Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 29 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 29, in the owner's own words
I WAS GOING DOWN CLINTON KEITH IN MURRIETA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PASSED 3RD. IT WAS WORKING FINE THE DAY BEFORE. SO I TOOK IT SLOW BACK HOME AND THE CLOSER I GOT HOME THE TRANSMISSON STARTED SLIPPING GEARS.
REAR END ROARS AND SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE ALLOWING THE CHAIN TO SLIP. IT WAS A RECALL PROBLEM BUT I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE PROBLEM MUST NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, OR ELSE THE RECALL DIDN'T GET DONE PROPERLY. AFTER THE REPAIR IT HASN'T HAD GOOD OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE. IT IS TOO BAD THAT FORD PUT THIS MOTOR IN SO MANY VEHICLES AND DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEY. IT IS POOR DESIGN IN MY OPINION TO HAVE FOUR TIMING CHAINS ON A 4.0 LITER MOTOR IS CRAZY. I WISH THAT FORD WOULD HAVE PUT MORE EFFORT INTO SEEING THAT MY VEHICLE WERE RECALLED AND NOT ALLOWED TO DEPRECIATE BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHER EXPLORER. *TR
MY 1998 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT MOVE AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT IN ANY GEAR IT SQUEALS. *TR
VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM STOPPED AND BRAKE POSITION FOR 3 SECONDS AND THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND O2 SENSORS HAVE TO BE REPLACE EVERY THIRTY TO FORTY THOUSAND MILES. NOW O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAR DRIVES LIKE IT IS IN FIRST GEAR, SHIFTS HARD. *TR
98 FORD EXPLORER IS THERE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION 2 WHEEL DRIVE
DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE, DIFFERENTIAL, WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER HAVING 60,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID REPLACED WITH SYNTHETIC ,TO FORD SPECS. DIFFERENTIAL GEARS AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DISENTIGRATED. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL. COULD HAVE CAUSED GEARS TO LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT SEALS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK
AT ABOUT 73,000 MILES THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER.
WHILE DRIVING, REAR AXLE BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CAUSING A VEHICLE ROLL OVER. DRIVER INJURED. *AK *YH
APRIL 2, 2002, WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT FREEWAY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. THE TIRE CAME OFF THE CAR AND SAILED THROUGH THE AIR. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN A SEVERE SKID AND VEHICLE ROLL-OVER. CRASH RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING LARGE BUMP ON HEAD FROM ROOF COLLAPSE AND A CONCUSSION. NUMEROUS CUTS, BRUISES, AND SEVERE MUSCLE STRESS/STRAIN OF NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. ALSO RECEIVED DEEP CONTUSION ON CHEST DUE TO SEAT BELT RETRACTION. I FEEL BLESSED TO BE ALIVE TO MAKE THIS REPORT. 2 WEEKS AFTER ACCIDENT STILL EXPERIENCING BODY PAIN. I CAN JUST NOW TALK ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER WITHOUT CRYING. MY FAMILY AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND ACT AS IF IT HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND, ACTION ASLO FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION. FORD INVOICE INDICATES CUSTOMER STATEMENT RESULTING IN R&R TRANSMISION AND OVERHAL, TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DETERMIN
I FEEL THIS SUV IS VERY UNSAFE FORD AND DEALERSHIP STATE OTHERWISE. NO SAFETY DEFECT RECORDED. *AK
SUV SURGES WHEN BACKING BACK BOAT AND TRAILER.
