1998 Ford Explorer complaints

UPON DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT AIR BAG CONTAINS CORN STARCH AND TALCOM POWDER. THIS MADE AIR BAGS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER 4WD MILEAGE: 82000. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED YESTERDAY. I NOTICED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE DRIVES OR HANDLES...BUT THE 4WD HI AND 4WD LO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD PERIODICALLY (EVERY 5 - 10 MINUTES) BLINK 5 TIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DASH IS NORMAL FOR 5 MINUTES, AND THEN THE LIGHTS BLINK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS REPETITIVELY WHETHER DRIVING IN TOWN, ON THE HIGHWAY, ETC. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4WD AUTO THE WHOLE TIME. I HAVE NOT USED THE 4WD VERY MUCH AT ALL!*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND THE TRUCK FLIPPED OVER CAUSING INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS. NLM

MY 20-MONTH-OLD DAUGHER CAN UNLATCH THE LOCK ON HER ROUNDABOUT CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT (MODEL 161). SHE HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR. TODAY, SHE UNLATCHED THE LOCK WHILE SITTING IN THE PARKED CAR. SHE TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE CARSEAT, BUT HER NECK GOT HUNG UP ON THE TOP LATCH. I IMMEDIATELY UNLATCHED THIS LATCH TO FREE HER FROM THE CAR SEAT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I HAD NOT ACTED IMMEDIATELY.

VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WILL ACCELERATE WHEN GOING FORWARD AND WHEN GOING IN REVERSE WITH THE WHEEL TURNED, DEALER INSTALLED A THROTTLE PLATE, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEY ALSO INSTALLED A BATTERY THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICE FLAMES COMING FROM REAR WINDOW, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THE DELAER STATED CONNECTION TO REAR DEFROSTER UNIT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK. DELAER STATED IT WAS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT.*SLC

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT NOT START IF PARKED WITH NOSE DOWN AND HAS ? TANK OF FUEL. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. *YD

THERE WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT STABILIZER BAR BROKE ON LEFT SIDE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YH

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TAILGATE WINDOW BLEWOUT. DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ON 30.JAN.2002. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TAILGATE WINDOW BLEWOUT AGAIN. *AK

HEATER/DEFROSTER CONTROL IS NO LONGER WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEATER BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

RADIO LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH IT STARTED TO SNOW REAR OF VEHICLE TWISTED A BIT, THEN STARTED TO SPIN SIDEWAYS. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5000.00. NO INJURIES.*AK

ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO TWIST. THEN, STARTED TO SPIN SIDEWAYS, AND ROLLED OVER, LANDING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5500.00. NO INJURIES.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THERMOSTAT AND VALVEBODY GASKET FAILED.*JB

TOOK EXPLORER IN TO LOCAL FORD DEALER TO HAVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES REPLACED PLUS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. DEALER SAID THAT ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE UNTIL BOTH FRONT TIE-ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. SAID THAT TIE-RODS WERE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YEARLY AUTO INSPECTION BUT NOT FOR LONG. I HAD THEM REPLACED BUT THOUGHT THAT REPLACEMENT AT 30,000 MILES WAS A LITTLE PREMATURE. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR COMPLAINT DATABASE, I NOTICED THAT OTHERS HAD REPORTED TIE-ROD AND BALL JOINT FAILURES ON THE '98 EXPLORER'S SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD SEND MINE IN ALSO EVEN THOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND IT MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY DEFECT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN "OFF-THE-ROAD" EITHER. *AK

CAR KEEP STOPPING AND DYING, THE PLENUMS (FUEL INJECTOR) THAT MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

WHEN DEPRESSING THROTTLE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY FORCE TO GET THROTTLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I WENT TO ADJUST THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINER. THE RECLINER METAL LATCH BROKE OFF AND IN THE PROCESS THE DRIVERS SEAT WENT BACKWARDS AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SEAT BACK INTO POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS CHANGED THE METAL THICKNESS ON THE RECLINER METAL LATCH ASSEMBLY BUT WON'T REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE. COST CAN BE $50- $70 PLUS SERVICE CHARGE. I CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT AND SHOULD REPLACE AT NO CHARGE TO ME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT TERRAIN, CONSUMER NOTICED GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P235/75R15 TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR BACK IN TIRE, BUT NOTICED LARGE BUBBLES PROJECTING ON THE SIDE WALL, AND THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED, TIRE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD ONLY 600 MILES, GOODYEAR STATED THAT THE TIRE WENT BAD DUE TO LOW AIR PRESSURE. *TT

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND ACT AS IF IT HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND, ACTION ASLO FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION. FORD INVOICE INDICATES CUSTOMER STATEMENT RESULTING IN R&R TRANSMISION AND OVERHAL, TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DETERMIN

TSB 99-14-02, REPAIR COST $799.40, REPAIR INCLUDES ADDING A JUMPER WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL. THE COST FOR REAPIR SHOULD BE REFUNDED BY MANUFACTURER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

REAR TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, STRANDING DRIVER AND SMALL CHILD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. ENGINE WAS PULLED OUT OF TRUCK AND THE HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. COST WAS $2800. FORD GAVE "GOODWILL" WARRANTY OF 50%.

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT SIDE DRIVER'S SEAT RETAINING BOLT (THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BACK TO THE BASE OF THE SEAT) SHEARED CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEAT. THE DRIVER FELL BACK ALSO CAUSING HIM TO RUN OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. LOCAL DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WISHES TO CHARGE FOR A COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT.*AK

UPON INSPECTION OF TIRES, CONSUMER FOUND THAT TWO OF THE TIRES(FIRESTONE P225/70R155SL BSW A/S) HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITH THE STEEL BELTS PROTRUDING FROM THE EDGES, CONSUMER HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN BRAND BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL BEGAN, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JG

RECALL 00 V 422 000/THROTTLE: VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH WHEN STARTING UP IN MORNING AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER CONSUMER FINDS OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND REFUNDS WERE BEING ISSUED, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SAVE THE TIRES, CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE TIRES AS REQUIRED BY STATED LAW TO DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

WHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE AN ALIGMENT COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

TIRES HAD BEEN WEARING OUT FROM INSIDE OUT.HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE SITUATION, BUT DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH TIRES THAT HAD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT IN A 45MPH ZONE. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO A DITCH WITH FRONT HITTING A TREE. FRONT DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NO CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH MANUFACTURER. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FORD REPLACED THE GASKET THE FIRST TIME BUT NOW REFUSES TO DO SO. MANUFACTURER'S. DEFECT?*AK

WHILE DRIVING, ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED IT HAD FALLEN LOOSE AND WAS DANGLING BY THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN OFF (SEPERATED) FROM THE FIREWALL/DASH PANEL. NOTICED TWO HOLES IN DASH PANEL WHERE THE BRACKET HAD BEEN SPOT WELDED. SEE NHTSA #SB616531.*AK

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO TIRE TRACTI0N DURING INCUMBIENT WEATHER. DRIVER STATED THAT TIRES WERE BRAND NEW BF UNIROYAL TIRE PAW TIRES DOTP235/75R15SL SIZE 15X7 PURCHASED NEW DUE TO FIRESTONE RECALL.CONSUMER WANTS TIRES REPLACED WITH A BETTER BRAND AT NO COST. *TT

AFTER COMING OFF A HIGHWAY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND RED LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70-80 MPH VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED FOUR SETS OF TIRES, AND HAD AN ALIGMENT DONE ON VEHICLE. BUT, VIBRATION STILL CONTINUED. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SOME PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION. HAD TO REPLACE SHOCKS AND TIRES. CURRENTLY, DEALER INDICATED THAT WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALSO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AROUND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A TUNE-UP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT HELP, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL POPPED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BROKE 3 TIMES. GAS PEDAL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HEATER WENT OUT; MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A 1997 FORD PART ON THE 1998 TRUCK. FACE PLATE FOR THE RADIO, TIME IS OUT. LEVER FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OFF. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AT 25,000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST FORD I EVER OWNED AND UNFORTUNATELY THE LAST!*AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCD PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED. ORIGINAL COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IN JUNE, 1999, AT 18,000 MILES. VEHICLE IS BASED IN A DRY CLIMATE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER IS RARELY USED. FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. FAILURE OF WIPER MOTOR COMPROMISES REARWARD VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER ADVISES PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT IS COMMON.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED BUS. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY A MECHANIC TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BACK PAINS SINCE THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WE TOWED A BOAT WITHIN THE VEHICLE SPECS, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAF SPRINGS IN THE BACK TO FAIL. FORD HAS TO THIS POINT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RIDES THREE INCHES LOWER IN THE REAR THAN IN THE FRONT.

STALLING - FORD SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

GAS PEDAL STICKS. *AK

GAS PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM FRAME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WENT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

THE SEAT LEVER BROKE, WHERE DO I COMPLAIN TO. *AK

CAR DRIVING40 MPH ON STRAIGHT, WET, CEMENT TERRAIN, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. DRIVER ATTENTIVE WITH HANDS AT 10 & 2 POSITION BEGINNING TO ACCLERATE. BACK WHEELS OF VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHIMMY, SHAKE. FRONT OF VEHICLE BEGINS TO VEER LEFT. DRIVER STEERS CAR AWAY FROM CEMENT EMBANKMENT, LEFT TIRE GOES SLIGHTLY UP EMBANKMENT, NO COLLISION. CAR STRAIGHTEND OUT, DRIVER BEGINS TO ACCLERATE AGAIN CAR VEERS SHARP RIGHT HITS EMBANKMENT HEAD ON, VEHICLE DOES COMPLETE ROLLOVER. TIE ROD COMPLETELY SEVERED. BOTH TIMES CAR VEERED DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT CAR, BUT UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE RATTLES UNDERNEATH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CAMSHAFT BROKE, AND CHAIN THAT GOES AROUND IT ALSO BROKE.*AK

FRONT BRAKES DRAG. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED ROTORS AND OTHER PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THERE IS A NOISE. RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK