Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10122490May 31, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IT STARTED WITH A MINOR RATTLE IN THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RATTLE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, TURNS OUT, THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY BROKE THROWING PIECES ALL OVER THE PLACE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO MALFUNCTION THAT LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ENGINE BLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $3000. FORD HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN NOV 2000 AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD INFORMING ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I TRIED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WON'T REPAIR IT UNDER THE FORD SAFETY BULLETIN BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY FOR 7 YRS OR 100,000. THE VEHICLES 7 YEARS EXPIRED IN APRIL 2005. I TRIED EMAILING OR CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AND GOT NO RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122465May 30, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER DOOR WON'T UNLOCK. KEY WON'T UNLOCK IT CAN'T PULL UP ON PLUNCHER. AND INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WON'T OPEN DOOR.DOOR IS JUST STUCK LOCKED. HAVE TO CRAWL OUT WINDOW OR GO OUT PASSENGER DOOR.WHAT WOULD I DO IF I HAD TO GET OUT FAST. I READ ON WEB SITES, ITS A SPRING THAT EVERY ONE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH.AND ITS THE SAME DOOR. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE DOOR PROBLEMS FROM OFFROADEXCHANGE.COM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119038May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE MODULE FOR THE ABS AND SPEED SENOR WENT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO NOTICED THE PINS FOR THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE NEVER CONNECTED AT THE FACTORY, RENDERING THE AIR BAGS INOPERATIVE. *JB *SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122068May 25, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, OF MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER, COULD NOT BE OPENED (FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES). ATTEMPTED TO HAVE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, AS BROKEN SPRING WAS FOUND PROTRUDING FROM DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY AREA <DRIVERS SIDE>. DEALERSHIP INCORRECTLY REPLACED INSIDE DOOR HANDLE AND NOW DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED (BUT CAN NOW BE OPENED OR CLOSED). DUE TO DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS WITH CANADIAN FORD VEHICLES, I FEAR WE NOW HAVE A SERIOUS SECURITY & SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR UNLESS WE BASICALLY AGREE TO REPLACE ALL INTERNAL PARTS OF DOOR <INCLUDING SEAT BELT?>. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST (PARTS & LABOR) IS IN EXCESS OF $500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106830May 23, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 HOURS, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK SIX TO NINE MONTHS PRIOR TO FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120752May 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
CONSUMER STATES: FRONT BRAKES ON OUTSIDE OF WHEELS IT HAS A COATING OF DARK POWDER. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT'S BRAKE DUSTS NO SIGN OF IT ON REAR WHEELS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120625May 11, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER, ONE AFTERNOON WHILE AT WORK HER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND HAD SITTING FOR HOURS. THERE WERE LOTS AND LOTS OF SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT THE FIRE AND THE ENGINE AND SPREAD TO THE DASH AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED OUT. THE RECALL LETTERS HAD NOT GONE OUT YET, AND THE DAY AFTER THE FIRE, THE RECALL WAS EXTENDED TO HER VEHICLE YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IS WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE STARTED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND FORD KEEPS PUTTING HER OFF. BECAUSE THEY KEEP SAYING THAT THEY WILL CALL HER BACK IN TWO DAYS, SO FAR IT'S BEEN 3 WEEKS AND NO CALL FROM FORD. THE WERE NO SIGN OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120223May 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH FORD SAYS IT WILL NOT COVER AND ALSO MY WARRENTY COMPANY, I HAD TO PAY 1900.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 98 FORD EXPLORER WITH 65,400 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109293May 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AROUND 8:00AM, ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE ARE 35 MM PICTURES. THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT WAS RARELY USED, AND THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS WORKING. THE INSURANCE WAS LIABILITY ONLY. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119554May 3, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT-5 P235/75.R16 TIRES ARE REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION PRIOR TO EXPLOSION. NO BULGING IN THE TIRES. TIRES JUST CHECKED 3 WEEKS AGO. 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLEAR WEATHER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES BEFORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119214April 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119128April 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS THE OWNER WAS AWAKENED BY SOME NEIGHBORS AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WHICH WAS COMING OUT OF THE FENDER WELL AND CONSUMED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENEAND DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118336April 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY CAR HYPER-ACCELERATES AT RANDOM EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS ON IT HAS CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE ONE RECENT WHICH THE INJURY RESULTS ARE PENDING. I AM FEARFUL THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AND SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR OR EVEN A TRADE IN. I JUST PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE DATE BELOW IS FOR THE MOST RECENT ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS MANY TIMES BUT ONLY TWICE RESULTING IN A CRASH. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119068April 22, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR MORE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118951April 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115703April 18, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING LOCK COMPONENTS. *AK THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE HANDLE. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED WITHOUT EXCESSIVE EFFORT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118006April 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORTS THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I PARKED THE CAR AT AROUND 7:00 PM AND AROUND AFTER 10:00 PM HEARD A LOUD EXPLOTION IN THE GARAGE. MY FAMILY WAS ALREADY IN BED AND I WAS WATCHING TV. WHEN I OPEN THE ACCESS DOOR TO THE GARAGE THE FRONT PART OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT THE CAR IS RUINED. MY SECOND CAR IS DAMAGED AND MY GARAGE IS ALSO DAMAGED. NO ONE WAS HURT BECAUSE WE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE ON TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117932April 15, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY, REMOTE, KEY PAD ENTRY OR WITH DOOR HANDLE INSIDE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1998 EXPLORER SPORT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117800April 12, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR THE VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER'S HOME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116695April 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I TOOK MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING (I CAN ONLY GUESS HOW LONG THEY WERE NOT OPERATING). AFTER DOING A DIAGNOSTIC THEY DETERMINED I HAD TO REPLACE MY (FORGIVE ME, AS I AM NOT MECHANICAL, BUT IT IS ALL ON MY RECEIPT) CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AS THE COMPONENT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER, BUT I HAD NOT BOTHERED TO FIX IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THAT IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY MASTER CYLINDER SO THAT IT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOTIFYING YOU BECAUSE I FEEL MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WERE JEOPARDIZED IN THREE WAYS: INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE FIRE HAZARD OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND CONSEQUENTLY POOR BRAKES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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