1998 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND PARK LIGHTS TURNED ON ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. ALSO MOVING THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN SIGNAL ,THE INSTUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT WAS STUCK "ON" AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK AT THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRUCK. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT SIGNAL HAS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING. THIS EVENT OCURRED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO RELAYS(I PAID FOR), ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THIS IS THE FIX.*AK

WELL DRIVING MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY FELL OFF THE FIREWALL/FLOORBOARD. THE TWO SPOT WIELDS BROKE NEARLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVING MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY A BIG RIG. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (HEARD A SNAP AND THEN THE SEAT FELL BACK). TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP - ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE UPPER RECLINE BRACKET BOLT. THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS BOLT WAS NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR SAFETY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING UPPER BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER SITTING IDLE FOR AN HOUR THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. *TT

THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS WITH NO DEFINITION OF WHY IT HAS BROKEN. *TT

BROKEN CRANKSHAFT ON 1998 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES. NO HELP FROM FORD. SEEMS TO BE A MATERIALS DEFECT. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS DOING THE SAME THING. OF COURSE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST WILL BE AROUND $300. ALSO, CD EXCHANGER HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS BROKEN AGAIN. *NLM

FRONT END FELT LOOSE AND VEHICLE WAS VEERING TO THE RIGHT DUE TO CRACKED BALL JOINTS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED, AND A RED BROWN LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE POWER STEERING RACK WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TIMING GEAR, AND UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS.*AK

ON 5/7/03, I TOOK MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER TO CLASSIC FORD IN SMITHFIELD NC., BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HEARING A ROARING NOISE WHEN EVER I TURNED TO THE LEFT. I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE MY RACK & PINION. THEY WILL HAVE TO KEEP IT A COUPLE DAYS TO REPLACE IT. I FEEL THAT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR AN AUTO WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES WOULD HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING.(INCIDENT DATE SHOULD BE 5/7/2003) *JB