1998 Ford F-150 Engine

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT IN PISTON BORE HYDROLOCKED MOTOR OVER NIGHT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F-150 V6 4.2 LITER WITH 92435 ORIGINAL MILES. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND STARTED MY TRUCK UP AND THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE MOTOR. MY ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW. I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER POSTS OF A BENT ROD AND NEED A NEW MOTOR. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS MOTOR RECALLED AND PROPERLY FIX THE PROBLEM. GLAD THEY HAVE THE JOB BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO LOSING MINE. WALKING 6 MILES TO WORK TODAY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.STRANDED. THEN YOU HAVE A COST OF TOWING THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE. THEN THE REPAIR COST. *TR

TRAVELING HOME TOWING MY BOAT AND ANOTHER SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT. TRIED TO FIX ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS IN 90 DEGREE HEAT. HAD TO WAIT TO GET MY TRUCK TOWED AND THEN ANOTHER FOR MY BOAT. *TR

I HAVE NOW HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS EJECT THEMSELVES FROM THE MOTOR. TO ME THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE BEING THAT THE PLUG IS EXPOSED AS WELL AS FUEL/FUEL VAPORS SINCE THE PLUG IS OUT OF THE HEAD. THERE IS ALSO A MANIFOLD EXHAUST LEAK DUE TO THE STUDS BREAKING OFF IN THE MOTOR. THESE HEADS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH THREAD AND SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A NORMAL SPEED I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO MISFIRE.THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN KNOWN TO FORD, BECAUSE OUR MECHANIC RECEIVED AN E-MAIL BULLETIN FROM FORD DIRECTLY. WHICH STATED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE F-150. I HAVE COPIES OF THIS BULLETIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY SON AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUST LOST TOTAL POWER.

I WAS DRIVING, AND THE TRUCK STARTED LOSING POWER, AND SPUTTERING, I FINALLY GOT IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE 3 CRACKED COIL PACK ASSEMBLIES. THESE WERE REPLACED AND IT RUNS FINE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD DEAL IF I HAD BEEN IN A SITUATION PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CROSSING A RR TRACK OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. THIS IDEA OF INDIVIDUAL COILS ON EACH SPARK PLUG IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, AND DANGEROUS. I REALIZE THERE ARE A LOT OF MILES ON MY TRUCK, BUT THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY THROWING WATER ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE #2 SPARK PLUG STRIPED ITS THREADS AND BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. THE PLUG REMAINED IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAP AND CONTINUED TO SPARK. THE REPAIR COST $220.00. I AM TOLD THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF SOME OF FORDS ENGINES. *TR

HAD THE 7 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SHOOT OUT OF THE HEAD AND STRIP THE THREADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND HE PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LOCATED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE ROTTED, CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD KNOCKING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO EXAMINE THE NOISE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD FRACTURED AND POPPED SHOT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE THREADED AND COILED. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED UNDER AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

# 5 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY 1998 FORD F-150 5.4 LTR ENGINE. RETURNING HOME FROM ALABAMA. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THROUGH CHARLOTTE, NC WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND OF A VERY BAD EXHAUST LEAK. WHEN I STOPPED AND LIFTED THE HOOD I COULD SEE THE COIL PACK BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. I HAD TO PAY A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR $420.00 TO TOW ME HOME. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 5.4. IT WILL COST ABOUT $300.00 OR MORE TO REPAIR WITH A HELI COIL. (THAT'S IF IT IS REPAIRABLE WITH A HELI COIL). HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FINAL BILL YET. ALSO, FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE PLUGS WHERE REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2009 BY THE CARLOT GARAGE WHICH I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM. *TR

I AM THE UNHAPPY OWNER OF A 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. IT SLUNG A ROD THIS MORNING AS SOON AS I STARTED IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AN FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 98 4.2L'S DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. I'VE READ ALOT OF STORY'S ABOUT THE SAME TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ENGINES. THERE IS A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING READY TO SPEND 3 OR 4 GRAND FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. ISN'T FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTS THAT THERE TRUCKS HAD COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. *TR

04/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM OUR FORD F-150 XLT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY OF A SINGLE DWELLING HOME. WE AND NEIGHBORS HEARD MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS THAT SHOOK OUR HOUSE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHOOTING UP 12+ FEET. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE TRUCK WAS GONE, BURNT INTO THE FIBERGLASS TOPPER, BLEW OUT ALL BUT TWO BACK WINDOWS AND MELTED ALL WIRING BACK TO THE REAR SHELL WINDOW. THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS IS THE BACK HALF OF THE TRUCK AND BACK TIRES. *TR

NEW SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED AT 70,000 MILES ON MY 1998 FORD F150. A FEW WEEKS LATER A SPARK PLUG (CYLINDER #4) WAS EJECTED FROM ITS THREADS, CAUSING GAS VAPORS TO FILL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE CABIN. AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG (THE SPARK PLUG SEEMED TO BE REINSERTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS), IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE UNTIL 5 WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ANOTHER MISS FIRE WAS RECORDED BY THE CODE READER. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON (CODE READER SHOW CYLINDER #4 MISS FIRE) WITH A LOSS OF POWER. NOW A HELICOIL KIT WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALL AT A COST OVER $117. IF THE HELICOIL KIT DOES NOT WORK, THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE TO BE SOLD FOR AT FRACTION OF WHAT ITS VALUE WOULD BE WITHOUT THE FOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS, OTHERWISE IT COULD BE USED AS MY REGULAR DRIVER- THANKS FORD! *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD F-150 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE SPARK PUG HAD BLOWN OUT. CYLINDER #3 ORIGINAL PLUGS. *TR

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, DROVE TRUCK IN TOWN AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, THEN WOULD NOT TURN OVER NEXT DAY, RADIATOR COOLANT IN CYLINDERS, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, ENGINE OIL OK, COOLANT LEVEL OK. TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

THE EXHAUST HEADER BOLTS ON MY 1998 F150 PICKUP RUSTED AND FAILED. TO REPLACE THESE $2 STUDS, A LENGTHY REPAIR IS REQUIRED WHERE THE HEADS HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STUDS THAT HAVE BROKEN FLUSH WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS HAVE TO BE DRILLED OUT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM INDICATED THAT THOUSANDS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND ALUMINUM HEADS ARE AFFECTED. THE EXHAUST LEAK FUMES COME INTO THE VEHICLE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FIRE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF REPAIR BILLS REACHING $2000. I'M COLLECTING INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF AS I DO NOT HAVE $2000 TO GIVE TO THE DEALER. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 F150 PICKUP WITH A 5.4 ENGINE THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT IN GETTING THE #4 SPARK PLUG REMOVED. THIS IS A $1200 TO $2200 REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE BY FORD NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS PLUG HAS IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR A 100K MILES, I HAVE 97K. ALL MECHANICS KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO BUY A SPECIAL TOOL TO TRY TO REMOVE THIS PLUG. PROBLEM IS IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN THEY HAVE TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO DO THIS. THIS IS WERE THE PROBLEM LIES. FORD IS ACTING LIKE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND/OR I SHOULD GET OVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A 1998 OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T KNOW THIS UNTIL THEY REACH 100K MILES AND WANT TO REPLACE THIS PLUG. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A MANDATORY RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KEEP GETTING SCREWED FOR SUCH A HUGE REPAIR. *TR