Print this page

8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$300
Average Mileage:
174,500 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. replace all oxygen sensors (1 reports)
1998 Ford Explorer engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1998 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #3

Oct 012013

Explorer Sport V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 250,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This problem started last fall. when i start the car the engine will rev up and down, continuously till it warms up adequately which takes forever. i usually give it about a 5 min warm up time but it will still be revving up and down when i start driving it will do this for usually the first mile of driving, i have to keep foot on the gas when stopped or it dies, if the light is green and i can make my right turn the car will die and i have to pop the clutch to restart it. after its really warm the rev up stops, when i park it to go into a store and have been in a long while the car will do the rev up thing again for the first 5 mins or so. if i'm in the store a short few mins the car starts up and runs and idles fine.

I've asked several people with one person saying it was the actuator? another said it was the gas, to much ethanol in the gas these days they said is ruining a lot of motors i have yet to take it to the shop as i am on disability with very limited income. im at a place now where i can take it to a shop for repair but am leery of being ripped off, mechanics have a tendency to take advantage of women thinking we don't know much about cars and will believe what they say and pay the cost. i always try to ask around to see if someone might know what is causing the problem, or could be causing the problem so at least i have an idea of the cost and i can tell this info to the mechanic who will then know that i'm at least somewhat knowledgeable bout cars.

i've seen several complaints with this same issue but haven't seen any resolutions has anyone who has had this problem had it fixed? what was the cause? and did the fix remain permanent or did the problem recur? as far as i know this is the only prob with the engine, id like to keep the car or rather i have to keep the car and have it repaired since i cannot afford to buy a car and have car payments can anyone help me or provide some suggestions? i appreciate any and all answers. T

- Theresa S., Rogers, AR, US

problem #2

Aug 202008

Explorer 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,557 miles

Ford sucks really what the hell were the designers thinking in some spots you have to be an octopus with eight arms and a hell of alot of patience to even try to work on these things. You know some of us working class people can't afford the standard $120 per hour shop charge and need to save some money and do it our selves, all it comes down to is that ford is a bunch of greedy pricks who make vehicles that only they can work on and charge what ever they want and screw the little guy. I've been to ford several times and the only smart things there are the dam computers

- Dennis S., Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

problem #1

Jul 082007

(reported on)

Explorer Black Edition 4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,847 miles

When starting the cold engine, in stationary the engine runs very bad. It goes high and falls right back again, and goes between 400 and 1000 up and down, and finally the engine stops. The first few miles I have to keep the engine running, keeping one foot on the brakes and the other on the gas. When the engine is warm and I would start again, there seems to be no problem, although it's not really steady and too low in stationary (about 500). We've tried everything you could think of, but here in Holland it's very hard to find someone who understands American engines and no one has been able to find out what the problem is... HELP.

By the way, the engine does the same on both gasoline and LPG (gas). Hope someone is able to help us out. Thanks.

- jessicatb, Doetinchem, Gelderland, Netherlands

Not what you are looking for?