We found the following complaints for FORD EXPLORER SPORT (1998)
Read complaints for FORD EXPLORER SPORT (1998)
Neither air bag deployed after a head-on collision.
I own a 1998 ford explorer. It only has 23,000 miles on it. I have had nothing but trouble with it. The most recent problems are i hear a loud noise in the motor area when i use the air conditioner, i also cannot get the driver window down unless i mess with it along time, i have had to replace the hood brackets 2 times, and they need replaced again. The back windshield wiper dont clean the window well enough and it gets stuck, so i have to get out and fix it. I also keep getting the 'door ajar' light on at times when the doors are all closed. I think there are some electrical problems with my explorer. I dont have the warranty anymore so they want me to pay for everything because they said all ford companies are independent. If anything happens to me or my family we'll see how independent they are. I think all explorers need to be re-checked. They were made too hasty or something.
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.
I am the primary driver of my niece's 1998 ford explorer sport. One afternoon i drove the 1998 ford explorer sport to the supermarket, and pharmacy. The 1998 ford explorer sport was running fine, all the gauges were in the middle, no smoke, no smells, no problems. .after arriving home i parked the ford 1998 explorer sport in my driveway, approximately 2 feet from the garage door, and approximately 4 feet from the entrance to my house.the vehicle was parked, shut off and sitting in the driveway with no problems. During the next hour, i begin to hang christmas decorations on my front door, and i was in & out of the house. The 1998 ford explorer sport was still fine in the driveway. Approximately 1 hour after i finished my decorating, i began to smell something like rubber burning. I checked my stove, and electrical outlets, and everything appeared to be fine. I figure the burning smell was coming from my neighbor's house. They had workers there drilling and making repairs. So i then continue to do my chores. Approximately 15 minutes later i went to look out my front door, and i saw dark smoke pouring out the hood of the 1998 ford explorer sport. I panicked, closed the door, grabbed the phone, ran out to the backyard, and call 911. I was to afraid to go out the front door, and also afraid to stay in the house, thinking the house and garage would also catch fire. Thank god, the fire department arrived swiftly, and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to the vehicle only, the firemen at the scene examine the 1998 ford explorer sport, and determined the fire originated under the hood, the cause appeared to be electrical.
This is not an emergency problem or safety issue but it should still be investigated. I own a 1998 ford explorer and the lights on the radio panel no longer work.so i called to have them fixed well they cant be fixed you have to purchase a new radio at $500.00.well i was not going to do that just so the clock and radio station setting would work.as i was investigating weather this could be fixed or not i met 4 other people who have the same problem each of them also having to purchase a $500.00 radio so the lights would work.then i started calling ford dealerships and found that everyone i have called has taken dozens of phone calls on the light problem with the radios.now i would say at $500.00 a radio to have this fixed ford would be making quite a provite over something that sounds like a minor problem.to me it isn't a minor problem if every vehichle that has these radios has a light problem.to me and several other people i have spoke to feel this should be fords expense to fix this not the consumer.if it was just my radio that would be different but for dozens and dozens of radios to be this way is a big problem.
I have a 1998 ford explorer sports that caught on fire while the engine was off and parked in my garage. I parked the car at around 7:00 pm and around after 10:00 pm heard a loud explotion in the garage. My family was already in bed and i was watching tv. When i open the access door to the garage the front part of the explorer was in flames. We called 911 and the fire department came and put out the fire, but the car is ruined. My second car is damaged and my garage is also damaged. No one was hurt because we got out of the house on time.
I lost my windshield wipers, dome lights and chimes, windows, radio, 4x4. After diagnostic tests, i was told i need a new gem module. After doing a web search, i found ford did a recall on my same vehicle starting with the year after my vehicle was made. I am having the same problems, and after talking to many other people, this is not an uncommon problem for my year of vehicle.but my vehicle was not included in the recall.
I have a 98 ford explorer sport.the radio works but does not have a lighting display.the dealer informed me that they know of the problem and that mostly all explorers will lose the lighting display, but there has not been a recall as of yet.this is expensive to fix.it's not like replacing a bulb or something.you're basically buying a new radio.if that's the case it won't be from the ford dealership, and it won't be the manufacturers radio which we all know will crap out.
My 1998 ford explorer caught fire in my garage after being parked for 3 hours causing extensive damage to the house.
On the way home from work, pulled into driveway and noticed the engine was on fire, contacted the local fire department who responded and extinguish the fire... The vehicle was destroyed.
Fire under the hood of a 1998 ford explorer sport.the vehicle had been parked and the ignition turned offfor over 4 hours.the vehicle was totaled and it was concluded that the fire began as the result of an electrical short under the hood.
I took my 1998 ford explorer sport to my local dealership because my brake lights were not working (i can only guess how long they were not operating).after doing a diagnostic they determined i had to replace my (forgive me, as i am not mechanical, but it is all on my receipt) cruise control harness as the component had completely melted.my cruise control had stopped working a couple of months earlier, but i had not bothered to fix it.the cruise control had gotten so hot that it burned a hole through my master cylinder so that it also needed to be replaced.i am notifying you because i feel my and my family's safety were jeopardized in three ways: inoperable brake lights, the fire hazard of the cruise control, and consequently poor brakes.
1998 ford explorer caught fire and burned in garage.
1998 ford explorer caught fire at 4:30 am,under the hood engulfed in flames called fire dept they came and put fire out. The whole entire motor, and front of truck ruined,not drivable. I filed a claim with ford the day after fire,they stated that they were liable because there were no recalls on 1998 explorers.
