1998 Ford Explorer complaints

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AT ONLY 45,000 MILES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CONSUMER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT DEALER, BUT NO PARTS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE DEC 30,1999. *AK

RECALL 99VO62001/CRUISE/SPEED CONTROL:(RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE), BUT VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION; NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V062000/001. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. RECEIVED CARD FROM DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 7 HOURS LATER & USING CRUISE CONTROL, IT BECAME STUCK ON 75MPH. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN ACCELERATOR TAPPED. GUIDED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED IT OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & CRUISE CONTROL OFF. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. *AK

ROTORS WARPED DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING PULSATING WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. *MJS

WHEN APPYING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A MOANING NOISE, DELAY REACTION OF THE BRAKES, THEN THE ABS KICK IN. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL WHEN FIRST ACTIVATED WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE TO INDICATE THE TURNING DIRECTION UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND SAYS THAT IT IS A POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. NLM

ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET, I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL SOONER OR LATER DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS STUMBED/HESITATED (FOR 1 -2 SECONDS) WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP. SO FAR, THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY OCCURRED WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, FROM A DEAD STOP, IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IF IT WAS ONLY A SPLIT SECOND THING, IT WOULD NOT BE SO BAD, BUT IT TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE I HAVE POWER AGAIN. SINCE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT THING THAT ONLY OCCURS ONCE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT IN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAME UP ON A RED LIGHT, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED UPON STOPPING WHILE APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIRS. ECU WAS REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES. YH

VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAMBER UNIT, CONSUMER HAS TO PURCHASE A CAMBER KIT IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO NOT PULL TO THE RIGHT (ALIGNMENT FAILURE). MJS

CD'S BECOME VERY HOT, REMOVAL CAUSES RAPIDMOVEMENT AS IF HAND WILL BURN. COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *AK

AFTER COMING TO A STOP, INTERMITTENTLY, UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION - THIS HAS LED TO NUMEROUS NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER IS INDIFFERENT TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPT. CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE. THE ONBOARD CPU DOES NOT LEAVE ANY ERROR CODES AND THE SERVICE CAPTURE DEVICE DOES NOT PICK-UP ANY ERROR CODES. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION MISFIRE.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK AND 4-WD DASH LIGHT FLASHES WHEN ENGINE IS COLD AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 40 DEG F. WIPERS WORK OK AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP (ABOUT 5 MIN).

INTERMITTENTLY 4- WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON . THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE HAS BURNED OUT. *AK

4- WHEEL DRIVE/HIGH/LOW LIGHT FLASHES INTERMMITTENTLY EVERY 0.5 MILE. *AK

4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH/LOW INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY EVERY 0.5 MILE.

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLEEXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SUSPENSION PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER A HEAVY LOAD WAS IN THE VEHICLE.(400-500 LBS) THE FRONT END RODE 1 FOOT ABOVE THE REAR END.SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS HANDELED QUITE DIFFERENTLY,AND HAS CONSTANT LOUD SQUEAKS AND GRINDS. THE BUSHINGS RECENTLY WERE REMOVED AND GREASED,UNDER CARRIAGE ARMS IN FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE OK,WHY DID THIS START AT 6000 MILES? HESITATION DURING HARD ACCELERATION,ALWAYS FROM STOP,CROSSING INTERSECTION.EXTENSIVE THROTTLE BODY,HOUSING REPAIR WORK NECCESSARY,RECALLS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.TWO FRIENDS WITH 98 EXPLORERS HAVE HAD EXACT PROBLEMS WITH LOAD CARRYING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.HESITATION PROBLEMS AS WELLAVE HAD ECACT PROBLEMS NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ER CARRIAGE

