1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DESIGN OF THE ARM REST ASSEMBLY IS WEAK WHICH RESULTED IN COLLAPSING UNDER WEIGHT OF CONSUMER. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WENT PART OF THE WAY INTO AN INTERSECTION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THE GAS TANK WILL NOT FILL COMPLETELY. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THEY TOOK THE TANK OFF AT LEAST TWICE. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK IT SHUTS OFF & I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FILL THE TANK AT LEAST PUTTING IN 5 TO 6 GALLONS MORE. I AM NEVER SURE IF THE TANK IS FULL OR NOT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I TOOK THIS VEHICLE HOME FROM DAY 1.

THE ENGINE HAS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE LOCAL DEALER HELPED TO GET A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR ME UNDER WARRANTY. THE NEW ENGINE HAS JUST STARTED TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE. IT'S VERY LOUD. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY STALLS OR HESITATIONS, JUST A VERY LOUD NOISE.

CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO HAVE RECALLS PERFORMED, DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEMS. YH (99V-062) AND (99V-164)

NO INJURY, YET. BUCKLES ARE SOLIDLY MOUNTED, PROTRUD ABOVE SEAT SURFACE AND HURT PASSENGERS BACK/SPINE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE.

NO SUMMARY.

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE COASTING OR AT A STOP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT.*AK

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE HAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE TAPPETS COME FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY STALLS UPON ACCELLERATION.

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES. YH

THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL WHEN FIRST ACTIVATED WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE TO INDICATE THE TURNING DIRECTION UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND SAYS THAT IT IS A POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. NLM

ROTORS WARPED DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING PULSATING WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. *MJS

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V062000/001. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. RECEIVED CARD FROM DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 7 HOURS LATER & USING CRUISE CONTROL, IT BECAME STUCK ON 75MPH. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN ACCELERATOR TAPPED. GUIDED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED IT OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & CRUISE CONTROL OFF. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AT ONLY 45,000 MILES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CONSUMER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT DEALER, BUT NO PARTS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE DEC 30,1999. *AK

REAR TREAD ON THE PASSENGER'S TIRE BUSTED WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER RAN INTO A DITCH, AND THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ENGINE STALLS WHEN COMING FROM A STOP OR FROM SLOWING DOWN. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 6 TIMES, AND CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION. *AK

DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING AND FORD IS WORKING ON A FIX. *AK

UPON ROUTINE OIL CHANGE DEALER NOTICED ENGINE CONNECTING ROD BROKE FROM ENGINE PISTON. DUE TO THE BROKEN ENGINE CONNECTING ROD ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. DEALER STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

GAS TANK CAP IS NOT HOLDING PRESSURE, ALLOWING GAS FUMES TO ESCAPE FROM THE TANK. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WHILE TURNING A CORNER , CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD, HITTING ITEMS AND A TREE WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

RECALL 99V0620000/ CRUISE CONTROL. FORD INSISTED THAT RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN DONE BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED IN OKLAHOMA AT A FORD DEALER ONLY. OWNER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO ANY OTHER DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. FORD COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY

TRUCK ENGINE DIES/HESITATES WHEN TURNING LEFT FROM COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE DIED ONCE BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART WHILE COASTING, THE OTHER 2 TIMES THE ENGINE HESITATED ALTHOUGH GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DEALER NOTIFIED, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

ENGINE MANIFOLD LEAKING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WARNING LIGHT IS ON. PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FROM FORD FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS MOST LIKELY A POSSIBLE RECALL PROBLEM, BUT CAN NOT GIVE SPECIFICS. WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVING VEHICLE WITH WARNING LIGHTS ON FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO PROPERLY CLOSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF UNUSUAL TREAD WEAR. TIRE ROTATION OCCURRED AT 35000 MILES AND ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED. TIRE IS WEARING TOWARDS THE INSIDE AND ANOTHER TIRE IS SHOWNING SIMILAR SIGNS OF WEAR. THE TIRE IS CREATING EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: E27477 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

I WROTE TO FORD MOTOR CO. TO INFORM THEM THAT THE REAR SEAT BOTTOM ON THE 2 DOOR EXPLORER DOES NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. EVERYTIME YOU APPLY THE BRAKES OR STOP IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE REAR THE SEAT MOVES FORWARD. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND ALL 2 DOOR MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAD NO COMMENT TO MY LETTER. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SLIPS AND A LOUD NOISE OCCURS. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, DEALER HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

4- WHEEL DRIVE HI AND LO LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT MOTOR AND HARNESS AS PER TSB 94-14-02. MECHANIC SAID IF I DID NOT DO IT, COULD HAVE DROPPED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING. FORD REFUSES TO PAY COST OF $409.28. DEALER SAID PROBLEM HAS COME UP BEFORE. HAVE LESS THEN 500 MILES IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN TRYING TO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL, PEDAL BROKE OFF. CONSUMER COULD NOT GAIN SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL SPEED UP. GAS PEDAL HANGS UP AND WILL ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. GAS LINKAGE AND CABLES HAVE BEEN OILED WITHOUT EFFECT. *AK *ML

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES AT STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH A PIECE OF THE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED THE TIRE. *AK

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE CONFIRMING REPEATED SEATBELT FAILURE WITH FORDS. MY 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS BEEN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER TWICE WITH SEATBELTS THAT DO NOT RETRACT CORRECTLY. THEY HANG OUT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SEATING POSITION. (UPRIGHT!) I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. I'M A CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN THROUGH NHTSA AND AM FAMILIAR WITH HOW SEAT BELTS WORK. THESE WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO GUIDE THEM BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN OUR EXPLORER HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING OUT AT STOPLIGHTS. THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR, A GASKET ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND A FUEL INJECTOR. NOW, 3,000 MILES LATER, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. AT TIMES, THE EXPLORER SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT AT STOPLIGHTS OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE TRUCK FOR 2 DAYS AND RAN UP 11 MILES ON IT, BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE SCENARIO. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.