98 ford explorer sport engine caught fire 10 minutes aftervehicle was parked at residence- engine completely burned leaving vehicle totaled.
Speed control switch failed on my 1998 ford explorer, resulting in cruise control failure, major electrical short circuit, blown 20a fuse, no tail lights, leaking brake fluid from master cylinder thru faulty switch, and wires, switch and connector burned approximatly six inches back from switch. Switch was burned, also. A new switch was put on the vehicle, along with a pigtail (wires & connector), the brake system had to be bled and a new fuse installed. At that time, i knew nothing of a defect. Ford said nothing of the problem. The repair was made 1/14/05. To the best of my knowlege, the defect is not corrected, but only repaired as it was originally equipped. When i heard about the recall, it did not include my 1998, explorer, sport. I have saved the old switch. The new switch number is sw-5945, f3tz-9f924-bb.
Always in the summer and sometimes during the fall/winter, the air flow sensor makes a loud, humming noise and eventually the car sometimes shuts off because of this.
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.
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.
Ford explorer sport 2 door caught fire while parked in the garage. It was not turned on it just caught fire on it's own.
I have the same problems in my ford.service bulletin number:01205 ,0232and 15406some vehicles may exhibit vacuum or air leaks in the intake manifold and / or engine system causing diagnostic trouble codes p0171 and or p0174.some vehicles equipped with the 4.0l sohc engine may exhibit a check engine light on with diagnostic trouble codes p0300 (random misfire) or p0301.concerns with rear wipers that do not sufficiently clean the back glass.
After vehicle wasparked for six hours the owner was awakened by some neighbors and informed that vehicle wason fire. Which was coming out of the fender well and consumed the entire vehicle.the fire department was called to the sceneand determinedthat cruise control was cause of the fire.
All 1998 v-6 explorer engines (not sure if other models are involved) have a problem with carbon buildup.my 1998 exloroer sport was diagnosed with this problem at 43,694 miles (engine performance was affected).the dealer charged me $388 for the decarbonization process.this will be a recurring problem.i wrote to ford with my complaint and requested reimbursement.received telephone call telling me i had to resolve with the dealer.dealer would not assume responsibility.i wrote back to ford telling them i had gone to the dealer and felt this was ford's problem to resolve.this is clearly a manufacturing problem, which customers should not have to pay for.ford needs to take responsibility and provide the service at no cost to customers.
The contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport.the vehicle caught fire while parked.the police and fire departments were notified.the entire front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames and damaged.the vehicle was towed to an impound.the dealer stated that the vehicle was not on fire when they disconnected the cruise control.there was no power running through the vehicle.the vehicle has not yet been diagnosed.a police report was filed.the failure and current mileages were 158,000.
Timing belt and intake manifold which ford says it will not cover and also my warrenty company, i had to pay 1900.00 to fix this problem. I have a 98 ford explorer with 65,400 miles
Vehicle makes a very loud humming noise when the air conditioner is on and the car is running, especially when idling or in traffic.
While drivingdriver heard a rattling noise. Mechanic believed it wasthe cam shaft.took vehicle to ford, and ford stated the motor needed to bereplaced.
I bought a used 1998 ford explorer for my wife and at 135,000 miles the cam tensioner broke, putting a hole in the valve cover and possibly ruining the engine. I called the local dealership, flaggler ford. Ford's reply at first was, "yes this is a known problem and we will fix this at no cost to you". They towed my explorer in to the dealership and called me later telling me that while the time for this repair is not up, the mileage is over what they will cover. Ford said they would fix it for anywhere from $600 to $6,000! my mechanic, who told me this was a problem with these engines, said he will fix it for $300 plus parts. I have complained to the dealership and ford costomer service, this got me nowhere, and a supervisor was suppost to call me today but as of yet...nothing.after searching the net i found that i am not the only person who has had this very problem. Go to cartrackers.com and you'll find a lot of people who have been taken by ford for this problem. If i was the only person this happened to, well i would be ok with that but ford's stance is that while its a defective part mine lasted longer than expected and that i get nothing but a bill. I have never seen damage to a vehicle like this before, and i have a dodge and a chevy with over 140,000 miles on them and have never had a internal engine part fail and ruin the engine. Please help me and the other people who have been sold these vehicles haveing no idea that at any moment they may have to buy a new engine while the people who profited from these sales just sit back and do nothing. Had i known the life of my explorer was less than 100,000 miles i would have never bought a ford. There was never a formal recall put out for this problem, just a service bulliten, so people who had these defective tentioners were never contacted. My guess is that ford just hoped that the failures would occur after the 100,000 miles, and would just deal with the ones that didn't.
While driving down the road, i heard a snap and a pop like a fanbelt broke.i lost all power.this includes power steering and air conditioning.i driving around a curve, on an incline, and to pull over i was on a slope downhill.i have since been informed that this problem is not uncommon with the motor that is in my car.the crankshaft broke in my car.if this is a common problem why has there not been a recall?
Vehicle has air leaks in the intake manifold which causes thevehicle to have an erratic idle. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information.ph
My name is [xxx] and i just purchased a vehicle from hwy 100 & loomis rd auto sales (414-617-5673) in franklin wisconsin on dec 13th. On the way home from the dealership the brakes failed and i almost didn't make it home. I took it to my local mechanic in evansville wisconsin who fixed the rear brakes and i had to pay over 250 dollars to repair it. The dealer wouldn't help me with this cost or even acknowledge that they failed to find that problem on their safety check. After i picked up my truck this thursday the 20th, the check engine light came on and all power to the vehicle has now ceased. My mechanic also informed me when he fixed the brakes that not only the brakes should have been discovered by the dealer but i will also need a new exhaust system as someone has obviously fixed it enough to get it off the lot. That will be another 300 dollars. The power just failed on my way home from my aunts and now the truck is dead in my driveway at home. It wont start and i don't know what to do. The owner of the dealership will not return any calls so i can solve this. I just want them to come get this lemon and give me the money i paid for it back plus all the expenses i have put into it in less than a week. This is ridiculous and i need to know my rights and if i can just get my money back .... I cant afford to not to drive to work and be stuck continuously paying for a truck that had such intense problems mechanically and safety-wise and now its just dead.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Driver side door will not open.appears to be stuck in the lock position.have read numerous websites that it is a defective spring from ace lock co.
Blend door in the ventilation system does not operate. Leads to heat in the summer and difficulity defrosting the winshield in the winter. From what i have read this is a common problem on the 1998 explorers. I also had the evaporator tank replaced last year. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled to fix.i alsohad two sets of brakes and rotors on this vehicle and the radio still does'nt work right.
Not a safety item. However there is a radio display problem with the ford explorer's. I was told by the dealer that the radio display was a common problem in the explorer's. The cost to repair is $275. If this is a common problem, i wonder why it is not a recall item. I wonder how many people ford has screwed out of $275 for a problem caused by their faulty radios and not by fault of consumers. *nlm
Over the last year my 1998 ford explorer 2 door sport has been loosing some interior electrical features.the first was the display lights on the radio.they would come and go.....now the display is totally gone.however the radio, cd player and tape deck still work.i just can't see what track, station, or the time.then the next electrical problem was the driver side power unlock switch.i can lock all the doors but i cannot unlock the doors, next the lights went out on the left side of my dash.....i can't remember if this was the same time the lights went out on the steering wheel controls (cruise control settings) or if that went out separately.now........i cannot unlock the driver door with a key.i can move the key around and unlock the other doors but not the driver door.i have to go through the passenger side and yank on the driver handle several times before the door will open.this is very inconvenient.i plan on taking the vehicle to the dealership for repairs.....but i have heard several other explorer owners having the same problems......should ford repair this at their cost?it seems to me this is a ford issue and not something i have done to the vehicle, especially if other owners are having the same problem. Sounds like something is defective in the electrical harness. *la
Cd's get very hot.display has failed.am band is all static.
Blend door in the ventilation system does not operate. Leads to heat in the summer and difficulity defrosting the winshield in the winter. From what i have read this is a common problem on the 1998 explorers. I also had the evaporator tank replaced last year. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled to fix.i alsohad two sets of brakes and rotors on this vehicle and the radio still does'nt work right.
Please be advised that on 3/29/05 while driving my 1998 ford expedition xlt the door ajar light came on and the interior lights came on and the running board lights came on.i pulled over and parked the vehicle and checked all doors, all door were closed properly.the lights remained on.i turned the vehicle off and removed the key from the ignition and shut the door and interior lights and running board lights remained on.i had to remove the fuse to make lights go out, but when i am driving i have no interior lights and i cannot put down windows
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.
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.
Large fuel leak from braided steel fuel lines where they were rubbing against their brace on the top front of engine. They were cut, with a splice put in, and the brace removed, rather than a replacement. The reason being the replacement part cost of $600.
I was going approximately 50 mph, in my 1998 ford explorer, eddie bauer, this afternoon ; i was about 10 to 15 miles off the interstate. All of a sudden my gas pedal broke off and was just hanging there. It was a very busy state hwy where the speed limit is 55 mph. Luckily a chp officer came by and pushed my car forward to a wider spot on the side of the road then the tow truck came and towed me to a shop.it really scares me to think about if my wife or son had been driving and not knowing what to do or what was wrong. Also, i was very lucky it did not happen to me while on the interstate. After i got the car towed and came home i went on the internet to research this problem. On www.aboutautomobile.com i found 11 other cases listed with very similar stories.
Please be advised that on 3/29/05 while driving my 1998 ford expedition xlt the door ajar light came on and the interior lights came on and the running board lights came on.i pulled over and parked the vehicle and checked all doors, all door were closed properly.the lights remained on.i turned the vehicle off and removed the key from the ignition and shut the door and interior lights and running board lights remained on.i had to remove the fuse to make lights go out, but when i am driving i have no interior lights and i cannot put down windows
Dt: the drivers side door was completely locked, the remote key pad or keys did not work. Had used the remote to unlock doors the same as always. Contacted manufacturer, who said to contact the dealer.but dealer said never heard ofit.consumer did notwant to pay the dealer to fix it. Found a forum online where other peoplehad the same problem. This happened july 29, 2005.
I have had my driver's seat recliner mechanism repaired before, but the recliner driver's seat has broken again.now the recliner driver's seat reclines totally, until it touches the back seat cushion.the dealership told me the part to repair the seat is no longer manufactured.i was told i could go to a salvage yard to look for the part.on researching the problem on the internet i came upon the recall notice for the exact problem i have had with this vehicle.
There were no events leading up to this failure i was driving to go see a movie.the door lock on the drivers side stopped working (even with a key it will not unlock).no parts have been replaced on this door except for the door itself over 7 years ago.
