Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#727861August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THESE TIRES SHOW SEPERATION AT THE POINT WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE BODY. FIRESTONE SAYS THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AS THEY WERE NOT MADE IN DECATUR. HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELINS AT OUR EXPENSE. WE FEEL THESE TIRES SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL AS THEY ARE EVIDENCE THE PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO ONE PLANT.OLD TIRES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY308 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727863August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WENT TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED FOR TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME MY TIRES STATING THE UNSAFETY OF THEM DUE TO ALL 4 WERE SHOWING CRACKING AND "DRY-ROT" AROUND THE TIRE WELL AND TREAD. HE STATED THAT A TIRE OF THIS LOW MILEAGE IS NOT TO DO THIS AND IF DRIVING THE 4 HOUR DRIVE WE WERE ABOUT TO IMBARK ON WITH THIS HEAT HE ADVISED IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND WERE PREPARED TO SHOW THEM TO A FIRESTONE PERSON AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE RECALL SIZE ALTHOUGH THEY WERE LOOKING AT OTHER SIZES. I COULD NOT CONSCIOUSLY PUT MY FAMILY IN THAT DANGER WAITING ON A RECALL. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TIRES BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE CRACKED RUBBER AROUND ALL 4 TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727874August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BLOW OUT WITHIN 2 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER TOWED IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND REPLACED THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867769August 14, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING REPLACED AT 16000MPH. SIX MONTHS LATER, HAD TO GET IT REPLACED AGAIN. THEREFORE, MECHANIC PUT IN A TEMPORARY RACK AND PINION, AND THERE WAS ALOT OF WANDERING AND SLOPPYNESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867733August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE02000; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE SIZE P23575R15, TIRES WERE NOT BUILT AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS PLANT. DOT # BEGINNING WITH VN (FROM THE CANADIAN PLANT). ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. TIRES PURCHASED ON A 1998, FORD, EXPLORER. FIRESTONE AND FORD HAVE BEEN CALLED ABOUT THE TIRES. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867740August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RIGHT REAR TIRE P255/70R16 DOT W2CU1PX408 EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, TIRE CAME OFF WHEEL, WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RAINY, WINDY, AND COLD. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727732August 13, 2000
TIRES
THE SIDE WALLS ON THE 16 INCH FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER MODEL BEGAN TO CRACK AND THE THREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. I BROUGHT MY SUV INTO A FIRESTONE TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER. THE SERVICE MANAGER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND AGREED THAT THE 16 WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REPLACE THEM SINCE FIRESTONE HQ SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR 16" WILDERNESS AT TIRES. CONTRARY TO HQ CLAIM THE SERVICE MANAGER SEEING THE OBVIOUS DEFECT/FAILURE OF THE TIRES AGREED TO GAVE ME A SMALL ALLOWANCE ON THE TIRES IF I BOUGHT 4 BRAND NEW BRIDGESTONE TIRES. FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY FULL RETAIL, LESS THE ALLOWANCE IN ORDER TO GET NEW TIRES. PLEASE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC , MAKE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THE 16 INCH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND GET THESE UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE 16" FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OFF THE ROAD AND MARKET BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70/16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727733August 13, 2000
TIRES
HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD. IN HICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME SINCE CHECKING THE ALIGNMENTS, INFLATION AND ROTATING THE FRONT TIRES TO NO AVAIL TO CORRECT THE UNUSUAL WEARING OF THE TIRE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 04/20/00 AND THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. AND IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE HAD A CUT (SMALL BLOW OUT) IN THE SIDEWALL AT EDGE OF THE TREAD AREA. IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE AND ANOTHER WILDERNESS AT TIRE WAS PURCHASED AS THE SPARE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 08/03/00 AND THE TIRE HAD APPROX. 13,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TIME THE DAMAGE WAS MORE SEVERE, THERE WAS A BLOWN OUT SPLITTING THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL DOWN INTO THE TREAD. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP THE EXPLORER FROM ROLLING OVER.FRONT TIRES: UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERN, CRACKS IN THEM AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL AREA, AS IF THEY WERE DRY ROTTED AND THEY ALSO HAD SMALL CUTS IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE BLOWOUTS WERE HAPPENING. (PICTURES WERE TAKEN) REAR TIRES: CRACKS IN THEM AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL AREA, AS IF THEY WERE DRY ROTTED AND THEY ALSO HAD SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE CUTS IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE BLOWOUTS WERE HAPPENING. (PICTURES WERE TAKEN)( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727758August 13, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE SURFACE CRACKS GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND MY TIRES ON THE SIDE WALLS, WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE REST OF THE TIRE. I HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED AT THE FIRESTONE IN DUNCANVILLE TX AND THE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY APPEARED TO BE SURFACE CRACKS AT THIS TIME, AND ALTHOUGH THEY APPEARED TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECT AS THOSE TIRES APART OF THE RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AT THIS TIME UNLESS MORE TIRES WHERE ADDED TO THE RECALL. I ALSO CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAMETHING. