1998 Ford Explorer Sport Problems

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. *TR

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. *TR

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.

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. *NM

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.

TL*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.

TL*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.

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. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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. *TR

GENERAL TIRE TREAD SEPARATION FORD EXPLORER. *TR

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. *JB

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. *JB

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.

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.

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. *TR

IN 2007, MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER DRIVER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. IT REALLY DIDN'T BOTHER ME ALL THAT MUCH UNTIL ONE DAY BY ACCIDENT THE DOOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT COME OPEN. I HAD TO PUSH WITH ALL MY FORCE AND PULL UP ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. FINALLY IT CAME OPEN BUT THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. NOW IT WAS TO THE POINT OF DISGUST. DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT SO WE WAITED UNTIL WE DID. IN 2008, I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS QUOTED $197 FOR EVERYTHING, INSTALLATION, PARTS, AND LABOR. BUT WHEN I CAME TO PAY THE BILL I WAS INFORMED IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT $100 IF NOT MORE WHEN COMPLETED. SO MY AUNTS BOYFRIEND, WHO DOES AUTO BODY WORK, FIXED IT. IT WAS WORKING FINE, WE STILL HAD TO JIGGLE TO LOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE TO GET THE LOCKS TO UNLOCK. AND THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS GETTING OUT AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AGAIN. THIS TIME THE HANDLE IS STUCK. I NOW HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR CRAWL ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHICH WE HAVE HAD TO DO THAT IN THE PAST AND IT IS EMBARRASSING. SO NOW I'VE E-MAILED FORD ABOUT MY COMPLAINT AND THAT IS WHERE I WAS INFORMED YOU DONE THE RECALLS. I REALLY LEARNED THAT THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT, WWW.CARCOMPLAINT.COM. I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS MATTER. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT? I GUESS JUST BE OUT $200 MORE WHEN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP....HOPE YOU CAN HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

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. *TR

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 LOCK WORKS, 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.*JB

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.

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

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. *TR

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. *TR

RIGHT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED IN HALF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND A RESULTING CRASH. *AK

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. *JB

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 NOT TAKE ALL THREE ANYWHERE. THEY COULD NOT SEAT 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 WERE USED. MY DAD WAS A FORD MAN AND WE WERE FORD PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP. *AK

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. *NM

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 IT WITHOUT ME THE CONSUMER HAVING TO PUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS VEHICLE. *JB

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.*AK

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 ALSO HAD TWO SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE RADIO STILL DOES'NT WORK RIGHT. *JB

NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER A HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK

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. *AK *TT

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.