FordAeroMax1998Overview/ford/aeromax/1998/base/

1998 Ford AeroMax

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 AeroMax.

The 1998 Ford AeroMax serves as the final iteration of a model line spanning from 1991 to 1998. This model year recorded two recalls and three total owner complaints, which were primarily centered on the seats. With three complaints, the 1998 model matches the highest volume of complaints seen in the vehicle's history, a peak first reached in 1993, contrasting with the 1996 low of a single complaint.

Model year19981997

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 Ford AeroMax shows a complaints count of 3, matching the previous year, while recalls remain at 2—indicating no improvement or worsening from 1997. Notably, TSBs dropped sharply from 77 in 1997 to 39 in 1998, suggesting the manufacturer resolved a significant volume of technical service issues. Across the generation, complaint levels stayed consistently low (1-3 annually), with the sole NHTSA investigation occurring in 1993. The 1998 model year falls at the tail end of an escalating recall trend that began in 1996, yet benefits from reduced service bulletin activity. Top complaint areas were Seats (2) and Exterior Lighting (1), with zero crash or fire complaints recorded. The 1998 AeroMax represents a year where manufacturer attention appears to have peaked in addressing known issues—making it a reasonably sound purchase within this generation, though the active recalls warrant verification of completion.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
39
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Seats2
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V335000Service Brakes, AirReported 19/10/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TANDEM REAR AXLE TRUCKS WITH ABS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS PLUMBED SO THAT COMPLETE AIR RESERVOIR ISOLATION WAS NOT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE HAS THE INCORRECTLY ROUTED AIR LINE. THOSE WITH THE CONDITION WILL BE CORRECTLY PLUMBED AND THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM…

99V050000Service Brakes, AirReported 15/03/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL WABCO AIR DRYER. THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS PLUMBED SO THAT THE SYSTEMS DID NOT PROVIDE AIR RESERVOIR ISOLATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR LINE PLUMBING TO INSTALL A CHECK VALVE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 39 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…
9912101999-06-14Unknown Or OtherFORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A PRIVATE LABELED MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR IRON PARTICLE /…
99441999-03-08Engine And Engine CoolingPROCEDURES ON REPAIRING BROKEN RADIATOR COOLANT SUPPLY TANK VENT HOSE NIPPLES. *TT
982571998-12-21Engine And Engine CoolingCONCERNS WITH THE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT ( FEAD )-FEAD BELT MAY WEAR AND/OR COME…
9825201998-12-21Engine And Engine CoolingSOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRAME-MOUNTED VERTICAL MUFFLER SUPPORTS MAY EXHIBIT A CRACK…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific AeroMax. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1998 AeroMax have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.