Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10130842August 1, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. ON JUNE 1, 2005. CALLER SAID THE OTHER TWO SEAT BELT LATCHES BROKE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND CALLER HAD THEM FIXED. ALSO, SHE LOW BEAM IWASNOT WORKING . SHE HAD IT CHECKED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130626July 29, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE BRAKES LIGHTS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSES CHANGED. THEY USED THE FUSES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS THE SECOND FUSE WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ANOTHER PERSON PUT THE FIRE OUT BY BEATING IT WITH A TOWEL. THEN, CONSUMER CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP BY PHONE, THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT, HE WAS UNSURE OF THE MODEL YEARS INCLUDED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, THEY TOLD CONSUMER WOULD GET BACK TO HER. THERE WERE NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORTS AVAILABLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7-262005 BEFORE THE HOOD LATCH HAD ACTED UP. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. . IT MELTED THE WIRES FOR THE ABS AND THE SPOT FOR PUTTING IN THE BRAKE FLUID. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130523July 28, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING THERE. THIS DID HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE FIREMEN COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130148July 26, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L SOHC ENGINE PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 1998. BATTERY HAD DIED AND ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE BATTERY (WOULDN'T JUMP, WAS REPLACED). GROUND CABLE WAS PLACED AT A LOCATION THAT APPEARED TO BE A SAFE LOCATION. UNKNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE FUEL LINE BRACKET. LATER THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY A STRONG GAS SMELL WAS EMINATING FROM VEHICLE. TOOK TO ADAMSON FORD DEALERSHIP IN BIRMINGHAM, AL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DAMAGED RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE. AFTER GETTING OVER SHOCK OF A $889 REPAIR ESTIMATE, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CAME ACROSS A LINK TO YOUR WEBSITE CONCERNING A RECALL ISSUED BY YOUR GROUP (ID# 98V060000). THE SUMMARY OF THE RECALL DESCRIBED MY SITUATION PERFECTLY. YOU ISSUED THE RECALL THE EXACTH MONTH AND YEAR OF MY PURCHASE, MARCH OF 1998. FOUND ANOTHER INTERNET ARTICLE STATING THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL IN MAY, 1998 FOR THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER AS YOUR RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THIS MATTER. I'VE PRESSED THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHY I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL AND THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS DUE TO THE "BUILD DATE" OF MY VEHICLE. THEY CLAIM FORD'S RECALL OF MAY, 1998 COVERED EXPLORERS WITH A BUILD DATE UP TO 02/01/98 AND THAT THE BUILD DATE FOR MY VEHICLE WAS 02/03/98, A DIFFERENCE OF 2 DAYS. WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID COME FROM THE SAME PLANT AS THOSE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I HAVE A HARD TIME ACCEPTING THAT A 2-DAY DIFFERENCE WOULD BE GROUNDS FOR FORD TO DESIGNATE THAT THE RECALL IN QUESTION WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE WHEN THE DANGER EXISTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129575July 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
MY WIFE HAD THE FORD EXPLORER PARKED OUTSIDE THE CURVES GYM WHERE SHE AND HER MOTHER WORK OUT. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED THEY WERE TALKING OUTSIDE WHEN HER MOTHER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OTHE THE SUV. THE EXPLORER THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129360July 19, 2005
EQUIPMENT
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. APPEARS TO BE STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. HAVE READ NUMEROUS WEBSITES THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE SPRING FROM ACE LOCK CO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128743July 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ALWAYS IN THE SUMMER AND SOMETIMES DURING THE FALL/WINTER, THE AIR FLOW SENSOR MAKES A LOUD, HUMMING NOISE AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF BECAUSE OF THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128418July 12, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKE ROTORS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127797July 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5-5-05 3:30 A.M. LICKING COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED DUE TO FIRE 0F MY 1998 FORD EXPLOYER. IT HAD SET FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. ITS NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. CO-COUNSEL, LIEFF CABRASER REPRESENTING OWNERS OF FORD VECHICLES CLAIMS FORD SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES. ALSO KNOWN AS "BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH," POWERED BY THE BATTERY AND IS MOUNTED ABOVE FLAMABLE FLAMMABLE RESERVOIRES OF BRAKE FLUID. IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS OCCUR, A FIRE CAN BREAK OUT, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND, IN SOME CASES, IDLE FOR DAYS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127471July 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: ON JUNE 17, 2005 CALLER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. CALLER SAID A PASSERBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND WARNED HER. CALLER'S FIANCE PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION. HE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPORT WAS FILED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10127365July 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, EQUIPMENT
FIRE STARTED IN VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE OF OUR HOME
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126958June 28, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER, ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK WHILE CONSUMER DRIVING, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLES SAFETY, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 20 TIMES THIS YEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126652June 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR, AND TO THE BRAKE RESERVOIR. A BYSTANDER SAW THE FIRE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE IT WAS USED AND OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30AM ,AND THE FIRE STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45AM. CONSUMER STATESDTHAT THEY HAVE ONLY USED THE CRUISE CONTROL APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125871June 20, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS BURNED UP. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125969June 20, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, 5 LITER, AUTOMATIC, WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE SAFETY DISENGAGE SWITCH IS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF THERE IS STILL 12 VOLTS GOING TO THAT SWITCH. THE SWITCH HAS A RED BODY. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ADVISES THT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE SWITCH SETUP AS THAT IN THE FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. PRESENTLY I AM DISCONNECTING THE SWITCH WHEN I PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125677June 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON MAY 15, 2004, I WAS FISHING IN A LOCAL BASS TOURNAMENT. I PARKED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER BESIDE ONE OF MY FISHING FRIENDS CHEVY TRUCK AND BOAT TRAILER. AFTER LAUNCHING MY PARTNER FOR THE DAYS BOAT, I PARKED HIS TRUCK AND TRAILER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS LATER, MY PARTNER AND I WERE APPROCHED BY ANOTHER FRIEND AND TOLD US WE WERE NEEDED BACK AT THE PARKING LOT THAT MY EXPLORER HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND, BURNED THE CHEVY WITH THE TRAILER TO THE GROUND AND SCORCHED PAINT AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PARTNERS TRUCK. THE CHEVY TRUCK AND MY EXPLORER WERE TOTAL LOSSES AND I LOST A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS THAT INSURANCE DID NOT PAY FOR. STATE FARM CLAIM # 18-1010-243
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125346June 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARD TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125075June 13, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: GAS PEDAL FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124646June 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IT ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS ARE I HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN THE MOTOR AREA WHEN I USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, I ALSO CANNOT GET THE DRIVER WINDOW DOWN UNLESS I MESS WITH IT ALONG TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD BRACKETS 2 TIMES, AND THEY NEED REPLACED AGAIN. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER DONT CLEAN THE WINDOW WELL ENOUGH AND IT GETS STUCK, SO I HAVE TO GET OUT AND FIX IT. I ALSO KEEP GETTING THE 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT ON AT TIMES WHEN THE DOORS ARE ALL CLOSED. I THINK THERE ARE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. I DONT HAVE THE WARRANTY ANYMORE SO THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID ALL FORD COMPANIES ARE INDEPENDENT. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY WE'LL SEE HOW INDEPENDENT THEY ARE. I THINK ALL EXPLORERS NEED TO BE RE-CHECKED. THEY WERE MADE TOO HASTY OR SOMETHING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124233June 5, 2005
VISIBILITY
THE BLEND DOOR , PLENUM, THAT CONTROLS THE TEMPATURE OF THE AIR COMING INTO THE CABIN IS BROKEN IN THE SAME PLACE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO COME FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE.FAILURE DATE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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