1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

1998, FORD, EXPLORER, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT OR ENTER THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AT 4:30 AM,UNDER THE HOOD ENGULFED IN FLAMES CALLED FIRE DEPT THEY CAME AND PUT FIRE OUT. THE WHOLE ENTIRE MOTOR, AND FRONT OF TRUCK RUINED,NOT DRIVABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FORD THE DAY AFTER FIRE,THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE LIABLE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON 1998 EXPLORERS. *JB

THE CONSUMERTHAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAME OFF OF THE FIRE WALL, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE BRACKET CAME OFF. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THAT VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGHLY. WHILE SITTING STILL VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER . *AK ...... *AK

TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER REAR-ENDED A HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING,VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC RECALL NUMBER(99V062001) WAS FOR THIS VEHICLE BASED ON THE PROBLEM WITH DRIVER VEHICLE. ALSO THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE IS RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE DOWN TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

MY HUSBAND, NINE YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND I WERE DRIVING BACK FROM OUR SUMMER VACATION. THE NIGHT BEFORE OUR ACTUAL ACCIDENT, OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. MY HUSBAND PUT THE SPARE ON AND WE WENT ON TO OUR HOTEL. THE NEXT DAY OUR LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND FORCED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ONTO THE MEDIAN. SOMEWHERE DURING THAT OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THEN WE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. WE WERE TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT AT 70 MPH. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE DUNLOP TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY EXPLORER WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DESPITE THE EVENTS, MY HUSBAND NEPHEW AND I WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY SCRATCHES AND MINOR CUTS. I THANK FORD FOR THAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO I HAD TO REPLACE ONE OF THE DUNLOP TIRES FOR TREAD SEPARATION. I RECEIVED ANOTHER TIRE. THAT TIRE WHICH WAS ON THE FRONT LEFT AND THE SPARE (WHICH WAS A FIRESTONE) DID NOT GIVE OUT BUT BASICALLY THE FOUR DUNLOP TIRES THAT I PURCHASED, I STRONGLY FEEL, WERE DEFECTIVE. *JB

SINCE PURCHASING A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE MY WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND DAMAGED THE SPINDLE. THIS WAS A $500 EXPENSE AS THE SPINDLE WAS A DEALER PART. WHEN I PURCHASED IT THERE WERE 26000 MILES ON IT...THERE WERE ABOUT 36000 WHEN THE BEARINGS WENT OUT...JUST AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEN, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE UPPER AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GOT A HOLE BURNED IN IT. AGAIN, FORD COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY KIND OF HELP AND SAID IT WAS A $800-1000 REPAIR. ON A SIDE NOTE, THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD. IN FACT, RECALLS WERE MADE BY FORD TO REPLACE THE INTAKES FREE OF CHARGE TO FLEETS BUT NOT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. JUST RECENTLY MY FREEZE PLUGS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED MY CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS HAS BEEN QUOTED BY FORD AS A $1300 REPAIR. I CALLED FORD TO SEE ABOUT SOME SORT OF GOODWILL WARRANTY AND OF COURSE ANYTHING WITH GOODWILL IN THE EQUATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FORD WILL NOT DO. I CURRENTLY HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT ON THE LOAN FOR A PIECE OF CRAP CAR THAT ISN'T EVEN WORTH HALF OF WHAT I STILL OWE ON IT. I AM REALLY THINKING OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND PARKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ENTRY WAY AND TAKING THE KEYS WITH ME AND TELLING THEM TO STICK IT UP THEIR REARS. FORD MAKES THE WHOLE CAR INDUSTRY LOOK REALLY BAD AND IN NO WAY WOULD I EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS OUT AND MAKE THE GAME FAIR BETWEEN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS...WE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE THEY KEEP GETTING RICHER AND RICHER. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL. THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO NEAR 100 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO VEER OFF THE ROAD, AND PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

