Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#705260April 4, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VERY LOUD, INTERMITTENT, SQUEALING FROM FRONT END. DEALER FIRST STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DUST SEALS/BOOTS, BUT ACCORDING TO OTHER SHOP, THERE AREN'T ANY. NEXT THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT BRAKES: THEY ONLY HAD 5K MILES OF USE LEFT, AND THE ROTORS WERE TOO WORN. I HAD NEW ROTORS AND PADS INSTALLED, BUT THE SQUEAL IS STILL THERE. IT OCCURS WITH BRAKES APPLIED OR NOT, WITH ENGINE ON OR OFF(JUST ROLLING DOWN A HILL), BUT ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING. DOES NOT CHANGE WHEN TURNING. REFERENCE OTHER ODI IDS: 700845, 702219, 702959, 703052, 703270, 703848, 704071, 829016, 834307, 834481. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705233April 3, 1999
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID, SUSPENSION:FRONT
SERIOUS POWER STEERING LEAKAGE. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE, AND TOLD IT'S BEEN REPAIRED - STILL UNRESOLVED. ALSO CONTINUAL SQUEAKING IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. DEALER STATES CANNOT REPAIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705203April 2, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. REPAIRED 4 TIMES READY TO TAKE BACK FOR 5TH. DEALER REPLACED PART. JUST HAD IN LAST WEEK, DID NOT FIX PROPERLY, DOING IT AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836238March 29, 1999
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
VEHICLE HAD A PINHOLE IN THE CORNER OF WINDSHIELD THROUGH WHICH DEBRIS ENTERED, AND CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704960March 26, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DROPPING OFF MY VEHICLE FOR PROBLEMS WITH A REAR WIPER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR MY TRUCK. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY SAID THE INFORMATION WAS SENT OUT IN A LETTER YESTERDAY. WHEN I CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER LINE I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO READ AS OF YET. I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I RECEIVE THE LETTER. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT. THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN FORCE THE CAR TO STAY AT THE SAME SPEED. FORD DOES NOT HAVE THE CABLE READY TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 1999. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836026March 22, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STICKS WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704749March 22, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4.0L SOHC ENGINE, ENGINE WILL SEVERELY LAG OR STALL UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION FROM SLOW SPEEDS OR FROM DEAD STOP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704750March 22, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN IDLE POSITION. THIS REQUIRES USE OF GREATER FORCE TO START MOVEMENT, CAUSING VECHILE TO LURCH FORWARD/REVERSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704760March 22, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE EXPLORER WE HAVE SOMETIMES LOSES POWER AND THEN AFTER 10-15 SECONDS BOLTS FORWARD ABRUPTLY. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF OUR DEALER 5 TIMES, AND BEGAN COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM A WEEK AFTER WE TOOK THE CAR HOME. OUR DEALER SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHICH I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET. THEY FEEL SINCE IT HASN'T DONE IT WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT, THEN IT DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR, OUR ONLY VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER RARELY RETURNS OUR CALLS. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CHILD IN THE CAR. YOU HAVE NO WARNING WHEN IT WILL STOP, AND MOST OFTEN YOU ARE TURNING AND STALLING WITH PEOPLE SWERVING AND BLOWING THEIR HORNS, AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE DEALERS SHOULD TAKE BACK DANGEROUS VEHICLES SUCH AS THIS ONE! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704598March 18, 1999
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEM IS AN ALMOST CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE THAT DEALER SAYS CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PERMENANT FIX. REFER TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 12328.12329. DEALER REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM, OR THAT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT FALL OFF. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT MGR. FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS AND PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF CARS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. MY OBSERVATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING OR SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS SOUND IS A METAL ON METAL RUBBING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FRICTIION, HEAT AND PERHAPS PARTS FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704541March 16, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE ENGINE RPMS WILL DROP TO "0". THE ENGINE WILL RESTART ON ITS OWN. THE STALLING IS FOR ONLY A MOMENT. I HAVE REPORTED THS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT A "FLIG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835848March 15, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE ACCELERATING FRON 0-45 MPH. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF IT GETS ANY WORSE TO BRING IT BACK. SEEKING HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704396March 13, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. REPAIRED FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER EACH REPAIR WITHIN 60 DAYS. NO EXPLAINATION IS FORTH COMING FROM THE DEALER OR FORD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#607564March 12, 1999
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
STEREO RECIEVER FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#607577March 12, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
GAS TANK FLOAT FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835620March 10, 1999
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN HEAVY WIND OCCURS IT IS DIFFICULT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835655March 10, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN OPENING UP THE DOOR AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE DASHBOARD MELTED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704151March 8, 1999
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 35 MPH ACCIDENT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#704071March 5, 1999
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 12328 - SOME 1998/1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER 4X4 VEHICHLES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL/WHISTLE TYPE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AT SPEEDS FROM 10MPH TO 40MPH. THIS NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM THE FRONT HALFSHAFT EXCLUDER SEALS(3K070) AS THEY ROTATE AGAINST THE INNER HUBS. IF A VEHICLE COMES IN FOR THIS CONCERN, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE; 1. PERFORM THE FRONT HALF SHAFT REMOVAL PROCEDURE PER SECTION 205-04-6 THROUGH 205-04-8 OF THE 1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER WORKSHOP MANUAL. 2. CLEAN THE EXTENDED LIP OF THE FRONT WHEEL EXCLUDER SEALS(3K070), THE INNER SURFACE OF THE KNUCKLE(3K185/3K186) IN WHICH THE WHEELS RIDE AGAINST THE AXLE SHAFT OIL SEALS(3254). 3. SPREAD APPROXIMATELY 1/8" THICK BEAD OF HIGH TEMP WHEEL BEARING GREESE(PART #E8TZ-19590-A) ONTO THE SEAL LIPS&SURFACES THEY CONTACT. 4. PERFORM THE FRONT HALFSHAFT INSTALLATION PROCEDURE PER SECTION 205-04-8 OF THE 1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER WORKSHOP MANUAL. VERIFY THAT THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN AVAILABLE. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE THE SEALS UNLESS THEY ARE DAMAGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704058March 5, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
STALLING/HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED. OCCURS AT INTERSECTIONS AND MAKING TURNS. VEHICLE LOSES POWER MOMENTARILY THEN KICKS BACK IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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