1998 Ford Explorer complaints

REPLACED FOR RECALL 8/9/00, BUT NOT A AUTH.TIRE FOR EXPLORER-ROUGH/BOUNCY RIDE & HARDER TO HANDLE ON ROAD, SIDE STEPS ON ROUGH ROAD, DON'T FEEL SAFE. BRIDGESTONE IGNORES, DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT23575R15)

MULTIPLE SEVERE HESITATIONS ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. CLOSE CALLS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC 2 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY 8/17/01. WHEN PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, WOULD NOT START FOR 2 DAYS.TOWED TO A DEALER-ATCHLEY FORD IN OMAHA. THEY SAID COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AND STARTED FOR THEM OK. HAS HESITATED TWICE SINCE THEN BUT NOT STALLED. TOLD BY ATCHLEY MECHANIC EXPLORER DOES NOT HAVE IGNITION PROBLEM. CLAIMED TO BE NO ERROR CODES IN PROCESSOR. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING MOMENTARILY LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND HAD RACK AND PINION REPLACED. CURRENTLY, IT WAS MAKING NOISE WHENEVER A TURN WAS BEING MADE. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT MOTOR FAILED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXPLORER REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILURES BUT STATED THAT FORD HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM NOR HAVE THEY MADE A REDESIGNED WIPER MOTOR AVAILABLE.*AK

ENGINE CONTINUES TO STALL WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS EVERYDAY. *AK

I FEEL THIS SUV IS VERY UNSAFE FORD AND DEALERSHIP STATE OTHERWISE. NO SAFETY DEFECT RECORDED. *AK

WHEN BACK OUT THERE IS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT TIRE. *AK

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS 40MPH AND ABOVE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES AND THE FUEL LINE HAD BROKE CAUSING, THE FUEL TO LEAK AND VEHICLE TO STALL. *YD

WHILE DRIVING A BOLT CAME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN WHICH RENDERED STEERING TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. ALSO, IT DEACTIVATED AIR BAG . CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT BEING COOPERATIVE.*AK *JB

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL, KEY CODE AND KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK VEHICLE. NOR WILL INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WORK. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT SHE WILL BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION OCURRED @ 55MPH WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN APPROX 5PM. TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AT 35PSI (CHECKED 4 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT). *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. WHILE DRIVING WOULD FEEL LIKE VEHICLE HAD FLAT TIRES. WOULD HAVE TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR STEERING. THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RACK AND PINION STEERING LEFT. *AK NLM

SUV SURGES WHEN BACKING BACK BOAT AND TRAILER.

ENGINE GOES DEAD ON ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND MUST BE RESTARTED. IT IS OFTEN LONG PERIODS OF TIME BETWEEN REPAIR VISIT AND NEXT FAILURE. TO DATE THIS IS STILL OCCURRINA AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE POTENTIAL OF CASING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS VERY LIKELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN PULLING OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC FLOW.THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION WERE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORKED ON SINCE 8-26-99. FAILURES ARE SPORADIC AND TO DATE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND UNABLE TO REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE HOWEVER THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. THEY HAVE REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLDS, CHECKED FUEL PUMPS, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND MANY OTHER THINGS BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMT.*AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A PHONE POLE AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

4 SETS OF TIRES WITHIN 50,000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHEN TURNING ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WILL NOT WORK. HOWEVER AT TIMES WILL WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH WILL NOT GIVE ANY HELP TO CONSUMER.*AK

IGNITION OFTEN DIES IF ACCELERATING FROM AROUND 20 MPH -- AS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM TOLL BOOTH, OR AFTER SLOWING TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE MADE A COMPLETE TURN AND DAMAGED FRONT AND REAR END OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH STEERING. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

RADIOS DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY,STEERIG WHEEL WHEN GO OVER A BUMP IT SWING LEFT/ RIGHT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD MY WIFES EXPLORER STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. SHE HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED HOME FOR ME TO DIAGNOSE. I EXAMINED THE EXPLORER AND FOUND THAT THE INERTIA SWITCHS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAD SLID OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP. FORD HAS LOCATED THIS SWITCH NEAR THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOT AREA WITH THE WIRING ROUTED UNDER THE CARPET. REPEATED PASSENGER FOOT PRESSURE ON THE FLOOR HAD RESULTED IN THE CONNECTOR SLIDING OFF. WHILE DRIVING THIS REDUCES STEERING AND BRAKING EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS FORWARD MOVEMENT. THANK GOODNESS SHE WAS NOT ON A FREEWAY, BRIDGE, TUNNEL OR MANEUVERING THROUGH A CURVE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED STRONG FUEL SMELL, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED A LEAKING FUEL RAIL. *AK

HAD TO REPLACE ALL TIRES FOR FEAR OF OTHER TIRES BLOWING UP AFTER FIERSTONE MANAGER COMMENTED THAT TIRE S BLOW UP AFTER 57,000 MILES. (PER FIRSTONE STORE MANAGER AT MIRA MESA- CALIFORNIA STORE). ME MANAGER. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W 2 U U TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTED ROTORS FROM DAY ONE WITH THIS VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS REPLACING THESE FAULTY ROTORS THEY WOULD CLEAN THEM OR TURN THEM. I RECENTLY HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE OF USE ANY FURTHER. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERNS AND WAS IGNORED. I FELL THAT BOTH DEALERSHIPS KNEW THESE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEM LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE THEY JUST CLEANED THEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE WAY FORD HANDLED THIS ISSUE WITH MY BRAKES.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT IN STOCK, (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(.*YH

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND TRYING TO SLOWDOWN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT 30 MPH AND UP. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AND RUST, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LATCH IS CRACKED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY. I STOPPED AT EXIT AND VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING, VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT WOULD STALL WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH NO RECORD OF ANY ERROR CODES. HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHEN VEHICLE FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT WITH NO POWERING STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROX 4 HOURS. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, NO REPAIR WAS DONE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON ACCELERATION, BUT THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD NOT RESTART.*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT IDLE WITHOUT PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ENGINE WILL STALL . DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY IDLE AIR VALVE.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR ACCELERATING TO LEFT VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT WHEELS BEING OUT OF AROUND. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHCIH CAUSES VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC. AFTER TEN MINUTES VEHICLE IS FULLY OPERATIONAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE TRUCK'S BALL JOINT AND SUSPENSION WAS LOSE STARTING AT 30,000 MILES. REPLACED 10 MONTHS LATER BY DEALER. TRUCK DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DURING THIS TIME, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE RECALLED TIRES.

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES P235/75R15 WHICH WAS ON RECALL (00T-005),BUT THE DEALER DENIED REIMBURSMENT. *YH

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON MY EXPLORER FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A 3 YEAR PERIOD. SO FAR, I SEEM TO BE GOING THROUGH A REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR EACH YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THAT PART TO FAIL. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THE SECOND REPLACEMENT THAT I RECEIVED WAS AN UPGRADED MOTOR THAT FORD WAS USING AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE FAILED PART, TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE ISSUES.*AK

FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE ON VACATION IN OREGON. TRED WAS TOTALLY REMOVED. THANK THE GOOD LORD THAT MY DAUGHTER (7YRS) AND MYSELF WERE ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ROLLING THE VEHICLE. FRONT UNDER BUMPER GUARD WAS RIPPED OFF AND SIDE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

CONSUMER REPLACED HIS FIRESTONE TIRES, WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER RADIALS (M+S) CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, HOWEVER THE ONLY APPROVED GOODYEAR TIRES FOR THE EXPLORER WERE THE WRANGLER RT/S, HT,GS-A, OR AT/S CONSUMER STATES HE IS QUITE CONCERNED. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE FIRST RECEIVED THE TIRES HIS INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT THEY APPEARED SMALLER IN THE FENDERS THEN THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED, BUT HE DISMISSED THAT THOUGHT SINCE THEY WERE MARKED P235 75R15 AND WERE PURCHASED FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP.*ET

PROBLEM WITH IDLE. CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL 3 TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT.*AK

PE00 020; WHEN CONSUMER IS TRAVELING VEHICLE SHAKES DUE TO FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN 1998, FORD, EXPLORER RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE, SIZE: P235/75R15, DOT: W2H EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, AND THEY WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS WITH FORD AND NOT THEM, CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. *SLC

3RD STEERING RACK AND PINION IN 9 MONTHS. 1ST FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, BUT NO INJURIES.*AK

REFERENCE THE "FUEL TANK SENDER ASSEMBLY" ON EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS MODEL YEARS 1997 THRU 2000 DOES NOT REACH FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TANK CAUSING THE SENSORS TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLS ARE OUT OF FUEL WHEN PARKED ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE, THIS COULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH LESS THAN A QUATER TANK OF FUEL. THIS PROBLEM, SUPPOSELY, WAS CORRECTED WITH THE 2001 MODELS, BY EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE SENDER ASSEMBLY. SHOULD THIS , FOR SAFETY SAKE, BE DONE ON 97 THRU 00 MODELS. I AM AWARE OF ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE AN EXPLORER WITH A FEW GALLON S OF FUEL REMAINING THE THE FUEL TANK, WAS PARKED ON A DOWN SLOPE AND COULD NOT BE STARTED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LEVEL.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET CAMSHAFT FIXED. AFTER DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM BACK ENGINE.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DOT NUMBERS 1FMZU32P8 AND WUA08268, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AND THEN BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 00T-005, FIRESTONE AND FORD TOLD CONSUMER THAT UNLESS THE TIRES WERE SAVED, NO REFUND WOULD BE GIVEN, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ATTN. NHTSA ADMINISTRATOR-[XXX]: I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. IN AN EFFORT TO HELP IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FORD EXPLORER - I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY VEHICLE TO BE USED FOR TESTING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED OF COURSE AND THIS WOULD ALLOW ME TO PURCHASE A SAFER VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY. THE VEHICLES TESTED BY [XXX] STUDY OF THE "OVERSTEERING" CONDITION WERE SIMILAR TO MINE. THE FOUR DOOR (4X2) DESIGN HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY [XXX] FOR REASONS I DON'T DARE WISH TO SPECULATE. ALTHOUGH, IT SEEMS FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE OPERATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. AS A FORD EXPLORER OWNER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROCEED WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO ROLLOVERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES VIA E-MAIL AND HAVE GOTTEN TRACKING/CASE ID NUMBERS IN RESPONSE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACT UPON A SAFETY CONCERN WHERE LIVES ARE AT STAKE. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL OCTOBER 2001 AND I WISH TO EXCHANGE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. IF MY OFFER DOES NOT APPEAL TO YOU THEN PLEASE OFFER ME ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU FEEL ARE HELPFUL TO MY CAUSE. SINCERELY, [XXX]/[XXX]/[XXX] ([XXX]) & [XXX] ([XXX]). *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. IGNITION WOULD BE IN BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS INTERLOCK SAFETY AND THE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE RAN INTO A FENCE. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MAKING A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN. CONSUMER STEPPED SLIGHTLY ON GAS AND IT HESITATED. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS DOWN GIVING VEHICLE GAS TO BY PASS HESITATION. DEALER REALLY HAD NO REMEDY. BUT ONCE BEFORE REPLACED FUEL INJECTION. *AK

IT STARTED WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. THEN THE LOCK DROP DOWN INSIDE DOOR MAKING THE DOOR UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN. ALSO ENGINE STALLED. TOOK TO THE DEALER. THEY FIXED THE DOOR BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR THE WINDOW. WINDOW WORKED FOR THEM. BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME THAT NIGHT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE DASH WHEN ON AND THE BATTERY GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING TO THE "H" AND FINALLY HELD THERE. TURNED TRUCK OFF AND LET SIT AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. DIDN'T REACURR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN STARTED UP AGAIN. ABS LIGHT ALSO STARTED COMING ON AND OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO GO CRAZY. ALSO ENGINE IDLE STARTED TO SURGE AS THE BATTERY GAUGE SURGED. THIS WAS ON A WEEKEND. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO DEALER. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS. THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND DROVE IT. STILL NOTHING. THEY DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND THE MAXI FUSE AND WIRING SYSTEM BURNT. I ASKED IF IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY SAID NO. HOWEVER I LOOKED AT YOUR WEB SITE UNDER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR EXPLORER HAD CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. SOME OF THESE EXPLORERS WERE NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WERE PARKED IN A GARGE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUSE AND WIRING HARNESS HOWEVER IT TOOK 11/2 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKORDERED. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING SYSTEMS. I ALSO PARK MI

REAR MOTOR HAS FAILED 3 TIMES NOW, FRONT MOTOR FAILED ONCE-ALL FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. *AK