1998 Ford Explorer Body & structure Problems

DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER BUYING IT. SO MANY ISSUE ..THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL WORDS MELTED. BACK DOOR DON'T SHUT PROBABLY AND NEVER HAS SINCE BOUGHT. THIS WAS BOUGHT AS A NEW NOT USED VEHICLE. DOOR LOCKS WAS THE WORSE.THEY SOMETIMES STICK AND WON'T UNLOCK SINCE BOUGHT NEW.NEVER FIX BY BUTLER FORD IN MILLEDGEVILLE GA. OVERDRIVE SWITCH SLIPS OUT OF POSITION. DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT SPEED. I COULD GO ON AND ON

NHTSA ID

11231838

Incident

Apr 11, 2000

Mileage

101,000 mi

I HAVE 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND I NOTICED TRYING TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY THAT IT WOULD STICK SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES BECALE ALWAYS AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER DOOR NEVER WOULD UNLOCK. THEN ONE DAY PARKED I TRIED TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR AND IT WOULDNT OPEN. I HAD TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. NOW IT WONT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE DOOR IS TOTALLY NON FUNCTIONAL. DOOR LATCH ISSUE I DONT KNOW BUT HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME. ALSO DRIVER DOOR LOCK WILL SOMETIMES STICK, THE DOOR OPEN BUT WHEN CLOSING IT IT NEVER WANTS TO SHUT ALL THE WAY THE FIRST TIME OR THE 2ND IT TAKES A FEW TIMES TO GET THE DOOR TO COMPLETELY CLOSE BUT THE PASSENGER DOOR IS A LOSS NO ONE CAN RIDE IN IT. SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW ABOUT

NHTSA ID

11084286

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER AND GO OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10715686

Incident

May 10, 2015

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH, THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS BECAME JAMMED AND WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000.

NHTSA ID

10594398

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

228,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WIND WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT WAS DISENGAGED FOR THE REAR WINDOW AND THE HINGES WERE FRACTURING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10382970

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE FRONT DOORS. WHEN SHUTTING EITHER FRONT DOOR, RUST WOULD FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10346074

Incident

Mar 16, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

SPOT WELDS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND ALLOWING PEDAL TO FALL BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY FORD EXPLORERS ARE EXPERIENCING AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! *TR

NHTSA ID

10268364

Incident

May 10, 2009

Mileage

119,987 mi

GAS PEDAL HOUSING FELL OFF THE WALL NHTSA ITEM #616531. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256337

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

102,000 mi

ALL LOCKING DOOR MECHANISM'S HAVE FAILED AND I HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR THEM. THE REAR HATCH LOCK IS NO LONGER OPERATING UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE LOCK AND THEN, ONLY SPORADICALLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE, HAS BROKEN OFF TWICE AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THEREBY EFFECTIVELY "TRAPPING" ME IN THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AND REMOVE MYSELF FROM ANY POTENTIAL DANGER. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE CAR, I HAD TWO OPTIONS, EITHER CLIMB OUT OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE OR PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION, TURN ON THE VEHICLE, LOWER THE POWER WINDOW AND OPEN THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE, I OPTED FOR THE SECOND SOLUTION UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO ORDER A SECOND NEW DOOR HANDLE AND REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221600

Incident

Feb 23, 2008

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE UNLOCK BUTTON; HOWEVER, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE AND HATCH DOORS UNLOCKED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. FORD STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,099 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,050.

NHTSA ID

10211069

Incident

Nov 29, 2007

Mileage

132,050 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10208133

Incident

Nov 5, 2007

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

NHTSA ID

10203710

Incident

Apr 15, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN COLD WEATHER, THE HINGES DO NOT HOLD THE HOOD IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE HOOD TO FALL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND NECK, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE HOOD HINGES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10156817

Incident

May 4, 2006

Mileage

114,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10147383

Incident

Jan 4, 2006

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE HAD REPLACE THE BRAKES, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED , THE ANTI LOCK SENSORS WHERE REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED . THE AIR BAGS ARE ALSO DEPLOYED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT VIBRATES ON THE LEFT SIDE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON A RACK TRYING TO LINE THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD NOT LINE UP. THEY FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS BAD, ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE FRAME IS BENT BEYOND REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142752