Dt:the driver's side door will not unlock by key, remote or the inside handle.when the consumer contacted the dealer and manufacturer, they told her that it was not on recall and that she had to take care of the issue herself.the consumer felt that this wasa safety issue because if there was an emergency one would not be able to exit the vehicle quickly.the consumerwas unable tounlock the doorwhen she left for work on 8-29-05.as of now the problem is still has not been solved.the consumer stated son-in-law was able to fix the door. Update 4/25/07
The contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport.the contact stated that when he turns the key in the unlocked door of his vehicle, the doors become locked.when he turns the key in the opposite direction, the doors still remain locked.when he presses the power lock/unlock button from inside the vehicle, it will lock the doors but fail to unlock them, causing passengers to be trapped in the vehicle.the contact has had to exit through the window.he has not taken the vehicle to a repair shop because he would have to pay for the repairs and he feels the failure should be recalled.the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.
1998 ford explorer driver side door lock won't open. It won't open if you use the key, remote, or manually try to pull up on it while inside. However, the other doors and tailgate unlock ok. I am forced to enter the car on the passenger side and climb over a console in the middle to get into driver seat. I believe this is a serious safety issue as there is no way to get in or out of the car on the driver side. I am 76 years old and this is extremely difficult to get in over the console on passenger side. There are numerous complaints on internet for this exact problem.
The locks on my doors keep locking by themselves and the driver side door wont unlock unless you beat it to death the back latch does not open at all it is locked and won't unlock.
The contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport.the driver side door locks malfunctioned.as a result, the contact cannot open the driver side door.the fuse relay of the vehicle is located in the driver side door, which prevents the contact from changing any of the fuses.prior to the failure, he experienced issues with manually unlocking the doors with the vehicle key.the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer.the current and failure mileages were 70,300.
I have a 1998 explorer sport suv. I am having trouble with the automatic locks not opening and locking me inside the vehicle. I have to push the automatic lock button six or seven times to get it to work. The handle on the door won't even open it.
The drivers door will not open with the key lock or the remote, from the outside of the vehicle.*tc
Over the last year my 1998 ford explorer 2 door sport has been loosing some interior electrical features.the first was the display lights on the radio.they would come and go.....now the display is totally gone.however the radio, cd player and tape deck still work.i just can't see what track, station, or the time.then the next electrical problem was the driver side power unlock switch.i can lock all the doors but i cannot unlock the doors, next the lights went out on the left side of my dash.....i can't remember if this was the same time the lights went out on the steering wheel controls (cruise control settings) or if that went out separately.now........i cannot unlock the driver door with a key.i can move the key around and unlock the other doors but not the driver door.i have to go through the passenger side and yank on the driver handle several times before the door will open.this is very inconvenient.i plan on taking the vehicle to the dealership for repairs.....but i have heard several other explorer owners having the same problems......should ford repair this at their cost?it seems to me this is a ford issue and not something i have done to the vehicle, especially if other owners are having the same problem. Sounds like something is defective in the electrical harness. *la
When trying to opendriver's side door frominside handle had to be pulled at least ten times before the door would open. Consumer was concerned that if there was an emergency the door would not open.
The driver's side door lock is no longer able to be unlocked with the key or by the power lock switch. If it is locked accidentally, it is impossible to enter the vehicle any way other than by crawling in from the passenger side door or by pulling very hard on the inside handle while working the key in the lock. This could present a serious problem in the case of an accident if an individual needs to flee the vehicle.
Driver's side door will not unlock with or without key - will not unlock or open from the inside or the outside.the problem is apparently wide spread in this vehicle and requires a $150 lock assembly to replace a faulty .50 cent spring.ford needs to recall and fix.
The driver's side door lock is no longer able to be unlocked with the key or by the power lock switch. If it is locked accidentally, it is impossible to enter the vehicle any way other than by crawling in from the passenger side door. This could present a serious problem in the case of an accident if an individual needs to flee the vehicle... Especially for those like myself with infants that would need to be removed from the vehicle as well.the problem began four or five years ago when it became difficult to unlock the door with the key at various times. Since then, the situation has worsened significantly. The only thing about the driver's side door that is in working condition now is the "lock" action of the power lock switch. Having said that, the power window on the driver's side door no longer works, though i am unsure if it is in any way related to the lock.
Driver'sside power door lock did not unlock either with the key or lock button. It tookmany attempts to get the door unlocked, leaving me no choice but to exit out of the passenger'sside.
Door lock was not working when it was cold.now, door lock on driver's side is completely out, the key just turns in the lock and does not work.the other locks (passenger and back window) do not work either.you have to turn the key many times before lockworks, then you have to either crawl over the seats or press the unlock button several times before lock engages.i was outside in the rain for at least 5 minutes trying to get the lock to work on the passenger side of car because driver's side is broken.on going problem for at least 3 months.
When the consumer attempted to unlock the driver side door but it failed to open from the inside although the door locks were in the unlocked position.please provide any further details. *nlm
Driver side power door lock does not unlock either with the key or lock button. It takes many attempts to get the door unlocked leaving me no choice but to exit out of the passenger side. Pulling the door handle does not help either. I have a friend that has the same problem and i found hundreds of people all over the internet message boards complaining of the same issue. This should be a recall!!!
The driver's door cannot be opened from the outside when the door is locked and you attempt to unlock it using the keyless remote or the keyed lock.it also takes several pulls from the inside handle to open the door when the door is locked.when the door is unlocked it works properly using either handle.when using the keyless remote to unlock the door you can hear the actuator attempt to unlock the door and you can see the lock button move but the door will not unlock.when using the key to unlock the door the key will not turn.if i could no longer open the drivers door from the inside then i would have trouble exiting the vehicle as it is a bit cramped inside.*la
Drivers-side door does not open by using the key, power-lock/unlock button or pulling the inside handle.this is supposed to be a safety feature in case the power locks fail.this problem is very common according to ford dealers, locksmiths, and after-market professionals.