SPOT WELDS HOLDING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FIREWALL BROKE, LEAVING FOOT PEDAL ATTACHED ONLY BY ACCELERATOR CABLE. BREAKAGE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 1998 FORD EXPLORER ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN DRIVER MOVED TO BRAKE FOR STALLED TRAFFIC, ACCELERATOR PEDAL LODGED UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER AVOIDED MULTI CAR COLLISION BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND KICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL OUT OF WAY. FULLER FORD DEALERSHIP RE-WELDED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FIREWALL FOR $152. WORKER NOTED THAT WINDSTARS ARE FAR MORE PRONE TO THIS CONDITION, AND THAT THIS IS THE SECOND EXPLORER THAT HAS BEEN SEEN FOR THIS CONDITION. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET SUDDENLY BROKE AS A RESULT OF FLIMSY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THE METAL BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE METAL BODY OF THE VEHICLE BY 3 THIN PEGS (THEY SNAPPED AT THE BASE OF THE BRACKET) AND GLUE! (IT'S OBVIOUS IT'S THE FAULTY MANUFACTURE'S WORK, AND NEVER MESSED WITH PREVIOUSLY.) THIS DEFECT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE YOU TO BE STRANDED (NO ACCELERATION) POSSIBLY ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE ACCELERATION AND A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. I'M ATTEMPTING TO CONSULT WITH GALPIN FORD OF VAN NUYS, CA CURRENTLY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT AM EXPERIENCING LACK OF COMMUNICATION. 1998 FORD EXPLORER-EDDIE BAUER V-6 SOHC(?) VEHICLE WALL ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET. *AK ! ___/ ! ---! ! ---! * ! ---!___

VEHICLE LOCKED UP AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR OF DRIVING. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IT WILL COST CONSUMER $100.00 JUST FOR FORD TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT WAS AFRAID THAT HE WILL.*AK

I CAN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY FORD EXPLORER FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OF INSIDE. THE POWER LOCKS DON'T OPEN AND THE DOOR SHOULD STILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE EVEN IF IT IS LOCKED AND IT DOESN'T. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. FORD SAID IT WILL COST ME $130.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. I AM GOING TO MY OWN MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. UNTIL THEN I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. *NM

THE HOOD HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT. THE RAMS THAT HELD THE HOOD WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND CAUSED TO HOOD TO FALL DOWN. THE RAMS WERE REPLACED. *AK *NM

RE:FORD EXPLORER WHEEL LOCKUP AND UNCONTROLLED SKID AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNIFICANT METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSFER CASE INDICATING SEVERE GEAR STRESS WHEN THE VEHICLE SELF SHIFTED INTO 4X4 LOW ENGAGEMENT. *NM

ON 6/18/04 MY FAMILY WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHILE ON VACATION IN NY. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR COMING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WE ROLLED OVER. BEFORE ROLLING OVER, HE TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TOTTTLED LEFT THEN TOTTLED RIGHT AND THEN FLIPPED AND LANDED ON THE HOOD. THE THREE WITH MINOR INJURIES INCLUDED CUTS ON HANDS FROM CLADD, SPRAIN NECK AND BRUISES.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT RELIABLY UNLOCK. POWER LOCK ACTUATOR WORKS FINE. BROKEN SPRING INSIDE OF LATCH MECHNISM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WA ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE LT P18575R14 #DOT VNJ7791. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

TAILGATE SHELL SHOWS CRACKS AROUND THE HINGES FROM METAL FATIGUE. *MR THIS APPEARED TO BE A DEFECT. *SC *JB *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LEVER WAS ALWAYS BEING BENT DOWN AS DRIVER WOULD EXIT SUV, CAUSING HANDLE TO JAM AGAINST SEAT FRAME. DRIVER WOULD STRAIGHTEN HANDLE IN ORDER TO CHANGE POSITION OF SEAT BACK FROM ONE DRIVER TO ANOTHER. UPON PUSHING HANDLE BACK UP INTO ORIGINAL POSITION, IT SNAPPED, BREAKING OFF AT CONNECTION POINT, JUST ABOVE TWO RIVETS ON CAM OF THE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY. SEAT WAS IN THE MOST FORWARD UP POSITION (ACROSS DRIVERS SEAT) WHILE ACCESSING SPACE BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT, SPORT MODEL IS A 2-DOOR. HAD TO USE SCREWDRIVER AS A LEVER TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO UPRIGHT POSITION. IF THIS HAD HAPPEN TO MY WIFE (OR OTHER PERSON NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED) SHE/THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS SEAT OR DRIVE VEHICLE. THIS COULD VERY WELL CONSTITUTE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS THAT ARE UNABLE TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO PROPER DRIVING POSITION WHEN THIS LEVER BREAKS OFF. PART NUMBER 7862649-AAA, SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY, IS NOT AVAILABLE THOUGHT EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH ON-LINE. WHILE GOING THROUGH SCRAP YARDS LOOKING FOR LEVER ASSEMBLY, FOUND 2 OTHER DRIVER SEAT BACK LEVERS BROKEN IN SIMILAR FASHION. HAVE HAD RECALL NUMBER 03V281000 ALREADY SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE IN FALL 2003. *AK

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD EXPLORER ENGINE SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A FEW TIMES FOR RECALLAS ON THE ENGINE, THE LAST TIME ONLY THIS PAST DECEMBER. LAST SATURDAY, MAY 22ND THE TRUCK STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY CRANKSHAFT BROKE. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TOLD ME THE SAME THING AND AGREED THAT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEND BUT ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BASICALLY TO BAD ON YOU. I HAVE SEEN MANY MESSAGES ON THE INTERNET ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF I WERE ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT STOPPED. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO COVER COSTS WHEN SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK DOES. FORD COULD CARE LESS. COST TO ME OVER $4,500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE ON A MAINTAINED 6 YEAR OLD CAR. PER AN ATTORNEY THIS IS KNOWN AS A LATENT DEFECT AND IT TOOK THIS TIME TO HAPPEN, WHEN THAT KIND OF PART SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V422000 NOTICE CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. WHILE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT ANY SPEED AND THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESS VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE ONLY WAY THIS PROBLEM WON'T OCCUR IS IF THE CONSUMER PUTS THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES: FRONT BRAKES ON OUTSIDE OF WHEELS IT HAS A COATING OF DARK POWDER. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT'S BRAKE DUSTS NO SIGN OF IT ON REAR WHEELS. *NM

ON MAY 15, 2004, I WAS FISHING IN A LOCAL BASS TOURNAMENT. I PARKED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER BESIDE ONE OF MY FISHING FRIENDS CHEVY TRUCK AND BOAT TRAILER. AFTER LAUNCHING MY PARTNER FOR THE DAYS BOAT, I PARKED HIS TRUCK AND TRAILER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS LATER, MY PARTNER AND I WERE APPROCHED BY ANOTHER FRIEND AND TOLD US WE WERE NEEDED BACK AT THE PARKING LOT THAT MY EXPLORER HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND, BURNED THE CHEVY WITH THE TRAILER TO THE GROUND AND SCORCHED PAINT AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PARTNERS TRUCK. THE CHEVY TRUCK AND MY EXPLORER WERE TOTAL LOSSES AND I LOST A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS THAT INSURANCE DID NOT PAY FOR. STATE FARM CLAIM # 18-1010-243

ONE MONTH AFTER GETTING MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER IN OCTOBER 1998 THE REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPER ON ALL EXPLORERS. IN JULY 2001 THE REAR WIPER MOTER AGAIN FAILED AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AGAIN THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORERS. ON MAY 13, 2004 THE REAR WIPER MOTOR HAS AGAIN FAILED. NOW THE DEALER WANTS $320 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER. WITHOUT THE REAR WINDOW WIPER BEING OPPERABLE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW DURING RAIN STORMS OR WHEN THE ROAD IS WET AND DIRT SPLASHES UP ONTO THE WINDOW. THIS CREATES A HAZARD THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN FULL THROTTLE WHEN BRAKES WAS RELEASED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. NO REPORT OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AROUND 8:00AM, ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE ARE 35 MM PICTURES. THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT WAS RARELY USED, AND THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS WORKING. THE INSURANCE WAS LIABILITY ONLY. *AK *SC *JB

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK NOR OPEN FROM INSIDE. POSSIBLE SAFTY HAZARD IF MUST EXIT VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED TWO REAR SEAT BELTS DIDN'T HOLD THE PASSENGERS IN THE SEATS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK DEALER SAID THAT THE CONTINUED PRESSURE FROM THE CHILD SEAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. *LA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IN THE UNLOCKED DOOR OF HIS VEHICLE, THE DOORS BECOME LOCKED. WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE DOORS STILL REMAIN LOCKED. WHEN HE PRESSES THE POWER LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, IT WILL LOCK THE DOORS BUT FAIL TO UNLOCK THEM, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE WINDOW. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND HE FEELS THE FAILURE SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NM THE HILL WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 BLOCKS AND THE CONSUMER WOULD NORMALLY DRIVE DOWN THE HILL WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. *SC *JB

