1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE TRAVELING AT A 30% GRADE OR MORE WITH A 1/4 TANK OF GAS OR LESS ENGINE SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS CHECKED TWICE, AND SAID THAT IT HAPPENED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *AK

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LIFT OFF THE GLASS WHEN USING. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

AUTOMOBILE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC, NEAR CRASH BECAUSE OF VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. *AK

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. MJS

ENGINE OCCASIONALLY HESITATES OR STALLS UPON REACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT INTERSECTIONS. POSSIBLE DANGER OF BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN STALL OCCURS - POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT VEHICLE 2 DAYS AFTER ONE OCCURRENCE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER EXPLORERS. THE HESITATION OR STALLING USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER CRUISING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 - 70 MPH THEN GETTING OFF AT AN EXIT AND STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN REACCELERATING THE ENGINE SOMETIMES EITHER HESITATES BADLY THEN RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION OR STALLS COMPLETELY - USUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION - REQUIRING RESTART.

TIRE FAILURE AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED OF 35MPHS.NO INJURIES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THROTTLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING A COLLISION TO OCCUR. *AK *ML

STEREO RECIEVER FAILED.

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE STEERING CAPABILITIES. TECHNICIANS HAVE BLOWN FOAM IN THE A-PILLERS, ADDED SOUND PROOFER, RIVETED THE LEFT FLOOR PAN, AND NOT TO MENTION, AS STATED ON THE SERVICE ORDER, REPOSITIONED THE FLOOR MAT, AS A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS A BINDING IN STEERING BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SOMETHING IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD, AND AT THIS TIME, HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY WORSENED, AND I FEEL IT NEEDS SOME ATTENTION BEFORE IT BECOMES A MAJOR LIABILITY FACTOR ON FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE DEALERSHIP, AND ANY OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED WITH THIS MATTER. WHAT IS THE POINT OF WHERE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? OR MAYBE I SHOULD GET MY INSURANCE COMPANY INVOLVED ALONG WITH A ATTORNEY. THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH I'M AT. I NEED SOMEONE TO UNDERSTAND THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM, BEFORE SOMEONE BECOMES A STATISTIC ON THE ACCOUNT OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT NO ONE CAN RESOLVE WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

CONNECTOR FOR DASH BOARD LIGHTS MELTED. YH

CONSUMER SAYS THE NAVIGATIONAL TEMPERATURE SYSTEM ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLASH A BRIGHT LIGHT. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW 38 DEGREES LIGHT IS SO INTENSE THAT WHEN FLASHING IT IS BLINDING WHILE DRIVING, IT OBSTRUCTS THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

OUR EXPLORER WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP'S SHOP TO FIX A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHILE IN, I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT INTENSIFIED WHILE BRAKING. THE RESPONSE ON THE WORK ORDER FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAD JUST 17,000 MILES ON IT, "TIRES HAVE RIB WEAR" AND "POOR QUALITY TIRES CAUSING VIBRATION". AT THE TIME FORD NOR FIRESTONE WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEIR OWN PERSONNEL NOTED THAT THE ARE POOR QUALITY TIRES. NOW, WITH ALL OF THE TALK OF UNSAFE FIRESTONE TIRES, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE WILDERNESS HT TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NHTSA IS NOT LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE POOR QUALITY TIRES AND DEMANDING THAT FIRESTONE REPLACE THESE TIRES AS WELL. YOUR ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING THE ISSUE OF THE WILDERNESS HT TIRES OUT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. BY THE WAY, THE TIRES ARE BULGING AND NOT WEARING WELL AT THIS TIME.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRE SIZE: P235R15 )

PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN ON PASSENGER, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOOSEN AND HAD TO BE CUT OFF. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THERE WERE NO PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE SEATBELT.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. *YC

POWER WINDOWS FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. *YC

A SQUEELING TYPE GRIND IN LEFT FRONT END OCCURS DAILY WHEN VEHICLE DRIVEN, INDEPENDANT OF SPEED VARIATION, SOUND CAN BE HEARD THROUGH CLOSED WINDOWS; DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PERFORM REPAIR AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS, ENGINEERING AT FORD UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE SO FAR,NOISE IS PIERCING TO DRIVER AND SURROUNDING AREA DRIVEN.

ACCELERATOR STICKS. WENT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE JUST KEPT GOING AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THROTTLE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE ABS LIGHT REPEATEDLY COMING ON / OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *YC

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).

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

THESE ARE THE SAME AT TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT FROM THE DECATUR, IL. PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT DECATU TIRE SIZE: 15 )

WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTED ROTORS FROM DAY ONE WITH THIS VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS REPLACING THESE FAULTY ROTORS THEY WOULD CLEAN THEM OR TURN THEM. I RECENTLY HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE OF USE ANY FURTHER. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERNS AND WAS IGNORED. I FELL THAT BOTH DEALERSHIPS KNEW THESE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEM LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE THEY JUST CLEANED THEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE WAY FORD HANDLED THIS ISSUE WITH MY BRAKES.*AK

CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, THEN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY, SPEED UNKNOWN. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT.*AK THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY DEFECTIVE PART EXISTS. *YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION DUE TO LOCKED STEERING AND LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY DURING ACCELERATION.

