1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

RIGHT REAR TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF CRACK WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY AROUND TIRE. THIS TIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, AND THE ONLY THING THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE ONE TIRE AT COST TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. ANY IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO I KNOW THE LAST THING THEY WANT IS A ANOTHER RECALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

I SENT A LETTER REQUESTING A FULL REFUND. SENT MY ORIGINAL RECEIPT WITH COPIES AND RECEIVED A LETTER BACK SAYING MY ORIGINAL RECEIPT WAS NOT RECEIVED. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES ON THESE TIRES. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND BACK IN THE AMOUNT OF $335.94, I HAVE COPIES SHOWING THAT I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRIOR TO THIS RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P235/7515)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OFF POSITION FOR OVER TEN MINUTES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 00V422000 REGARDING THROTTLE. CONSUMER NOT SURE IF CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DUE TO THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A FLAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE SHOP WHO HAPPENED TO NOTICE SPARE WAS LARGER THAN OTHER TIRES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER , AND DEALER NOTICED THAT OTHER TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE INCORRECT TIRES, AND THAT SPARE TIRE WAS THE CORRECT ONE. *AK *SLC

TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE, TIRES HAD 35 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NOT STAY INFLATED, TIRES CONTINUOUSLY WENT FLAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES CONTINOUSLY HAD SLOW LEAKS FRON STONES FROM DIRT ROAD THATHE LIVES ON.*JB

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES. DEALER SAYS THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM CODES RECORDED IN THE COMPUTER. DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG MONTORING SYSTEM ON THE SECOND VISIT.*AK

SOON AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS WHERE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK, WHEN CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00E11) CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT SHORTLY BEFORE THE SCHEDULE DATE, CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM DEALERSHIP STATING THEY HAD TO RESCHEDULE, CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED TWO MORE CALLS TO RESCHEDULE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT DEALERSHIP WAS BACKED UP WITH THEIR WORK SCHEDULE, CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTIFICATION (00S58) CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO DROP OFF VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD GET TO IT ON MONDAY BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING PROBLEMS. *JB

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD JERK WHEN ACCELERATING, HAS DONE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE DEALER FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM AND MADE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT WHICH HAS REDUCED BUT NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL, IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING USUALLY A FAST ACCELERATION AND IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN I PULL MY BOAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SIGNIFICANT JERKING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME COULD BE CONTRBUTING TO THE TIRE SEPERATION PROBLEMS OR TIRE DAMAGE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANY CAR MAKER WOULD MARKET A CAR WITH THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING AND SAY THAT IS IS NOT UNUSUAL. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. *AK

THROTTLE STICKS PARTICULARLY WHEN COLD. SIMILAR TO THAT OF RECALL 00V422000 BUT FORD CLAIMS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IT WOULD JERK EITHER TO RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS FRONT END SUSPENSION. *AK

EXPLORER ROLL OVER KILLED MY SISTER-VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE-DIDN'T HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES-VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROADS-SHE WAS GOING 35MPH AND SWERVED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN HER LANE-EXPLORER FLIPPED AND SHE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY

CONSUMER STATES DURING RECALL 00T-005, VEHICLE HAD 2 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES REPLACEMENT TIRES (NOT FIRESTONE'S) EXPERIENCE THE SAME VIBRATION AND WHEN MAKING A TURN IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO ROLLOVER, PROBLEM IS POSSIBLY SUSPENSION RELATED. *SLC

FORD INITIATED A RECALL ON THE 4.0LITER SINGLE-OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE ON THE FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DID HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX YET FOR IT. ONE OF THE STATEMENTS ON THE RECALL NOTICE SAID THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO ENGINE DAMAGE. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS ENGINE DAMAGE AND THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT THE CAR COULD STALL WHILE I AM DRIVING. THEN THE SERVICE MANAGE ASSURED ME THAT A STALLED CAR, EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A PROBLEM. I AM AMAZED THAT FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM THEN TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT HOME WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *AK

AFTER BEING CUT OFF ON I-287, THE EXPLORER WENT INTO A SERIES OF SWERVES WHICH BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. IT FINALLY FLIPPED OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SKIDDED ALONG THE ROADWAY ON ITS SIDE. DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB AND A COLLAPSED LUNG. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND CLEAN. THE TIRES WERE NEW MICHELINS. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIPPED.*AK

2ND TIRE RECALL, BUT WEEKS HAVE GONE BY AND THEY NEVER HAVE REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST ROLLED OVER. WHILE CHANGING LANES BETWEEN UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THREE OF THE TIRES WERE ON NEWLY PAVED LANE, THE OTHER ON OLD PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING BEGAN TO ROCK UNCONTROLLABLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. IGNITION WOULD BE IN BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS INTERLOCK SAFETY AND THE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE RAN INTO A FENCE. *SLC

REFERENCE THE "FUEL TANK SENDER ASSEMBLY" ON EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS MODEL YEARS 1997 THRU 2000 DOES NOT REACH FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TANK CAUSING THE SENSORS TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLS ARE OUT OF FUEL WHEN PARKED ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE, THIS COULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH LESS THAN A QUATER TANK OF FUEL. THIS PROBLEM, SUPPOSELY, WAS CORRECTED WITH THE 2001 MODELS, BY EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE SENDER ASSEMBLY. SHOULD THIS , FOR SAFETY SAKE, BE DONE ON 97 THRU 00 MODELS. I AM AWARE OF ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE AN EXPLORER WITH A FEW GALLON S OF FUEL REMAINING THE THE FUEL TANK, WAS PARKED ON A DOWN SLOPE AND COULD NOT BE STARTED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LEVEL.

