1998 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING, LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ITSELF. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL IT JUST LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. BOTH THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE HANDLE HAVE JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I CAN'T GET OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HE CALLED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. THE CONTACT CALLED AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD REMAIN UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. HE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED TOWARDS THE REAR SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR UNTIL THE CONTACT PAYS $400 TO HAVE ANOTHER MECHANISM OF THE SEAT RECLINER REPAIRED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT TECHNICAL ISSUES AND THAT THE DEALER WOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2007 AT AROUND 4:15 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME ON CHEVERLY AVENUE I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY TWO WAY RADIO FROM THE CHEVERLY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE CALLER STATED THAT MY 1998 FORD TWO DOOR, FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAD DROPPED ITS SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHEVERLY AVENUE. AT FIRST I DID NOT BELIEVE THE OFFICER, BEING THAT I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, I THOUGHT THAT HE JUST NEEDED TO TALK TO ME SO I MADE A U-TURN AND DROVE BACK TO WHERE THE OFFICER WAS PARKED. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS THE OFFICER WITH A SPARE TIRE WHICH I LATER IDENTIFIED AS BEING MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPARE TIRE. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE CABLE THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACED WAS DAMAGED, RUSTED, AND IT HAD DROPPED THE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EARLIER THAT DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE CAPITAL BELTWAY ROUTE 495 IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA AND IF THAT TIRE WOULD HAVE DROPPED I THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSY ROADWAY CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT? FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO FIND A BETTER IDEA FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND FORD OUGHT TO TELL ALL VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR SYSTEM FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO CHANGE THEM, REPLACE THEM EVERY SO MANY DAYS AND/OR USE DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT WOULD NOT RUST. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOING AT A LOW SPEED. OTHERWISE ONLY GOD WOULD KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

MY WIFE'S 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY KID'S SCHOOL, SHE DROVE FOR 1 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KID, LUCKILY IT DIDN'T BURN IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED AROUND THE BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND ACCORDING TO THE BURN MARKS ON THE HOOD LOOKS LIKE IT WAS THERE WHERE IT BURNED THE HOTTEST, THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED AND LUCKILY THE FIRE DPTM IS REAL CLOSE SO IT DIDN'T BURN COMPLETELY. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED BY THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT CAN RESULT ON FIRE, SO I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS RECALL THAT I HAD NO IDEA OF. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING WITHOUT OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE, I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE ARE SAFE. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER, DOOR LOCKS FAIL AND CAN'T GET OUT, CAN NOT BE OPEN WITH KEY OR REMOTE, CAN'T EVEN BE SLIM JIMMIED.. DEALER TELL ME THAT THE ENTER DOOR HAS TO BE TORN APART AND IT WILL COST $500.00... THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFELY HAZARD. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS IN A ACCIDENT OR STARTS FIR AND PASSENGERS CAN'T GET OUT...SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

FAILURE OF FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY. WHEEL BROKE LOOSE LEAVING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING AND CORROSION. THIS RESULTED IN POOR BRAKING AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. POOR QUALITY OEM FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE FACTORY INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. PROPER HIGH QUALITY AFTERMARKET FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE INSTALLED. THIS RESULTED IN EXCELLENT BRAKING! *JB

REAR METAL BRAKE LINE, RUNNING ACROSS REAR AXLE, RUPTURED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF REAR BRAKES. A NEW METAL BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE FABRICATED [PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM FORD]AND INSTALLED. DEALER COST $400+. NOTE: SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND BRAKE SHOPS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE BRAKE LINES WERE NOT PROPERLY COATED TO GUARD AGAINST CORROSION. *JB

THE SPOT WELDS BROKE ON THE METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *TR