1998 Ford Navigator Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Navigator years
- Not enough data 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Navigator. That is the most of any Navigator model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is structure (2 complaints, 40%), typically at around 140,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 5owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Ford Navigator 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 2 | 40% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 40% | 98,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Ford Navigator recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
Risk: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
Fix: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
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
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked it caught on fire. The entire front end of the vehicle burned and the vehicle was totaled. The fire did originate from under the hood. Prior to the fire the cruise control would not engage properly. An independent mechanic determined the vehicle…
On 9/25/2005 about 2:30 am my lincoln navigator caught on fire. I was told by the fire inspector that the truck was involved in a recall by ford. Apparently the cruise control switch was the cause of the fire. The truck was not on it was just sitting in front of my townhouse villa and it just…
While opening the rear door, the hinges broke causing the door to fall off. The consumer was unable to use the rear door. There were no recalls found. *jb
The left rear tire experienced tread separation.*jb
Brakes defective and frame rusted
Other Ford Navigator years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Navigator | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 Navigator | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 Navigator | 5 | 1 |
| 2000 Navigator | 4 | 2 |
| 1999 Navigator | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 5 | 1 |
See all Ford Navigator 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 Navigator?
Owners most often report structure, vehicle speed control, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Ford Navigator?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Ford Navigator a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Navigator model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.