1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING AROUND A CORNER CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TIE ROD : INNER AND OUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

WHILE BACKING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD SEPARATED WHERE THE BALL MEETS THE CUP OR SOCKET. IT APPEARED TO CONSUMER THAT THE PORTION OF THE CUPS RIM THAT KEEPS THE BALL IN PLACE, WORE OUT, AND CAUSED THE ROD TO POP OUT AND WEDGE INTO THE WHEELS RIM. LOSING THE CAPABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS RUINING THE RIM. *SCC

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO SIDEWAYS. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE THE FRONT END NEEDED REPLACING PLUS TIRES THE ESTIMATE IS $983.45. *SCC

DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD THREADS THAT HOLDS THE SPARK PLUG FAILED. THE NON-FORD MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A RARE EVENT, SEEING ONLY 3 INCIDENTS ON THE 10 YEARS HE'S BEEN REPAIRING. HOWEVER, IT IS COMMONLY REPORTED BY F-150 AND LIGHTNING OWNERS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&POSTID=686548. *AK

HAIR LINE CRACKS ARE DEVELOPING OUTSIDE THE DRIVER'S DOOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE IS CRACKED BY THE WINDOW AND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON ALL THE 97, 98, AND 99 FORD HALF TONS. *SCC

EITHER WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL OR SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, AND USED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AND CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE ERRATICALLY. DRIVER MUST TURN VEHICLE OFF IN GEAR ON STRAIGHTWAY TO GAIN CONTROL. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS CONDITION PERSISTS ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN SPARE TIRE WAS REMOVED AT JUST UNDER THREE YEARS AFTER PURCHASE IT WAS FOUND TO BE ERODED IN EIGHT PLACES WHERE IT HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY. THE WORN AREAS WERE DEEP ENOUGH TO RENDER THE SPARE UNSAFE. THE DEALESR WAS CONTACTED AND ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CARRIER ASSEMBLY HE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE.*AK

TIE ROD END CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED WE WERE TOLD BOTH BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC MADE THE COMMENT TO US THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FORD F-150'S WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND KNOW OF OTHER GARAGES REPORTING THE SAME. WE FEEL FORTUNATE WE WERE NOT INJURED. WE TRAVEL THE INTERSTATE MOST OF THE TIME AT SPEEDS OF 55-60MPH AND WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED FOR SURE. WE FEEL THAT THE REPAIRS NECESSARY ON A TRUCK OF THIS LATE MODEL IS EXCESSIVE AND WONDERED IF A RECALL WAS IN ORDER. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET WHICH FORTUNATELY WAS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

1/2" CRACK IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHERE WINDOW MOLDING MAKES 90 DEGREE BEND, BEEN THROUGH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LOCAL DEALER WITH NO SATISFACTION, TSB ON PROBLEM EXISTS ALONG WITH LETTER BETWEEN FORD AND DEALERS DESCRIBING PROBLEM IN 1997-2000 F 150S. *AK

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER TURNED STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD SOMETHING FALL, STEERING WHEEL SPUN IN CIRCLES. DEALER DETERMINED THAT LOWER STEERING SHAFT BROKE AND FELL OFF.*AK