1998 Ford Explorer complaints

THE TIRE ESSENTIALLY BLEW OUT AND WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. IF IT HAD BEEN A FRONT TIRE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACIDENT. THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER SAID I RAN OVER SOMETHING THAT CAUSED A PUNCTURE, BUT I KNOW THAT WASN'T THE CASE, AS THERE WAS A SIZEABLE HOLE IN THE TREAD AREA OF THE TIRE AND THERE WERE STRANDS OF RADIAL REINFORCING WIRE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT PUBLICITY ON THE SUBJECT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO PASS ALONG THIS INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT HAS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS, THE MANUFACTURER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE. THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS SEVERAL LISTINGS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED: NHTSA ITEM # SB613200 NHTSA ITEM # SB605343 NHTSA ITEM # SB613320 ALL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ENGINE HESITATION. MY VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT CONDITION OCCURRES, WHEN PULLING INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC OR CROSSING ACROSS TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE MAY LEAVE ME AS A "SITTING DUCK". ANOTHER PERSISTANT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS A DRIVELINE VIBRATION.AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) AT MY EXPENCE, THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS ESPECIALLY UNDER A TOWING LOAD.THIS PROBLEM ALSO WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE REPAIRED, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION/REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VIBRATION CAUSED BY REAR END/TRANSMISSION DEFECTS OF IT'S TRUCKS BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN IT. IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK

JUST LEARNED FROM THE NEWS MEDIA TODAY THAT THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM...WAS TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE 91 IN VERMONT THIS MAY WHEN THE TIRE LITERALLY CAME APART. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT THE RIM WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ON THESE TIRES --- THE MOST RECENT AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT-REAR TIRE FAILED AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN OVERTURNED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE WERE NOT THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE (WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT), RATHER IT BELONGED TO MY AUNT AND UNCLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AND BROKE AGAIN AFTER A FEW USES. I HAVE ASKED IF STRONGER MATERIAL WAS CONSIDERED. A FEW OF MY FRIENDS THAT ALSO OWN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAVE ALSO HAD FAILURES WITH THIS COMPONENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN OUR EXPLORER HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING OUT AT STOPLIGHTS. THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR, A GASKET ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND A FUEL INJECTOR. NOW, 3,000 MILES LATER, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. AT TIMES, THE EXPLORER SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT AT STOPLIGHTS OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE TRUCK FOR 2 DAYS AND RAN UP 11 MILES ON IT, BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE SCENARIO. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.

WITH ONLY 15,614 MILES ON MY 1998 EXPLORER, THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO INSTALL A NEW RADIATOR, CLUTCH FAN ASSEMBLY, WATER PUMP GASKET, AND THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY. *AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE DROPPED AND FLEW TO THE LEFT, AND STARTED ROLLING. CONSUMER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. *AK THE IMPACT SPECIALIST FOR INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH

ON FEBRUARY 27, 2000 MY DAUGHTER AND TWO FRIENDS WERE RETURNING TO OUR HOME IN DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS FROM IOWA CITY, IOWA WHERE THEY WERE VISITING MY SON AND OTHER DAUGHTER AT COLLEGE. WHILE ON EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 88, AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 15, TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. PIECES OF THE TIRE FLEW IN ALL DIRECTIONS WITH SOME HITTING BOTH THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FELL ONTO THE RIM AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT, FORCING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LEFT-HAND LANE, THROUGH THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OR ON THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER  AND ESPECIALLY FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL OVER. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS WERE VERY UPSET AND SHAKEN. AFTER REPLACING THE BLOWN TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE THEY CONTINUED THEIR TRIP AND ARRIVED IN DOWNERS GROVE. ON FEBRUARY 28TH I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE REMAINS OF THE TIRE AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. ON FEBRUARY 29TH I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE WHERE I STRONGLY INQUIRED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE AND ITS HISTORY OF BLOWOUTS. I WAS ASSURED BY THE MANAGER OF THE FIRESTONE STORE, RON DEGNER, THAT THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT MY DAUGHTER PROBABLY RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PAID FIRESTONE $472.78 FOR A NEW TIRE, RECONDITIONED RIM, AND ALL THE OTHER WORK ASSOCIATED WITH R

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE CONFIRMING REPEATED SEATBELT FAILURE WITH FORDS. MY 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS BEEN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER TWICE WITH SEATBELTS THAT DO NOT RETRACT CORRECTLY. THEY HANG OUT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SEATING POSITION. (UPRIGHT!) I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. I'M A CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN THROUGH NHTSA AND AM FAMILIAR WITH HOW SEAT BELTS WORK. THESE WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO GUIDE THEM BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANK YOU. *AK

TRUCK STARTED DEVELOPING CONTROL PROBLEMS, FISHTAILING AND VIBRATING. NOTICED THAT TIRE TREADS WERE SEPARATING. TOOK TO FIRESTONE DEALER AND REPLACED ALL 4. 2 OF THEM WERE BULGING AND SEPARATING A GREAT DEAL, THE OTHER 2 WERE STARTING TO DEVELOP MINOR BULGES. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE STOPPED BEFORE WE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00-020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 74MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAD SEPARATED, LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED ONCE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND LEFT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS.*AK

TWO TIRES FAILED INTERNALY, REPORTED TO DEALER, ROTATED TO REAR, FURTHER REVIEWE ON MY PART DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH NON-FIRESTONE( DOT NUMBER: )

AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCE, TIRE WENT SUDDENLY FLAT. IT WAS SITTING ON THE RIM WHEN DRIVER GOT IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. A REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE EXCEPT THAT IT HAD NO AIR IN IT. THERE WAS NO TREAD SEPARATION.

TIRE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER INJURING MY WIFE AND I.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND IN THE RIGHT LANE OF IH 35 IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AT ABOUT THE # 3 MILE MARKER. WE HAD LEFT WICHITA, KS EARLIER THAT DAY AND WERE ENROUTE TO OUR HOME IN CARROLLTON, TX. I HAD BEEN NOTICING A SHUDDER IN THE VEHICLE NOT UNLIKE THE ONE I FELT PRIOR TO LEARNING THAT ANOTHER ONE OF THE TIRES HAVING SEPARATED ON A TRIP FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TO SAN ANTONIO EARLIER IN THE SUMMER. THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN S. A. ADVISED THAT YOU COULD NOT TELL BY LOOKING AT THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I PAID AN ADJUSTED PRICE FOR THAT TIRE AND JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER NEW WILDERNESS TIRE ON 7/28/2000 BOTH OF WHICH WERE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TWO TIRES ON THE REAR WERE ORIGINALS. I HEARD A LOUD BANG TO MY LEFT AND IMMEDIATELY FELT THE VEHICLE LURCH INTO THE LEFT LANE. I BELIEVE THAT ONLY MY POLICE TRAINING IN DRIVING VEHICLES AT HIGH SPEEDS ENABLED ME TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND DUE TO THE TIRE ONLY SEPARATING AND NOT LOSING AIR PRESSURE WAS I ABLE TO LIMP INTO GAINESVILLE, TX TO GLEN POLK FORD. I WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH SO MUCH DAMAGE FROM A TIRE SEPARATION. I HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ADJUSTED WILDERNESS TIRE AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD AND FIRESTONE FOR FATAL ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM TIRE SEPARATIONS OF THIS SAME TIRE ON EXPLORER'S AND MINIVANS. AS A COINCIDENCE, WHEN I WENT TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGE AT A F

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB ON VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION : WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65-70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE EXPLORER TO FLIP OVER. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE TRUCK, AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE, WIDLERNESS ATX, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. FORMS WERE SENT TO CONSUMER TO FILL OUT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES AT STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH A PIECE OF THE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED THE TIRE. *AK

VEHICLE HYDROPLAINED AND RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER A TREAD SEPARATION, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P23575R16) DOT # VR6M07459-5. *SLC

WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL SPEED UP. GAS PEDAL HANGS UP AND WILL ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. GAS LINKAGE AND CABLES HAVE BEEN OILED WITHOUT EFFECT. *AK *ML

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN TRYING TO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL, PEDAL BROKE OFF. CONSUMER COULD NOT GAIN SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

A 'BOLT' FAILED IN THE DRIVER SEAT, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FULLY RECLINE WITHOUT ANY METHOD OF STOPPING THE RECLINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SINCE THE PART FAILED AT TWO YEARS AND 48000 MILES, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PART THAT MAY FAIL ON OTHER VEHICLES. IF THE SEAT HAD RECLINED 3 MINUTES EARLIER OR LATER, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. THE DEALER CHARGED $100 LABOR TO CHANGE THE $2 BOLT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN A FORD EXPLORER 1998(VIN #[XXX]) AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (DOT#VDHL1PY387 / P235/75R15) BLEWOUT AND TREAD SEPARATED ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INJURIES; TIRE & TREAD ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I RETURNED TO FIRESTONE STORE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT A DEFECTIVE TIRE WHEN IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND. THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. I RECENTLY ON TWO OCCASIONS, TOOK SUV TO HAVE ALIGNMENT CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT ALIGNMENT WAS WITHING SPECS, THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSSED WHAT THEY CALLED "RADIAL DRIFT". THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THIS IN TURN WOULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND IN MY OPINION CAUSE TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: 027477 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION MOTOR WAS REPLACED. LATER ON, WINDSHIELD WIPER COMMENCED TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. ALSO, NOTICED INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON BOTH OF THESE MATTER. *AK

