1998 Ford Explorer complaints

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT-5 P235/75.R16 TIRES ARE REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION PRIOR TO EXPLOSION. NO BULGING IN THE TIRES. TIRES JUST CHECKED 3 WEEKS AGO. 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLEAR WEATHER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES BEFORE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR MORE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR THE VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER'S HOME. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *NM

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WILL NOT UNLOCK. A SPRING BROKE, AND THE LOCK WILL NOT OPEN WITHOUT NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND THE CAUSE IS WELL KNOWN (THE SPRING DESIGN IS POOR). *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR IT HAD TO BE GIVEN MORE GAS BECAUSE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO STICK CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER 4 DR 2WD AND THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE LOCK FROM THE INSIDE U CAN OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT IT WONT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE SINCE THAT OCCURED MY ANTI-THEFT MY SECURITY SYSTEM AND MY HORN ALSO STOPPED WORKING I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE RELAYS THEY TELL ME THAT ITS SOMETHING IN THE WIRING WHAT SHOULD I DO

WHILE PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH EITHER THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY, THE INTERIOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR THE KEY. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR YOU MUST PRESS EITHER THE REMOTE OR THE INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON 10 TO 15 TIMES. IN ADDITION TO BEING VERY INCONVENIENT, THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY.*AK

DOORS HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH THEY CANNOT BE LOCKED BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE KEYS NOR THE REMOTE CAN UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE DOORS WERE FROZEN, AND IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER NOTICED ON MORE THAN ON OCCASION THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE LOCKING MECHANISM AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED, AND UNLOCKED BY ITSELF. THE KEY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OR SHE GOT OUT, BUT COULD NOT GET IN. *AK KEYS DO NOT WORK ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONSUMER BROKE THE DOOR LATCH TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS BEING INSPECTED FOR ENGINE STALLING, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DRIVER DOOR WON'T OPEN ON MY 1998 EDDIE BAUR EXPLORER. DOOR LOCK STUCK SHUT... SAFETY ISSUE! *JB

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT.*AK

DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE, DIFFERENTIAL, WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER HAVING 60,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID REPLACED WITH SYNTHETIC ,TO FORD SPECS. DIFFERENTIAL GEARS AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DISENTIGRATED. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL. COULD HAVE CAUSED GEARS TO LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING.*AK

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER HOUSE FOR AT LEAST 7 HOURS. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SC

NHTSA RECALL 00V422000; FORD ISSUED A THROTTLE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH, ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AND ENGINE SURGED FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS FREED. *AK

INNER DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED DUE TO A SMALL SPRING BREAKING. THE RESULT IS THAT THE DOOR EFFECTED (DRIVERS DOOR IN THIS CASE) WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THUS, TRAPPING A PERSON IN THE EVENT THAT AN EXIT MUST BE MADE QUICKLY. A REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE DAMAGED PIECE. THE DAMAGED PIECE WILL BE AVAILABLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATED FROM THE FLOOR ON MY EXPLORER. THE CAR WOULD ONLY IDLE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I RE-BOLTED THE BRACKET TO THE FLOOR AFTER VISITING THE DEALER. IT APPEARS TWO SPOT WELDS BROKE. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK AND LATCH NO LONGER WORK AND PREVENT DOOR FROM OPENING. THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR DRIVER WHO NOW CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE RELIABLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS EFFECTIVELY PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND DRIVER MUST ENTER/EXIT VIA PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. DOOR LOCK NO LONGER RESOUNDS TO REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY, OUTSIDE KEY, NOR INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. ONLY AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON TAPERED DOOR KNOB WHILE REPEATEDLY PRESSING INTERNAL ELECTRIC DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON WILL DRIVER'S DOOR SOMETIMES BECOME UNLOCKED AND THEN THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS TO THE VEHICLE (4 DOOR PLUS REAR HATCH) HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY TO THROUGH NHTSA BY NUMEROUS OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS, YET APPARENTLY NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE VISTA FORD DEALER ON NOVEMBER 28, 2004 FOR A SAFETY CHECK AND WARRANTY REPAIR OF BOLT IN DRIVER'S SEAT. DEALER INITIALLY ESTIMATED $230 FOR REPAIR, BUT AFTER INSPECTION THEY DEMANDED $500+ (INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR). REPAIR NOT PERFORMED. VEHICLE REMAINS IN HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 03V281000; FORD ISSUED A HIGH BACK SEAT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE SEAT RECLINED BACK, ALMOST TOUCHING THE SECOND ROW CUSHION. DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THE SEAT FORWARD. *AK

VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT OPERATE. THE RESULT SHOWED THAT A NEW COMPUTER MODULE WAS NEEDED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE RETURNED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BAKES FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE NON CORRODING STEEL BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND RUPTURED. *SC

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

DEFECTIVE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO DRIVER SEAT FRAME KEPT THE SEAT FROM RECLINING. *BF CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V281000 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH STATED THAT DRIVERS MAY EXPERIENCE LOOSENESS OR NOISE IN THE SEAT AND IN EXTREME CASES IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ONE TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY $110. TO HAVE A COMPONENT WITHIN THE SEAT REPAIRED SO THEY COULD EASILY REPAIR THE RECALLED PART. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO PAY FOR SERVICE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR. . *TC *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SMASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ONGOING, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RECALLED VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD A TIRE FAILURE. *TC

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER INSIDE OF THE ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT HEADS AND PISTONS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE, DESTROYING OTHER PARTS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE ULTIMATE RESULT OF THIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AT HIGHWAY SPEED PRIOR TO GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER HAS A WARANTY EXTENSION IN PLACE PRIOR TO 72,000 MILES, BUT NO RECALL, AND CONSIDERS A VEHICLE THAT LOOSES POWER AND CANNOT BE COMPLETED STEERED AS A RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE NOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE!?!?!? THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, BUT WILL ONLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THE VEHICLE HAS SYMPTOMS. I HAD THE FIRST MINOR SYMPTOM ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND A MAJOR PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY.*AK

RE:FORD EXPLORER WHEEL LOCKUP AND UNCONTROLLED SKID AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNIFICANT METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSFER CASE INDICATING SEVERE GEAR STRESS WHEN THE VEHICLE SELF SHIFTED INTO 4X4 LOW ENGAGEMENT. *NM

WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACE THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THROTTLE STICKS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONAL FORCE IS REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE THROTTLE, WHICH RESULTS IN TH VEHICLE LURCHING. THE STICKING THROTTLE MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THERE VEHICLE IN TIGHT SPOTS SUCH AS PARKING AREAS. FORD DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT SAID THE VEHICLE WAS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BETWEEN 30000-35000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TC

TODAY, I WAS GOING TO ADJUST MY DRIVERS SEAT AND THE LEVER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST THE SEAT SNAPPED OFF. I DIDN'T USE FORCE OR ANYTHING. NOW MY SEAT IS UNABLE TO BE ADJUSTED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE STARTED PRODUCING A CLICKING SOUND. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK

WHILE PULLING UP THE SEAT LEVER DRIVER 'S SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT AND LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

UNDERHOOD FIRE IN EXPLORER. MINOR FIRE CONCENTRATED AROUND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT BLOWN. XRAYS SHOW TOTAL INTERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS EVEN THOUGH THE PLASTIC BODY IS STILL RELATIVELY INTACT BUT CHARRED AND DEFORMED.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES LOCKED . AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR ON. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS HYDROLIC UNIT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT SPITS OUT BRAKE FLUID WHICH DAMAGED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKES. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE OWNER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. SIDE MARKERS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, AS DO HI-BEAMS WHEN IN FLASH/PASSING MODE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK.*AK

FORD EXPLORER 98, INTERIOR WINDOWS, LIGHTS, ETC. DO NOT WORK. ELECTRIAL POWER PROBLEMS INTERIORALLY. HAVE TRIED OVER 5 TIMES OVER YEARS TO HAVE FIX BY CARMAX AND FORD. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WOULD WORK FOR 1-2 WEEKS, HAD WARRANTY AT TIMES. BUT NOW WARRANTY IS OUT CARMAX AND FORD STATED IT A MANUFACTORY ELECTICAL ISSUES.*AK

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER REAR-ENDED A HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. *SC *JB

THE HOOD HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT. THE RAMS THAT HELD THE HOOD WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND CAUSED TO HOOD TO FALL DOWN. THE RAMS WERE REPLACED. *AK *NM

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GIVES AROUND THE WAIST CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO LOSE WITH NO RESTRAINT WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR'S LOCK BROKE. ONCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE TREAD CAME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T, P225/75R15, DOTW1345600.

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IS TO HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT AND REPAIR.*AK

TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB

1998, FORD, EXPLORER, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK