1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. CONSUMER IS FORCED TO CLIMB IN AND OUT THROUGH PASSENGER'S SIDE. MANUALLY, LOCK CAN NOT BE PULLED UP TO GET OUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, REAR AXLE SEALS, AND OXYGEN SENSOR. *SCC

EXPERIENCING A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AT LOW SPEED (FORWARD AND REVERSE).*AK

IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A KNOCKING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK

WHILE TURNING ONTO AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WANDERED FROM LANE TO LANE. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS ARE "FALLING APART" AND RUSTING PRETTY BAD. SEEMS UNUSUALL THAT ROTORS SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ROTORS RUSTING AND METAL FALLING OFF LIKE THIS. THIS IS FAR BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

SPARE TIRE IS RETAINED BY A CABLE. CABLE END FAILED. TIRE CAME LOOSE AND ROLLED INTO BUSY TRAFFIC, SENDING VEHICLES SWERVING TO AVOID IT. VERY NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD THIS BEEN AT NIGHT, OR ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO HAVING 50 LBS OF WHEEL AND TIRE LET LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. FROM INTERNET NEWSGROUPS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND A DESIGN FLAW. CABLE IS ABOUT 1/4 INCH THICK, AND ONCE IT FAILS THERE IS NOTHING (NO RETAINING BAR OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURE) TO PREVENT THE SPARE WHEEL FROM DROPPING INTO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I AM SO THANKFUL NO ONE WAS HURT THIS TIME, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE NTSA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THANKS.*AK

THE 3 SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE ACCELERATOR BRACKET POINT GAVE WAY COMPLETELY WHILE GOING UPHILL ON WOLF CREEK PASS. I.E. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH ON THE GAS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE PASS. HAD TO FIX USING BIG LAG BOLTS IN THE EXISTING HOLES IN THE FIREWALL AND BRACKET HOLDING ACCELERATOR. BIG SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

I HAVE A 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE RADIO WORKS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A LIGHTING DISPLAY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT MOSTLY ALL EXPLORERS WILL LOSE THE LIGHTING DISPLAY, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS OF YET. THIS IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IT'S NOT LIKE REPLACING A BULB OR SOMETHING. YOU'RE BASICALLY BUYING A NEW RADIO. IF THAT'S THE CASE IT WON'T BE FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND IT WON'T BE THE MANUFACTURERS RADIO WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL CRAP OUT. *JB

AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE SHAKES AND WILL NOT STAY IN LANE, AND STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RACK AND PINION INSTALLED, BUT IT STARTED LEAKING AND BECOME LOOSE. *YH

THIS PROBLEM STARTED OUT AS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT HAS GROWN TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DEFROSTERS FAIL TO FUNCTION. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE HEAT/AC AND WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE HIT WITH WATER BELOW FREEZING I HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM. AT TIMES FOG AND MOISTURE CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE WINDOW W/O PULLING OFER TO WIPE IT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A $1000 REPAIR AND TSB'S SAY IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DISCHARGING . ALSO THE ENGINE WAS STALLING . I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES , AND FINALLY THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT . THE BATTERY HAS STARTED DISCHARGING AGAIN

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BACK IN MAY 2002 MY DRIVERS DOOR LOCK STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION IT HAS POWER LOCKS AND I COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED UNLESS I PULLED THE LOCK BUTTON UP WHILE I PRESSED THE POWER LOCK AND UNLOCK SWITCH OPEN AN CLOSE A MULTIPLE AMOUNT OF TIMES.I BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER AND HAD IT FIXED,IT COST ME $219.35 NIT WAS THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,IT HAS BEEN 1 YEAR ALMOST TO THE DAY AND IT FAILED AGAIN. I THINK IS A BIG SAFTEY PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THERE IS A FIRE OR THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE AUTOMOBILE ENDS UP IN A LAKE OR RIVER THE DOOR LOCK CAN GET STUCK LOCKED AND A PERSON COULD GET STUCK IN THE AUTOMOBILE.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF HOME AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE MAKES A VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON AND THE CAR IS RUNNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IDLING OR IN TRAFFIC.*AK

TORQUE CONVERTER DID NOT DISENGAGE WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND STOPPED WHEN BRAKING STALLED THE ENGINE. FORD RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SOLONOID THAT CONTROLS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS FAILULE IS TOTALLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP. STOPPING OCCURES ONLY WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED HARD ENOUGH TO STALL THE ENGINE. *AK

REAR CHAIN GUIDE TENSIONER BROKE - PART OF CAM CHAIN GUIDE ASSEMBLY. ENGINE DIED IN MORNING RUSH HOUR, BUT CAR COASTED SAFELY TO EMERGENCY LANE. *NLM