The door locking mechanism of my driver side door of my 1998 ford explorer sport is broken. A small metal pin broke which makes this locking mechanism not work.so sometimes i have to climb through to the passenger side to get out if my various techniques do not work to unlock the driver side door.i believe what happens is that the metal pin will eventually corrod and break so i have not yet fixed it due to the fact that i have no faith in a product that will most likely break again.i thought i was was just having this problem until i visited this message board (http://www.offroadexchange.com/modforums/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=1749;start=25).i really hope you investagate this problem before somebody is in a life or death situation and trapped in their explorer because the metal pin of the locking mechanism broke.thank you.
The driver side door lock failed.the consumer had to climb over to the passenger side to get out. The locking mechanism on the door was defective.
My vehicle is currently experiencing the same problem as the previous complaint.the door locks will not unlock with a key or the unlock button when locked(electrical). This could be quite dangerous in an accident where the driver will not be able to exit as the driver door is unable to unlock.
Driver's side door will not unlock with key, remote, key pad entry or with door handle inside.apparently, this is a common problem with 1998 explorer sport.
The door locks will not unlock with a key or the unlock button when locked(electrical). My vehicle is not the only one. I have spoken with 5 others in my city alone with explorers and they are all having the same troubles. This has got to be a defect for it to be in so many other explorers.
Driver'sw side door lock will not unlock.tried holding the handle and pressing unlock buttons on the door and keyless remote.door will not open from the inside or the outside of the vehicle.this is a danger in an emergency.after reading the many complaints about this issue, i noticed that there has not been any recalls to correct this defect.why not???seems that many drivers of this vehicle are having this same problem.
Consumer was unable to exit or enter the vehicle in the front driver's side door. Dealer was notified.
The power door locks failed.
I was changing fuses in the engine compartment of our 98 explorer and the hood slammed shut on my hand and fingers. The pistons that held the hood up failed.
My vehicle will not run on reverse. I can shift perfectly fine to all my gears without any fussing or clunking noises coming from the gear shifts/transmission. But as soon as i try to put it on reverse my vehicle does not move, it seems like it's in neutral instead of reverse. At the moment of discovering my vehicle does not move in reverse it was stationary in park. I tried turning the vehicle on and off and tried messing with all the gears but to no avail.
While driving, vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate to very high rpms without warning.problem occurs when vehicle stops at traffic lights, when brakes are applied, and also when in reverse.vehicle is noisy and locked in 4x4 with o/d light blinking, dealer could not duplicate problem, cause unknown.
I spoke with 3 other mothers that have 1998 explorer and on each the middle seat belt won't work, i have three little grandchildren,and because of the problem i could nottake all three anywhere. They could notseat up front. Why do 4 out of 4 1998 explorers have the same problem? at first i thought i would just order a new one, but i didn't have the $80.00 for part and installation. Upon talking to these other explorer owners i really felt that inferior belt buckles wereused. My dad was a ford man and wewere ford people. Please help.
I was in an automobile accident 12/2003 my seat belt did not restrain me, i was the passenger in my 1998 ford explorer sport.the car ran into a telephone pole.at the time of impact both air bags went off. At impact i flew up from my seat, didn't touch the air bag but i hit the overhead console with my face.i broke the overhead console, rear view mirror, stereo, two air vents, and the counsel between the front seats.the results from my seat belt not working was 50 plus stitches to my forehead and nose, and a closed head injury. Now i am scared for life because my seat belt didn't restrain me and continues not to work.
Ford issued a recall for a bolt replacement in the seat.safety recall 03s04 refers.beach ford dealership has declined to conduct the repair due to time of the recall (5 years).the dealership stated that the bolt had already sheared and since the recall was so old they would not repair.
Subject: defective seat frame caused by faulty seat recliner bolt comments: i have a 1998 ford explorer sport that was recalled by ford for a faulty drivers seat recliner bolt. On june 2nd 2010 i took my explorer to future ford of concord ca to have the recall repair work performed, which it was, but with a "note to the customer" from the ford mechanic that the seat frame was damaged as a result of the faulty drivers seat recliner bolt for which my explorer was recalled for.upon being informed i asked my ford service advisor "d.t." how ford planned to repair the damaged seat frame, and he referred me to the future ford service manager j.h., who in turn said that his "computer said" the parts are not available, and that i was welcome to voice my concerns to ford motor company?!?!can someone at the dot please evaluate my case and if warranted, approach ford motor co. With an order to replace the faulty part(s) at no cost to me since the damage to the seat frame was caused by the faulty drivers seat recliner bolt?driving on a damaged drivers seat seat frame doesn't sound too safe to me! no doubt this is why the mechanic at future ford noted this on his work order, and the service advisor then notified me.
I have had my driver's seat recliner mechanism repaired before, but the recliner driver's seat has broken again.now the recliner driver's seat reclines totally, until it touches the back seat cushion.the dealership told me the part to repair the seat is no longer manufactured.i was told i could go to a salvage yard to look for the part.on researching the problem on the internet i came upon the recall notice for the exact problem i have had with this vehicle.
Drivers side seat back collapsed and broke while driving at 55 mph.therefore the seat back adjustment handle no longer works.also, the frame attached to the floor is cracked now.
1998 ford explorer sport driver'sseat 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) whileaccessing 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.
The contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport.front driver seat lever will not stay in place.driving on the road one afternoon, the seat reclined out of control. The seat must be reclined in a reasonable position when driving.however, it was unsafe for him to operate the vehicle.he stated that he is experiencing the same failureas listed in recall number 03v281000. The recall stated that on certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats the upper bolt on the driver's side that attached the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame could fracture.the driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.the manufacturer stated that this vehiclewas not included in the recall due to the vin, and that there wasnothing they couldor will do to fix it.the manufacturer was advised to call the national highway safety administration (nhtsa).the contact did not know the name of the dealer where he purchased the vehicle.the current mileage was 116,000, and the failure mileage was 95,000.updated 06/14/07.
Drivers side seat recline lever broke off. The seat is unable to move forward, preventing access to the rear from the drivers side. The metal is too weak and at an awkward position. The dealer will not replace, even through this is an obvious faulty part as the replacement part is designed with a thicker metal.
Consumer seeking reimbursement for repairs on a bolt that attached to the seat recliner mechanism.*lathe ventilation system leaked.
The consumer felt that recall #03v281000 was not adequate enough to correct the defect.the problem remained.*sc
While driving driver's side seat reclines without warning.
The driver side front seat recliner on my 1998 ford explorer sport broke in the middle of driving. *nlm
Nhtsa campaign #03v281000 seats:front assembly:reclineri have a 1998 ford explorer sport, which was subject to the above recall.i took my vehicle into a ford dealer sometime in 2005 to have subject recall work performed.although this suv is used sparingly as it is my third vehicle (approximately 5,000 miles per year), the front seat has since failed as if the recall work was not performed at all, or the modification was inadequate.the failure nearly caused loss of control of the vehicle and has rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive.
While driving the consumer's seat back collapsed almost causing an accident.the consumer received a recall related to this failure the day after this incident occurred.*lathe vehicle was taken to the dealer.the dealer indicated that they were only required to replace the bolt not the seat.the consumer would like to have the seat replaced at no cost to her (recall #03s04).* nm
Both seat release latches have broken off. Back of drivers seat will not release(tilt forward) to allow access to back seat. Passenger seat would not slide or tilt forward to allow access to rear seat passenger seat broke on 3/30/03. Passenger seat latch repaired (spot weld) drivers seat broke on..
After changing the front wheel bearing hubs, the vehicle abs light came on. This has been going on for about a year. The vehicle does stop, but the abs function doesn't work. This has not been a problem for me, but, sometimes the abs light stays out for a while and then comes back on. Dealer stated that the abs control module and motor assemblies would cost about $2300 for parts, sans labor to repair. Dealer also stated that there were only about 12 new parts available, and nothing refurbished.dealer also stated that if this were a few months earlier, the total cost would be about $300 for new parts.the vehicle has approx. 167,000 miles on it. No accidents have occurred at this time.just thought someone should know.
My car hyper-accelerates at random even when the brake is on it has caused 2 accidents resulting in property damage one recent which the injury results are pending.i am fearful that the car will not stop and someone will be seriously injured.i have had it to the dealership wrote to the manufacturer but to no avail.i cannot afford another car or even a trade in.i just put new brakes on the car and the problem still persists. The date below is for the most recent accident.the car has done this many times but only twice resulting in a crash.
Blend door in the ventilation system does not operate. Leads to heat in the summer and difficulity defrosting the winshield in the winter. From what i have read this is a common problem on the 1998 explorers. I also had the evaporator tank replaced last year. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled to fix.i alsohad two sets of brakes and rotors on this vehicle and the radio still does'nt work right.
My name is [xxx] and i just purchased a vehicle from hwy 100 & loomis rd auto sales (414-617-5673) in franklin wisconsin on dec 13th. On the way home from the dealership the brakes failed and i almost didn't make it home. I took it to my local mechanic in evansville wisconsin who fixed the rear brakes and i had to pay over 250 dollars to repair it. The dealer wouldn't help me with this cost or even acknowledge that they failed to find that problem on their safety check. After i picked up my truck this thursday the 20th, the check engine light came on and all power to the vehicle has now ceased. My mechanic also informed me when he fixed the brakes that not only the brakes should have been discovered by the dealer but i will also need a new exhaust system as someone has obviously fixed it enough to get it off the lot. That will be another 300 dollars. The power just failed on my way home from my aunts and now the truck is dead in my driveway at home. It wont start and i don't know what to do. The owner of the dealership will not return any calls so i can solve this. I just want them to come get this lemon and give me the money i paid for it back plus all the expenses i have put into it in less than a week. This is ridiculous and i need to know my rights and if i can just get my money back .... I cant afford to not to drive to work and be stuck continuously paying for a truck that had such intense problems mechanically and safety-wise and now its just dead.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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.
Right front steering knuckle cracked in half, causing loss of steering and a resulting crash.
I have already put in one complaint on my 1998 ford explorer, but now i got it back a few days ago from the dealer they checked it and found out it has rack and pinion problems already. I have only 24000 miles on it. There is another complaint in here for the same thing. I am worried the steering is going to go out, and i cannot afford to pay $900.00. Why is ford not doing anything with these 1998 explorers.
While in motion, consumer was involved in a rollover accident.the hydraulic rack burst, causing loss of hydraulic fluid, loss of control and the vehicle to roll onto its' left side.the steering rack was identified as defective and the cause of the accident.the driver sustained significant injuries.*jg
Consumer state that on july 3 1999 while sitting in passenger seat the car suddenly went out of control and rolled over mulitiple times, as a result ofm the roll over the passenger was rendered unconscious, when the roof caved in on his head, passenger sustaind permanent injuries.*mj
Door lock was not working when it was cold.now, door lock on driver's side is completely out, the key just turns in the lock and does not work.the other locks (passenger and back window) do not work either.you have to turn the key many times before lockworks, then you have to either crawl over the seats or press the unlock button several times before lock engages.i was outside in the rain for at least 5 minutes trying to get the lock to work on the passenger side of car because driver's side is broken.on going problem for at least 3 months.