STOCK JACK WITH FORD EXPLORER WILL NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO BE CHANGED. ALSO FOUND DEALER DID NOT REPLACE RECALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT RECALLED TIRE AS PER INVOICE. TIRE EXPLODED AND RUINED. NEAR MISS 16 WHEELER. *JB

WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRE. *AK

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY LOCK OR THE REMOTE, FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB *TC

DOORS HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH THEY CANNOT BE LOCKED BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE KEYS NOR THE REMOTE CAN UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE DOORS WERE FROZEN, AND IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONER IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER GRADUALLY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AT THIS TIME, IT IS NOT COOLING AT ALL. TODAY (JUNE 12, 2004), I READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C ACCUMULATOR. I PEALED BACK PART OF THE "THERMAL BLANKET" WRAPPED AROUND THE ACCUMULATOR, AND FOUND IT TO BE RUSTED. THE AC HAS NOT BEEN COOLING IN ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS, BUT IT IS MOST INCONVENIENT AND DANGEROUS NOW WITH THE SUMMER HEAT IN FULL FORCE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP A LITTLE. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OF RIGHT TURN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WITH AN UPDATED ONE, AS STATED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVIC EBULLETIN 9821-01 WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER (TO ACCELERATE) YESTERDAY AFTER GRINDING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION. COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT FROM THERE. CONTINUED TO GRIND MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM ANY GEAR INTO PARK. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS A REPLACEMENT. PREVIOUS (ORIGINAL) TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REVVED (W/ LOSS OF POWER) AT INOPPORTUNE MOMENTS- WHILE ACCELERATING OR TRYING TO ACCELERATE, WHILE COASTING OR WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. BEGAN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED UNTIL JAN. 2002. I WAS GIVEN A 12-MONTH WARRANTY ON IT THEN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO COVER EVERYTHING (BUMPER TO BUMPER) TO 50,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SPOT WELDS BROKE. I MANAGED TO COAST THE CARD TO A SAVE STOP BUT THIS COULD HAVE HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER A HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR RUNNING, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO EXIT/ENTER THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IS BROKEN. A SMALL METAL PIN BROKE WHICH MAKES THIS LOCKING MECHANISM NOT WORK. SO SOMETIMES I HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT IF MY VARIOUS TECHNIQUES DO NOT WORK TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE METAL PIN WILL EVENTUALLY CORROD AND BREAK SO I HAVE NOT YET FIXED IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE NO FAITH IN A PRODUCT THAT WILL MOST LIKELY BREAK AGAIN. I THOUGHT I WAS WAS JUST HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I VISITED THIS MESSAGE BOARD (HTTP://WWW.OFFROADEXCHANGE.COM/MODFORUMS/INDEX.PHP?BOARD=9;ACTION=DISPLAY;THREADID=1749;START=25). I REALLY HOPE YOU INVESTAGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY IS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION AND TRAPPED IN THEIR EXPLORER BECAUSE THE METAL PIN OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE. THANK YOU. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY OR BY THE POWER LOCK SWITCH. IF IT IS LOCKED ACCIDENTALLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE ANY WAY OTHER THAN BY CRAWLING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR BY PULLING VERY HARD ON THE INSIDE HANDLE WHILE WORKING THE KEY IN THE LOCK. THIS COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO FLEE THE VEHICLE. *JB

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IN JANUARY I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE STEERING SEEMED OFF AND I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE SUSPENSION--THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION. I WAS TOLD I WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND I WOULD HOPE THIS COULD BE INVESTIGATED TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD OCCUR IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NO ONE REALIZES IS OUT THERE.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. DUE TO BLACK ICE THERE WAS A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THIS RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE CONCRETE BARRIER AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, AND THE SEAT FOR AFT ADJUSTING MECHANISM FAILED. THE SEAT BACK RECLINING MECHANISM HAD BEEN FIXED FOR THE RECENT RECALL. *LA