THESE DEFECTS HAPPENS JUST MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY WAS OUT LIVE FAR FROM DEALERSHIP BUT I TRIED TO GET IT THERE AS SOON AS I COULD BEING THAT IT WAS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. I FELT THAT CAPITAL FORD SHOULD OF STILL HONORED THESE DEFECTS AND TRY TO AT LEAST OFFER TO HELP ME IN ANYWAY THEY COULD I FEEL THAT THEY DIDN"T CARE ABOUT IT ALL THEY HAD TO SAY TO ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT TO HAVE THESE DEFECTS FIX THEY WOULDN'T EVEN GIVE A PRICE ALL THEY SAID IS IT'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED OF DOLLARS. I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THEIR SERVICE AND THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS SITUATION. IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE, THEN I PLAN TO RETURN MY SUV AT THE END OF IT'S LEASE AND GO ELSEWHERE TO BUY MY NEXT USV. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM I PURCHASE SEVERAL FORD IN THE PAST YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM SO I HOPE YOU WILL HONOR THESE DEFECTS . I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THIS REQUEST THANK YOU TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT ON 10/29/99 TOOK TO UNIVERSITY FORD, DURHAM 10/30/99 - REPLACED AIR FLOW SENSOR $320.22. ON 11/4/99 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN - TOOK BACK TO UNIVERSITY FORD - STATED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR INTAKE GASKETS & O-RINGS $179.23. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE OF THIS VEHICLE NO OLDER THAT IT IS. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. THERE WAS A LADY IN THE LOBBY WHO ALSO HAD A 1998 FORD TAURUS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD CAME ON. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO - COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE A RECALL PROBLEM - IF SO I HAVE COPIES OF ALL BILLS WHICH I CAN SUBMIT AS PROOF WORK WAS DONE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD IS HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS - THIS IS THE 3RD FORD THAT I'VE OWNED & THEY WAY THINGS ARE LOOKING WILL BE MY LAST. WHAT HAPPENED TO "QUALITY IS JOB ONE" NOT WITH THIS VEHICLE - I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD WOULD PUT OUT A PRODUCT THAT COULD GIVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS SO SOON WITH NO MORE MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I'M A VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER. IF FORD CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAT THIS - THEY NEED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS. IT'S VERY HARD TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS WHEN I'M HAVING TO SPEND OUT $500.00 ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE GIVING PROBLEMS THIS SOON. I'VE HAD VEHICLES WITH CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES & HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THESE THINGS & THEY WERE FORD PRODUCTS. I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK INTO THIS - THIS MAY POSSIBLY BE A RE-CALL PROBLEM THAT HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AS OF YET. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME - I'LL BE HAPPY T

NO SUMMARY

I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN SEPT 1998. IN AUG 1999 I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DRIVERS MIRROR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH AND UP. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME OFF AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I HAVE EVERYTHING DOCUMENTED AND HAVE BEEN IN NOW 7 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY CHANGED THE MIRROR, THE 2ND THE BALANCED/ROTATED THE TIRES, THE 3 TIME THEY HAD ME BUY NEW TIRES, THE 4TH THE PUT ANOTHER SET OF NEW TIRES ON, THE 5TH I HAD THE SERVICE MGR AND HEAD MECHANIC DRIVE IT AGAIN THE TIRES WERE BALANCED/ROTATED, THE 6TH TIME THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER DROVE IT. THEN A FACTORY REP FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY CAME DOWN FROM DETROIT AND CALLED ME ON THE PHONE. WITH EACH TIME I HAD IT IN I WAS TOLD IT IS "NORMAL" FOR A MIRROR TO VIBRATE BUT EACH OF THEM SAID THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE VIRBRATION IN THE FRONT END OR STEERING COLUMN. I WROTE A LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ALONG WITH A C/C TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO OF FORD MOTOR CO. I STATED THE GA LEMON LAW/NEW CAR WARRENTY ACT OF 1990 AND PER THE LEMON LAW GIVING THEM 1 MORE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME ON 11/4/99 AND I TOOK IT IN THE AM OF 11/5/99 FOR THE 7TH TIME. HE LOOKED THE SUSPENSION OVER AND SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE COPIES OF EVERYTHING I MAILED OUT AND ALL THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN IN. THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN WORSE, IT IS HARD TO SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE DRIVERS MIRROR AT 50 MPH AND I CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING AT 70 MPH. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE F

ENGINE HAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE TAPPETS COME FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY STALLS UPON ACCELLERATION.

