The contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to start and smoked appeared on numerous occasions. In addition, the overhead lights in the vehicle did not work and the battery had a shortage. The contact stated that the service engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Hemet, CA, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 55 mph, the vehicle erupted into flames coming from the engine compartment into the interior of the vehicle. The contact was able to merged over and exit the vehicle as the flames were extensive and the vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was towed to a yard. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 98V060000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Bend, OR, USA

The contact owned a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact noticed smoke rising from the engine compartment, which entered the cabin of the vehicle through the air conditioning vents. Shortly afterwards, flames engulfed the entire vehicle and shattered all of the windows. The vehicle had recently been repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Gettysbury, PA, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal noise emitted from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing, who stated the timing belt failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

- Tok, AK, USA

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.

- Logan, UT, USA

The contact owned a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle engulfed into flames with the sound of a large explosion. The fire department extinguished the fire, which originated underneath the hood area. The vehicle was declared as destroyed and remained at the residence for further investigation. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Greenville, SC, USA