Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#728272August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
A SECTION OF TIRE APPROXIMATELY 9" IN LENGTH AND APPROXIMATELY 2" WIDE CAME APART FROM THE TIRE (THE TREAD). DID NOT HIT OR DRIVE OVER ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE TREAD SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728275August 17, 2000
TIRES
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL APPEARS TO BE EARLY SIGNES OF SEPARATING. FIRESTONE FIRST STATED 5/00 THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM, YET REPLACED ONLY 2 AT A REDUCED COST TO ME. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OTHER 3 EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ARE CLEARLY COMING APART AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD. FIRESTONE STATED THESE ARE NOT COVERED AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE THESE REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX TIRE SIZE: 255 70 R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728280August 17, 2000
TIRES
MY FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN FORD DEALER (ONLY) MAINTAINED FROM NEW. THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES ON IT WERE AT P235/75/R15 DOT VNHL , TUBELESS RADIALS. THEY HAD DONE 63000 MILES WHEN INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE TECHNICIANS AND FOUND TO HAVE THREAD LINE CRACKING OVER 360 DEGREES ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE REMAINING THREAD DEPTH WAS 0.25 INCHES ON ALL TIRES -- WEAR WAS EVEN. THE THREAD DEPTH WAS MORE THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE MOLDED LOW THREAD LEVEL INDICATORS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728289August 17, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT AND I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR'S ACCELAERATION POWER UNTIL IT WOULD SLIDE INTO GEAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GOT OUT ON ME TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ZEROS OUT EXCEPT FOR THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER. THIS PROBLEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553690August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OR TREAD SEPRATION (DOT# WZCU1PX ON ALL FOUR TIRES, P255/70R16). NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868002August 17, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
EA99001, WHILE DRIVING ACCLERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCLERATE. OCCUPANT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY UNIT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728067August 16, 2000
TIRES
THESE ARE THE SAME AT TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT FROM THE DECATUR, IL. PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT DECATU TIRE SIZE: 15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728077August 16, 2000
TIRES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 P.M. ON 24 JULY 2000 AS I WAS DRIVING TO MY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT [XXX], IN MY 1998 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER. I WAS TRAVELLING EAST ON HIGHWAY 190 IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AT 60 MPH, WHEN A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK I WAS FOLLOWING. THE TRUCK BRAKE CAUSING ME TO BRAKE. UPON BRAKING, BOTH TIRES ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A TAIL SPIN. I DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE ELSE. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR HURT ANYONE ELSE. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP ROLLING OVER FOUR TIMES AND ENDED UP FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE MEDIAN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE SUFFERED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. THE POLICE, PARAMEDICS, AND FIREMEN ARRIVING ON THE SCENE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS ALIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE CUT TO GET ME OUT. THERE WERE WITNESSES TO THIS ACCIDENT WHO PROVIDED STATEMENTS TO THE POLICE. THERE WAS NO CITATION ISSUED. MY RIGHT HAND WAS BADLY CUT, I HAD SEVERED AN ARTERY AND MUSCLE, AND RECEIVED 12 STITCHES. MY LEFT EAR WAS CUT AND HAD TO BE STITCHED. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY, TO INCLUDE MY HEAD, WAS BADLY BRUISED. THIS ACCIDENT HAS HAD A SERIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT ON ME. IT TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR ME TO BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN. USAA, MY INSURANCE COMPANY, INFORMED US, AS A RESULT OF THEIR INVESTIGATION, THAT THEY HAD FLAGGED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE THE FIRESTONE TIRES BEING RECALLED AND WERE FOUND AT FAULT FOR CAUSING MY ACCIDENT. SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN MAY 1998, IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE MANUAL, BY COVE FORD IN COPPERAS COVE, TEXAS. WHEELS HAVE ALSO BEEN ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. AT NO TIME WAS I INFORMED THAT MY TIRES WERE UNSAFE OR WERE THE CAUSE OF PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. HAD I OF BEEN INFORMED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF POSSIBLE TIRES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#728087August 16, 2000
TIRES
I HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TWO FLATS, ONE OF WHICH WAS A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE. THE TIRE CRACKED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SIDEWALL. LUCKILY THE SUV WAS BEING STOPPED WHEN IT HAPPENED. I NOW HAVE A THIRD OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR THAT HAS A SMALL SPOT WHERE THE STEEL BELT IS SHOWING THROUGH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH GOODYEAR IN LIGHT OF THE HISTORY OF THE TIRES AND THE RECENT INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED CONCERNING THESE TIRES. I DEFINITELY FEEL OTHER SIZES SHOULD BE RECALLED. THESE TIRES ARE A MENACE. I'M SO LUCKY THAT MY FAILURES HAPPENED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY DID OR I OR MY FAMILY MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY.( DOT NUMBER: VNCU IPX TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728101August 16, 2000
TIRES
HEARD FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM RT REAR TIRE ON FREEWAY--BY THE TIME I PULLED OFF THE ROAD NOISE HAD STOPPED AND WHEN I LOOKED AT TIRE IT APPEARED NORMAL. DROVE FOR 3 MORE HOURS ON HIGHWAY UNTIL IT BLEW OUT. NOTHING LEFT OF TIRE--ON RIM. FORD ROAD ASSISTENCE SENT SOMEONE TO CHANGE IT. WAS IN DESERT BY MYSELF FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN THIS ALSO HAPENED TO MY BROTHER I IMMEDIALTELY WENT OUT AND CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES. WHEN I CALL FIRESTONE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. I CHANGED THE TIRES RIGHT BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM NOW OUT $630 FOR TIRES AND STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THE SPARE. HELP!!!( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/TSR15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728132August 16, 2000
