# NHTSA recall 98V161000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 98V161000
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 1998\-07\-15
- Owners notified: 1998\-08\-10
- Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
- Units potentially affected: 202000

## What is wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:  LIGHT DUTY 4\-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS.   IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED.  A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE SPRING CAN OCCUR.  THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CONTACT THE FUEL TANK.


## What can happen

FUEL TANK CONTACT CAN DAMAGE THE TANK AND RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.  FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SPRINGS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP ON THE FORWARD END OF THE REAR SPRINGS TO PREVENT FUEL TANK CONTACT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAF FRACTURE.  ANY FRACTURED SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.


## Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 10, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1997 FORD F\-150](/makes/ford/f-150/1997/recalls.md). Built 1995\-11\-26 to 1998\-02\-19.
- [1998 FORD F\-150](/makes/ford/f-150/1998/recalls.md). Built 1995\-11\-26 to 1998\-02\-19.

## Investigated as RQ98022

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- RQ98022: Recall query, opened 1998\-11\-13. REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE. SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V161000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V161000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [TSB\-14\-0164](/bulletins/10058101.md), 2015-07-31, Service bulletin
- [TSB\-14\-0147](/bulletins/10056624.md), 2015-01-17, Service bulletin
- [020503](/bulletins/636417.md), 2002-11-08, Service bulletin
- [0253](/bulletins/636042.md), 2002-11-04, Service bulletin
- [15271](/bulletins/625804.md), 2001-12-03, Service bulletin
- [15113](/bulletins/624689.md), 2001-11-08, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V161000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V161000)

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