Incident

Nov 14, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1998 FORD EXPLORER HAD A LIFTGATE PROBLEM. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HINGE BUSTED AT THE TOP. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE HINGES, BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE HINGE WAS NOTICED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. THE LIFTGATE CANNOT ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY DUE TO THE BROKEN HINGE. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO FORD, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY FREE REMEDY. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED YET, BUT WAS GOING TO DO SO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10138159

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

110,000 mi

DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE BRAKES LIGHTS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSES CHANGED. THEY USED THE FUSES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS THE SECOND FUSE WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ANOTHER PERSON PUT THE FIRE OUT BY BEATING IT WITH A TOWEL. THEN, CONSUMER CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP BY PHONE, THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT, HE WAS UNSURE OF THE MODEL YEARS INCLUDED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, THEY TOLD CONSUMER WOULD GET BACK TO HER. THERE WERE NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORTS AVAILABLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7-262005 BEFORE THE HOOD LATCH HAD ACTED UP. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. . IT MELTED THE WIRES FOR THE ABS AND THE SPOT FOR PUTTING IN THE BRAKE FLUID. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130626

Incident

Jul 26, 2005

Mileage

131,000 mi

THE HOOD HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT. THE RAMS THAT HELD THE HOOD WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND CAUSED TO HOOD TO FALL DOWN. THE RAMS WERE REPLACED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10083596

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

1998, FORD, EXPLORER, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087869

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

TAILGATE SHELL SHOWS CRACKS AROUND THE HINGES FROM METAL FATIGUE. *MR THIS APPEARED TO BE A DEFECT. *SC *JB *AK

NHTSA ID

10080126

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

I WAS CHECKING FUSES UNDER THE HOOD OF OUR 98 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HOOD CAME DOWN WITHOUT PROVOCATION, CRUSHING FINGERS ON MY LEFT HAND. THE PISTONS THAT HOLD THE HOOD UP, GAVE WAY CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. TO DATE I HAVE DIFFICULTY USING MY LEFT HAND CORRECTLY. I SPOKE WITH MANY ATTORNEYS AND THEY SAID SINCE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY SIMILAR CASES TO MINE, NONE WOULD PURSUE IT. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF THE INCIDENT. FORD MANUFACTURED A DEFECT, HARMED ME AND EVERYONE JUST WANTS TO ROUND FILE THE CASE. WOULD YOUR GROUP LIKE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY CRUSHED FINGER? IT HAPPENED, AND FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? GARRY MELOTT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023682

Incident

Dec 7, 2002

Mileage

55,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.*AK BOTH THE KEY AND KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IT WAS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SINCE LINKAGES WERE BENT AND LATCH MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE. LATCH ASSEMBLY AND ARMS WERE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8013559

Incident

Jul 5, 2002

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. I HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE AT THE DEALER TOMORROW, JULY 9, 2002. I WILL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE SERVICE PEOPLE GET IN OR GET OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN I DROP THE CAR OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL COMPONENT AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF A PERSON WAS REQUIRED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN AN IMERGENCY.*AK

NHTSA ID

763969

Incident

Jul 5, 2002

WHEN MAKING TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE SLIDES AND ALMOST TURNS OVER.*AK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS,AND THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING, DEALER REPLACED A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH WERE REPLACED IN JULY 2001, THE REAR SEATS MOVE/BOUNCE WHEN DRIVING, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUCKLES, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED, THE ALARM WOULD NOT CHUT OFF AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED A BAD LOOSE WIRE.*JB

NHTSA ID

8008389

Incident

Feb 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD AT 50 MPH DUE TO THE INSTABILITY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED OVER, FLIPPING LEFT TO RIGHT AND CRUSHING THE ROOF THAT CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANTS, ALSO UPON IMPACT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8005294

Incident

Jul 3, 1999