1998 Ford Econoline Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Econoline years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Econoline. That ranks 5th out of 24 Econoline model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (7 complaints, 15%). Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 46owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Ford Econoline problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 13% | 98,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 11% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 11% | 69,800 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 7% | 187,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 4% | 50,400 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Ford Econoline recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Problem: Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
Risk: As a result, the fuse is located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Fix: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Vehicle description: bi-fuel cng pickup trucks and bi-fuel cng vans, modified by cfi control systems, inc., fail to conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 303, "fuel system integrity of compressed natural gas vehicles." the label affixed to the fuel filler door by the vehicle modifier contains the inspection date and expiration date of the cng tank. However, it does not contain the statement "see instructions on the fuel container for inspection and service life."
Risk: These vehicles do not comply with the requirements.
Fix: Owners will be provided a label with the required statement, along with instructions for affixing the label at the fuel filler door. Owner notification began november 2, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Van is leaking fuel from a crack where it contacts the frame member. This van was subject to a recall beginning april 19, 2001. I did not own the vehicle at that time, but apparently vehicle was not leaking so it was not fixed. I do not have the recall number. I obtained this information from a vin…
Was traveling on rt 80 near exit 123 in pennsylvania on straight road, at 65 mph, temperature of 75 degrees, dry, sunny day. We heard a loud boom. The inside rear tire (driver side) had blown. It appeared that the sidewall (facing out) had failed. The sidewall separated along a straight line from…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford econoline e-150. The contact stated that the fuel tank fractured and was leaking fuel. The dealer had not been notified. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. No repairs were performed. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford econoline. The contact was replacing the air conditioning blower motor when he noticed the speed selector switch was melted. The failure mileage was 240,000 and the current mileage was 302,302.
1998 ford econoline recall on speed control. Consumer states that dealer did not have the parts and did not want him to make an appointment to have this resolved. He states that no one answered the 800 number on the recall notice. *kb
Other Ford Econoline years
← 1997 Econoline · 1999 Econoline →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Econoline | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2015 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 Econoline | 22 | 2 |
| 2002 Econoline | 23 | 2 |
| 2001 Econoline | 28 | 3 |
| 2000 Econoline | 39 | 3 |
| 1999 Econoline | 84 | 5 |
| 1998 | 46 | 2 |
| 1997 Econoline | 79 | 2 |
| 1996 Econoline | 81 | 3 |
| 1995 Econoline | 73 | 4 |
See all Ford Econoline problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Econoline?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Ford Econoline?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Ford Econoline a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Econoline model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.