1996 Ford F-150 vs 1998 Ford F-150
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford F-150 | 1998 Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 324 | 1,381 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 121 | 285 |
| Investigations | 2 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 83 |
| Fire reports | 75 | 91 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–15 | 13–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 110,000 mi | 113,795 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford F-150 | Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 42 | 177 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 174 |
| Tires | 21 | 152 |
| Suspension | 21 | 132 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 116 |
| Structure | 7 | 138 |
| Electrical System | 56 | 87 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 110 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 152 |
| Vibration / shaking | 10 | 35 |
| Stalling | 8 | 44 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 12 |
| Overheating | 0 | 19 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 17 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
1996 Ford F-150
1998 Ford F-150
Compare all Ford F-150 vs Ford F-150 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.