Cannot open driver's side door. Automatic door opener does not work, door handle does not open door, key does not open door. The only way to exit the car is to crawl over the front seat divider and exit through the front passenger seat door. The driver is literally trapped in the car.
Running boards are so badly corroded you could see right through to the road. Rust spreading badly through undercarriage.had to have running boards removed before they fell off.
Drivers side seat back collapsed and broke while driving at 55 mph.therefore the seat back adjustment handle no longer works.also, the frame attached to the floor is cracked now.
I have a 1998 ford explorer sport 2 door 4wd with a single rear leaf spring on each side the truck sits about 1-2 inches lower on the left side and the spring are almost completely flat. This is not the first i have heard of this i have talked to many people with the model explorer that have the same problem is there something that the factory can do to fix itwithout me the consumer having to put hundreds of dollars into this vehicle.
Ever since i bought my vehicle the rear end sags lower than should be expected on my 1998 ford explorer sport.i said something to the dealership before purchasing it so they could take a look at the rear leaf springs and they told me that there wasn't anything wrong.it is now a year later and and the rear end of my explorer has started sittind lower every month i've had it, and i have also replaced my shcks three times since i have had for 1year.i was wondering if there were any other complaints about this and if there was anything that could be done about it.
The firestone tire blewout causing the consumer to loose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree, the driver sustained whiplash, back, neck, upper and lower extremity bruises and muscle spasms (firestone wilderness at p235/75r15 1055 m/s dot w2hlipy407).nlm
These tires are still under warranty. When they were first installed, we noticed a strange sound. We did not assume it was from the tires, but thought it was related to the rotors. This is not our only vehicle and we don't drive it all of the time; in fact it is parked much of the time. We did not get the rotors replaced until august of 2013. The sound continued even with the new rotors, to our surprise. So we went back and checked a second mechanic who then removed all of the tires. After inspecting the tires, the mechanic showed us where they were defective.he physically pointed out some areas where they were deformed. He told us to take them back to where we purchased them for replacement. In short, we were not able to get them replaced at wal mart where they were purchased.i would like these tires independently inspected so that we can verify that they are indeed defective. Thank you.
The consumer swerved to avoid an oncoming car, after the vehicle was back on the road the right rear firestone (wilderness at p235/75r15) tire blewout causing the vehicle to rollover three times, one passenger was treated for contusions and a severed finger, the other three occupants were treated for minor contusions.nlm
While driving on the interstate, consumer states she heard a tremendous noise and the vehicle became hard to steer, she pulled over to the side of the road and discovered that the left rear tire was in shreds, consumer took vehicle to a firestone dealer and was advised that the firestone wilderness at tire (p235/75r15) was not defective, consumer had tire replaced.
The "blend door actuator" that came with the vehicle is defective and has been replaced with a new improved part (f87z-18471-da) at the customer expense. The old part when it fails causes a safety issues because you can not defrost the front window until the part is replaced. This should be a "recall" that ford should have to pay for. I have done some looked into the issue and many vehicles (1998 ford explorer) have had this same failure.
Received a recall notice from ford motor corp and telephoned them about another matter. Namely when breaking my 1998 ford sport explorer, it suddenly started to accelerate. Immediately shifted into neutral and continued to break the car. The motor raced,but the vehicle stopped. Because i applied the brake with considerable force. Ford motor personnel told me to bring this matter to the attention of my local ford dealer. Complied, but advised if the problem does not appearduring a road test nothing can be done. This is a cop out . Who knows when it will appear again and some one perishes.
While driving, vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate to very high rpms without warning.problem occurs when vehicle stops at traffic lights, when brakes are applied, and also when in reverse.vehicle is noisy and locked in 4x4 with o/d light blinking, dealer could not duplicate problem, cause unknown.
Speed control switch failed on my 1998 ford explorer, resulting in cruise control failure, major electrical short circuit, blown 20a fuse, no tail lights, leaking brake fluid from master cylinder thru faulty switch, and wires, switch and connector burned approximatly six inches back from switch. Switch was burned, also. A new switch was put on the vehicle, along with a pigtail (wires & connector), the brake system had to be bled and a new fuse installed. At that time, i knew nothing of a defect. Ford said nothing of the problem. The repair was made 1/14/05. To the best of my knowlege, the defect is not corrected, but only repaired as it was originally equipped. When i heard about the recall, it did not include my 1998, explorer, sport. I have saved the old switch. The new switch number is sw-5945, f3tz-9f924-bb.
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.
The contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport.while driving 10-15 mph, the vehicle began smoking around the steering column.the contact felt that the vehicle speed control caused the failure.there is a recall for the vehicle speed control (nhtsa campaign id 00v422000, 06v286000, 99v062001) however the dealer stated that her vin was not included.the current and failure mileages were 127,577.the purchase date was not available.
Driving in rush hour traffic on 4 lane road at 35 mph the accelerator stuck wide open.immediately jammed my left foot on the brake to not hit other cars while trying to use right foot to get behind the gas pedal and unstick it.put car in neutral and eventually was able to get pedal unstuck.checked to ensure floor mat was not causing the problem.proceeding driving with hazards at less than 25 mph.within 10 minutes same thing happen except that this time i was initially unsuccessful in getting the pedal to unstick.while waiting for a tow truck, approximately 45 minutes, the pedal popped out of place.garage has determined that the accelerator cable is defective and needs to be replaced.
