1998 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

View complaints related to 1998 FORD EXPLORER. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 1,850 complaints submitted for the 1998 FORD EXPLORER. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT
    - COOKEVILLE, TN

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED AND THE FUSES WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BLOW OUT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSTALLED NEW FUSES IN THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT THE FUSES BLEW OUT AGAIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC. WHILE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE OPEN RECALLS, ONE OF WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 06V286000, 03V281000, AND 98V060000 WERE REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 132,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - AURORA, CO

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN FOR FREE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,994 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - GREAT FALLS, SC

    DOORS AND LOCKS ON MY 1998 FORD HAS BEEN OUT OF ORDER THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO!! I SAW THAT IT HAD A RECALL IN 1999 I GUESS THE LAST OWNER DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IM SOMETIMES LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR 10-15 MIN AT A TIME!! I WAS WONDERING CAN YOU DO SOMETHING OR IS IT TOO LATE!! I REALLY NEED TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WHEN I LEAVE WORK IT'S DARK!! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - FIRST , TX

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT TOUCHES AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT. SHE COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. HIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - LIVERMORE, CA

    SPOT WELDS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND ALLOWING PEDAL TO FALL BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY FORD EXPLORERS ARE EXPERIENCING AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - SANTA CRUZ, CA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CONTINUED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - SANTA CRUZ, CA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY REPAIRED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER), ALTHOUGH NO FAILURES WERE OCCURRING AT THE MOMENT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE BOLT FAILED. AFTER BEING DENIED OF THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURES BEGAN TO OCCUR A WEEK LATER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD RECLINE BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE ISSUE OCCURRED OVER TEN TIMES, BUT THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN A TIMELY FASHION, THE BOLT SHEARED; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,565.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - TAMPA , FL

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAKENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, NEXT TO THE WHEEL WELL. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THEM FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE, THEY COULD NOT FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINEER STATAED THAT THE COST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE $250 PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
    - HARBOR CITY, CA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. SHE WAS AWAKENED BY A NEIGHBOR INFORMING HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT WIRING SYSTEM WAS MELTED. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SPECULATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED INCIDENT AND SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE