Most common 1998 Ford Econoline problems
Share of the 46 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Econoline complaints by model year
Best Econoline years: 2005, 2006, 2007. Years to avoid: 1997, 1999, 1996, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Ford Econoline recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 Mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 Lincoln town car vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Vehicle description: bi-fuel cng pickup trucks and bi-fuel cng vans, modified by cfi control systems, inc., fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 303, "fuel system integrity of compressed natural gas vehicles." the label affixed to the fuel filler door by the vehicle modifier contains the inspection date and…
Remedy: Owners will be provided a label with the required statement, along with instructions for affixing the label at the fuel filler door. Owner notification began November 2, 2000.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Ford Econoline:
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 1998 Ford Econoline owners say
Brakes
Have been driving for over 40 years. Have never had brake pads wear out this fast. Belive there must be a problem with the ABS braking system, but unable to get Ford to help with this problem. The Ford dealer told me that Ford sent out a letter to its dealers about premature pad failure at 12000 miles but would not give me a copy of this notice. When I called Ford all they would tell me is that the pads were not covered under the warranty . I don't seem to be able to get any more info from fords are the dealer. Keep gitting the run around. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Rear brakes malfunction, causing extended stopping distance which could result in a crash. ABS braking system malfunctions, causing front wheels to lock up. Also, airbag light comes on, indicating there is a problem with airbag system which May not deploy in event of a crash. Please provide further information.
Speed control & acceleration
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Econoline. The contact received two safety recall notices for the vehicle speed control on August 29, 2007 and October 9, 2007. On November 1, 2007, he called the dealer for the third time and was either hung up on or disconnected. The contact was informed by a service technician that he could continue driving the vehicle because if it were going to catch fire, it would have by now. The purchase date was unknown. There had been no failure to date. The current mileage was 45,495.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Econoline. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07V336000 (vehicle speed control). The contact scheduled a recall repair appointment to have the speed control disconnected. He is dissatisfied with the amount of time it will take to receive the parts and have the cruise control replaced. There had been no failure to date. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 110,000.
Engine & cooling
Engine check light is illuminating, indicating a malfunction within cylinder head and temperature sensor. Mechanic at Ford dealer stated that manufacturer has not produced sensor for Econoline truck, resulting in false warning to check engine on vehicle.
Intake valve gasket failed, causing coolant to enter cylinder and bend push rod. Motor has only 45,000 miles on it. Van had been driven under 500 miles in last six months.
1998 Ford Econoline engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Econoline a good car?
Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Econoline rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Econoline at the same age. It is one of the Econoline 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 Econoline?
The brakes — 7 complaints, 15% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the speed control & acceleration (7) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 Ford Econoline have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Ford Econoline, the most recent from February 4, 2008 (cruise control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Econoline?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2006 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1999, 1996, 1995 and 2000. See the full Ford Econoline years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Econoline problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 25% 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.