Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10371752December 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITH LIMITED BRAKING ABILITY. HE STATED THAT NONE OF THE WARNINGS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ONE YEAR LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 09V399000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR IN 2009. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIRED IT AS NECESSARY PER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 12/14/2011 *CN UPDATED 03/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371629December 18, 2010
SEATS
ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO I STARTED TO NOTICE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT RECLINING AND I COULDN'T RESET IT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THROUGH THE YEARS THE RECLINE GOT WORST AND I CONTACTED FORD AND ADVISED THEM THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THEIR RECALL # 03V281000. FORD RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT I ALREADY GOT SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL AND THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I PURCHASED ANOTHER SEAT AND RECENTLY HAD IT INSTALLED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ORIGINAL SEAT MY MECHANIC AND I NOTICED A STRESS CRACK ON THE RECLINING BRACKET OF THE SEAT. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT FORDS RECALL REMEDY DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECTIVE RECLINING BRACKET THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM NOT THE UPPER BOLT THEY REPLACED. I HAVE WORKED AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW A STRESS CRACK WHEN I SEE IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. I HAD ROUGHLY A INCH LEFT BEFORE THE BACK OF THE SEAT WOULD SNAP AND RECLINE TOTALLY. DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AND TERRAIN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THIS COULD BE TRAGIC. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD NUMEROUS TIMES AND IN THEIR LAST LETTER THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ME ANYMORE. I KEPT THE ORIGINAL SEAT AND CAN SEND YOU PHOTOS IF YOU NEED THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369333December 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE OPENING A CASE ON HER BEHALF TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365949November 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLEEPING THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOMB. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WAS ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING ANY RECALLS AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. THE FIRE DEPT. DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. JO
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352279August 27, 2010
SEATS
SUBJECT: DEFECTIVE SEAT FRAME CAUSED BY FAULTY SEAT RECLINER BOLT COMMENTS: I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT THAT WAS RECALLED BY FORD FOR A FAULTY DRIVERS SEAT RECLINER BOLT. ON JUNE 2ND 2010 I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO FUTURE FORD OF CONCORD CA TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR WORK PERFORMED, WHICH IT WAS, BUT WITH A "NOTE TO THE CUSTOMER" FROM THE FORD MECHANIC THAT THE SEAT FRAME WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY DRIVERS SEAT RECLINER BOLT FOR WHICH MY EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR. UPON BEING INFORMED I ASKED MY FORD SERVICE ADVISOR "D.T." HOW FORD PLANNED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED SEAT FRAME, AND HE REFERRED ME TO THE FUTURE FORD SERVICE MANAGER J.H., WHO IN TURN SAID THAT HIS "COMPUTER SAID" THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THAT I WAS WELCOME TO VOICE MY CONCERNS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY?!?! CAN SOMEONE AT THE DOT PLEASE EVALUATE MY CASE AND IF WARRANTED, APPROACH FORD MOTOR CO. WITH AN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART(S) AT NO COST TO ME SINCE THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT FRAME WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY DRIVERS SEAT RECLINER BOLT? DRIVING ON A DAMAGED DRIVERS SEAT SEAT FRAME DOESN'T SOUND TOO SAFE TO ME! NO DOUBT THIS IS WHY THE MECHANIC AT FUTURE FORD NOTED THIS ON HIS WORK ORDER, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR THEN NOTIFIED ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352319August 27, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RUNNING BOARDS ARE SO BADLY CORRODED YOU COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH TO THE ROAD. RUST SPREADING BADLY THROUGH UNDERCARRIAGE. HAD TO HAVE RUNNING BOARDS REMOVED BEFORE THEY FELL OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350478August 19, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEATS
AUGUST 18TH 2010 1:30 PM PEARLAND TX . A FORD EXPLORER 4 DOORS GET HIT IT IN THE BACK BY OTHER VEHICLE WILL IS IN STOP POSITION; ABOUT 40/50 MILES P/H. THE FRONT PANEL GET BROKE, THE STEREO FLU TO THE FRONT HITTING THE DRIVER. AND THE AIR BAG "DO NOT OPEN" DRIVER COULD BE INJURED ON THE FACE AND AT THE ARMS. ALSO THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKE IN THE BACK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10349171August 13, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BUT A NEIGHBOR EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN HE RESEARCHED RECALL 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WHICH WAS RELATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347147August 3, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SEATS
