1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

ABS MALFUNCTION.

THE VEHICLE WILL STOP OPERATING IF THE FUEL LEVEL IS BELOW FOUR GALLONS OR IF THE VEHICLE IS ON A DOWN SLOPE - IF PARKED IN THAT POSITION AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, IT WILL NOT RESTART.

ENGINE STALLS OR SPUTTERS FROM A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM ~40MPH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT A GREATER RATE WHEN TURNING A SHARP LEFT AND GOING OVER AN INCLINE SUCH AS A RAILROAD CROSSING. THIS HAS CAUSED 3 NEAR COLLISIONS AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL INCIDENT HAD A TRAIN BEEN BEARING DOWN ON THE TRAIN CROSSING. I HAVE STALLED ON A RAISED TRAIN CROSSING 3 TIMES.

WHEN TURNING STEERING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND BINDS UP. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EXTENDED WARRANTY EFFECTIVE. *AK

KNOB FOR REAR WINDOW WIPER. MASTER SWITCH TO UNLOCK DOORS. AIR BAG LIGHT.

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT MECHANISM CANNOT MOVE BACK MORE THAN 10 INCHES WHICH PUT THE CONSUMER IN DANGER OF THE AIRBAG IF IT WAS TO DEPLOY. MFR CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

LEFT FENDER WELL WAS HITTING FRONT TIRE ON TURN.

DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC 4X4 CONTROL AND VEHICLE ELECTRONICS.

NO SUMMARY.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERIOR LAMPS/ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER, WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE FUSE. DEALER'S ENGINEERS ARE LOOKING INTO PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPAIRED WIRING. *SLC

BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT BELT FOR THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAME APART.

WHILE DRIVING THE LUGS: NUTS STARTED TO COME OFF THE TIRE, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK

STEERING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH GRINDING, HESITATION AND VIBRATION.

REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED. NLM

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN BRAKES FAILED AFTER PUMPING THEM 3 TIMES. FINALLY MANAGED TO STOP. THEN WIFE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. CONSUMER GOT OUT, PULLED UP HOOD, AND SAW A FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH TRAILER CONNECTED TO VEHICLE, BOTH STARTED SWAYING, THEN LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THEN TRAILER JACK-KNIFED, BRINGING BOTH VEHICLES TO A STOP, AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO EXPLORER. NO INJURIES.

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED 2X FOR A GRIDING NOICE THAT IS STILL HEAR...CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 45 DAYS FOR WARENTEE WORK DRIVERS WINDOW CONSTANTLY RATTLES. WINDOW GATE HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO HELP. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED

THE TIRE ESSENTIALLY BLEW OUT AND WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. IF IT HAD BEEN A FRONT TIRE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACIDENT. THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER SAID I RAN OVER SOMETHING THAT CAUSED A PUNCTURE, BUT I KNOW THAT WASN'T THE CASE, AS THERE WAS A SIZEABLE HOLE IN THE TREAD AREA OF THE TIRE AND THERE WERE STRANDS OF RADIAL REINFORCING WIRE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT PUBLICITY ON THE SUBJECT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO PASS ALONG THIS INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE DEALER INSISTED TIRE FAILED DUE TO LOW AIR PRESSURE NOT HEAT OR DEFECT, FORD WAS NO HELP EITHER.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING FOR A LIGHT AND PULLING OFF, THE VEHICLE GAVE NO PRIOR WARNING AND STARTED TO STALL. WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. *AK

MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING TO THE MALL EXPERIENCED SUDDEN SEPARATION OF TIRE FROM THE WHEEL, WITH WHEEL DRAGGING ON THE GROUND; VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUNBURY MOTORS, SUNBURY, PA. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARANTY AND NEITHER WOULD FIRESTONE AT SUNBURY PA NEXT TO SUNBURY MOTORS. HAD TO BUY A NEW WHEEL AND GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THE DECATUR PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P23575 R15 )

UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE STALLS AND LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. YH

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V060000, FUEL LINES. HAD CALLED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON DUE DATE. AFTER ARRIVING WAS INFORMED HAD NO PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WORK. PARTS ON ORDER. WILL CALL WHEN THEY ARE IN. HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING AS OF YET. *AK

