I own a 1998 Ford 150 pickup and the gas tank straps have rusted through and it is dangerous. I have been told that there is a recall from Ford but when I took my truck to the Ford dealer I was told that if a recall was on the news that it many be a year before the recall letters are mailed. Is this true? I worry because how many people may lose their lives over the year it takes to get the letters mailed out...

- In, IN, USA

1998 Ford F-150; simply was driving and the spare tire hoist cable broke dropping the spare. Cable broke at point where lug and cable come together at the lug that holds the bracket underneath the spare tire. No obvious corrosion noted at this location or on the remainder of the cable.

- Centerburg, OH, USA

We just returned home from a 15 hour drive from nc, we were lucky this happened in our town going about 20 instead of on the highway where we were doing 75+, our cable holding our spare tire broke and the tire fell onto the road...thank goodness no one was behind us.!

- Upland, IN, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150. The starter would engage and seem to restart itself as if she were turning the ignition. She stated that there was a loud noise when the failure occurred. The dome lights inside would turn on and off without warning. The four wheel drive warning light would illuminate on the instrument control panel. The radio compartment also made a loud clicking sound. When she turned the vehicle off, the heater would still run without the key in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility, but the mechanic could not determine the cause of the failures. A service representative at the dealership stated that water entered through the firewall. He speculated that this could be the cause for the failure (according to similar vehicles he repaired). She replaced the windshield at a glass company but realized that the windshield was not the cause for the problem. The mechanic who installed the windshield told her that he could see daylight where the emergency brake was located and he believed that was the location where the water was coming in. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred to NHTSA. No repairs were made. The current and failure mileages were approximately 174,000. Updated 02/1710 updated 02/19/10

- Lansing, MI, USA

I purchased a 1998 Ford F-150 in 2000 from carmax in arlington, tx. I have had no major problems until Nov. 7th 2008. I was driving and approached a traffic signal. I attempted to depress my brakes when the vehicle locked up and spun sideways at the intersection. When I exited the vehicle I found that my driverside rear differential had broken lose and the rear differential clamp had broken off allowing the entire driverside differential to fly off of the vehicle. % minutes earlier I was on the freeway. If this would of happened on the freeway, I would not be here today.

- Wrightwood, CA, USA

This was not a particularly bad incident, but it could very well have been. I consider it a 'close call' from which there is a warning to be heard. The straps holding up the gas tank on my F-150 rusted through, dropping the tank [fortunately at low speed where I could stop fast - even so, another foot or so and I would have burst the tank against a sewer grating]. the tank was rust-free, as were the vertical parts of the straps. I think that the plastic pad between the straps and the tank held water against the strap, rusting it. The pad wraps around the strap, and I believe scooped water thrown by the tires. I suggest either a pad redesign to eliminate this, or that the straps be of stainless. The straps appeared to be intact, but the metal was pretty much converted to rust without changing shape. It is not like the straps were visibly rusted away. I suspect that the pad held the rust in place. I had changed the oil not too long before and noticed nothing wrong. I do not specifically recall looking at the straps, but I do try to look around when I am under the truck just to see if anything is funky. Had I been going at any decent speed, not in a parking lot, I suspect I would have burned to death.... the repair was simple; replace the straps and two plastic vent hose connections that failed. Jacking up the tank [full] and tying it up so the truck could be pulled up on a tiltbed was a hassle, mainly since I did not have the appropriate tools on hand. A simple inspection would have prevented this incident, though it would have to have been more than just a visual inspection; poking the strap with a pick to verify it wasn't all rust just looking like surface rusted metal.. but your system will not take that number, saying it is invalid. It is a 1998 F-150 4WD, extended cab, stick shift, with ac.

- Port Clinton, OH, USA

What isn't wrong with this truck? with less than 80,000 miles on it...spare tire fell off while being driven, interior lights randomly stay on, both doors are rusting out from the bottom, knob to regulate temperature fell off and assembly needed replacement, front brakes calipers stuck and caught on fire, exhaust system has rusted off twice, transmission went up and was replaced under warranty at less than 20,000 miles, radiator rusted through, and the headliner is falling down off the ceiling. I've probably missed something but can tell you that I will never own another Ford.

- Stewartstown, PA, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the bolts that hold the exhaust manifold onto the heads and the bolts has rusted. The failure has resulted in an exhaust leak, which has begun to leak into the cap of her vehicle. The failure occurred while driving 5 mph. The bolts must be drilled out in order to be removed. The current mileage is 88,000 and failure mileage was 84,000. Updated 02-01-08 updated 02/01/08

- Cambrige Springs, PA, USA

Water seeped into the rear window. When the problem first started, the repair shop sealed the glass, but the problem had progressed over time. Now the entire rear window has to be replaced to correct the problem. The auto glass shop indicated it was due to a faulty window frame. They also indicated it was a common failure with the rear windows.

- Magnolia, TX, USA

On-going problem with running board gets slippery when wet / in very cold weather. Dealer notified, and nothing could be done. Asking NHTSA to look into this matter, could cause bodily harm.

- Grove City, OH, USA

While towing a 19' travel trailer, the trailer fishtailed wildly causing vehicle to lose control and flip trailer. I had towed the trailer a previous 5 years without incident. This wreck occurred only 2 months after purchasing this vehicle. Not sure at this time if it indeed was the truck or not.

- Lanesville, IN, USA

Water leaks into vehicle causing electrical failure and stalling.

- Denton, MD, USA