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES, ESPECIALLY THOSE SHOWING DEFECTS SUCH AS MINE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY WITH THESE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AT THIS TIME NOR SHOULD I BE EXPECTED TO IF THIS IS A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT BUT WANTS TO ISOLATE TO ONE PLANT. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN A TIMELY MATTER FOR MY SAFE AND WELL BEING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL 228 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727792August 13, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE INTERMITTENT HESITATION PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED UNDER CONDITIONS THAT HAVE POSED SAFETY RISKS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS CONDITION. ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOST AT THIS POINT. ALSO, I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WHILE WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE WIDESPREAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867645August 13, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE TRAVELING IN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRES SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT# UNAVAILBLE. RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT INSIDE THE SIDEWALL AT 35 MPH OR LESS. ON NOVEMBER 5, 1998 PROBLEM REOCCURRE,D HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE REPLACEMENT TIRE. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727651August 12, 2000
TIRES
IN MAY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO HAMPTON, SC. I HAD BEEN ON A SECONDARY ROAD FOR LESS THEN FIVE MILES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SUBSEQUENT DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING MY SUV. LUCKILY DRIVER'S ED FROM 26 YEARS AGO CLICKED IN AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE. AS MY SON AND I REMOVED THE SPARE AND READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AN OFF DUTY SC PATROLMAN STOPPED TO HELP CHANGE THE TIRE. EVERYONE WHO SAW IT REMARKED THAT IT LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN THE USUAL "BLOW-OUT" IT LOOKED LIKE IT EXPLODED. I HAD THE TWO TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN I CAN GET THE OTHERS REPLACED. DESPITE THE HOT CLIMATE IN COASTAL SC, MY TIRES WILL BE RECALLED LAST AND I'VE ALREADY HAD ONE EXPLODING TIRE! PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE NEXT AS I FEEL MY LIFE AND THAT OF OTHERS IS IN DANGER. THANK YOU, SUSAN PRESSLEY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727652August 12, 2000
TIRES
TIRE DEALER INSISTED TIRE FAILED DUE TO LOW AIR PRESSURE NOT HEAT OR DEFECT, FORD WAS NO HELP EITHER.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727695August 12, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALL (4) TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN TREAD. FIRESTONE DEALER INSPECTED, SAID TO KEEP EYE ON THEM, BUT NOT PART OF RECALL. DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT DRIVING SINCE SMALLER SIZE PART OF RECALL. ALL SIZES SHOULD BE PART OF THIS RECALL, SAME DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, RUBBER COMPOUND.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727583August 11, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
P255/70R16 WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. THIS IS A MISTAKE. ONE OF THESE TIRES HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT WHILE THE OTHER SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION. THESE ARE THE SAME TYPES OF FAILURES THAT THE RECALLED P235/75R15 WILDERNESS TIRES HAVE. FIRESTONE SHOULD REPLACE ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727585August 11, 2000
TIRES
ON SATURDAY NIGHT JULY 8, 2000 MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE ON INTERSTATE 65. SHE HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. SHE WAS LUCKY SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. UPON MY ARRIVAL IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE HAD BLEW OUT ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE. THE TIRE WAS BARELY STILL ON THE RIM. I TOOK THE TIRE TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER ON JULY 10, 2000 FOR REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER COULD NOT PIN POINT A REASON FOR THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE TIRE AT A PRO-RATED PRICE OF $40.66. I NOTICED THE REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA AND THE ORIGINAL TIRES (INCLUDING THE FAILURE) WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE USA. NOW THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I RECORDED MY EXPERIENCE AND COMPLAINT.( DOT NUMBER: W2CO1PX258 TIRE SIZE: 9255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727635August 11, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE VISITING THE NHTSA WEB SITE I FOUND A RECALL ON FORD EXP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V215000 MY EXPLORER DOES NOT FIT THE RECALL BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENS, NO CHIME AND ALSO NO INTERIOR LIGHT. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. COULD THE PROBLEM BE MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN NHTSA OR FORD THINK. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867520August 11, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020,TIRE SIZE 23575R15, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1998 EXPLORER, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS AROUND RIM WHICH MAY INDICATE A TREAD SEPARATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867488August 11, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, TIRES HAD 49 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING POOR VEHICLE CONTROL, SPARE TIRE WAS PUT ON VEHICLE. TIRE WAS LATER REPLACED. DIFFERENT INCIDENT WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGH. TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BALD SPOT AND THE WIRES WERE VISIBLE. *AK THE DOT #VDHL1PY177, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867484August 11, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL, AND EVENTUALLY ROLLOVER, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES AND A FATALITY. TIRE SIZE P235 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 98 EXPLORER. CONSUMER HAD JUST REPLACED THE 3RD ORIGINAL TIRE 2 DAYS PRIOR, 4TH TIRE WAS CHECKED, THE TIRE S/N IS W2HL1PY247, THE 4TH TIRE ORIGINAL WAS THE TIRE THAT THE TREAD BLEW AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, POLICE REPORT #2000-032297 TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK *MJS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1

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