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHCIH CAUSES VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC. AFTER TEN MINUTES VEHICLE IS FULLY OPERATIONAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR ACCELERATING TO LEFT VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT WHEELS BEING OUT OF AROUND. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT IN STOCK, (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(.*YH

IGNITION OFTEN DIES IF ACCELERATING FROM AROUND 20 MPH -- AS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM TOLL BOOTH, OR AFTER SLOWING TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK

4 SETS OF TIRES WITHIN 50,000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS 40MPH AND ABOVE.

MULTIPLE SEVERE HESITATIONS ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. CLOSE CALLS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC 2 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY 8/17/01. WHEN PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, WOULD NOT START FOR 2 DAYS.TOWED TO A DEALER-ATCHLEY FORD IN OMAHA. THEY SAID COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AND STARTED FOR THEM OK. HAS HESITATED TWICE SINCE THEN BUT NOT STALLED. TOLD BY ATCHLEY MECHANIC EXPLORER DOES NOT HAVE IGNITION PROBLEM. CLAIMED TO BE NO ERROR CODES IN PROCESSOR. *AK

REPLACED FOR RECALL 8/9/00, BUT NOT A AUTH.TIRE FOR EXPLORER-ROUGH/BOUNCY RIDE & HARDER TO HANDLE ON ROAD, SIDE STEPS ON ROUGH ROAD, DON'T FEEL SAFE. BRIDGESTONE IGNORES, DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT23575R15)

GAS PEDAL STICKS. *AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BROKE 3 TIMES. GAS PEDAL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HEATER WENT OUT; MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A 1997 FORD PART ON THE 1998 TRUCK. FACE PLATE FOR THE RADIO, TIME IS OUT. LEVER FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OFF. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AT 25,000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST FORD I EVER OWNED AND UNFORTUNATELY THE LAST!*AK

UPON INSPECTION OF TIRES, CONSUMER FOUND THAT TWO OF THE TIRES(FIRESTONE P225/70R155SL BSW A/S) HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITH THE STEEL BELTS PROTRUDING FROM THE EDGES, CONSUMER HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN BRAND BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL BEGAN, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JG

WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT TERRAIN, CONSUMER NOTICED GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P235/75R15 TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR BACK IN TIRE, BUT NOTICED LARGE BUBBLES PROJECTING ON THE SIDE WALL, AND THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED, TIRE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD ONLY 600 MILES, GOODYEAR STATED THAT THE TIRE WENT BAD DUE TO LOW AIR PRESSURE. *TT

WHEN DEPRESSING THROTTLE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY FORCE TO GET THROTTLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR KEEP STOPPING AND DYING, THE PLENUMS (FUEL INJECTOR) THAT MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT NOT START IF PARKED WITH NOSE DOWN AND HAS ? TANK OF FUEL. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. *YD

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND THE TRUCK FLIPPED OVER CAUSING INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS. NLM

UPON DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT AIR BAG CONTAINS CORN STARCH AND TALCOM POWDER. THIS MADE AIR BAGS UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS.*AK

REAR SEAR BELT BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACKING MECHANISM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SEAT BELT BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT BECOMES JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE.*AA *YH

WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE GAS PEDAL STICKS REQUIRING EXTRA PRESSURE WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN ACCLERATION WHEN THE PEDAL BREAKS FREE.*JB

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR 4 FIRESTONE 15INCH TIRES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE RECALL RECEIVED. CONSUMER MAILED REPLY CARD BUT HAS YET TO HEAR FROM FIRESTONE REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES DUE TO SAFETY RECALL AND IS NOW REQUESTING REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAD PASSED. (FIRESTONE TIRES)*YH

WHILE DRIVING SIDE DRIVER MIRROR FELL COMPLETEY OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXD ONE TIME BY FORD, 2ND TIME IT FAILED THAY SAID IT WAS OUT OF THERE HANDS. THE RADIO GET SO HOT YOU CANT TOUCH IT!THIS MIGHT START A FIRE.*AK

BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

SHAKES BAD, NO SHOCK REBOUND, SWAYS AND HARD TO STEER. *AK

THE FORD EXPLORER HAD THE CORRECT TIRES ON IT- THE DRIVER TURNED THE WHEEL SHARPLY, THE BACK TIRED LIFTED AND THE EXPLORER STARTED TO ROLL, IT ROLLED 7 TIMES RESULTING IN 1 DEATH, 1 CRITICALLY INJURED AND 3 OTHERS WITH INJURIES. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS SAID TO ROLL FROM THE TIRES, THIS EXPLORER HAD THE CORRECT TIRES ON IT AND IT STILL ROLLED TOO EASILY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

THERE IS A MILD TO MODERATE VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR BOARD, AND CENTER CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (MOST OBVIOUS AT APPROXIMATELY 65 - 70 MPH). IT SEEMS WORSE WHEN APPLYING SLIGHT THROTTLE, AND SEEMS TO SUBSIDE WHEN YOU LET COMPLETELY OFF THE THROTTLE.*AK