HOOD LATCH FAILED. *SLC
BEARING FAILED CAUSED BY DIRT PASSING BY SEAL/ CAUSING SQUEAK IN FRONT L/R SIDES / WILL CAUSE BEARING FAIL "FORD SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THAT FORD KNOWS IS "ONLY FRONT DRIVE TRAIN COMPONET NOT COVERED. HAVE HAD TO REQUEST PAST RECALLS TO BE DONE AFTER 8 TIMES BEING TOLD THEY DID IT, I FOUND OUT WAS LIED TO AND HAD TO CONTACT YOU IN PAST TO GET FORD TO FIX. ATTY. GENERAL AZ HAS COMPLAINT FILED. *AK
UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *SLC
RR AXLE SHAFT BROKEN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND OVERTURNED. (N.C. CRASH REPORT) *MJS
4X4 AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING WHEN UNDER HEAVY LOAD ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS ARE NOT SLIPPING, 4X4 SELECTOR IS IN THE AUTO POSITION AND NO ERROR CODES ARE DISPLAYED OR FOUND. CAUSES PULSATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AND GROANING NOISES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOISE AND PULSTATION GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE LOAD IS DECREASED AND OR 4X4 IS SWITCHED TO 4X4 HIGH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE 4X4 COMPUTER AND CHECKED THE AXLES AND DIFFERENTIAL, PROBLEM STILL EXITS. DEALER HAS STATED THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY WILL TRY AND GET A TECHNICIAN FROM FORD THREE WEEKS AGO.
WHEN I TRIED TO USE THE AC IN MARCH IT BLEW OUT ONLY HOT AIR. A NEW COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE PUT IN IT. IT STILL LEAKS UNDER THE DASH WHEN IT RAINS HARD OR GOING THROUGH CAR WASH. REAR WIPER MOTOR BURNT OUT. WIPER WOULD NOT WORK, HAD TO BE REPLACED. REAR SEAL, PINON SEALS, AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR PANEL AND WINDOW RATTLED REALLY BAD. HAD REPAIRED. NOW FRONT DRIVER DOOR PANEL AND WINDOW RATTLES. HAD A "VIBRATING" NOISE REPAIRED. WHEN VEHICLE IDLED A PIECE OF METAL VIBRATED. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE GONE TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY WON'T COME ON. I HAVE TO TURN THE BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WILL COME ON. AFTER MY AUTO HAS SET OVERNIGHT AND I START IT, IT IDLES VERY ROUGH FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN STICKING FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS. ONLY WHEN YOU INITIALLY PUSH ON THE GAS TO GO. YOU HAVE TO TAP ON IT TO GET IT TO UNSTICK; THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, THE PA
VIBRATION IN DRIVETRAIN. MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN ACCELERATING ON UPHILL GRADE. OCCURS AT AROUND 35 MPH. NOT RELATED TO TIRES OR WHEELS, ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
PROBLEM IS AN ALMOST CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE THAT DEALER SAYS CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PERMENANT FIX. REFER TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 12328.12329. DEALER REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM, OR THAT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT FALL OFF. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT MGR. FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS AND PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF CARS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. MY OBSERVATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING OR SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS SOUND IS A METAL ON METAL RUBBING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FRICTIION, HEAT AND PERHAPS PARTS FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM.
SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 12328 - SOME 1998/1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER 4X4 VEHICHLES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL/WHISTLE TYPE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AT SPEEDS FROM 10MPH TO 40MPH. THIS NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM THE FRONT HALFSHAFT EXCLUDER SEALS(3K070) AS THEY ROTATE AGAINST THE INNER HUBS. IF A VEHICLE COMES IN FOR THIS CONCERN, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE; 1. PERFORM THE FRONT HALF SHAFT REMOVAL PROCEDURE PER SECTION 205-04-6 THROUGH 205-04-8 OF THE 1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER WORKSHOP MANUAL. 2. CLEAN THE EXTENDED LIP OF THE FRONT WHEEL EXCLUDER SEALS(3K070), THE INNER SURFACE OF THE KNUCKLE(3K185/3K186) IN WHICH THE WHEELS RIDE AGAINST THE AXLE SHAFT OIL SEALS(3254). 3. SPREAD APPROXIMATELY 1/8" THICK BEAD OF HIGH TEMP WHEEL BEARING GREESE(PART #E8TZ-19590-A) ONTO THE SEAL LIPS&SURFACES THEY CONTACT. 4. PERFORM THE FRONT HALFSHAFT INSTALLATION PROCEDURE PER SECTION 205-04-8 OF THE 1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER WORKSHOP MANUAL. VERIFY THAT THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN AVAILABLE. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE THE SEALS UNLESS THEY ARE DAMAGED.
WE HEAR A LOUD HISSING/WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD IS WORKING ON FIXING THE PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. STEVE AND GAYLENE SCHMITZ
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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