1.THE FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON JUNE 3, 1998, ON INTERSTATE 80 JUST SEVERAL MILES EAST OF THE TOWN OF FERNLEY, NEVADA. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF TWO (2) PASSENGERS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER, IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS THE LEFT (DRIVERS) REAR. 2.THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON JULY 23, 1999, ON A MAINTAINED GRAVEL ROAD NEAR THE TOWN OF JARBIDGE LOCATED IN NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE. THERE WERE THREE (3) PASSENGERS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER, IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS AGAIN THE LEFT (DRIVERS) REAR THAT WAS THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT. 3.THE THIRD BLOWOUT (TREAD SEPARATION?) OCCURRED ON AUGUST 25, 1999, ON A WELL-MAINTAINED GRAVEL ROAD NEAR THE OLD MINING TOWN OF BERLIN AND THE ICHTHYOSAUR STATE PARK LOCATED IN IONE VALLEY, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIRE FAILURES. A FOURTH TIRE FAILED WITHIN ONE (1) HOUR OF THE FIRST ON THE SAME ROAD. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF FOUR (4) PASSENGERS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER, IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF BOTH TIRE FAILURES. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS. THE THIRD TIRE THAT FAILED WAS AGAIN THE LEFT (DRIVERS) REAR. THE FOURTH WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

LEFT REAR SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR KEEPS SHORTING OUT HAS BURN FOUR MOTORS COMPLETLY UP. NOW TOTAL SYSTEM OUT. NO DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS, SEATS OR ANYTHING ELECTRIC. CAN SMELL BURNING WIRES. FORD WILL NOT DO REPLACEMENT OR BUYBACK. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO BRING IT IN ONCE A MONTH FOR A NEW MOTOR, SOONER OR LATER IT WILL QUIT BURNING THEM UP.

TIRE SIDEWALL RIPPED RESULTING IN BLOW OUT (FIRESTONE / WILDERNESS AT) P235/75R 16 105 MP. *TT

REAR SEAT BELT FAILED. *YC

AFTER COMING TO A STOP, INTERMITTENTLY, UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION - THIS HAS LED TO NUMEROUS NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER IS INDIFFERENT TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPT. CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE. THE ONBOARD CPU DOES NOT LEAVE ANY ERROR CODES AND THE SERVICE CAPTURE DEVICE DOES NOT PICK-UP ANY ERROR CODES. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION MISFIRE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER STATES SHE HEARD A TREMENDOUS NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER, SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS IN SHREDS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15) WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER HAD TIRE REPLACED. *JB

REAR SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EVENT THAT OCCURRED 27 SEPARATE TIMES FROM 5/31/98 TO 7/13/98; FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PREPARING TO STOP. FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE (GENERALLY TO 2500 RPM WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE). BRAKES STRAIN WHILE TRYING TO STOP CAR. ENGINE REMAINS AT 2500 RPM UNTIL FOOT REMOVED FROM BRAKE, THAN ENGINE RETURNS TO IDLE. IF CAR IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) DURING EVENT, ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE AND MAINTAIN 5000-5500 RPM AS LONG AS FOOT REMAINS ONLY ON BRAKE. IF FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, WHILE IN GEAR(DRIVE,REVERSE OR NEUTRAL) ENGINE WILL DECELLERATE AND RETURN TO IDLE. DURING FOUR SEPARATE VISITS TO DEALER, THE DEALER PUT 870 MILES ON CAR. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX OR STATED COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE FOUTH VISIT OF THE CAR TO THE DEALER LASTED 46 DAYS. DEALER HAD CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 65 DAYS FROM 5/30/98 TILL 9/1/98, WHEN OWNER RECEIVED A NEW CAR FROM ANOTHER LOCAL FORD DEALER. NW FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. AGREED TO REPLACE CAR AT NO COST TO OWNER. OWNER RECEIVED NEW CAR 9/1/98 FROM ANOTHER LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO TOOK DEFECTIVE VEHICLE DESCRIBED ABOVE. CAR DEALER INSTALLED "FLIGHT RECORDER" ON CAR DURING ONE VISIT AND OWNER WAS ABLE TO RECORD SEVERAL EVENTS ON RECORDER. DEALER REPORTED TO OWNER THAT THE RECORDER VERIFIED ACCELERATION, BUT NOT CAUSED BY COMPUTER. DEALER CHANGED SPEED CONTROL SERVO ON THIS VISIT (7/6-7/98). EVENT REPEATED ON 7/10/98 AND 5 MORE TIMES ON 7/13/98. CAR RETURNED TO DEALER FOR FINAL TIME ON 7/14/98 THROUGH 9/1/98. SEEMS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION ITEM EA99001 REPORTED 2/23/99.