I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT HAS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS, THE MANUFACTURER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE. THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS SEVERAL LISTINGS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED: NHTSA ITEM # SB613200 NHTSA ITEM # SB605343 NHTSA ITEM # SB613320 ALL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ENGINE HESITATION. MY VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT CONDITION OCCURRES, WHEN PULLING INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC OR CROSSING ACROSS TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE MAY LEAVE ME AS A "SITTING DUCK". ANOTHER PERSISTANT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS A DRIVELINE VIBRATION.AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) AT MY EXPENCE, THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS ESPECIALLY UNDER A TOWING LOAD.THIS PROBLEM ALSO WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE REPAIRED, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION/REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VIBRATION CAUSED BY REAR END/TRANSMISSION DEFECTS OF IT'S TRUCKS BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN IT. IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK

SEVERE VIBRATION AT 62MPH - FORD SAID CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE WOULD NOT FIX OR REPAIR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES BUBBLED UP AND CAME APART, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

SUV WAS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

PE00-020 TIRES ON A FORD EXPLORER 1998 YEAR TIRE SIZE 235/75R15; TWO FRONTAL TIRES HAVE A HAIR LINE CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE AT THE SIDE WALL, TIRES ONLY HAVE 22 THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235/75/R15 *MW

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE WILDNERNESS TIRE, I FEEL MY LIFE AND MY PASSENGERS' ARE IN DANGER WITH THE USE OF THIS TIRE. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE ANOTHER FATALITY AS A RESULT OF TIRE FAILURE. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THESE TIRES, INCLUDING THE ATV & ATV II SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? THE SOONER FIRESTONE IS FORCED TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES...THE SAFER THE HIGHWAYS WILL BE. *AK

PE02000, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES, WHERE THE KNOB MEETS THE WHEEL, ARE CRACKED. THESE ARE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P23575R15, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRES WERE LOOKED AT BY ONE DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT CRACKS WERE NOT DEEP ENOUGH AND CONTINUED TO LOOK AT TIRES EVERYDAY. ALSO, OWNER HAD SEVERAL FLATS WITH THE TIRES. *AK TWO CAMBER KTS HAD TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIRE INCIDENT. *YH

INVEST#PE00-020 TIRE ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED RIGHT THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT , BUT THERE WERE NO HOLES, AIR WAS COMING OUT THROUGH FIRST TREAD WHICH WAS SEPARATING. TIRE SIZE P25570R16. *AK

WHEN TOWING TRALIER WITH THIS TIRE/VEHICLE COMBINATION AT SPEEDS OVER 65 (IN A 70 MPH ZONE) MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO FISHTAIL. THE TRAILER AND ITS LOAD ONLY WEIGHED 1,400-1,500 POUNDS ON EACH OCCASION WITH CORRECT BALANCE. THE LAST TIME THIS VEHICLE TOWED A TRAILER WITH THESE TIRES THE TRAILER WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE FISHTAIL. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ENDING IN THE MEDIAN WITH THE TRAILER BREAKING LOOSE. AFTER PURCHASING NEW DUNLOP TIRES AND A NEW TRAILER THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH FISHTAILING. ON A FEW OCCASIONS I TOWED AN 18 FOOT BOAT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND REALIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD PULL ITS RATED LIMIT OF 5,500 POUNDS (THAT BOAT COMBINATION WAS 2,200 POUNDS). I THINKS THE NHTSA SHOULS TEST THIS TIRE UNDER TOWING CONDITIONS AS WELL. THESE TIRES NEVER PEELED, BUT THEY WERE NOT GIVEN A CHANCE AS THEY WERE REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES. I HAVE TOWED ENOUGH IN MY DAY TO REALIZE WHAT IS USER ERROR OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE TO TOW WITH AT LEAST NOT ON AN EXPLORER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2357515 )

ONE YEAR AGO I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE "CUPPING". THAT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING AND THAT IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM AND THAT THE" EXPLORERS ATE TIRES." TO DATE MY TIRES ARE STILL NOISEY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PE 00020: WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH TO GET OFF RAMP, AND WHILE EXITING RAMP RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHECKED TIRE TO CHANGE WITH SPARE. NOTICED TREAD WAS STILL INTACT, BUT SLIGHTLY SEPARATED. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WERE ORIGINAL TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX WITH 19,000 MILES, AND SIZE OF TIRE P255/70R16. *AK

PE00020: WAS TRAVELING 75MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING BADLY. STOPPED & PULLED OVER. CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTICED THE SURFACE WAS WAVY & BUMPY. TREAD WAS SEPARATING IN THE CENTER, BUT STILL REMAINED ATTACHED. RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AT 20,000 MILES, AND LEFT FRONT WENT OUT AT 25,000 MILES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, AND SIZE 0235/75R15. *AK

TIRE RECALL CONCERNS OF SAFETY AND TO CHANGE NEW TIRES ONES BY WEEKEND( DOT NUMBER: )