1998 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN FULL THROTTLE WHEN BRAKES WAS RELEASED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. NO REPORT OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT RELIABLY UNLOCK. POWER LOCK ACTUATOR WORKS FINE. BROKEN SPRING INSIDE OF LATCH MECHNISM.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OF RIGHT TURN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WITH AN UPDATED ONE, AS STATED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVIC EBULLETIN 9821-01 WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONER IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER GRADUALLY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AT THIS TIME, IT IS NOT COOLING AT ALL. TODAY (JUNE 12, 2004), I READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C ACCUMULATOR. I PEALED BACK PART OF THE "THERMAL BLANKET" WRAPPED AROUND THE ACCUMULATOR, AND FOUND IT TO BE RUSTED. THE AC HAS NOT BEEN COOLING IN ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS, BUT IT IS MOST INCONVENIENT AND DANGEROUS NOW WITH THE SUMMER HEAT IN FULL FORCE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WA ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE LT P18575R14 #DOT VNJ7791. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TR

THE SPARE TIRE WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, SNAPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. *JB (THE WENCH SYSTEM) *SC THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS REPLACED. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LEVER WAS ALWAYS BEING BENT DOWN AS DRIVER WOULD EXIT SUV, CAUSING HANDLE TO JAM AGAINST SEAT FRAME. DRIVER WOULD STRAIGHTEN HANDLE IN ORDER TO CHANGE POSITION OF SEAT BACK FROM ONE DRIVER TO ANOTHER. UPON PUSHING HANDLE BACK UP INTO ORIGINAL POSITION, IT SNAPPED, BREAKING OFF AT CONNECTION POINT, JUST ABOVE TWO RIVETS ON CAM OF THE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY. SEAT WAS IN THE MOST FORWARD UP POSITION (ACROSS DRIVERS SEAT) WHILE ACCESSING SPACE BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT, SPORT MODEL IS A 2-DOOR. HAD TO USE SCREWDRIVER AS A LEVER TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO UPRIGHT POSITION. IF THIS HAD HAPPEN TO MY WIFE (OR OTHER PERSON NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED) SHE/THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS SEAT OR DRIVE VEHICLE. THIS COULD VERY WELL CONSTITUTE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS THAT ARE UNABLE TO RETURN SEAT BACK TO PROPER DRIVING POSITION WHEN THIS LEVER BREAKS OFF. PART NUMBER 7862649-AAA, SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY, IS NOT AVAILABLE THOUGHT EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH ON-LINE. WHILE GOING THROUGH SCRAP YARDS LOOKING FOR LEVER ASSEMBLY, FOUND 2 OTHER DRIVER SEAT BACK LEVERS BROKEN IN SIMILAR FASHION. HAVE HAD RECALL NUMBER 03V281000 ALREADY SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE IN FALL 2003. *AK

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY FOR MY EXPLORER. THE UNIT STILL PLAYED HOWEVER YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, THE VOLUME, OR WHAT RADIO STATION IT WAS CURRENTLY ON. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A SIMPLE FUSE FIX BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600. LUCKY ME I HAVE THE PREMIUM STEREO SO IT COSTS MORE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE THE 98 EXPLORER SPORT AND THIS ISSUE WAS THE SAME FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. *AK

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD EXPLORER ENGINE SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A FEW TIMES FOR RECALLAS ON THE ENGINE, THE LAST TIME ONLY THIS PAST DECEMBER. LAST SATURDAY, MAY 22ND THE TRUCK STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY CRANKSHAFT BROKE. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TOLD ME THE SAME THING AND AGREED THAT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEND BUT ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BASICALLY TO BAD ON YOU. I HAVE SEEN MANY MESSAGES ON THE INTERNET ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF I WERE ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT STOPPED. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO COVER COSTS WHEN SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK DOES. FORD COULD CARE LESS. COST TO ME OVER $4,500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE ON A MAINTAINED 6 YEAR OLD CAR. PER AN ATTORNEY THIS IS KNOWN AS A LATENT DEFECT AND IT TOOK THIS TIME TO HAPPEN, WHEN THAT KIND OF PART SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME.*AK