While driving gas pedal got stuck and vehicle sped up to about 80mph before slowing down, it was an intermittent problem.
The accelerator pedal became stuck when it was fully depressed.*dt
While driving at 55 mph consumerfeltvibration in the gas pedal.the gas pedal went to the floor and vehicle accelerated to near 100 mph.consumer had to veer off the road, and put the gear shift into park to stop the vehicle.there was a recall for this vehicle butconsumer's vehiclewas not a part of the recall due to vin.
I arrived back from taking my son to the park at approximately 6:00pm, watched tv and then fired up the grill around 7:45pm.i came back in the house and heard a loud noise. I yelled upstairs to my husband and asked if he had heard the noise, he yelled back and said, call 911 your truck is on fire.he immediately began to fight the fire with two fire extinguishers and the water hose.we were scared as the fire department had not yet arrived and we were worried it was going to blow up as it was only approximately 7 feet from the house. The fire department showed us the area in which the fire started which was under the hood on the driver's side, however, deemed it indeterminable.i was in shock that this occurred as i only had one payment left to payoff the loan.i researched and found out that the same vehicles that were being recalled by ford for afaulty cruise control switch was also used on my 1998, however, had not been recalled.after much research, i have found there are several other vehicles that are the same year as mine were catching on fire for no apparent reason without warning. There have been recalls, however, not on my particular vehicle.ford sent me a form letter that was addressed to my husband with our address, however, the letter states dear ms. X. (a true indication of their concern for my issue)i am angered that there have been so many vehicles that have burst into flames without warning, burned down cars and homes and lives lost and ford believes they have no responsibility.could they have not issued a consumer alert for all vehicles and at least afforded the consumer the opportunity to make a decision to pay $20 to replace this part?i will be paying to have a thorough investigation done to prove to ford that they are in fact responsible and will take this as far as i have to.someone needs to investigate the number of complaints and do something to inform the public of this hazard and potentially save someone's life.
After vehicle wasparked for six hours the owner was awakened by some neighbors and informed that vehicle wason fire. Which was coming out of the fender well and consumed the entire vehicle.the fire department was called to the sceneand determinedthat cruise control was cause of the fire.
Over the last year my 1998 ford explorer 2 door sport has been loosing some interior electrical features.the first was the display lights on the radio.they would come and go.....now the display is totally gone.however the radio, cd player and tape deck still work.i just can't see what track, station, or the time.then the next electrical problem was the driver side power unlock switch.i can lock all the doors but i cannot unlock the doors, next the lights went out on the left side of my dash.....i can't remember if this was the same time the lights went out on the steering wheel controls (cruise control settings) or if that went out separately.now........i cannot unlock the driver door with a key.i can move the key around and unlock the other doors but not the driver door.i have to go through the passenger side and yank on the driver handle several times before the door will open.this is very inconvenient.i plan on taking the vehicle to the dealership for repairs.....but i have heard several other explorer owners having the same problems......should ford repair this at their cost?it seems to me this is a ford issue and not something i have done to the vehicle, especially if other owners are having the same problem. Sounds like something is defective in the electrical harness. *la
The "blend door actuator" that came with the vehicle is defective and has been replaced with a new improved part (f87z-18471-da) at the customer expense. The old part when it fails causes a safety issues because you can not defrost the front window until the part is replaced. This should be a "recall" that ford should have to pay for. I have done some looked into the issue and many vehicles (1998 ford explorer) have had this same failure.
1998 ford explorer, plenum door failure, resulting in no heat. Cannot defrost windows causing safety hazard. After much research, common problem with ford explorers. Should be a factory defect. Garage wants $1000 to fix.
Consumer seeking reimbursement for repairs on a bolt that attached to the seat recliner mechanism.*lathe ventilation system leaked.
Blend door in the ventilation system does not operate. Leads to heat in the summer and difficulity defrosting the winshield in the winter. From what i have read this is a common problem on the 1998 explorers. I also had the evaporator tank replaced last year. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled to fix.i alsohad two sets of brakes and rotors on this vehicle and the radio still does'nt work right.
While travelling at 75 mph on i-10, the passenger side front door window spontaneously shattered and disintegrated.
I have the same problems in my ford.service bulletin number:01205 ,0232and 15406some vehicles may exhibit vacuum or air leaks in the intake manifold and / or engine system causing diagnostic trouble codes p0171 and or p0174.some vehicles equipped with the 4.0l sohc engine may exhibit a check engine light on with diagnostic trouble codes p0300 (random misfire) or p0301.concerns with rear wipers that do not sufficiently clean the back glass.
Rear wiper motor has been replaced twice by dealer under warranty.this is known faulty design.wiper jams and has to be physically rocked to unjam.problem is you could be driving in rainstorm & could not use wiper at that critical time.this vehicle is past warranty now.
These tires are still under warranty. When they were first installed, we noticed a strange sound. We did not assume it was from the tires, but thought it was related to the rotors. This is not our only vehicle and we don't drive it all of the time; in fact it is parked much of the time. We did not get the rotors replaced until august of 2013. The sound continued even with the new rotors, to our surprise. So we went back and checked a second mechanic who then removed all of the tires. After inspecting the tires, the mechanic showed us where they were defective.he physically pointed out some areas where they were deformed. He told us to take them back to where we purchased them for replacement. In short, we were not able to get them replaced at wal mart where they were purchased.i would like these tires independently inspected so that we can verify that they are indeed defective. Thank you.
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