DUE TO EXTREME WIDTH OF YOUTH SEAT (AKA BOOSTER SEAT), THE UNIT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER DOOR. UPON CLOSING THE CAR DOOR, CHILD'S FINGERS WERE CRUSHED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE CAR SEAT. FINGERS WERE DEFORMED AT FIRST, BUT RECOVERD TO ORIGINAL FORM WITHIN 10 MINUTES. NO BROKEN BONES. WHEN INSTALLING THE SEAT, THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS LOCATED "BEHIND" THE SEAT - AS OPPOSED TO BEING LOCATED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THIS CAUSES THE NATURE POSITION OF THE SEAT TO MOVE TOWARD THE DOOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF FINGER CRUSHING BY THE DOOR. ALSO, DUE TO THE EXTREME WIDTH, THE ENTIRE SEATBELT IS USED TO INSTALL THE SEAT (ABOUT AN INCH WILL BE RETRACTED), THUS MAKING A PROPER INSTALLATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IN A FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTOR, BRITAX, (BY PHONE, FAX, AND LETTER), I ONLY RECEIVED A LETTER BACK APOLOGIZING FOR THE "PINCHING" OF MY DAUGHTER'S FINGERS. THEY OBVIOUSLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS "DEFECT." NOTHING WAS DONE BY BRITAX TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, ROLLED OFF OF HIGHWAY REQUIRED TOWING. VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

APRIL 2, 2002, WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT FREEWAY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. THE TIRE CAME OFF THE CAR AND SAILED THROUGH THE AIR. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN A SEVERE SKID AND VEHICLE ROLL-OVER. CRASH RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING LARGE BUMP ON HEAD FROM ROOF COLLAPSE AND A CONCUSSION. NUMEROUS CUTS, BRUISES, AND SEVERE MUSCLE STRESS/STRAIN OF NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. ALSO RECEIVED DEEP CONTUSION ON CHEST DUE TO SEAT BELT RETRACTION. I FEEL BLESSED TO BE ALIVE TO MAKE THIS REPORT. 2 WEEKS AFTER ACCIDENT STILL EXPERIENCING BODY PAIN. I CAN JUST NOW TALK ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER WITHOUT CRYING. MY FAMILY AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, REAR AXLE BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CAUSING A VEHICLE ROLL OVER. DRIVER INJURED. *AK *YH

CONSUMER HEARS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND APPLYING OR RELEASING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INNER TIE ROD HAD DETERIORATED FROM WEAR AND TEAR. THE PART WAS REPLACED.*AK *YH

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SERVERLY TURNED TO THE LEFT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BY TURNING TO RIGHT TO STAY ON ROAD, THE VEHICLE WA TALEN TO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE JOB WHEN DEALER DISCOVERED A VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALER REPAIRED A STEERING HOSE THAT WAS ROUTED IMPROPERLY. THERE IS A BULLETIN # 98-21-1.

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND VIBRATES FLOORBOARD. SOUND IN THE STEERING HAS PROGRESSED, AND HAS MORE PLAY SINCE PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEIR IS A LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, AND UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE VIBRATES.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE ATTACHED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ENGAGE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PH

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

WHEN MAKING TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE SLIDES AND ALMOST TURNS OVER.*AK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS,AND THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING, DEALER REPLACED A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH WERE REPLACED IN JULY 2001, THE REAR SEATS MOVE/BOUNCE WHEN DRIVING, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUCKLES, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED, THE ALARM WOULD NOT CHUT OFF AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED A BAD LOOSE WIRE.*JB

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.

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT RECLINER ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. *NLM

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

WHILE OPENING MANUAL TAILGATE WINDOW RIGHT HINGE DETACHED AND HIT CONSUMER ON THE HEAD.*AK

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

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

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

RADIO DISPLAY GOES OUT. CANNOT SEE THE CLOCK OR RADIO SELECTION. THIS HAS BEEN VARY DANGERIOUS IN THE WINTER DURING EARLY MORNING DRIVING WHEN I CANNOT SEE MY WATCH AND TRAVEL THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE ZONE IS ACTIVE OR NOT. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS SINCE GONE OUT AGAIN. *AK

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THROTTLE GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE WAS STUCK AT CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN. IN 1999 CONSUMER HAD THROTTLE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THERMOSTAT AND VALVEBODY GASKET FAILED.*JB

WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CONSUMER PRESSING ON GAS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

OVER THE LAST YEAR MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER 2 DOOR SPORT HAS BEEN LOOSING SOME INTERIOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES. THE FIRST WAS THE DISPLAY LIGHTS ON THE RADIO. THEY WOULD COME AND GO..... NOW THE DISPLAY IS TOTALLY GONE. HOWEVER THE RADIO, CD PLAYER AND TAPE DECK STILL WORK. I JUST CAN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, STATION, OR THE TIME. THEN THE NEXT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS THE DRIVER SIDE POWER UNLOCK SWITCH. I CAN LOCK ALL THE DOORS BUT I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS, NEXT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY DASH..... I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS (CRUISE CONTROL SETTINGS) OR IF THAT WENT OUT SEPARATELY. NOW........ I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH A KEY. I CAN MOVE THE KEY AROUND AND UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS BUT NOT THE DRIVER DOOR. I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND YANK ON THE DRIVER HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOOR WILL OPEN. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. I PLAN ON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS..... BUT I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS...... SHOULD FORD REPAIR THIS AT THEIR COST? IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A FORD ISSUE AND NOT SOMETHING I HAVE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *LA

I HAD 4 OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER WHEN I HEARD OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I REMOVED THEM IMMEDIATELY (MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE USING THAT CAR) BEFORE THEY WERE RECALLED. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THEM BECAUSE I TOOK THEM OFF BEFORE THE RECALL. *NM

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

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