Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10075281June 12, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076116June 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076102June 10, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052169June 4, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE SPARE TIRE WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, SNAPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. *JB (THE WENCH SYSTEM) *SC THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074664June 2, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY FOR MY EXPLORER. THE UNIT STILL PLAYED HOWEVER YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, THE VOLUME, OR WHAT RADIO STATION IT WAS CURRENTLY ON. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A SIMPLE FUSE FIX BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600. LUCKY ME I HAVE THE PREMIUM STEREO SO IT COSTS MORE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE THE 98 EXPLORER SPORT AND THIS ISSUE WAS THE SAME FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074704June 2, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074615June 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073983May 20, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072543May 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066808April 29, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065547April 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059514April 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068573April 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
DEFECTIVE TIRES, HOOD LATCH, SEAT LATCH, CRUISE CONTROL, REAR WINDOW WIPER, ETC... *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOOD LATCH , SEAT RECLINER, CRUISE CONTROL AND TIRES WERE ALL RECALLED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND PASSENGER POWER WINDOW WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066448April 19, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK NOR OPEN FROM INSIDE. POSSIBLE SAFTY HAZARD IF MUST EXIT VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066019April 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
BLEND DOOR BROKEN ON 98 FORD EXPLORER. THIS CAUSED THE HEATING AND COOLING IN THE ENGINE TO BE STUCK IN THE "COLD" POSITION THROUGHOUT WINTER. WHILE DRIVING IN WINTER, I HAD TO LOOK OUT THE FREEZING COLD WINDOW TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER IN MY WINDSHEILD WOULD NOT HEAT THE WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066763April 7, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SEAT BOLT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE BACKWARDS. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOLT, BUT NOT THE SEAT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052141April 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING SHUT OFF WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. *NM ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. THE ACCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES. *SC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10063926March 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE THE REAR END SAGS LOWER THAN SHOULD BE EXPECTED ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. I SAID SOMETHING TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE PURCHASING IT SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG. IT IS NOW A YEAR LATER AND AND THE REAR END OF MY EXPLORER HAS STARTED SITTIND LOWER EVERY MONTH I'VE HAD IT, AND I HAVE ALSO REPLACED MY SHCKS THREE TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD FOR 1YEAR. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063850March 25, 2004
TIRES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065087March 23, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PRIOR TO RECEIVING LATCH RECALL, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE DEFECT AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE BOLT WOULD BE REPLACED, NOT THE LATCH. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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