1998 Ford Expedition: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 836 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (16% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 836 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Bought replacement brake pads from RockAuto 07/08/2023 9:06PM order 244457897 that are supposed to be Bosch BSH BC702 ceramic. What arrived is unbranded, unnumbered tag torn off the box with no identifiers at all. All brake pads used should have numbers to identify street legal for use but these have NOTHING on them, the box, anything. Unsafe if cannot identify use. RockAuto wants me to pay for return for their mistake, but bigger problem is that unknown pads are being sent out by RockAuto. I still have unopened set if interested.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jul 2023
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated and surged at a high rate of speed without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · May 2019
“5.4l gas engine. Spark plugs have blown out of 2 different cylinders in 2 months. I have found only that this is a known issue for several models with this engine including the f-150. Ford had done nothing to address this faulty engine design. Both times my plugs blew out I was accelerating from a stop while turning left.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Takata recall my truck has a burning spell and was some smoke it was park I was about to pull off on my street where I live”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2018
“The spark plug blew out for the second time in2 months. It sounded like the motor was knocking . Ford only put 3 threads in the cylinder head to hold the spark plug but the spark plugs have 10 threads. I called ford and they acted like they never heard of this before. There are forums going back to 2002 that I was reading yesterday about this issue so clearly they were lying. Owners report engine fires when the plug blows out. My vehicle didn't catch fire .they refuse to fix this defect and deny its their fault.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2017
“I got in my 1997 expedition and the brake went to the floor when having the back brakes installed the mechanics noticed the lower on troll arm was rusted out. He the looked at my 1998 and it is the same way. He said I cannot drive them like this. I drive on the interstate daily.”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2016
“I have a ford 1998 expedition, eddie bauer edition. It has a 5.4 liter engine with aluminum heads. Three times I've had a helicoil blown out leaving me stranded. Now a spark plug has blown out breaking two coils. Ford has made this vehicle for years with this engine. All with the same problems of components blowing out of the engine. I feel it is ford's responsibility to start a recall and fix this defect.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2016
“He brake pedal is loated too close to the accelerator and when depressed goes down below the accelerator so when the extreme right side of the brake is depressed by a bruad shoe the accelerator is also depressed causing the car to accelerate rather than braking. This can and did result in an accident in which I rear ended the car stopped in front of me. This occurred on a city street when I was moving in traffic below the posted 30mph limit.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2016
“#2 spark plug blew out of 5.4l 2 v v8. Was on highway at time. Had to immediately pull over and disconnect fuel and spark for that cylinder. Was over 100km from home, couldnt afford to tow veicle so I had to drive it the remainder of the distance home. Inspected today, there is no threads left. Now need to drill and tap head, install helicoil/timesert and hope for the best.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2016
“While driving down the road at approx 35 mph, the vehicle in front of me stopped hard. I immediately stepped hard on my brakes. The brakes initially applied and then failed. I swerved into a parking lot and applied my brakes again with no success. My brake pedal went to the floor. I then put the gear selector in park while moving at a fairly high rate of speed in order to stop. The vehicle ground to a halt. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility and I was notified that the brake line was rusted and due to the pressure of attempting to stop hard, the line ruptured and the entire braking system failed.”Owner report · Service Brakes · May 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 43 of these complaints and injuries in 36 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.
Remedy: OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VERIFIED TO BE 100 LBS. THEN THE LUG NUTS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED AN ADDITIONAL 1/8 TO 1/4 TURN MORE. THERE WILL BE A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 20, 1998, UNDER WHICH DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEEL STUDS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 331-1129L-ASN AND 331-1129R-ASN, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Expedition by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Expedition reliable?
NHTSA has 836 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Ford Expedition. The most complained-about area is suspension (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Expedition problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 110,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Ford Expedition have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.