WHEN IT HITS TWENTY MPH OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS AN UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE.*AK

DETREAD CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE ROLLED 2-1/2 TIMES. SEVERE ROOF CRUSH. TIRE REMAINED INFLATED AFTER CRASH.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY118 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A POWER LOSS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CAUSING THE POTENTIAL FOR RIGHT SIDE IMPACT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THROUGH PCM UPDATES, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. *AK

SEVERE BLOWOUT, ROLLOVER 4 TIMES RESULTED IN PARALIZED BACK SEAT OCCUPANT, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT DEPLOY, ONLY LAP THEN RELEASED AT 3 ROLLOVER( DOT NUMBER: )

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ACCUMULATOR....NOT COVERED BY FORD ESP PLAN. ALSO, LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED....COVERED BY FORD ESP PLAN. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF A CHILD ACCIDENTALLY HIT TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER AND VEHICLE ROLLED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FORD SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THE ENGINE FIRE OCCURRED 3 1/2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE STREET, BUT IT IS NORMALLY IN MY GARAGE. IF IT HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE, MY HOUSE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WILL NEVER FEEL CONFORTABLE WITH IT IN THE GARAGE AGAIN. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO ?*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR 3.5 HOURS ENGINE COMPARTMENT BROKE OUT INTO A FIRE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH AND UPON MAKING A LEFT TURN WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL W/HUB COMMENCED TO COME OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FOLLOWING THE P235/75/R15 THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER NUMBERS, AS FOLLOWS 105 S M/S TIRE SIDE WALL BLEW OUT COMPLETELY AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. I HAD TIRE REPLACED AT FIRESTONE TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER, 900 E KENNEDY BLVD, TAMPA, CUSTOMER INVOICE #007059 DATED 06/08/2000. LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE SAID Y'ALL WERE INVESTIGATING THE TIRE, THOUGHT THIS INCIDENT MIGHT HELP. TIRE BLEW OUT ON I-75 EAST OF NAPLES, FL (ALLIGATOR ALLEY). WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR THREE HOURS FROM TAMPA AT 70 MPH. TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT 95 DEGREES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NONE? TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TIRE DISINTEGRATED, WITH TREAD SEPARATING FROM TIRE. TIRE ONE YEAR OLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/T5R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER STATED THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

HEAD LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON DUE TO SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE. YH

WHEN USING THE LIGHT SIGNAL AT TIMES IT WON'T WORK. TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT IN SOME PLACES SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK. *AK

4- WHEEL DRIVE HI AND LO LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT MOTOR AND HARNESS AS PER TSB 94-14-02. MECHANIC SAID IF I DID NOT DO IT, COULD HAVE DROPPED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING. FORD REFUSES TO PAY COST OF $409.28. DEALER SAID PROBLEM HAS COME UP BEFORE. HAVE LESS THEN 500 MILES IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.*AK

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LUGGAGE RACK SEPARATED FROM THE ROOF OF VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20-25 MPH, DRIVER HEARD A CHAIN SAW SOUND WHICH GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. AFTER THE EXPLORER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, A TECHNICIAN FOUND THE STEERNG RACK HAD FALLEN OFF. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON THAT SUBJECT. THE PART TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SLIPS AND A LOUD NOISE OCCURS. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, DEALER HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

THIS VEHICLE WAS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1997 MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT FORD INSISTED DID NOT EXIST 2YRS. AGO. THEY HAVE NOW ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY IS A SAFETY ISSSUE. THEY HAVE ALSO INFORMED US THAT THERE ARE OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE FEEL THAT FORD IS DELIBERATELY TRYING TO MINIMIZE THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE "CUTS OUT/STALLS" UPON ACCELLERATION WHICH BY DEFINITION OF THE NHTSA IS A SAFETY DEFECT!! WE FILLED A REPORT ON OUR 1997 VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 1998. PLEASE SEE NHTSA REF. #523114. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH. AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRE WAS FLAT AND RIM HAD CUT INTO THE TIRE. DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DESTROYED. *AK

GAS PEDAL SNAPPED OFF THE FIREWALL, AND CAME LOOSE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WELD.*AK