The problem
Vehicle description: light duty trucks. The cast tow hooks changes the crash pulse of the vehicle in frontal barrier impacts and the air bag sensor was not calibrated to this new crash pulse which May cause the air bags to deploy in lower speed impacts than design intent.
The risk
Unexpected air bag deployment can result in personal injury.
The fix
Dealers will replace the cast tow hooks with forged hooks.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-303 (98V303000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 98S34 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive |
| Report date | December 1, 1998 |
| Owners notified | January 3, 1999 |
| Vehicles affected | 20 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the air bags
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-303 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will replace the cast tow hooks with forged hooks.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 20 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.