1998 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,022 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Ford Expedition, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 70/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 100,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Ford Expedition sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2007–2016, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Expedition years
What owners report
“Right rear lamp socket circuit inoperative, right rear running board bulb failed and replaced..”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
“Truck was at dealer for maintenance. Front suspension: stabilizer links were broken off completely.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
“Consumer states the spark plugs pops out of engine causing the vehicle to lose power. Dealer has been notified.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
“Upon re-positioning my vehicle in a driveway, i backed up then attempted to proceeded forward. At this point my suv suddenly accelerated while my foot was on the brake. Despite standing on the brakes, i took-out the bumper and trunk lid of the vehicle parked in front of me. The accelerator pedal…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
“2 tires suffered sidewall failures, 2 or more holes in sidewall, cool air temperature about 55 degrees f. Tires inflated to 35 psi, both failures on improved gravel/ dirt roads in alaska, both tires destroyed, no damage to vehicle.( dot number: tire size: p265/70r17 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
“I have had the drive train from the transmission back replaced and still have a vibration thruoughout the vehicle. Along with this it is difficult to stay in your lane while driving. The fix from ford was to hang a twenty or so pound wieght off the differential. Through the tsb on the veichle print…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Expedition
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 365 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 110,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 83,630 and 144,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
Fix: 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.
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.…
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V388000.
Led to recall campaign 00V073000.
Technical service bulletins
294 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1998 Ford Expedition. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Expedition TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Ford Expedition reliable?
The 1998 Ford Expedition drew 1,022 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 70/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 1998 Ford Expedition problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Ford Expedition are electrical (153 complaints), suspension (148), and engine (146).
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Expedition problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Ford Expedition problems around 110,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 83,630 and 144,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Ford Expedition have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Ford Expedition. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.