1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE, FOOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR INTO PARK. VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A WALL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

BOTH THESE MIRRORS VIBRATE SO BADLY, THAT THEY CANNOT SAFELY BE USED. THEY ALSO MAKE ME DIZZY. FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT AND SEEMS TO BE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.

REAR WIPER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN. WIPER JAMS AND HAS TO BE PHYSICALLY ROCKED TO UNJAM. PROBLEM IS YOU COULD BE DRIVING IN RAINSTORM & COULD NOT USE WIPER AT THAT CRITICAL TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY NOW.*AK

GAS PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH TO AVOID AN ANIMAL AND CAME BACK ONTO THE ROAD, AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO SWITCH LANES CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROLLOVER. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE WINDOW, A WINDOW REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE WINDOW. *AK

THE SAFETY PIN WAS NOT INSTALLED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING (LINKAGE) BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ASSOCIATED ROD WHICH ALLOWED FOR COMPONENTS TO COME APART RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE.

I WAS DRIVING EXPLORER ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH WITH A FULL TANK OF 21 GALLONS FULI SAW AT THE LAST MOMENT A TYPE OF HAND TOOL IN MY LANE. IT LOOKED LIKE A WRENCH OR SOMETHING. BECAUSE OF THE SIZE I COULDN'T SEE IT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. I DID NOT SWERVE TO MISS IT BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CHECK FOR A CLEAR LANE TO SWERVE INTO, AND DID NOT WANT TO JUST MOVE OVER QUICKLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH A CAR NEXT TO ME. ALSO I DID NOT THINK THAT RUNNING OVER THIS SMALL TOOL WOULD HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS OUT COME. I ONLY HEARD A SMALL THUMP AS THE TOOL WENT UNDER MY TIRE. THEN LESS THAN A MILE LATER WHEN I GOT OFF AT MY EXIT AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, A MAN THAT WAS AT THE LIGHT NEXT TO ME RAN OVER TO MY WINDOW AND BEGAN POUNDING ON IT AND YELLING A T ME TO GET OUT OF MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS DUMPING GASOLINE ALL OVER. I GOT OUT AND EVEN WITH THE FAST RESPONSE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL MY CAR HAD DUMPED GAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT IS A WONDER THAT EVEN WITH THE CAR (FROM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY) THE GASOLINE DID NOT CATCH FIRE. IF IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ALL THOSE STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. WHEN FORD WAS MAKING THE REPAIRS THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY EXPLORER DOES NOT COME WITH SKID PLATES THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT, THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE STANDARD ON THE 4X4 (WHICH MINE IS NOT) AND AN OPTION ON MY 2WD. THEY THEN STATED THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN VERY EASILY AND THE BEST PROTECTION IS TO PAY THE EXTRA AND HAVE THEM INSTALL THE SKID PLATES WHICH YOU BET YOUR LIFE I DID BECAUSE I ALREADY RISKED MY OWN MORE THAN I EVER CARE TOO. NOW TELL ME HOW IT IS THAT THEY CAN KNOW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS CHANCE THAT A PERSON COULD HAVE A SMALL ROCK OR OBJECT FLY UP AND RUPTURE A GAS TANK AND CAUSE A FIRE AND THAT THE OWNER NEVER KNEW THAT THE CAR HAD NO PROTECTION FROM THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHY DONT THEY NEED TO PUT THE SKID PLATES ON ALL OF THE CARS.

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 22-25 MPH WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN BRAKES LOCKED UP. REASON UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE IS BEING INSPECTED AT DEALER SHOP. *AK

NOISY ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD/TIMING CHAIN/ALTERNATOR AND STARTER.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ONE OF THE FITTINGS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK, ALMOST CREATING A FIRE. THE FLUID LEAKED ON THE BRAKE PADS WHICH INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FITTING LINE WAS CORRECTED, BUT CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

