Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#10088427August 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IS TO HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT AND REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089112August 16, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087869August 13, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1998, FORD, EXPLORER, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087769August 12, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE CONSUMERTHAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAME OFF OF THE FIRE WALL, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE BRACKET CAME OFF. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083946July 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THAT VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGHLY. WHILE SITTING STILL VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER . *AK ...... *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082273July 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE PURCHASING A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE MY WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND DAMAGED THE SPINDLE. THIS WAS A $500 EXPENSE AS THE SPINDLE WAS A DEALER PART. WHEN I PURCHASED IT THERE WERE 26000 MILES ON IT...THERE WERE ABOUT 36000 WHEN THE BEARINGS WENT OUT...JUST AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEN, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE UPPER AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GOT A HOLE BURNED IN IT. AGAIN, FORD COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY KIND OF HELP AND SAID IT WAS A $800-1000 REPAIR. ON A SIDE NOTE, THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD. IN FACT, RECALLS WERE MADE BY FORD TO REPLACE THE INTAKES FREE OF CHARGE TO FLEETS BUT NOT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. JUST RECENTLY MY FREEZE PLUGS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED MY CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS HAS BEEN QUOTED BY FORD AS A $1300 REPAIR. I CALLED FORD TO SEE ABOUT SOME SORT OF GOODWILL WARRANTY AND OF COURSE ANYTHING WITH GOODWILL IN THE EQUATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FORD WILL NOT DO. I CURRENTLY HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT ON THE LOAN FOR A PIECE OF CRAP CAR THAT ISN'T EVEN WORTH HALF OF WHAT I STILL OWE ON IT. I AM REALLY THINKING OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND PARKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ENTRY WAY AND TAKING THE KEYS WITH ME AND TELLING THEM TO STICK IT UP THEIR REARS. FORD MAKES THE WHOLE CAR INDUSTRY LOOK REALLY BAD AND IN NO WAY WOULD I EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS OUT AND MAKE THE GAME FAIR BETWEEN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS...WE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE THEY KEEP GETTING RICHER AND RICHER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082201July 19, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY HUSBAND, NINE YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND I WERE DRIVING BACK FROM OUR SUMMER VACATION. THE NIGHT BEFORE OUR ACTUAL ACCIDENT, OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. MY HUSBAND PUT THE SPARE ON AND WE WENT ON TO OUR HOTEL. THE NEXT DAY OUR LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND FORCED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ONTO THE MEDIAN. SOMEWHERE DURING THAT OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THEN WE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. WE WERE TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT AT 70 MPH. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE DUNLOP TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY EXPLORER WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DESPITE THE EVENTS, MY HUSBAND NEPHEW AND I WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY SCRATCHES AND MINOR CUTS. I THANK FORD FOR THAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO I HAD TO REPLACE ONE OF THE DUNLOP TIRES FOR TREAD SEPARATION. I RECEIVED ANOTHER TIRE. THAT TIRE WHICH WAS ON THE FRONT LEFT AND THE SPARE (WHICH WAS A FIRESTONE) DID NOT GIVE OUT BUT BASICALLY THE FOUR DUNLOP TIRES THAT I PURCHASED, I STRONGLY FEEL, WERE DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10082107July 15, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING,VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC RECALL NUMBER(99V062001) WAS FOR THIS VEHICLE BASED ON THE PROBLEM WITH DRIVER VEHICLE. ALSO THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE IS RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE DOWN TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081696July 12, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL. THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO NEAR 100 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO VEER OFF THE ROAD, AND PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080759July 10, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET SUDDENLY BROKE AS A RESULT OF FLIMSY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THE METAL BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE METAL BODY OF THE VEHICLE BY 3 THIN PEGS (THEY SNAPPED AT THE BASE OF THE BRACKET) AND GLUE! (IT'S OBVIOUS IT'S THE FAULTY MANUFACTURE'S WORK, AND NEVER MESSED WITH PREVIOUSLY.) THIS DEFECT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE YOU TO BE STRANDED (NO ACCELERATION) POSSIBLY ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE ACCELERATION AND A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. I'M ATTEMPTING TO CONSULT WITH GALPIN FORD OF VAN NUYS, CA CURRENTLY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT AM EXPERIENCING LACK OF COMMUNICATION. 1998 FORD EXPLORER-EDDIE BAUER V-6 SOHC(?) VEHICLE WALL ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET. *AK ! ___/ ! ---! ! ---! * ! ---!___
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080634July 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
SPOT WELDS HOLDING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FIREWALL BROKE, LEAVING FOOT PEDAL ATTACHED ONLY BY ACCELERATOR CABLE. BREAKAGE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 1998 FORD EXPLORER ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN DRIVER MOVED TO BRAKE FOR STALLED TRAFFIC, ACCELERATOR PEDAL LODGED UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER AVOIDED MULTI CAR COLLISION BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND KICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL OUT OF WAY. FULLER FORD DEALERSHIP RE-WELDED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FIREWALL FOR $152. WORKER NOTED THAT WINDSTARS ARE FAR MORE PRONE TO THIS CONDITION, AND THAT THIS IS THE SECOND EXPLORER THAT HAS BEEN SEEN FOR THIS CONDITION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080561July 7, 2004
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO DISPLAY GOES OUT. CANNOT SEE THE CLOCK OR RADIO SELECTION. THIS HAS BEEN VARY DANGERIOUS IN THE WINTER DURING EARLY MORNING DRIVING WHEN I CANNOT SEE MY WATCH AND TRAVEL THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE ZONE IS ACTIVE OR NOT. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS SINCE GONE OUT AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080419July 6, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I CAN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY FORD EXPLORER FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OF INSIDE. THE POWER LOCKS DON'T OPEN AND THE DOOR SHOULD STILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE EVEN IF IT IS LOCKED AND IT DOESN'T. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. FORD SAID IT WILL COST ME $130.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. I AM GOING TO MY OWN MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. UNTIL THEN I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081416July 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE LOCKED UP AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR OF DRIVING. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IT WILL COST CONSUMER $100.00 JUST FOR FORD TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT WAS AFRAID THAT HE WILL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080126June 29, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE SHELL SHOWS CRACKS AROUND THE HINGES FROM METAL FATIGUE. *MR THIS APPEARED TO BE A DEFECT. *SC *JB *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078968June 28, 2004
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ON 6/18/04 MY FAMILY WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHILE ON VACATION IN NY. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR COMING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WE ROLLED OVER. BEFORE ROLLING OVER, HE TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TOTTTLED LEFT THEN TOTTLED RIGHT AND THEN FLIPPED AND LANDED ON THE HOOD. THE THREE WITH MINOR INJURIES INCLUDED CUTS ON HANDS FROM CLADD, SPRAIN NECK AND BRUISES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10079785June 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MASSIVE FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD OF 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT.*MR ANOTHER FUEL LEAK OCCURED WHEN A WOVEN PART OF THE FUEL LINE BROKE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073599June 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN FULL THROTTLE WHEN BRAKES WAS RELEASED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. NO REPORT OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078518June 20, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT RELIABLY UNLOCK. POWER LOCK ACTUATOR WORKS FINE. BROKEN SPRING INSIDE OF LATCH MECHNISM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073683June 14, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OF RIGHT TURN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WITH AN UPDATED ONE, AS STATED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVIC EBULLETIN 9821-01 WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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