Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10190632May 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY WIFE WAS JUST LEAVING OUR HOUSE AND THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND LED TO SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT MISHAP. THIS WAS AT A LOW SPEED. THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190716May 14, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING IN THE 1998 EXPLORER, AND THE ACCUMULATOR WAS RUSTED VERY BADLY SO THAT IT TOO MAY HAVE LEAKS IN IT. FORD NEEDED TO RECALL THESE UNITS, AND REPLACE THE RUSTED ACCUMULATOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190578May 12, 2007
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I SPOKE WITH 3 OTHER MOTHERS THAT HAVE 1998 EXPLORER AND ON EACH THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK, I HAVE THREE LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN, AND BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I COULD NOT TAKE ALL THREE ANYWHERE. THEY COULD NOT SEAT UP FRONT. WHY DO 4 OUT OF 4 1998 EXPLORERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM? AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST ORDER A NEW ONE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE $80.00 FOR PART AND INSTALLATION. UPON TALKING TO THESE OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS I REALLY FELT THAT INFERIOR BELT BUCKLES WERE USED. MY DAD WAS A FORD MAN AND WE WERE FORD PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190511May 11, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK DID NOT UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. IT TOOK MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED, LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO EXIT OUT OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190094May 7, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
FORD EXPLORER BURST INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN A SHOPPING PLAZA GARAGE PARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT ALL, HAD BEEN PARKED MORE THAN A COUPLE HOURS. PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE SHOPPING PLAZA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189534May 2, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. FRONT DRIVER SEAT LEVER WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. DRIVING ON THE ROAD ONE AFTERNOON, THE SEAT RECLINED OUT OF CONTROL. THE SEAT MUST BE RECLINED IN A REASONABLE POSITION WHEN DRIVING. HOWEVER, IT WAS UNSAFE FOR HIM TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN RECALL NUMBER 03V281000. THE RECALL STATED THAT ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT ATTACHED THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME COULD FRACTURE. THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WILL DO TO FIX IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA). THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE DEALER WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *AK UPDATED 06/14/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190043April 30, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1998 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. *MC THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186510March 29, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
ON 2/22/07 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4DR. I HAD JUST COME OFF THE NJ TURNPIKE AND WAS DRIVING THROUGH UNION CITY AT 6:45 IN THE MORNING WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT TO FOLLOW THE ROAD. TO MY SHOCK AND HORROR THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY WITHOUT CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING WITH BARELY ANY RESISTANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF. MY VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD; I STOPPED THE VEHICLE UP ON A SIDEWALK JUST BEFORE A BUILDING. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONE WALKING THERE AT THAT EARLY HOUR. AFTER I MANAGED TO COMPOSE MYSELF I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO SPIN FREELY EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WITH NOTHING STOPPING IT. IF I TURNED THE WHEEL HARD AND LET GO THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPIN COMPLETELY AROUND 5 OR 6 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I CALLED THE UNION CITY POLICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT OCCURRED AND THAT THE CAR WAS UP ON A SIDEWALK WITH NO WAY TO STEER IT. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL AAA AND SENT A CAR BY. AAA CAME WITH A FLAT BED AND AFTER A LONG TIME MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE CURB AND ON THE TRUCK. THE DRIVER HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I ACCOMPANIED MY VEHICLE AS IT WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR STATION 30 MILES AWAY. THE STATION FOUND THAT INSIDE THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT THE STEERING COLUMN IS TWO SEPARATE SHAFTS THAT ARE HELD TOGETHER BY A SINGLE BOLT ( NO NUT ). THE BOLT HAD BACKED OUT OF THE CONNECTION AND THE SHAFTS HAD BECOME SEPARATED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BOLT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ONCE THE SHAFTS BECAME SEPARATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HE EXPRESSED GREAT CONCERN THAT THE BOLT DID NOT HAVE A NUT OR SOME KIND OF PIN TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT. THE MECHANIC PUT SOME 'THREAD LOCKER' ON THE BOLT AND PUT IT BACK IN THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186520March 29, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON MARCH 29, 2007, MY WIFE DROVE OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AT 9:00 A.M. AND THEN TO HER WORK LOCATION. AT 9:36 A.M., MY WIFE PARKED THE EXPLORER, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WENT INTO WORK. AT 10:50 A.M, MY WIFE WAS NOTIFIED BY AN EMPLOYEE FROM ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT THE EXPLORER WAS SMOKING. AT THAT TIME, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT STARTED BURNING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AND THERE WAS A CLOUD OF DARK HEAVY SMOKE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND CONFINE THE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT WAS SATURATED WITH SMOKE. THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHALL WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED US THAT SIMILAR SPONTANEOUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THAT FORD IS CURRENTLY RECALLING VEHICLES WITH THOSE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES. THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THAT THIS ENGINE FIRE MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DEFECTIVE OR FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE FIREFIGHTERS DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT. UPON BEING APPRISED OF THE RECALL. WE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT FORD IS CONDUCTING A RECALL OF VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE AND FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES AND THAT THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED INCLUDE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORERS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND/OR ITS AFFILIATED DEALERSHIPS. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT AND INFORM THEM OF THE ENGINE FIRE. WE ALSO CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A CLAIM. TO CLARIFY THE QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THIS NARRATIVE, THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS CONTACTED THEY DID NOT NEED TO GENERATE A REPORT IN LIGHT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS INCIDENT REPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186100March 25, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
RIGHT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED IN HALF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND A RESULTING CRASH. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185592March 19, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY OR THE UNLOCK BUTTON WHEN LOCKED(ELECTRICAL). THIS COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT AS THE DRIVER DOOR IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184858March 12, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH SHE HEARD A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS, AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. SUDDENLY, IT BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHE HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND IT RELEASED DEBRIS INTO THE RACK AND PINION, WHICH CAUSED THAT TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 65042 MILES.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184505March 8, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
LIFTED HOOD, ENGAGED HYDRAULIC AIR LIFT FEATURE TO HOLD HOOD UP. HOOD SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FELL, STRIKING MY LEFT UPPER ARM, CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING AND PAIN. NO ACTION TAKEN YET TO REMEDY SITUATION OTHER THAN I WILL NOT OPEN HOOD UNLESS I HAVE A STICK OR SOME SORT OF DEVICE TO HOLD HOOD OPEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10183601February 27, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
LAST NIGHT I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK, MY FAMILY HAD DINNER AND I WAS SITTING DOWN IN THE LIVING ROOM TO PLAY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND ASKED MY WIFE WHAT WAS THAT NOISE, SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND YELLED YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE ! MY CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183203February 21, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE... THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182832February 17, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY OR THE UNLOCK BUTTON WHEN LOCKED(ELECTRICAL). MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH 5 OTHERS IN MY CITY ALONE WITH EXPLORERS AND THEY ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME TROUBLES. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A DEFECT FOR IT TO BE IN SO MANY OTHER EXPLORERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182413February 12, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR 4WD WITH A SINGLE REAR LEAF SPRING ON EACH SIDE THE TRUCK SITS ABOUT 1-2 INCHES LOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE SPRING ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF THIS I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE MODEL EXPLORER THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE FACTORY CAN DO TO FIX IT WITHOUT ME THE CONSUMER HAVING TO PUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182263February 11, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V281000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE ABOVE RECALL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALER SOMETIME IN 2005 TO HAVE SUBJECT RECALL WORK PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH THIS SUV IS USED SPARINGLY AS IT IS MY THIRD VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES PER YEAR), THE FRONT SEAT HAS SINCE FAILED AS IF THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED AT ALL, OR THE MODIFICATION WAS INADEQUATE. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182082February 9, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1998 FORD EXPLORER RADIO (ELECTRONIC, WITH SINGLE CD) DISPLAY PERIODICALLY FAILS TO OPERATOR. ALL LIGHTING FADES OUT, CANNOT CAUSE IT TO RETURN. NO KNOW CAUSE OR PRECEDING EVENT... BUT IT MIGHT BE TEMPERATURE-RELATED. RADIO/CD/TAPE STILL FUNCTIONS WELL. THIS IS AN ONGOING EVENT. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR COMMENTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS RESULTS IN MANY REPLIES, APPEARS THIS MAY BE MORE COMMON AN OCCURRENCE THAN JUST ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180649January 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I LOST MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOME LIGHTS AND CHIMES, WINDOWS, RADIO, 4X4. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW GEM MODULE. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND FORD DID A RECALL ON MY SAME VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AFTER TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR OF VEHICLE. BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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