Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#866764August 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF. DRIVER HAD SOME DIFFICULTY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866782August 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH A LEFT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WHERE TREAD SEPARATED ON FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866755August 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES ON A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED, CAUSING TREAD TO ROLL INTO THE RIM. TIRES HAVE 27 THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866704August 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES(P23575R15 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 98 EXPLORER. TREAD IS CRACKING AT THE SIDEWALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL AND FAULTY TIRES, THE DOT #VHDL. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726433August 2, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2000 MY DAUGHTER AND TWO FRIENDS WERE RETURNING TO OUR HOME IN DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS FROM IOWA CITY, IOWA WHERE THEY WERE VISITING MY SON AND OTHER DAUGHTER AT COLLEGE. WHILE ON EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 88, AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 15, TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. PIECES OF THE TIRE FLEW IN ALL DIRECTIONS WITH SOME HITTING BOTH THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FELL ONTO THE RIM AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT, FORCING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LEFT-HAND LANE, THROUGH THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OR ON THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER AND ESPECIALLY FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL OVER. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS WERE VERY UPSET AND SHAKEN. AFTER REPLACING THE BLOWN TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE THEY CONTINUED THEIR TRIP AND ARRIVED IN DOWNERS GROVE. ON FEBRUARY 28TH I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE REMAINS OF THE TIRE AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. ON FEBRUARY 29TH I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE WHERE I STRONGLY INQUIRED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE AND ITS HISTORY OF BLOWOUTS. I WAS ASSURED BY THE MANAGER OF THE FIRESTONE STORE, RON DEGNER, THAT THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT MY DAUGHTER PROBABLY RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PAID FIRESTONE $472.78 FOR A NEW TIRE, RECONDITIONED RIM, AND ALL THE OTHER WORK ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THE TIRE. I THEN WENT TO JOE MADDEN BODY SHOP, THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I STRONGLY INQUIRED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE WILDERNESS TIRES AND ANY HISTORY OF BLOWOUTS. I WAS ASSURED BY THE BODY SHOP ADJUSTER, BOB SCHRETTER, THAT THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I ARRANGED FOR THE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE, AND AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE BODY SHOP PAID A TOTAL OF $331.94. I WAS REIMBURSED $265.09 FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726434August 2, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE CONFIRMING REPEATED SEATBELT FAILURE WITH FORDS. MY 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS BEEN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER TWICE WITH SEATBELTS THAT DO NOT RETRACT CORRECTLY. THEY HANG OUT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SEATING POSITION. (UPRIGHT!) I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. I'M A CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN THROUGH NHTSA AND AM FAMILIAR WITH HOW SEAT BELTS WORK. THESE WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO GUIDE THEM BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726456August 2, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TRUCK STARTED DEVELOPING CONTROL PROBLEMS, FISHTAILING AND VIBRATING. NOTICED THAT TIRE TREADS WERE SEPARATING. TOOK TO FIRESTONE DEALER AND REPLACED ALL 4. 2 OF THEM WERE BULGING AND SEPARATING A GREAT DEAL, THE OTHER 2 WERE STARTING TO DEVELOP MINOR BULGES. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE STOPPED BEFORE WE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866643August 2, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE DROPPED AND FLEW TO THE LEFT, AND STARTED ROLLING. CONSUMER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. *AK THE IMPACT SPECIALIST FOR INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#866540August 1, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 74MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAD SEPARATED, LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED ONCE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#9001502July 31, 2000
TIRES
AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCE, TIRE WENT SUDDENLY FLAT. IT WAS SITTING ON THE RIM WHEN DRIVER GOT IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. A REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE EXCEPT THAT IT HAD NO AIR IN IT. THERE WAS NO TREAD SEPARATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726303July 31, 2000
TIRES
TWO TIRES FAILED INTERNALY, REPORTED TO DEALER, ROTATED TO REAR, FURTHER REVIEWE ON MY PART DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH NON-FIRESTONE( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866427July 31, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND LEFT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726124July 27, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER INJURING MY WIFE AND I.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#726131July 27, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND IN THE RIGHT LANE OF IH 35 IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AT ABOUT THE # 3 MILE MARKER. WE HAD LEFT WICHITA, KS EARLIER THAT DAY AND WERE ENROUTE TO OUR HOME IN CARROLLTON, TX. I HAD BEEN NOTICING A SHUDDER IN THE VEHICLE NOT UNLIKE THE ONE I FELT PRIOR TO LEARNING THAT ANOTHER ONE OF THE TIRES HAVING SEPARATED ON A TRIP FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TO SAN ANTONIO EARLIER IN THE SUMMER. THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN S. A. ADVISED THAT YOU COULD NOT TELL BY LOOKING AT THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I PAID AN ADJUSTED PRICE FOR THAT TIRE AND JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER NEW WILDERNESS TIRE ON 7/28/2000 BOTH OF WHICH WERE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TWO TIRES ON THE REAR WERE ORIGINALS. I HEARD A LOUD BANG TO MY LEFT AND IMMEDIATELY FELT THE VEHICLE LURCH INTO THE LEFT LANE. I BELIEVE THAT ONLY MY POLICE TRAINING IN DRIVING VEHICLES AT HIGH SPEEDS ENABLED ME TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND DUE TO THE TIRE ONLY SEPARATING AND NOT LOSING AIR PRESSURE WAS I ABLE TO LIMP INTO GAINESVILLE, TX TO GLEN POLK FORD. I WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH SO MUCH DAMAGE FROM A TIRE SEPARATION. I HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ADJUSTED WILDERNESS TIRE AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD AND FIRESTONE FOR FATAL ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM TIRE SEPARATIONS OF THIS SAME TIRE ON EXPLORER'S AND MINIVANS. AS A COINCIDENCE, WHEN I WENT TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CARROLLTON, ONE OF THE REPAIR ESTIMATORS SHOWED ME ANOTHER EXPLORER WITH WILDERNESS TIRES IN THE AUTO BODY SHOP WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR DUE TO A TIRE SEPARATION INCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE WAS LUCKY BECAUSE THEY WERE TOWING A TRAILER WITH A PORSCHE ON IT WHEN THE TIRE SEPARATED AND AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: V0H11PY527 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866014July 26, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB ON VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866030July 26, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION : WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65-70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE EXPLORER TO FLIP OVER. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE TRUCK, AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE, WIDLERNESS ATX, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. FORMS WERE SENT TO CONSUMER TO FILL OUT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866060July 26, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES AT STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH A PIECE OF THE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED THE TIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865987July 25, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE HYDROPLAINED AND RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER A TREAD SEPARATION, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P23575R16) DOT # VR6M07459-5. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725767July 21, 2000
SEATS
A 'BOLT' FAILED IN THE DRIVER SEAT, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FULLY RECLINE WITHOUT ANY METHOD OF STOPPING THE RECLINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SINCE THE PART FAILED AT TWO YEARS AND 48000 MILES, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PART THAT MAY FAIL ON OTHER VEHICLES. IF THE SEAT HAD RECLINED 3 MINUTES EARLIER OR LATER, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. THE DEALER CHARGED $100 LABOR TO CHANGE THE $2 BOLT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865813July 21, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL SPEED UP. GAS PEDAL HANGS UP AND WILL ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. GAS LINKAGE AND CABLES HAVE BEEN OILED WITHOUT EFFECT. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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