TIRES
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#728133August 16, 2000
TIRES
MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER ([XXX]) CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES. DURING THE FALL OF 1998, I EXPERIENCED 4 TIRE REPAIRS AND IN THE EARLY PART OF 1999, 2 MORE TIRE REPAIRS AND TWO FAILURES (NOTE: FOUR TRIPS TO ARIZONA, FROM COLORADO, HAD OCCURRED). THE TWO FAILURES OCCURRED LATER DURING TRAVEL IN 1999, ONE ON I-40 OUTSIDE ALBUQUERQUE, NM (ENROUTE TO AZ AT APPROX 62 MPH, A SEPARATION AT THE SIDEWALL/TREAD AREA) AND THE OTHER IN PHOENIX, AZ FOUND AS A LEAKING TIRE BUT IDENTIFIED, UPON BREAKDOWN, AS A NON-REPAIRABLE SIDEWALL/THREAD SEPARATION AT THE THREAD LINE). EACH FAILURE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. HOWEVER, I LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND ON MAY 6 1999 I REPLACED THE FOUR INSTALLED TIRES WITH MICHELIN LTX (MS) TIRES, RETAINING THE SPARE AS AN ORIGINAL FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: 235/75R/15 ). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728146August 16, 2000
TIRES
VEHICLE SWERVED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, LOST CONTROL, OVERTURNED 4 TIMES( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#728162August 16, 2000
TIRES
ALL 4 TIRES HAVE CRACK LINES ALL THE WAY AROUND WHERE THE TREAD IS BEGINNING TO CRACK AWAY FROM THE MAIN TIRE. THE TIRE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND BOTH AGREED THE TIRES WERE SEPERATING AND PROBABLY VERY DANGEROUS BUT SAID THEY WERENT ON THE RECALL LIST AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FORD MECHANIC STATED HE HAD SEEN MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME DOT CODE WITH SIMILIAR CRACK LINES BUT THEY WERENT ALLOWED TO REPLACE THEM. WHEN THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT REPLACING THE TIRE UNDER ITS WARANTY, I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS ON A FORD EXPLORER, IT HAD NO WARANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN I SHOWED HIM MY WARANTY PAPERS HE SAID IT DIDNT MATTER, THAT THE EXPLORER WAS CONSIDERED A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AND THEY DIDNT RECOGNIZE WARANTIES ON RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICES OF BOTH COMPANIES (FIRESTONE AND FORD) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL THE TIRE WAS RECALLED. AT THIS TIME ONLY THE WILDERNESS AT WITH A DOT OF VDHL HAS BEEN RECALLED, NOT THE VNHL WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE (EVEN THOUGH THE ATX TIRES FROM THE SAME CANADIAN PLANT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE TIRES ARE MAKING A LOUD ROARING AND BUMPING SOUND AND I HAVE A WRITTEN REPORT FROM THE FORD SERVICE DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND SAW THE SEPERATION LINES ON ALL TIRES (BUT I AM TOLD THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT IS RECALLED, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE A VERY IMIDIATE DANGER TO DRIVE.) I ASKED DOUG SMITH THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THEY WERE REPORTING THE DAMAGE TO THE DOT CODE VNHL TIRES AS THEY WERE INSPECTED AND VISUALLY OBSERVED AND HE STATED THEY WERE NOT. HE STATED THEY ONLY REPORTED WHETHER THE TIRES INSPECTED WERE ONES ON THE RECALL OR NOT. PLEASE HELP, THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728176August 16, 2000
TIRES
BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZZARD. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RIM. THE BEAD OR BUBBLE EXTENDED FROM THE RIM TO THE TREAD AND WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES WIDE AND ABOUT 3/4" HIGH. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND USED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AS THE SPARE. DURING MY LAST SERVICING, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SPARE WAS FLAT. NO REASON WAS GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THIS DEFECT HAS MADE THE TIRES SUSPECT AND MADE MY WIFE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728177August 16, 2000
TIRES
BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZZARD. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RIM. THE BEAD OR BUBBLE EXTENDED FROM THE RIM TO THE TREAD AND WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES WIDE AND ABOUT 3/4" HIGH. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND USED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AS THE SPARE. DURING MY LAST SERVICING, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SPARE WAS FLAT. NO REASON WAS GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THIS DEFECT HAS MADE THE TIRES SUSPECT AND MADE MY WIFE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728181August 16, 2000
TIRES
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AT 65 MPH, 100 DEGREE DAY, 30 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 32 PSI INFLATION( DOT NUMBER: VNHL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75-15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867935August 16, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575/R15 THERE WERE INJURIES. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728038August 15, 2000
TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE GOING UP THE HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS FORCED TO GO UP AND OVER THE BRIDGE TO A SAFE PLACE TO CHANGE THE FLAT TIRE. AS A RESULT OF ROLLING ON THE FLAT TIRE, THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS RUINED. WE BOUGHT A NEW TIRE FROM FIRESTONE TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED FLAT TIRE. THE NEW TIRE IS ONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL CURRENTLY IN EFFECT BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL328 TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553800August 15, 2000
TIRES
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 2 REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE AT) BLOWOUT IN ONE DAY THE SECOND TIRE LEFT REAR BLOWOUT CAUSED CONSTUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAME THROUGH A FENCE AND THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 2-3 TIMES AND BECAME LODGED UNDER THE TRAILER OF A SEMIM BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINEDBACK AND LEG INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer