15 problems related to spare tire have been reported for the 1998 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I was driving slowly through a mobile home park when my spare tire broke loose from its bracket and landed on the ground. The cable broke. No one was hurt but if it would have happened 3 minutes earlier it would have fallen off while I was at a much higher speed on the highway. I saw one complaint already and felt I should report my situation as well.
Today was and average day. I made my way onto the highway as I've done endless times, smooth sailing for about 15 minutes or so nothing out of the ordinary and upon my travels on the highway. In less than 4 second I was shocked as my vehicle felt like it was floating oddly and shifting to the next lane in the rear end then proceeded to throw an entire section of my right rear tire out of nowhere. It is a mastercraft (aka) cooper tire known as the CT-c, which is a very hearty and (so I thought) well-made item. I had been on the highway for roughly 15minutes or so then this happened at a speed of 65mph and I was lucky to not lose total control entirely and crash. I did my best to hold control of the truck and bring it to a safe stop of the side of the highway just where and exit was. Upon visual inspection it seems to me the way the tire conveniently separated itself, with the sidewalls still on the wheel of the truck and the entire tread, bands and belts all came of and rocketed across the highway was not done by road debris. I saw this in the quick glimpse of it leaving my truck, which I caught in my rear view mirror. I'm really shaken up about this and very much concerned about my own well being and that of the people around me and those who ride with me. What should I do? this does not seem like road damage to me, if I had hit something (which upon scouring the road surface nothing was found), it would seem that my front tire would have hit something 1st. My wish is to have all 4 tires replaced (a different brand) at the cost of the manufacturer responsible. Most importantly I do not want anyone else to be potential victims of this failure, as I got very lucky! I dont want to see another series of firestone deaths with cooper tires. I also have photos and high definition video taken to show the damages. So far I have a spare tire for now being used but I also returned to the place of purchase, which then contacted the manufacturer of the failed tire.
I have a 1998 Ford f150 4x4 and the cable that secures the spare tire under the bed broke while driving . I was lucky because I was only going about 5 miles an hour when the tire and the holder dropped to the road behind me. I feel if I had been going at 60 or any other speed this could have caused some major damage to any one traveling behind. I have called Ford motor company at their customer relations line on February 17,2010 to see if they could offer some assistance. I am more than able to install this item my self. I live on maui in a town called hana and I am about 2 1/2 hours from a dealer. I have called the dealer and the cable that broke will cost me just over 100. 00 dollars. That may not seem to be a lot at this time but if the tire had come off I may have had to pay for a whole lot more. I have now returned to our home in California ,but the vehicle is in hana. Maui I have all the pieces that were involved. Thank you for looking at this.
Cable on spare tire wench corroded and broke. Spare tire was lost going down the highway at 70mph. Did not cause and accident, but could easily killed someone.
While driving at less than 10 miles per hour on a country road the spare tire support cable on my 1998 Ford F-150 failed, causing the tire to fall beneath the truck, bounce, and strike the undercarriage. The unit had not shown prior signs of wear when the spare tire was last serviced about 16 months ago. The unit has been cycled probably five times during the life of the vehicle. There were no warning signs of "thumping" which would indicate a loose fitting of tire in the spare well. While no one was injured due to the low speed and location, a release on a highway would likely have resulted in an accident and possible serious injury. I plan to order a replacement part and will retain the damaged unit for inspection.
The consumer heard a loud noise while driving 20-30 mph. The spare tire attached to the rear of the vehicle fell off. The cable securing the tire disconnected.
Driving down navy rd. During rush hour traffic when spare tire fell off my 1998 Ford f150. Cable holding tire snapped. Spare tire was struck by another vehicle that was behind me. Was told by other owners of this type vehicle of similar situations, of spare tire just falling off vehicle because retracting cable breaking. Could only imagine what would have happened if this would have happened on the interstate.
The spare tire had gouges that distributed around the tire's sidewall. Dealer advised that this type of tire wear, when the tire is placed in the spare tire's cradle was fairly common with Ford trucks. Consumer requested assistance in replacing defective tire.
The spare tire was inoperative (wrangler r7/s, p265-70-r17).
Metal receiver underneath the truck that holds emergency spare tire in place has damaged the sidewall of tire, 8 grooves in sidewall. Dealership examined problem, and was covering part of the expense for a replacement tire. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
Spare tire design places the rubber sidewall directly in contact with the metal undercarriage, resulting in friction/damage to sidewall. Mjs.
Ford spare tire design places rubber sidewall directly in contact with the metal undercarriage, friction between metal/rubber causes abrasions on sidewall,(8 areas of severe abrasions).
Spare tire rubbing on cross member and cutting through sidewall making tire unusable.
Removed originial unused spare tire from under frame location. The Ford F-150 under frame mounting design caused 8 wear points (from vibration) at least 3/16" deep into outer sidewall. This has created a potential unsafe tire blowout condition. I have had this truck for only 16 months (@16,295 miles) and find this new spare now unsafe and unusable. I would like this investigated and other owners notified of this situation if warranted. I will be contacting ukiah Ford this week and I would like to have this tire replaced. Contact me if needed. Ken johannes. ( dot number: tire size: 235-70r16 ).
Sidewall tire wear on spare tire. Returned as a warrantee issue and the dealership would not replace. ( dot number: tire size: 265x70rx17 ).