Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10300466January 20, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1998 FORD EXPLORER. PARKED AT RESTAURANT, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, WENT INSIDE. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER SOMEONE YELLED FIRE. WENT OUTSIDE TO DISCOVER SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND RESPONDED QUICKLY. FIRE EXTINGUISHED, BUT VEHICLE TOTALED. NO INJURIES, NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE EXCEPT BURNED HEDGES THAT WERE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT WAS PARKED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER REMARKED THAT IT APPEARED POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED FIRES AS IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON OR NEAR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, MY SON WAS USING THE TRUCK WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED AND I AM RELATING HIS RECOLLECTION OF THE EVENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS TO A HOLDING YARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO MY HOME WHERE IT IS PRESENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300152January 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1998 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND TRANS STARTED SLIPPING BADLY ALL AT ONCE. CAN NOT DRIVE NOW. I DON'T YET KNOW HOW MUCH A NEW TRANS WILL COST, BUT VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. I BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297403December 29, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR APROX 9 HOURS, THE ENGINE AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 4AM. SPECULATION IS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IGNITED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AS IS THE INTERIOR WITH SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296898December 24, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I DRIVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE LOCKS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HAVE JAMMED, PREVENTING THE OCCUPANT FROM OPENING THE DOOR. THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN VERY COSTLY (AROUND $800 TOTAL), AND THE FAULTY/JAMMED LOCKS HAVE POSED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS, SINCE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE ARM REST TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. ASAP. IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR ME. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE A HELP TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE A FIRE OR WORSE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER IN THE CAR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE FRIEND WHO HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE OVER THE ARM REST ENDED UP WITH A SORE BACK. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296772December 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
LARGE FUEL LEAK FROM BRAIDED STEEL FUEL LINES WHERE THEY WERE RUBBING AGAINST THEIR BRACE ON THE TOP FRONT OF ENGINE. THEY WERE CUT, WITH A SPLICE PUT IN, AND THE BRACE REMOVED, RATHER THAN A REPLACEMENT. THE REASON BEING THE REPLACEMENT PART COST OF $600. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295130December 9, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED HE SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH OF THE HOOD OF HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HE WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED ; WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK . NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. HE THEN RECEIVED A LETTER FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WILL CONTACT HIM WITH A RESPONSE WITHIN A FIFTEEN DAY PERIOD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293800November 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN
98 FORD EXPLORER IS THERE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION 2 WHEEL DRIVE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289748October 25, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS ARE STUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288752October 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING ALONG IN OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME WE DRIVE THE CAR NOW. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT IT WAS 2000 DOLLARS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR. FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED FOR 4000 DOLLARS. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM 98-04 EXPLORERS, AS THEY SHARE THE SAME TRANSMISSION. LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ANYTIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288537October 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ON SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. WHEN SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. SHE REMOVED HER CHILDREN AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING FOR FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE FIRE DAMAGE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285167September 24, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT OPERATE USING ANY OF THE THREE AVAILABLE METHODS FOR UNLOCKING. THE REMOTE KEY FOB OPERATION, THE EXTERIOR DRIVER DOOR ENTRY PAD OR THE INTERIOR LOCKING MECHANISM DO NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE DOORS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN PUT IN TO ANY OTHER GEAR THAN 'PARK' AND THE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPENED USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE WHICH IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE REAR DOOR OF MY 4-DOOR VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TODAY TO REPLACE A SIMILAR VEHICLE (1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT) THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THANKFULLY WHEN I TOTALED THE VEHICLE IN AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT THE DOOR DID NOT STICK CLOSE WITH THE LOCK BEING THE CULPRIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283403September 9, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE GAS PEDAL SNAPPED OFF AND FELL TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE IT HAPPENED. ONCE STOPPED WE DISCOVERED THAT THE WELDS THAT HELD THE PETAL TO THE FIRE-WALL (I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT THE MECHANIC LATER CALLED IT) HAD BROKEN. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO BOLT THE PEDAL BACK ON. WHILE THERE WERE NO INJURIES, OR IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FAR MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS WE WERE HEADED FOR A BUSY HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. WE FEEL FORD SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR, AND TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280278August 12, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER, THIS AFTERNOON ; I WAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES OFF THE INTERSTATE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF AND WAS JUST HANGING THERE. IT WAS A VERY BUSY STATE HWY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH. LUCKILY A CHP OFFICER CAME BY AND PUSHED MY CAR FORWARD TO A WIDER SPOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOWED ME TO A SHOP. IT REALLY SCARES ME TO THINK ABOUT IF MY WIFE OR SON HAD BEEN DRIVING AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO OR WHAT WAS WRONG. ALSO, I WAS VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. AFTER I GOT THE CAR TOWED AND CAME HOME I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM. ON WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM I FOUND 11 OTHER CASES LISTED WITH VERY SIMILAR STORIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278860July 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN RAINY WEATHER. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE IN THE WIPER/WASHERMOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE99049 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS) ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277486July 20, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED AND THE FUSES WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BLOW OUT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSTALLED NEW FUSES IN THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT THE FUSES BLEW OUT AGAIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC. WHILE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE OPEN RECALLS, ONE OF WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 06V286000, 03V281000, AND 98V060000 WERE REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 132,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275946July 7, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN FOR FREE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,994 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274072June 16, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DOORS AND LOCKS ON MY 1998 FORD HAS BEEN OUT OF ORDER THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO!! I SAW THAT IT HAD A RECALL IN 1999 I GUESS THE LAST OWNER DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IM SOMETIMES LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR 10-15 MIN AT A TIME!! I WAS WONDERING CAN YOU DO SOMETHING OR IS IT TOO LATE!! I REALLY NEED TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WHEN I LEAVE WORK IT'S DARK!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272943June 5, 2009
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT TOUCHES AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT. SHE COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. HIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272592June 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE SOMETIMES IT WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268364May 11, 2009
STRUCTURE
SPOT WELDS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND ALLOWING PEDAL TO FALL BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY FORD EXPLORERS ARE EXPERIENCING AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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