Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#764171July 13, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE IS A MILD TO MODERATE VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR BOARD, AND CENTER CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (MOST OBVIOUS AT APPROXIMATELY 65 - 70 MPH). IT SEEMS WORSE WHEN APPLYING SLIGHT THROTTLE, AND SEEMS TO SUBSIDE WHEN YOU LET COMPLETELY OFF THE THROTTLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013559July 9, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.*AK BOTH THE KEY AND KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IT WAS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SINCE LINKAGES WERE BENT AND LATCH MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE. LATCH ASSEMBLY AND ARMS WERE REPLACED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013405July 8, 2002
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763969July 8, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER DOES NOT WORK, DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN DOOR, KEY DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT DIVIDER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOOR. THE DRIVER IS LITERALLY TRAPPED IN THE CAR. I HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE AT THE DEALER TOMORROW, JULY 9, 2002. I WILL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE SERVICE PEOPLE GET IN OR GET OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN I DROP THE CAR OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL COMPONENT AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF A PERSON WAS REQUIRED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN AN IMERGENCY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763904July 7, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE 3 SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE ACCELERATOR BRACKET POINT GAVE WAY COMPLETELY WHILE GOING UPHILL ON WOLF CREEK PASS. I.E. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH ON THE GAS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE PASS. HAD TO FIX USING BIG LAG BOLTS IN THE EXISTING HOLES IN THE FIREWALL AND BRACKET HOLDING ACCELERATOR. BIG SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013098July 1, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE SHAKES AND WILL NOT STAY IN LANE, AND STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RACK AND PINION INSTALLED, BUT IT STARTED LEAKING AND BECOME LOOSE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8012562June 25, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THROTTLE GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE WAS STUCK AT CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN. IN 1999 CONSUMER HAD THROTTLE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763459June 25, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
EXPERIENCING A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AT LOW SPEED (FORWARD AND REVERSE).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8012510June 24, 2002
SUSPENSION
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEIR IS A LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, AND UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE VIBRATES.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8012057June 18, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A KNOCKING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011961June 17, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TURNING ONTO AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763143June 16, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THIS PROBLEM STARTED OUT AS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT HAS GROWN TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DEFROSTERS FAIL TO FUNCTION. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE HEAT/AC AND WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE HIT WITH WATER BELOW FREEZING I HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM. AT TIMES FOG AND MOISTURE CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE WINDOW W/O PULLING OFER TO WIPE IT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A $1000 REPAIR AND TSB'S SAY IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566100June 14, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE DEALER CLEANED THE INJECTORS.*JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011446June 10, 2002
SUSPENSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WANDERED FROM LANE TO LANE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762779June 7, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS ARE "FALLING APART" AND RUSTING PRETTY BAD. SEEMS UNUSUALL THAT ROTORS SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ROTORS RUSTING AND METAL FALLING OFF LIKE THIS. THIS IS FAR BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011173June 6, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762639June 4, 2002
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
SPARE TIRE IS RETAINED BY A CABLE. CABLE END FAILED. TIRE CAME LOOSE AND ROLLED INTO BUSY TRAFFIC, SENDING VEHICLES SWERVING TO AVOID IT. VERY NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD THIS BEEN AT NIGHT, OR ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO HAVING 50 LBS OF WHEEL AND TIRE LET LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. FROM INTERNET NEWSGROUPS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND A DESIGN FLAW. CABLE IS ABOUT 1/4 INCH THICK, AND ONCE IT FAILS THERE IS NOTHING (NO RETAINING BAR OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURE) TO PREVENT THE SPARE WHEEL FROM DROPPING INTO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I AM SO THANKFUL NO ONE WAS HURT THIS TIME, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE NTSA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THANKS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762660June 4, 2002
TIRES
THE FORD EXPLORER HAD THE CORRECT TIRES ON IT- THE DRIVER TURNED THE WHEEL SHARPLY, THE BACK TIRED LIFTED AND THE EXPLORER STARTED TO ROLL, IT ROLLED 7 TIMES RESULTING IN 1 DEATH, 1 CRITICALLY INJURED AND 3 OTHERS WITH INJURIES. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS SAID TO ROLL FROM THE TIRES, THIS EXPLORER HAD THE CORRECT TIRES ON IT AND IT STILL ROLLED TOO EASILY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
1
#762662June 4, 2002
SUSPENSION
SHAKES BAD, NO SHOCK REBOUND, SWAYS AND HARD TO STEER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762402May 29, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
BLEND DOOR IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE. LEADS TO EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE SUMMER AND SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO FORD. THEY HAVE BEGUN TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC BLEND DOORS WITH NYLON BLEND DOORS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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