1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

RECALL 00 V 422 000/THROTTLE: VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH WHEN STARTING UP IN MORNING AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT IN A 45MPH ZONE. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO A DITCH WITH FRONT HITTING A TREE. FRONT DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NO CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH MANUFACTURER. *AK

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO TIRE TRACTI0N DURING INCUMBIENT WEATHER. DRIVER STATED THAT TIRES WERE BRAND NEW BF UNIROYAL TIRE PAW TIRES DOTP235/75R15SL SIZE 15X7 PURCHASED NEW DUE TO FIRESTONE RECALL.CONSUMER WANTS TIRES REPLACED WITH A BETTER BRAND AT NO COST. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED IT HAD FALLEN LOOSE AND WAS DANGLING BY THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN OFF (SEPERATED) FROM THE FIREWALL/DASH PANEL. NOTICED TWO HOLES IN DASH PANEL WHERE THE BRACKET HAD BEEN SPOT WELDED. SEE NHTSA #SB616531.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AROUND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A TUNE-UP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT HELP, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL POPPED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SOME PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION. HAD TO REPLACE SHOCKS AND TIRES. CURRENTLY, DEALER INDICATED THAT WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALSO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70-80 MPH VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED FOUR SETS OF TIRES, AND HAD AN ALIGMENT DONE ON VEHICLE. BUT, VIBRATION STILL CONTINUED. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER COMING OFF A HIGHWAY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND RED LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCD PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED. ORIGINAL COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IN JUNE, 1999, AT 18,000 MILES. VEHICLE IS BASED IN A DRY CLIMATE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER IS RARELY USED. FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. FAILURE OF WIPER MOTOR COMPROMISES REARWARD VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER ADVISES PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT IS COMMON.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT 50 MPH. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

RADIO LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

GAS PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM FRAME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WENT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THERES A RUBBING GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT STEERING WHEEL CASE NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FORD REPLACED THE GASKET THE FIRST TIME BUT NOW REFUSES TO DO SO. MANUFACTURER'S. DEFECT?*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED BUS. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY A MECHANIC TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BACK PAINS SINCE THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

FRONT BRAKES DRAG. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED ROTORS AND OTHER PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR DRIVING40 MPH ON STRAIGHT, WET, CEMENT TERRAIN, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. DRIVER ATTENTIVE WITH HANDS AT 10 & 2 POSITION BEGINNING TO ACCLERATE. BACK WHEELS OF VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHIMMY, SHAKE. FRONT OF VEHICLE BEGINS TO VEER LEFT. DRIVER STEERS CAR AWAY FROM CEMENT EMBANKMENT, LEFT TIRE GOES SLIGHTLY UP EMBANKMENT, NO COLLISION. CAR STRAIGHTEND OUT, DRIVER BEGINS TO ACCLERATE AGAIN CAR VEERS SHARP RIGHT HITS EMBANKMENT HEAD ON, VEHICLE DOES COMPLETE ROLLOVER. TIE ROD COMPLETELY SEVERED. BOTH TIMES CAR VEERED DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT CAR, BUT UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE.*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

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

HEATER/DEFROSTER CONTROL IS NO LONGER WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEATER BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*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

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

CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE DEALER CLEANED THE INJECTORS.*JG

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

THE SEAT LEVER BROKE, WHERE DO I COMPLAIN TO. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE IS OVERHEATING AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL TWICE.*AK *YH

REAR TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, STRANDING DRIVER AND SMALL CHILD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. ENGINE WAS PULLED OUT OF TRUCK AND THE HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. COST WAS $2800. FORD GAVE "GOODWILL" WARRANTY OF 50%.

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

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THERE IS A NOISE. RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BLEND DOOR IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE. LEADS TO EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE SUMMER AND SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO FORD. THEY HAVE BEGUN TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC BLEND DOORS WITH NYLON BLEND DOORS.*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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST VEHICLE BECAUSE OF AIR TEMPERTURE COMING OUT OF DEFROGGER. CONTACTED DEALER. THEY SAD THIS WAS A RESULT OF BLEND DOOR CASE BEING BROKEN.*AK

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

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.

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.

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)

VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY GOING 60MPH WHEN A LOSS OF STEERING CAUSED VEHICLE TO JERK SIDE TO SIDE AND ROLL OVER. METAL FATIGUE CAUSED THE HYDRUALIC RACK AND PINION TO BURST AND LEAK FLUID. THIS MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. THE HYDRAULIC RACK BURST, CAUSING LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID, LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONTO ITS' LEFT SIDE. THE STEERING RACK WAS IDENTIFIED AS DEFECTIVE AND THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. *JG

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

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

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)