Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 147 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 147, in the owner's own words
SPEED CONTROL GETS HOT TO TOUCH. ALL TOP FACING HAS MELTED OFF FROM HEAT. I WAS ON HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. MY SEAT WAS REPAIRED AFTER RECALL YEARS AGO. IT CONTINUES TO DROP LOW TO FLOOR.
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
UPON GETTING INTO MY CAR THE SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARDS , THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. THE POST THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION BROKE. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE FOR RECALLS I FOUND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BUT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE DEALERS DATA BASE SO THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE REPAIRS. I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR
ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO I STARTED TO NOTICE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT RECLINING AND I COULDN'T RESET IT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THROUGH THE YEARS THE RECLINE GOT WORST AND I CONTACTED FORD AND ADVISED THEM THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THEIR RECALL # 03V281000. FORD RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT I ALREADY GOT SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL AND THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I PURCHASED ANOTHER SEAT AND RECENTLY HAD IT INSTALLED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ORIGINAL SEAT MY MECHANIC AND I NOTICED A STRESS CRACK ON THE RECLINING BRACKET OF THE SEAT. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT FORDS RECALL REMEDY DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECTIVE RECLINING BRACKET THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM NOT THE UPPER BOLT THEY REPLACED. I HAVE WORKED AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW A STRESS CRACK WHEN I SEE IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. I HAD ROUGHLY A INCH LEFT BEFORE THE BACK OF THE SEAT WOULD SNAP AND RECLINE TOTALLY. DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AND TERRAIN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THIS COULD BE TRAGIC. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD NUMEROUS TIMES AND IN THEIR LAST LETTER THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ME ANYMORE. I KEPT THE ORIGINAL SEAT AND CAN SEND YOU PHOTOS IF YOU NEED THEM.
AUGUST 18TH 2010 1:30 PM PEARLAND TX . A FORD EXPLORER 4 DOORS GET HIT IT IN THE BACK BY OTHER VEHICLE WILL IS IN STOP POSITION; ABOUT 40/50 MILES P/H. THE FRONT PANEL GET BROKE, THE STEREO FLU TO THE FRONT HITTING THE DRIVER. AND THE AIR BAG "DO NOT OPEN" DRIVER COULD BE INJURED ON THE FACE AND AT THE ARMS. ALSO THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKE IN THE BACK
WIPERS WORKS WHEN THEY WANT TOO. POWER WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS WHEN THEY WANT TOO. *TR
I DRIVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE LOCKS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HAVE JAMMED, PREVENTING THE OCCUPANT FROM OPENING THE DOOR. THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN VERY COSTLY (AROUND $800 TOTAL), AND THE FAULTY/JAMMED LOCKS HAVE POSED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS, SINCE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE ARM REST TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. ASAP. IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR ME. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE A HELP TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE A FIRE OR WORSE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER IN THE CAR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE FRIEND WHO HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE OVER THE ARM REST ENDED UP WITH A SORE BACK. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
DOOR LOCKS ARE STUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR
I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT OPERATE USING ANY OF THE THREE AVAILABLE METHODS FOR UNLOCKING. THE REMOTE KEY FOB OPERATION, THE EXTERIOR DRIVER DOOR ENTRY PAD OR THE INTERIOR LOCKING MECHANISM DO NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE DOORS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN PUT IN TO ANY OTHER GEAR THAN 'PARK' AND THE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPENED USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE WHICH IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE REAR DOOR OF MY 4-DOOR VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TODAY TO REPLACE A SIMILAR VEHICLE (1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT) THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THANKFULLY WHEN I TOTALED THE VEHICLE IN AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT THE DOOR DID NOT STICK CLOSE WITH THE LOCK BEING THE CULPRIT. *TR
DOORS AND LOCKS ON MY 1998 FORD HAS BEEN OUT OF ORDER THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO!! I SAW THAT IT HAD A RECALL IN 1999 I GUESS THE LAST OWNER DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IM SOMETIMES LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR 10-15 MIN AT A TIME!! I WAS WONDERING CAN YOU DO SOMETHING OR IS IT TOO LATE!! I REALLY NEED TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WHEN I LEAVE WORK IT'S DARK!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT TOUCHES AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT. SHE COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. HIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER), ALTHOUGH NO FAILURES WERE OCCURRING AT THE MOMENT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE BOLT FAILED. AFTER BEING DENIED OF THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURES BEGAN TO OCCUR A WEEK LATER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD RECLINE BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE ISSUE OCCURRED OVER TEN TIMES, BUT THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN A TIMELY FASHION, THE BOLT SHEARED; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,565.
ONE DAY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER, PARKED IN MY GARAGE, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. WHENEVER THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE LOCKS THE DOORS WHEN I AM DRIVING OR I LOCK THE DOOR USING MY KEY FOB, IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE EXTERIOR. I HAVE TO REACH IN FROM THE REAR DOOR (OR IF I AM IN THE DRIVERS SEAT) AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH A VERY STRONG PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AS YET. I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS SITUATION FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AS OF TODAY. TEDWARDS *TR
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. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS PERMANANTLY LOCKED....A SMALL SPRING FELL OUT OF DOOR. IT STARTED ABOUT 7 MONTHS WHEN THE HANDLE WAS GETTING A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO PULL. YOU COULD FEEL THE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND HANDLE...ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE PANEL AROUND THE HANDLE FELL OUT AND I FOUND A SMALL SPRING ON THE TRUCKS FLOOR....FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT NOT THE INSIDE. VERY SCARY THOUGHT TO KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE IN ACCIDENT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT FROM THE INSIDE HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT THE DOOR WONT OPEN AT ALL (FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE!). ITS SUCH A PAIN TO HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE VEHICLE TO GET IN AND OUT AND IM PRETTY SURE THIS VERY UNSAFE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. I KNOW IT CANT BE SOMETHING I DID TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECTLY FINE WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT 2 YEARS AGO. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, YET NO SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN MADE...ANY IDEAS ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, SEEING HOW IM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND AM LITERALLY "STUCK" IN IT TILL ITS PAID OFF. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF..NOW IS SAFETY ISSUE, CAN'T ADJUST SEAT BACK.. MANY ANGRY PEOPLE ON THE FORD TRUCK "EXPLORERFORUM.COM" HAVE SAME PROBLEM...SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL...FORD SELLS A REDESIGNED STRONGER PART #XL2Z7862649AA.. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY MOVEMENT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. IF THE CONTACT LEANED BACK TOO HARD, THE SEAT WOULD RECLINE ONTO THE REAR SEAT. WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALER CONCERNING NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY: RECLINER) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY DO NOT HONOR NHTSA RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,400.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED TOWARDS THE REAR SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR UNTIL THE CONTACT PAYS $400 TO HAVE ANOTHER MECHANISM OF THE SEAT RECLINER REPAIRED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT TECHNICAL ISSUES AND THAT THE DEALER WOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
1998 FORD EXPLORER, DOOR LOCKS FAIL AND CAN'T GET OUT, CAN NOT BE OPEN WITH KEY OR REMOTE, CAN'T EVEN BE SLIM JIMMIED.. DEALER TELL ME THAT THE ENTER DOOR HAS TO BE TORN APART AND IT WILL COST $500.00... THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFELY HAZARD. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS IN A ACCIDENT OR STARTS FIR AND PASSENGERS CAN'T GET OUT...SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB
LIFTED HOOD, ENGAGED HYDRAULIC AIR LIFT FEATURE TO HOLD HOOD UP. HOOD SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FELL, STRIKING MY LEFT UPPER ARM, CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING AND PAIN. NO ACTION TAKEN YET TO REMEDY SITUATION OTHER THAN I WILL NOT OPEN HOOD UNLESS I HAVE A STICK OR SOME SORT OF DEVICE TO HOLD HOOD OPEN. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS PERMANENTLY STUCK CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO STAY JAMMED. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THREE DOORS AND THE REAR HATCHBACK FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DOOR LOCKS FELT LOOSE, WHILE THE DOOR IS MANUALLY UNLOCKED, PRIOR TO EACH FAILURE. THE REAR LEFT DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR. THE REAR RIGHT DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THE REAR HATCH FAILED TO UNLOCK ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. UPDATED 01/19/07.*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEYLESS ENTRY WAS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED. AFTERWARDS, THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED, AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER UNLOCKS AND CANNOT BE OPENED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ENTIRE LOCK ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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