BROTHER WAS CHECKING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE & NOTICED THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS RUSTY. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS INFORMED IT'S NORMAL DUE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT THAT WAS USED. ALSO, SEAT & ANCHOR ATTACHMENTS WERE RUSTY. VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW DUE TO LOW MILEAGE, ACCORDING TO DEALER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK SOMETIMES, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT WORK, THEY HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE EQUIPMENT FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CURRENTLY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION; WHENEVER SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEED,TRANSMISSION WOULD REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR AND CAUSE ENGINE TO STALL OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GETS STUCK,CAUSING THE BRAKES TO HESITATE. WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR IN PARK THE VEHICLE HESITATES. CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO MOVE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS/ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ENGINE STALLS. QCAW

STARTED TO EJECT CD. THE CD HAD OVERHEATED & MELTED CD. A DESIGN FLAW. CALLED MANUFACTURER. & DEALER. MECHANIC HEARD OF OVERHEATED CD PLAYER. CHECKED OUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. YH

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE PROPERLY IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, AND THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE, AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE EIGHT TIMES, AND THE DEALER STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE. *AK

THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLS AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. WHEN I ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING TO A STOP OR COMMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRUCK HESITATES/STALLS AND THEN KICKS IN AND GOES. TRUCK HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, BUT HE CAN'T FIX BECAUSE HE CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS VERY RANDOMLY. IT MAY HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES A WEEK AND THEN NOT AGAIN FOR 3-4 WEEKS. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS ON-COMMING TRAFFIC. IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, I WILL BE HIT SOME DAY!!! FORD WASN'T VERY HELPFUL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I CALL THE 800 NUMBER IN MY BOOK. I REPORTED THIS DIRECTLY TO FORD ON THE 800 NUMBER AND NEVER HEARD FROM FORD OR THE DEALER. FORD SAID THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD WORK ON THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER I AM WORKING WITH IN NOT THE ONE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. THE SERVICING DEALER IS KINGS FORD 9555 KINGS AUTOMALL DRIVE CINCINNATI OH 45249 513-697-2414.

EA99001; INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ABOUT TO MAKE A STOP, THE VEHICLE IDLES UP TO 6000 RPM, AND BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. CONSUMER TURNS OFF THE VEHICLE SO THAT SHE WON'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO THE DEALER, THEY CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. *AK

HESITATION/STALL - VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT HESITATION WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AFTER A STOP AND SOMETIMES STALLS. I HAVE NEARLY AVOIDED TWO ACCIDENTS. TEH DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SAYS THE MANUFACTURER HAS OTHER MATCHING COMPLAINTS. I AM ACTIVATING THE GA WARRANTY RIGHTS ACT NOW. IF FORD KNOWS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.

GAS TANK FLOAT FAILED.

WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING MECHANISM MAKES A SOFT BUT LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WITH CAR AT STOP, YOU CAN SEE THE POWER STERRING FLUID RESIVOUR CAVITATE. AFTER 9 TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE TRIED NEW HOSES, FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, RESETTING THE COMPUTER, AND PARTS FROM THE 6 CL. ENGINE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. NOISE APPEARS AFTER CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES, AND IS MORE PROMINENT THE WARMER THE ENGINE/OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE.

MOTOR OF REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILED.

THIS VEHICLE WAS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1997 MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT FORD INSISTED DID NOT EXIST 2YRS. AGO. THEY HAVE NOW ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY IS A SAFETY ISSSUE. THEY HAVE ALSO INFORMED US THAT THERE ARE OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE FEEL THAT FORD IS DELIBERATELY TRYING TO MINIMIZE THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE "CUTS OUT/STALLS" UPON ACCELLERATION WHICH BY DEFINITION OF THE NHTSA IS A SAFETY DEFECT!! WE FILLED A REPORT ON OUR 1997 VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 1998. PLEASE SEE NHTSA REF. #523114. *AK