VehicleVerdict

1998 Ford Expedition problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,022 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.0 times the median Expedition year — the 1998 model ranks #4 of 36 Expedition years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 44 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across suspension (148), engine (146), and electrical system (130), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

1,022

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

5

Investigations

54

Crash-involved

80

Fires reported

44

Injuries

1

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1998 compare to other Expedition years?

See all Expedition years to avoid →

What are the most common 1998 Ford Expedition problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Suspension14814%
Engine14614%
Electrical System13013%
Speed Control798%
Transmission767%
Tires & Wheels767%
Visibility & Wipers707%
Brakes616%
Steering525%
Fuel System313%
Lighting293%
Body & Structure263%
Seat Belts252%
Other222%
Airbags202%
Latches & Locks91%
Seats81%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)71%
Trailer Hitch61%
Child Seat10%

Does the 1998 Ford Expedition have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

06E067000LightingAugust 1, 2006 · 19,413 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

06E060000LightingJune 29, 2006 · 87,745 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

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.

05V388000Speed ControlSeptember 7, 2005 · 4,500,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

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)

00V168000LightingJune 19, 2000 · 20,637 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

00V073000Trailer HitchMarch 7, 2000 · 565,800 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.

Consequence

THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.

98V095000Tires & WheelsMay 13, 1998 · 1,520,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

97V171000TransmissionOctober 7, 1997 · 866,000 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, AND UPON HER RETURN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND THE FIRE SMOLDERED ITSELF OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE WIRE HARNESS WAS BURNED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · March 29, 2005 · fire

AFTER PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, WENT TO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE, AND CONSUMER HEARD THE ALARM GOING OFF. RUSHED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON . CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS REPORT DETERMINED PART…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 16, 2003 · fire

DT: CONSUMER'S 1998 FORD EXPEDITION BURST INTO FLAMES. WHILE CONSUMER WAS IN VEHICLE, WITH THE VEHICLE OFF, SHE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE SMOKE TURNED TO BLACK. WHEN THE CONSUMER WALKED AWAY SHE LOOKED BACK TOWARDS THE VEHICLE AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 10, 2005 · fire

I LEFT WORK ON TUESDAY AUGUST THE 21ST AND WENT TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT ABOUT 4 MINUTES AWAY FOR MY JOB. I PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE AND AFTER JUST ABOUT 5 MINUTES I SEE A BIG SMOKE COME OUT THE ENGINE OF MY CAR. THE FRONT MIRROR SPLASHED ALL INSIDE THE CAR. THE THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FOR ABOUT 20…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · August 21, 2007 · fire

REAR DRIVER SIDE LUG NUTS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL, ROLLING OVER 4-5 TIMES RESTING UPSIDE DOWN. TWO ADULT AND THREE CHILDREN AGES 5,12 AND 18 INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. ONE ADULT SUFFERED BROKEN NECK IN TWO PLACES AND CRUSHED DISC. ONE WEEK HOSPITAL STAY WITH SURGERY TO REMOVE CRUSHED DISC…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · August 30, 1998 · crash

1998 Ford Expedition — common questions

Is the 1998 Ford Expedition reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,022 complaints put the 1998 model at #4 of 36 Expedition years. It is one of the Expedition years to avoid.

What are the most common 1998 Expedition problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are suspension (148 complaints), engine (146 complaints), electrical system (130 complaints).

Does the 1998 Ford Expedition have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1998 Ford Expedition. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1998 Ford Expedition under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 5 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Expedition years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Expedition years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2001, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2018, 2005, 2002, 2006, 2004, 2021. The cleanest record among Expedition years belongs to 2027.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.