THIS IS A CONFIRMATION OF TROUBLES WITH THE MENTIONED FIRESTONE TIRES. WE HAD THREE INCIDENTS OF THE TIRES BLOWING OUT, WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO PENETRATIONS OF THE TIRE RUBBER, AS THE TIRES HAD FAILED. THREE DIFFERENT TIRES HAD TO BE FIXED, TWO PATCHED FROM SMALL PARTIAL TEARS ON THE OUTER LAYER, AND ONE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED FROM FAILURE. THESE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BY MICHELEN TIRES AT 21, 500. BEFORE REPLACING THE TIRES, WE DID NOT DRIVE FAR DISTANCES AFTER THE REPEATED FAILURES, AND EVEN TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE (ALSO IN NEWMAN, GA), WHO DID NOT FIND ANY TRACES OF PUNCTURES IN THE TIRES. WE SPEND GOOD MONEY TO GET THESE AWFUL TIRES (AND UNSAFE) "FIXED" AND $424 IN THE NEW TIRES. FIRESTONE WAS WRITTEN AND NEVER RESPONDED, AS I HAVE NOW TOLD ALL FRIENDS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS, LACK OF RESPONSE, AND FRANKLY WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE AN UNSAFE PRODUCT OF WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T FIT UNDER THEY STANDARD "WARRANTY" OF WHICH HAS SO MANY STIPULATIONS THAT IT DOES NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER. I HOPE THIS HELPS IN THE INVESTIGATION AND WOULD FRANKLY LIKE TO SEE IF A RESPONSE COULD COME FROM FIRESTONE'S END AS I AM SORELY DISAPPOINTED. MANY THANKS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 285/75/15 )

WHEN PUSHING THE BUTTON FOR THE FLUID TO COME OUT FROM WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR AND CLEAN THE WINDOWS, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES BEFORE THE FLUID COMES OUT TO CLEAN THE WINDOWS. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

TIRES BLEW OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STRIKE A GUARD RAIL AND ALMOST TURN OVER. (FIRESTONE/OWL 16").

READ REPORT OF OTHERS HAVING THIS STALL ENGINE FAILURE, VEHICLE ENGINE DOESN'T GO DEAD WILL WILL LITTERALLY ALMOST QUIT BUT THEN REGAINS WITHOUT WARNIING.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. YH

POWER STEERING FAILED. YH

GAS CAP WOULD NOT LOCK IN CORRECTLY,DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SWAY BAR / BUSHING FAILURE. *YC

LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED.

THE EXPLORER WE HAVE SOMETIMES LOSES POWER AND THEN AFTER 10-15 SECONDS BOLTS FORWARD ABRUPTLY. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF OUR DEALER 5 TIMES, AND BEGAN COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM A WEEK AFTER WE TOOK THE CAR HOME. OUR DEALER SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHICH I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET. THEY FEEL SINCE IT HASN'T DONE IT WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT, THEN IT DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR, OUR ONLY VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER RARELY RETURNS OUR CALLS. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CHILD IN THE CAR. YOU HAVE NO WARNING WHEN IT WILL STOP, AND MOST OFTEN YOU ARE TURNING AND STALLING WITH PEOPLE SWERVING AND BLOWING THEIR HORNS, AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE DEALERS SHOULD TAKE BACK DANGEROUS VEHICLES SUCH AS THIS ONE! *AK

REAR WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR.

CRUISE CONTROL.

AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING AND MAKING A STOP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM THE STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20-50 MPH THERE IS A WHISTLING AND GRINDING NOISE IN THE WHEELS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS PROLBEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED UP AGAIN. ALSO, AROUND THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 1998, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT, A RUBBING AND A GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROLBEM WAS NOT DANGEROUS, AND THAT A PART WOULD BE ORDERED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HESITATION PROBLEMS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & PLACED ON MONITORING AFTER IT HAPPEND 5 TIMES. NOTHING SHOWED UP. MANUFACTURER SENT INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM WITH COMPUTER CHIP WHICH WAS REPLACED. *AK

WHENEVER IT RAINS THE SUN ROOF WOULD LEAK EXCESSIVELY ON DRIVER'S SIDE ONTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/DASHBOARD & THE FLOOR. HAD BEEN AT DEALER 2 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. THEY RESEALED IT THE FIRST TIME, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WILL BE REPLACING ENTIRE SUN ROOF. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THEN PRESSING ON GAS, GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT RELEASES ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDS OFF FASTER THAN INTENDED. *AK

