1998 FORD F-250 Complaints

I RECENTLY READ THAT NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING FORD F 150 FROM 1997 TO 2001 FOR RUSTING GAS TANK STRAPS THAT EFFECTED 1.4 MILLION TRUCKS. I HAVE A FORD 1998 F-250 THAT HAD RUSTED GAS TANK STRAPS. ONE STRAP LET GO AND THE TANK MOVED OUT OF POSITION. I REPLACED IT MYSELF, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY OR WITH THE PROPER SAFETY PROTECTION. DID FORD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS? WILL THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY? IS THERE A COST TO THE OWNER FOR ANY OF THIS? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE STRAPS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/25/11

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. *TR

STEERING GEAR BOX. IT HAS BECOME DISENGAGED AT THE PITMAN ARM. AND LEAKING FLUID. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE 97 AND 99 VERSIONS OF THIS TRUCK HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND RECALLS FOR THIS. I WAS TOLD A WHILE BACK ( ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO) BY A CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER THAT THIS TRUCK IS ACTUALLY A 99 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY VEHICLE YEAR TO THIS LIST. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPARK PLUGS "POPPING OUT" WHICH IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRITON ENGINES. *TR

1998 FORD F-250 STEEL TIE-ROD WERE SUFFICIENTLY WORN, LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CAUTIONARY LETTER FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHICH STATED IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE STEERING LINKAGE INSPECTED EVERY 15,000, WHICH PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW AND IMPROVED STEERING COMPONETS, THE LEFT OUTER STEERING TIE ROD SOCKET DISENGAGED FROM THE BALL ON THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE MAKING A SLOW GRADUAL LEFT TURN. THIS FAILURE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB

BROKEN FRONT TORSION BAR. STARTED MOTOR, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND WITHOUT MOVING FROM THE SPOT, HEARD A LOUD CRACK AND THE TORSION BAR HAD SNAPPED. MY GARAGE WAS TOLD BY THEIR PARTS SUPPLIER THAT, UNTIL THIS PAST MONTH, THEY NEVER HAD A REQUEST FOR THIS PART BEFORE. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND REQUEST IN THE PAST MONTH. KEPT THE BROKEN BAR AFTER REPLACEMENT.

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. *JB

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. 3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT STRIPPING THE TREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. NUMEROUS NON-FORD MECHANICS I'VE TALKED TO HAVE VERIFIED THIS BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 5.4 L FORD ENGINE IN TRUCKS AND SUV'S. AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I WORK WITH HAD THE SAME SPARK PLUG (NO. 3 PASSENGER SIDE) BLOW OUT FROM HER FORD EXPLORER WITH THE 5.4 L ENGINE APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO. *LA

WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR SUSPENSION SNAPPED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THREE AIR SUSPENSION BAGS HAD BLOWN OUT SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. (RIGHT AIRBAG ON THE REAR SUSPENSION) *SCC *JB

RIGHT TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL TO STAY ON IF ROAD BEARS OPPOSITE OF SIGNAL. INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLACED TURN SIGNAL. BUT, PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, UNABLE TO BE FIXED. DEALER STATED NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. IT WILL COST CONSUMER $310.00. *AK

REAR WINDOW CRACKS AND LEAKS WATER INTO THE CAB. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A MAJOR PROBLEM AFTER TALKING TO TWO AUTO GLASS PLACES. TALKING TO FORD IS NO HELP.