Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#748838July 20, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
PROBLEM WITH IDLE. CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL 3 TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893049July 17, 2001
TIRES
PE00 020; WHEN CONSUMER IS TRAVELING VEHICLE SHAKES DUE TO FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892825July 16, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN 1998, FORD, EXPLORER RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE, SIZE: P235/75R15, DOT: W2H EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, AND THEY WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS WITH FORD AND NOT THEM, CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748525July 16, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
3RD STEERING RACK AND PINION IN 9 MONTHS. 1ST FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, BUT NO INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748539July 16, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
REFERENCE THE "FUEL TANK SENDER ASSEMBLY" ON EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS MODEL YEARS 1997 THRU 2000 DOES NOT REACH FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TANK CAUSING THE SENSORS TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLS ARE OUT OF FUEL WHEN PARKED ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE, THIS COULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH LESS THAN A QUATER TANK OF FUEL. THIS PROBLEM, SUPPOSELY, WAS CORRECTED WITH THE 2001 MODELS, BY EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE SENDER ASSEMBLY. SHOULD THIS , FOR SAFETY SAKE, BE DONE ON 97 THRU 00 MODELS. I AM AWARE OF ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE AN EXPLORER WITH A FEW GALLON S OF FUEL REMAINING THE THE FUEL TANK, WAS PARKED ON A DOWN SLOPE AND COULD NOT BE STARTED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LEVEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562037July 12, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DOT NUMBERS 1FMZU32P8 AND WUA08268, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AND THEN BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 00T-005, FIRESTONE AND FORD TOLD CONSUMER THAT UNLESS THE TIRES WERE SAVED, NO REFUND WOULD BE GIVEN, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892585July 12, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET CAMSHAFT FIXED. AFTER DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM BACK ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748183July 10, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748098July 8, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ATTN. NHTSA ADMINISTRATOR-[XXX]: I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. IN AN EFFORT TO HELP IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FORD EXPLORER - I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY VEHICLE TO BE USED FOR TESTING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED OF COURSE AND THIS WOULD ALLOW ME TO PURCHASE A SAFER VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY. THE VEHICLES TESTED BY [XXX] STUDY OF THE "OVERSTEERING" CONDITION WERE SIMILAR TO MINE. THE FOUR DOOR (4X2) DESIGN HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY [XXX] FOR REASONS I DON'T DARE WISH TO SPECULATE. ALTHOUGH, IT SEEMS FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE OPERATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. AS A FORD EXPLORER OWNER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROCEED WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO ROLLOVERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES VIA E-MAIL AND HAVE GOTTEN TRACKING/CASE ID NUMBERS IN RESPONSE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACT UPON A SAFETY CONCERN WHERE LIVES ARE AT STAKE. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL OCTOBER 2001 AND I WISH TO EXCHANGE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. IF MY OFFER DOES NOT APPEAL TO YOU THEN PLEASE OFFER ME ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU FEEL ARE HELPFUL TO MY CAUSE. SINCERELY, [XXX]/[XXX]/[XXX] ([XXX]) & [XXX] ([XXX]). *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892128July 6, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. IGNITION WOULD BE IN BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS INTERLOCK SAFETY AND THE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE RAN INTO A FENCE. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747867July 5, 2001
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
IT STARTED WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. THEN THE LOCK DROP DOWN INSIDE DOOR MAKING THE DOOR UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN. ALSO ENGINE STALLED. TOOK TO THE DEALER. THEY FIXED THE DOOR BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR THE WINDOW. WINDOW WORKED FOR THEM. BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME THAT NIGHT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE DASH WHEN ON AND THE BATTERY GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING TO THE "H" AND FINALLY HELD THERE. TURNED TRUCK OFF AND LET SIT AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. DIDN'T REACURR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN STARTED UP AGAIN. ABS LIGHT ALSO STARTED COMING ON AND OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO GO CRAZY. ALSO ENGINE IDLE STARTED TO SURGE AS THE BATTERY GAUGE SURGED. THIS WAS ON A WEEKEND. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO DEALER. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS. THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND DROVE IT. STILL NOTHING. THEY DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND THE MAXI FUSE AND WIRING SYSTEM BURNT. I ASKED IF IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY SAID NO. HOWEVER I LOOKED AT YOUR WEB SITE UNDER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR EXPLORER HAD CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. SOME OF THESE EXPLORERS WERE NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WERE PARKED IN A GARGE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUSE AND WIRING HARNESS HOWEVER IT TOOK 11/2 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKORDERED. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING SYSTEMS. I ALSO PARK MINE IN A GARGE. I AM NOW WORRIED AND AFRAID TO PARK IT IN THE GARGE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THEIR SAFETY IS MY FIRST CONCERN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892039July 5, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MAKING A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN. CONSUMER STEPPED SLIGHTLY ON GAS AND IT HESITATED. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS DOWN GIVING VEHICLE GAS TO BY PASS HESITATION. DEALER REALLY HAD NO REMEDY. BUT ONCE BEFORE REPLACED FUEL INJECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561881July 3, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE IS DENYING CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALLED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, 235/75R15, FIRESTONE STATES THAT THE PURCHASE OF THE TIRES WAS FROM A COMPETITIVE DEALER PRIOR TO AUGUST 9TH AND WAS NOT ON A PRO-RATA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BASIS, THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT WAS NOT ATTACHED, AND THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL TIRE SURRENDER VERIFICATION FORM WAS INCOMPLETE, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. *ET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747767July 3, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
REAR MOTOR HAS FAILED 3 TIMES NOW, FRONT MOTOR FAILED ONCE-ALL FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9003032July 2, 2001
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST ROLLED OVER. WHILE CHANGING LANES BETWEEN UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THREE OF THE TIRES WERE ON NEWLY PAVED LANE, THE OTHER ON OLD PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING BEGAN TO ROCK UNCONTROLLABLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891858July 2, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN DRIVER'S HANDS, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#891861July 2, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THERE WILL BE RESISTANCE BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL NFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891895July 2, 2001
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WHEN CONSUMER TURNS ON HEAT IT IS OUT OF CONTROL HEAT GETS HOTTER AND HOTTER. WHEN SHE TURNS AIR CONDITIONING ON COLD AIR IS COLD FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN HEAT COMES ON WHILE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747687July 2, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING EARLIER THIS YEAR. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SEASONAL. TOOK IT FOR SERVICE IN APRIL. FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM CLEANING PERFORMED. PROBLEM PERSISTS AND NOW VEHICLE CUTS OFF COMPLETELY AFTER STALLING. ALSO STALLS DURING QUICK ACCELERATIONS. AM AFRAID THAT INJURY OR FATALITY WILL OCCUR BEFORE DEALERSHIP LOCATES DIFFICULTY. HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FORD VEHICLES STALLING. IS THIS RELATED? ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIETED AND NEEDED!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747633July 1, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
VEHICLE A LEMON IN SHOP FOR 9 MONTHS, TURNING STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN TIRES, STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE CASTING AT WHEEL. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1

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