Door problems of the 1998 Ford F-150 - part 1

Cracks in doors.

Crack , drivers door beside lower window opening.

Structural-stress fractures in sheet metal on door.

Crack forming on drivers door at bottom of window. Also rust developing at bottom of both driver and passenger doors. Crack is a known problem for years. When will Ford fix this once and for all. Nhtsa needs to get involved.

I am the original owner of a 1998 F-150 Ford 4x4 pick-up truck which is exibiting a cracking condition at the lower welting edge of the window on the drivers side door. Understand this is occurring on many other f150's and appears to be an engineering design manufacturing flaw.

Metal on drivers door is cracked at rear of window , about three to four inches up from bottom of window. Mine is not the only one. There are many 98 F-150's out there with the same structural flaw.

The driver's side door covering(skin) has developed a crack around the corner of the window. This occurs because the power window covering(skin) flex when the window is closed. This is a common problem and the dealership is replacing the covering that cost $400. This doesn't correct the failure.

Cracks in driver and passenger doors. They begin on the edge of the window and extend outwards increasing with time.

1998 Ford F-150 XLT super-cab short bed. Structural defect on driver's side door. Right lower edge of window. Defect is approximately 1/2 in length. This defect has been viewed on numerous F-150's that I have seen. The same defect is on all.

I have a 1998 Ford F-150 and on the drivers side door at the window I have a about a 1/2 inch crack. I called Ford but I got the run around and was told nothing will be done but they will get with there engineering area.

A crack in the steel by the window trim on the drivers door. This has been a problem on all Ford F-150's from 1997 to 2003. Ford is doing nothing to repair the problem that they have known about for seven years.

I own 1998 f150 truck that has developed a crack in the door near the window molding. I have been told this is a design problem, but Ford will not fix it unless my warranty 3/36 is applicable. I have an extended warranty but it is no good. This crack had likely formed before my warranty expired. I feel it questions the design and strength of the door and how safe it will be with cracks developing weakening it.

1998 F-150 XLT extra-cab, both passenger and driver doors have a crack in the lower rear corner of the window molding. Ford's technical service bulletin states the door assembly should be replaced reference message # 12071. After contacting Ford they said they were showing a recall for my VIN# even though it is widely known to be a problem. The eventual result will be structural failure of the door which will seriously compromise my safety operating the vehicle.

I own a 1998 Ford f150 pickup and have noticed a crack in the sheet metal of the drivers side door just behind the lower part of the window. An article I was reading suggested calling a Ford dealer for repair, the Ford dealer stated that Ford only repairs the vehicle for the first 36,000 miles. The article I read stated that Ford understands the problem to be caused by opening and closing the door and window, which causes the sheet metal, in the location of the crack, to flex, which over time fails and cracks. The problem will only get worse with time and should be repaired regardless of the mileage. My concern is the location of the crack at a corner radius and could propagate toward the rear of the door. The crack that has developed, causes two problems, it creates an opening for water and salt to corrode the unprotected sheet metal on the inside of the door and the crack creates a problem, were the vehicle to be in an accident and hit on the drivers side door. Since the crack has already developed, it would take little impact for the crack to propagate allowing the door panel to be severed, removing its structural integrity. The article I read stated that Ford has found that welding the door does not correct the problem. The correction can only be made by replacing the door. As these cracks have developed and continue to develop on Ford f150 trucks after 36,000 miles, how are they being repaired? my guess would be that if they are being repaired in any manner, they are most likely being welded together and repainted, which Ford has found to be a insufficient repair. The only "repair" is to replace the entire door, which would be costly for the consumer. This problem will most likely only get worse as time goes on. Ford is not taking responsibility for their defects, as this clearly is a manufacturers defect. I asked the NHTSA to look at this matter more closely to understand the potential impact of the crack that develops over time on the Ford f150 truck doors.

Both of the door frames on my 98 F-150 have cracked and continue to get bigger. I believe they will crack completely through the entire door. I was told by my dealer that Ford won't pay to fix it until you make them. Please help the thousands of owners that Ford has fraudulently sold known defective products.