I HAVE HAD MY DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM REPAIRED BEFORE, BUT THE RECLINER DRIVER'S SEAT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. NOW THE RECLINER DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES TOTALLY, UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE BACK SEAT CUSHION. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE PART TO REPAIR THE SEAT IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. I WAS TOLD I COULD GO TO A SALVAGE YARD TO LOOK FOR THE PART. ON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I CAME UPON THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346450July 31, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JULY 17, 2010 THE ACCELERATOR TO MY 1998 EXPLORER (EDDIE BAUER) STUCK WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK A LITTLE WAYS DOWN MY DRIVE WAY. THE TRUCK ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND JUMPED THE STREET HITTING MY NEIGHBOR PORCH DAMAGING THE PORCH AND NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE POLICE CAME AND COMPLETED AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 1998 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346074July 29, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE FRONT DOORS. WHEN SHUTTING EITHER FRONT DOOR, RUST WOULD FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344987July 23, 2010
INTERIOR LIGHTING, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, VISIBILITY
WIPERS WORKS WHEN THEY WANT TOO. POWER WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS WHEN THEY WANT TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323668April 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
98 FORD EXPLORER, ABS LOCKUP DRY WEATHER, SLOW SPEED.... NOW HAS ACCELERATED DURING ONE OF THESE EPISODES ....RELATIVELY CERTAIN THE EDGE OF MY FOOT DID NOT CATCH THE GAS PEDAL... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323452April 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN WHEN LIGHTER STUCK AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF VEHICLE. AFTERWARD SEVERAL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE REAR WIPERS WERE ALSO ACTIVATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321653March 23, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A YEAR. THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE DISCOLORED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM DID NOT NEED AN ADDITIONAL REPLACEMENT BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNALS, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE BEGAN SMOKING. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE OR RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 191,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317790March 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK OF A PARKING SPACE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DANGLING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CONSOLE COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE CAR. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN PICKED UP FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER REPAIRS. CALLED FORD WHO CAME AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, TOOK IT BACK TO THEIR SHOP, MADE REPAIRS AND BROUGHT SUV BACK TO ME AT NO CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317798March 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK OF PARKING SPACE AT HOME, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT TOWNHOME ACROSS THE STREET. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP (01/12/2010). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315201March 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE TRYING TO USE THE LIGHTER IN THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313890February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, 4.0L V6 WITH ALMOST 110K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON 2/24/10 I ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENTIRE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, DETACHED FROM THE FIRE WALL AT WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE SPOT WIELDS. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT DUE TO IMMEDIATE VEHICLE DECELERATION. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS NOW ONLY "ATTACHED" TO THE CAR VIA THE THROTTLE CABLE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BY BASICALLY PULLING THE THROTTLE CABLE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I HAD USE ONE HAND ON THE WHEEL WHILE BENDING DOWN TO PULL THE CABLE. I WAS JUST ABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASH. I WAS TOLD BY SANTA MARGARITA FORD IN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA, THAT IT'S NOT OF THEIR CONCERN SINCE THEY DON'T "FIX" PARTS BUT REPLACE THEM. THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO "REPLACE" THE PART. SO NO FIX HAS BEEN DONE TO MY VEHICLE YET. I WILL MOSTLY LIKELY DRILL AND BOLT THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL, SINCE FORD HAS NO INTEREST IN "FIXING" MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301679January 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND O2 SENSORS HAVE TO BE REPLACE EVERY THIRTY TO FORTY THOUSAND MILES. NOW O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAR DRIVES LIKE IT IS IN FIRST GEAR, SHIFTS HARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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