PASSENGER'S SHOULDER AND LAP BELT GOT LOCKED UP INTO THE HOUSING AND WILL NOT COME OUT. FORD CANNOT REPAIR BECAUSE PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL RECALL. *AK

HEARD A LOUND NOISE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. NOISES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & NOTICED ENGINE PULLEY WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & PULLEY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RIGHT REAR TIRE P255/70R16 DOT W2CU1PX408 EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, TIRE CAME OFF WHEEL, WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RAINY, WINDY, AND COLD. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE. ALSO, THERE WAS A LEAKAGE COMING UNDER THE VEHICLE NEAR THE ENGINE. CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIRS TWICE. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *AK

PROBLEM IS HESITATION OR ENGINE QUITTING DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE THIS IS NOT A COMMON EVENT, IT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE PER WEEK. THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OCCURS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE HWY. DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. INDICATES NO PROBLEM IS INDICATED BY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS THEREFORE FORD WILL ASSUME NO RESPOSIBILITY.

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

VEHICLE VIBRATES FROM 0 TO 60 MPH. IT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL , SEATS AND CENTER CONSOLE. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN STARTING ON AN INCLINE. IN SOME CASES IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS BANGING. THE DEALER AND MFG. BOTH TELL ME THIS IN A NORMAL CONDITION AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DUE TO CORRENT THIS SITUATION. I AM AFRAID THAT AS THIS VIBRATION CONTINUES, SOMETHING (DRIVE SHAFT, BREAK HOSE, TRANS OR REAR SEALS) WILL EVENTUALLY START TO BREAK DOWN OR LEAK. IF A BREAK LINE OR HOSE VIBRATES AND BEGINS TO LEAK NO TELLING WHAT CAN HAPPEN !!!

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VIBRATION WHENEVER MOVING OUT OF A TIGHT PARKING SPACE WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. ALSO, FUSE TO POWER WINDOW KEPT BLOWING OUT FOR UNKNOWN REASO.; DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CAN NHTSA HELP INTHIS MATTER. *AK

WHEN I TRY TO START THE TRUCK, THE THEFT LIGHT FLASHES AT ME AND WON'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO START. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY RE-PROGRAMED THE THEFT SYSTEM. THEY ACCUSED ME OF STICKING ANOTHER KEY IN THE IGNITION. I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES THIS TRUCK. THANK GOD, WE ONLY HAVE ONE FORD- THIS ONE! I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FORD AND A GM KEY. I NEVER STUCK ANY OTHER KEYS IN THE IGNITION. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 6 DAYS AFTER THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN! PLEASE HELP. I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. I NEVER KNOW IF THE TRUCK WILL START WHEN I DRIVE SOMEWHERE.

RUBBER SEALING FOR JUNCTION DRAFT SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THE CABLE FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. OWNER FEELS THE RECALL OF CRUISE CONTROL HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL AND COMING TO A FULL STOP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. DRIVER MUST TAP IT ONCE OR TWICE TO CORRECT.

TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE REVERSE GEAR.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEED APPLIED BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT STOP. A WEEK LATER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN, AND DRIVER HAD TO DRIVE THE VECHICLE INTO A WALL TO STOP IT. THE DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL REPAIR AT OWNERS EXPENSE. STATED THEY HAD NO BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

A ROCK WHEN THROUGH A BRAND NEW TIRE. I DID GET A NEW TIRE AFTER WEEKS OF COMPLAINING, BUT I FEEL THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE CHEAPLY MADE IF A ROCK CAN PUNCTURE A BRAN NEW TIRE OVER HALF INCH WIDE. I DON'T CONSIDER A ROCK A ROAD HAZARD. PLEASE USE THIS INFORMATION TO HELP YOU WITH THE RECALL ON 16 INCH TIRES WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRESTONE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO BROKEN SUPPORT, HOWEVER VIBRATIONS IN DRIVETRAIN PRIOR TO FAILURE.