Vehicles › Ford › Ford Expedition
1998 Ford Expedition
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1998 Ford Expedition, covering vehicle speed control, exterior lighting and trailer hitches, and 833 consumer complaints received since 1998.
The component named most often is suspension: 144.5 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 82.7 per 1,000 across all 1998 model-year vehicles and against 60.2 per 1,000 for the Ford Expedition line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 183.7 complaints per model year across the 36 Ford Expedition model years on this register; 43 complaints reported a crash and 73 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 1999 (135); the most recent in the file is dated 9 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 5 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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)
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 05S28).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S14).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S05).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
- 97V171000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)Reported 7 Oct 1997 · 866,000 units
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1998 Ford Expedition (black) against all 1998 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1998 | Expedition line | All 1998 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 144.5 | 60.2 | 82.7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 127.8 | 133 | 124.5 |
| Electrical System | 120.9 | 123 | 82.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 76.7 | 83.4 | 43.3 |
| Power Train | 74.7 | 73.8 | 90.9 |
| Visibility | 66.9 | 55.5 | 56.5 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 147 | 144.5 | 60.2 | 82.7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 130 | 127.8 | 133 | 124.5 |
| Electrical System | 123 | 120.9 | 123 | 82.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 78 | 76.7 | 83.4 | 43.3 |
| Power Train | 76 | 74.7 | 73.8 | 90.9 |
| Visibility | 68 | 66.9 | 55.5 | 56.5 |
| Steering | 52 | 51.1 | 36.1 | 55.7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 50.1 | 48.2 | 107.5 |
| Tires | 39 | 38.3 | 81.8 | 52.1 |
| Wheels | 37 | 36.4 | 18.1 | 10.9 |
| Structure | 26 | 25.6 | 41.6 | 45.5 |
| Seat Belts | 25 | 24.6 | 17.4 | 22.5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 20.6 | 23.6 | 36.4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 21 | 20.6 | 11.8 | 27.3 |
| Equipment | 21 | 20.6 | 16.2 | 22.9 |
| Air Bags | 20 | 19.7 | 35.6 | 49.3 |
| Engine | 16 | 15.7 | 46.2 | 6 |
| Unknown or Other | 14 | 13.8 | 22.2 | 21.7 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 9 | 8.8 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
| Seats | 8 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 16.4 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 7.5 |
| Trailer Hitches | 6 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | 3.9 | 15 | 2.8 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 3.9 | 12.1 | 3.4 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2.9 | 3 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5.6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 2 | 3.5 | 0.6 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.6 |
833 unique complaints, 1,017 component mentions; 37 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP05005 | Defect petition | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | engine and engine cooling:engine | 22 Sep 2005 | 4 Jan 2006 | — |
| EA05005 | Engineering analysis | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | electrical system | 22 Mar 2005 | 2 Aug 2006 | 05V388000 |
| PE01022 | Preliminary evaluation | FRONT STABILIZER LINK | suspension | 2 Jul 2001 | 9 Nov 2001 | — |
| PE99060 | Preliminary evaluation | FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIO | equipment | 27 Sep 1999 | 8 Mar 2000 | 00V073000 |
| PE98024 | Preliminary evaluation | TIE ROD END FAILURES | steering | 21 Apr 1998 | 21 Jul 1998 | — |
Other Ford Expedition model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1993 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1994 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1995 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1996 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1997 | 7 | 847 | 7,668,883 |
| 1998 | 5 | 833 | 7,472,437 |
| 1999 | 5 | 944 | 5,123,889 |
| 2000 | 7 | 882 | 7,466,218 |
| 2001 | 6 | 565 | 7,481,942 |
| 2002 | 2 | 331 | 4,503,674 |
| 2003 | 1 | 591 | 3,674 |
| 2004 | 0 | 277 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 309 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 292 | 210,003 |
| 2007 | 2 | 198 | 180,831 |
| 2008 | 3 | 126 | 123,835 |
| 2009 NHTSA | 1 | 24 | 1,357 |
| 2010 | 0 | 49 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 52 | — |
| 2012 | 3 | 74 | 164,650 |
| 2013 | 0 | 42 | — |
| 2014 NHTSA | 0 | 18 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 58 | 1,815,628 |
| 2016 | 3 | 42 | 1,850,763 |
| 2017 | 4 | 27 | 1,974,374 |
| 2018 | 14 | 19 | 3,077,037 |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 | 3,269,466 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 | 4,821,102 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 4,037,713 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 9,269,618 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 7,421,932 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | 6,314,792 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 4,740,952 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 4,423,626 |
| 2027 | 2 | 0 | 4,423,626 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford Expedition model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1998 Ford Expedition have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 05V388000, was reported to NHTSA on 7 Sep 2005 and concerns vehicle speed control. Across all model years the Ford Expedition line has 77 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1998 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 5 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 1998 Ford Expedition complain about most?
Suspension: 147 of 1017 component mentions (144.5 per 1,000). Next is engine and engine cooling with 130. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.