The problem
Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with single rear wheels and equipped with 3.55:1 and 3.73:1 axle ratio. These vehicles were built with incorrect speedometer driven gears, resulting in a lower speedometer reading than the actual vehicle speed being driven.
The risk
This can result in the vehicle being driven at an unsafe or illegal speed should the driver not realize that his vehicle road speed is greater than the speedometer indication.
The fix
Dealers will install the correct speedometer gear.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-257 (98V257000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Power train › Manual transmission |
| Report date | October 14, 1998 |
| Owners notified | February 26, 1999 |
| Vehicles affected | 350 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the transmission & drivetrain
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-257 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will install the correct speedometer gear.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 350 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.