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING LEAK PRIOR TO REPLACING.

GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED. DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE FORWARD MOTION. THEN THE PEDAL ENGAGES AND THE CAR BUCKS FORWARD, ACCELERATING TOO QUICKLY. THIS WOULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WERE TOO CLOSE TO A STATIONERY OBJECT.

DRIVING DOWN A TWO WAY STREET ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO PASS FROM BEHIND. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, VEHICLE STALLED AND WITHIN SECONDS IT ACCELERATED. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED, IT WOULD STICK. MAINLY STICKING WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES. WAS INFORMED IF STILL STICKING IT WAS MADE LIKE THAT. *AK

AFTER TRAVELING EAST ON I-90 FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. UPON MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ACCELLERATING, THE ENGINE DIED MOMENTARILY AND THEN CAME BACK TO SPEED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON MY TRIP, IT WAS AN ANXIOUS MOMENT AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC.

WHEN OPENING UP THE DOOR AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE DASHBOARD MELTED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. *AK

REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL. CONSUMER CAN USE THE RETRACTOR, BUT CANNOT USE THE SEAT BELT. *AK

CYLINDER WASN'T FIRING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT; AC NOT FUNCTIONING AT FULL CAPACITY.

UPON SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ENGINE 'BOGS DOWN' OR STALLS FOR 10-30 SECONDS, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. I BARELY AVOIDED 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS. OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE, ODI ID'S: 538898, 824222, 824246, 825166, 825418, 825825, 827652, 828092, 829007. ACCORDING TO WEB SEARCHES, FORD DOES NOT HAVE A RESOLUTION. HOW MANY DEATHS/ACCIDENTS WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE A RESOLUTION IS POSTED BY FORD TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. YH

OXYGEN INTAKE VALVE FAILED. YH

WHEEL BEARING FAILURE.

REAR WINDOW WIPER.

BLOW OUT WITHIN 2 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER TOWED IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND REPLACED THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

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".

TIRE CAME OFF WHEEL AND DEFLATED CAUSING ROLLOVER . I THINK WHEEL HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM CAUSING THE BEAD TO SEPERATE FROM WHEEL WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-75 )

I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT FIRESTONE'S RECALL NOTICE. MY DAUGHTER AND NIECE WERE DRIVING MY 1998 EXPLORER ON HIGHWAY 85 IN GASTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, LAST OCTOBER. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE BACK TIRE BLEW OUT/CAME OFF THE RIM AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND SLID ON ITS SIDE ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER AND NIECE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES (WHIPLASH, CUTS, ABRASIONS, AND BRUISES). THEY HAD FOLLOW UP VISITS TO THE DOCTOR FOR PAIN AND STIFFNESS AND WERE PUT ON MEDICATION. THE EXPLORER WAS TOTALED. THEREFORE, I LOST THE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID ON THE VEHICLE, PLUS MEDICAL BILLS, HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND MY INSURANCE RATES WERE RAISED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER EXPLORER. ALSO, ONE OF MY BROTHERS ALSO HAD AN ACCIDENT IN HIS EXPLORER. THE TIRE CAME OFF WHEN HE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE, AND THE EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER AND WAS TOTALED. MY BROTHER WAS INJURED, BUT FORTUNATELY NOT KILLED. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE I NO LONGER HAVE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BY NATIONWIDE INSURANCE.( DOT NUMBER: )

IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER, PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS FORCED ONTO SOFT SHOULDER, AT WHICH TIME 1 (OR BOTH) TIRES CAME OFF THE RIM (WHOLE TIRE WAS INTACT). I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TIRES HAVEING LEFT THE RIM AND WHEN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE ROAD, THE BARE RIM FORCED A VEHICLE ROLLOVER (AT LEAST 4 TIMES) INJURING MYSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AS WAS PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE VEHICLE. I AM COMPLETING THIS REPORT TO SUPPLIMENT THE INVESTIGATION OF FIRESTONE/FORD ON THE WILDERNESS AT DEFECTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS ALSO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES COMING OFF THE RIM, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF MY ACCIDENT. *AK

REAR WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT 3 TIMES IN UNDER 4 YEARS! THE DEALERS KNOW A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS PART BUT HAVE NO RECOURSE EXCEPT TO REPLACE AND CHARGE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE PART WILL STOP WORKING AGAIN! I DON'T TRUST THE WIPERS AT ALL ANYMORE. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED. *YC

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

CENTER ARMREST FAILED. YH

WHILE PULLING OUT THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. BEEN TO DEALER, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED 2 BLOWOUTS, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THIS LETTER AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

LUGS:NUTS AND BOLTS SHEARED OFF DUE TO CORROSION/RUST.