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLOSION AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFCTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED. NLM

4X4 AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING WHEN UNDER HEAVY LOAD ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS ARE NOT SLIPPING, 4X4 SELECTOR IS IN THE AUTO POSITION AND NO ERROR CODES ARE DISPLAYED OR FOUND. CAUSES PULSATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AND GROANING NOISES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOISE AND PULSTATION GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE LOAD IS DECREASED AND OR 4X4 IS SWITCHED TO 4X4 HIGH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE 4X4 COMPUTER AND CHECKED THE AXLES AND DIFFERENTIAL, PROBLEM STILL EXITS. DEALER HAS STATED THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY WILL TRY AND GET A TECHNICIAN FROM FORD THREE WEEKS AGO.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40 MPH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE START VIBRATING ALSO THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR WHERE THE CONSUMER CAN NOT SEE OTHER VEHICLE.

VEHICLE WON'T DISENGAUGE AND ACCELERATED UP TO 75 MPH. PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON, AND VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WENT UP TO 80 MPH. *AK

WHEN DRVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE BRAKES AND ENTIRE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE COASTING OR AT A STOP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM; WHENEVER BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION/SUDDEN STOP OR SLAMMING ON BRAKE, IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SKID AND FISHTAIL TO THE RIGHT. DEALER NOTIFED AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION WEATHER THIS IS NORMAL OR NOT. *AK

BRAKES ARE STICKING ALL THE TIME. CONTACT DEALER. THEY CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BRAKES DO NOT LOCK UP. *AK

ENGINE STALLING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY AFTER THREE REPAIR ATTEMPTS. MJS

CAM CHAIN NOISY AT TIMES(CLATTERING); DEALER UNABLE TO ELIMINATE PROBLEM

THE TURNSIGNAL FAILS TO REMAIN ENGAGED, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE SIGNAL. I AM UNABLE TO WARN OTHER MOTORIST THAT I AM GOING TO MAKE A TURN. DELAER INDICATED THAT "ALL THE EXPLORERS DO THAT AND FORD DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM".

ALSO EXPERIENCING RIGHT FLOOD LIGHT FAILURE. THIS IS THE 3RD BULB REPLACEMENT. I, THE CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE SOME RESOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE COST TOO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE THESE MANY PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: 274 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS ACCELERATOR WOULD BECOME HARD. TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP FROM NEUTRAL INTO DRIVE. THEN A LOUD NOISE, LIKE A BANG, WOULD BE HEARD. TRANSMISSION WOULD REENGAGE ITSELF INTO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

NO INJURY, YET. BUCKLES ARE SOLIDLY MOUNTED, PROTRUD ABOVE SEAT SURFACE AND HURT PASSENGERS BACK/SPINE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE.

WHEN GETTING INTO VEHICLE AND STARTING IT UP, THROTTLE STICKS. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL REAL HARD TO STOP THE THROTTLE FROM STICKING. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T COME OUT, AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT KEEPS SLIDING FORWARD WHENEVER CONSUMER IS DRIVING. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER HAS SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED OVER 18 TIMES IN THE LAST TEN MONTHS. IT SURGES TO MAXIMUM RPM WHILE IN PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE. DRIVERS FOOT IS NOT ON ACCELERATOR WHEN THIS OCCURS. DRIVER CAN ONLY SAVE THE SITUATION BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND JAMMING ON BRAKES OR TURNING OFF CAR.

BROTHER WAS CHECKING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE & NOTICED THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS RUSTY. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS INFORMED IT'S NORMAL DUE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT THAT WAS USED. ALSO, SEAT & ANCHOR ATTACHMENTS WERE RUSTY. VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW DUE TO LOW MILEAGE, ACCORDING TO DEALER. *AK

POWER SEAT. ROCKED BACK AND FORTH AND GOT WORSE. DEALER REPLACED. SEAT STARTED TO GET LOOSE AGAIN AND DEALER REPLACED IT AGAIN. ALSO SEAT BELT WAS NOT RETRACTING BACK IN. DEALER REPLACED. ADDITIONAL DEFECT NOT NOTED WAS THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAVING TO BE REBUILT AT 22,868 MILES. WOULD BE GLAD TO FILL OUT ADDITIONAL FORM OR PROVIDE SERVICE RECORDS ETC. IF NEEDED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. KEITH

CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO HAVE RECALLS PERFORMED, DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEMS. YH (99V-062) AND (99V-164)