Consumer advised that the normal opening and closing of the driver's door is resulting in the metal door frame breaking due to lack of reinforcement between the door and frame. Ts.

A lot of f 150 owners have reported stress cracks in the sheet metal of the doors. Can I get this fixed. I have contacted Ford and thay tell me no. Dt.

Driver door cracked lower left rear at belt molding.

Sheet metal fatigues and cracks from the inside of the door panel to the outside from stress from the operation of the power windows.

Metal stress tear in both doors. Consumer was told that doors would have to be repaired through welding and reinforcement.

I have door cracks on my f150 truck. Ford has known about this problem since 1997. My truck is out of warranty now. Ford needs to recall the trucks and fix this problem at no charge. I have searched the internet and found this is not an isolated problem. Can you help me with this problem. Thank you.

Hair line cracks are developing outside the driver's door. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Consumer states that the door on the vehicle is cracked by the window and that this is happening on all the 97, 98, and 99 Ford half tons.

Cracks have formed in the both doors of my 1998 f150 XLT at the base of the window. My concern is for the integrity of the door and the resultant rusting that may occur. Also, both windows don't operate properly. . . . As they don't move up and down freely. I have seen the same cracks on several other f150s in recent months.

Crack in door metal next to driver's window.

Doors are cracking at rear seam of window. Vehicle is not covered under extended warranty which consumer purchased. Dealer is not willing to fix it because it's out of the original warranty.

Originally noticed that the driver-side power window was slowing down, then noticed cracking on the driver-side door. This is consistent with Ford's special service message #12071. Date unknown, but window behavior dates to fall 2001.

There is a crack on the side of the door that goes from back of door, and it's about four inches long. Contacted dealer, and dealer is not willing to do anything.

Passenger's and driver's side doors were cracking. Crack started from bottom of window and it ended on door of both sides. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.

There is a crack in the driver side door frame metal above the door handle near the bottom of the window. The crack is about 3/4" long now. My local news ran a story about this problem, that is how I became aware because it is happening to several trucks. I contacted Ford and they sent me to you, please help.

Driver's door is developing cracks in corner area. Dealer has inspected vehicle and was willing to share the cost of repairs. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.

Door has crack by lowerrear of the belt molding.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Door is cracking apart at a welded seam aft of the window3 inches up from window base this so much of a common problem with this truck that every one I know who ownes one has the problem.

There's a crack on driver's side door frame just above handle near window frame area. Crack is just starting. Have taken to dealer , and mechanic indicated problem was stress. There is a technical service bulletin in place on this procedure. Manufacturer knows of problem , and had changed door design in newer vehicles.

Around 1 August 2001 I was talking with some friends at work, during the conversation defects in the door design of the new Ford F-150 pickup truck came up. I had purchased an F-150 super cab in April 2001 and hadnt heard anything about this defect. My friends stated that the door on the new F-150s werent designed properly for the weight of the door and would start to develop cracks. They said that if I took it to the dealer Ford would pay to repair the cracks. I checked my truck and I noticed a crack at the lower right corner of my drivers door near the bottom of the window. I went to crowne Ford in warrensburg, mo 660-747-7111, on 6 Aug 01 and spoke with mr. Chris marten he informed that I needed to contact Ford directly because even though I purchased the vehicle in April 2001 the warranty on my truck expired in February 2001. After arriving at home I called Ford on 6 Aug 01 at 11:45am at 800-392-3673 and spoke with mark, employee # 2547. Mark informed me that Ford would not repair the defect since the 3/36-warranty period had expired. (note) what I have since discovered is that Ford has known about this defect since 1997. The defect was corrected in the 2000-year models but many customers who discovered cracks and brought their trucks in for repair prior to 2000 had new doors installed with the same defect in them. Ford has even sent out a technical bulletin to their dealers, article # 01-2-6 but failed to inform the public about the defect. Ford would pay for the repairs only if the customer brought it to the dealers attention within the warranty period. There seems to be a continuing problem with Ford not informing the public about known defects with their vehicles until after someone gets killed or seriously injured. I hope that the nhtsb can help resolve this defect for all Ford F-150 owners and myself.