Most common 1998 Ford Club problems
Share of the 28 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Club complaints by model year
Best Club years: 2000, 1995. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998. Compare all years →
What 1998 Ford Club owners say
Engine & cooling
VIN fmre11lxwhc14619 1998 Ford van Club wagon v8 triton engine 5.4 liter- spark plug blow out. Had the vehicle towed to mccoy and mills Ford 700 west commonwealth, fullerton ca 92832 work order 985469 apprx date feb 11,2005 customer #whc14619. Ford dealer service dept. Quoted a repair fee for head replacement of minimum $3500. For blow out of spark plug and cylinder damage. When ms. Mabry inquired of the cost for the entire new engine replacement as opposed to only one cylinder repair, the response was--a minimum of $5600. Failure and its consequences: since vehicle owner mabry did not have $3500 , then mabry again paid another towing service to tow vehicle to mabry a distance of approx 150 miles (a very expensive towing fee). The third towing was to a repair shop 25 appx miles from shy lane. Partial towing fees $250 cash and $128 cash to 3 guys towing, fullerton ca. …
I became one more victim of an unacceptable design flaw foisted upon the motoring public by the once proud Ford motor company. #3 spark plug took an unapproved leave of absence and has grounded my e-350 van for the past 2 months. I am weighing my options; should I attempt an expensive repair only to have it fail in the near future or should I return it to the showroom of my closest Ford dealer after hours? So much for the engineering that LED to wins at le mans in the 1960's. There was no vehicle fire associated with this mishap; however, I have seen pictures of fires due to this problem suffered by others. I am one among thousands of Ford truck owners dealing with this situation.
Speed control & acceleration
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the cruise control became stuck in the on position, raising the speed of the vehicle to over 90 MPH. The vehicle was shifted into neutral and coasted to a rest area. A private repair shop was consulted, who disconnected the speed control cable at the throttle body, which closed the throttle. The vehicle was then taken to a service dealer, where the dealer was unable to determine the problem. Updated 10/17/2006 -
I received a recall notice for our 1998 Ford Club wagon in August 2007. I keep calling to get an appointment for the part(it has to do with the cruise control defect that can catch fire) and no one has the parts. In September, we receive a card saying that the that "unforeseen shortage" has made it impossible for Ford to replace the part at this time. They are offering a "band aid" approach by only disconnecting the cruise control until the parts become available. I find this absolutely unacceptable. The bean counter obviously blew it for Ford and now we the consumers are paying the price. I called again today, November 3, and still the parts are not available and was told they May not be available until January? I also found out today that our Lincoln town car is on the list and we have never received any notification concerning this car! …
Brakes
Total brake failure occurred with no warning or indication (even the brake light did not illuminate). I was approaching an intersection with stopped vehicles slowly but could not get any brake response, causing a crash and then pushing until three other vehicles would be hit.
Front rotors warp for apparently no reasonable cause. Master mechanic suggests its due to mass of rotors not large enough to handle braking loads, or bad materials. Same with warped rear brake drums. This vehicle is now on its second set of rotors (6-21-2002), and they have been lathe turned to the limit of their width. Rotors have now warped again, but I'll continue to put up with the pulsation till it drives me crazy. I live in a rural area and braking is not a constant thing here. This van is used to transport my children and for errands, so the vehicle (Ford e350 1 ton Club wagon van) is not being worked hard.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Club a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Club rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Club at the same age. It is one of the Club years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Ford Club?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the speed control & acceleration (5) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 1998 Ford Club have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Ford Club. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Club?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1998. See the full Ford Club years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Club problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 112,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.