I HAD TO REMOVE THE GEM FUSE(15) AS IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CHIME TO QUIT. I HAVEN'T CHECKED YET WHAT ELSE THAT FUSE IS USED FOR. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL F150 OWNERS - SO FORD NEEDS TO FIX IT!!!!

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TIE ROD END DISINTEGRATED AND FELL OFF. WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM *TT *TS *JB

MY ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. ACCORDING TO FORD TSB 99-20-7 THESE ENGINES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH OBSOLETE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKETS AND/OR LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. WHEN THESE GASKETS FAIL, THE RESULTING DAMAGE WILL OFTEN CREATE THE NEED FOR AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. DUE TO THIS FAILURE AN ENGINE IS NEEDING REPLACING. AFTER LOOKING AT CASES ON THE INTERNET. I FIND FORD NOT CORRECTING A MAJOR DEFECT IN THERE PRODUCT. *AK

A CRACK IN THE STEEL BY THE WINDOW TRIM ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON ALL FORD F-150'S FROM 1997 TO 2003. FORD IS DOING NOTHING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVEN YEARS. *AK