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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,058 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford Explorer engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #100

Dec 282007

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

My daughter was driving home the car (engine) caught on fire. The fire chief was not really sure what the cause was.

- Napanoch, NY, USA

problem #99

Jan 202003

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,754 miles
4.0L SOHC engine failed within 9,000 miles of replacing timing chain cassette under Ford program oom12. Towed to a Ford dealership and was told that I would need to pay 5,800 for a rebuilt engine and there was nothing they could do with regard to oom12 which is a known problem with the Ford 4.0L SOHC engine failing prematurely.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #98

Nov 272001

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle stalls intermittently at 50 mph. Mechanic cannot find cause.

- Shelbyville, IN, USA

problem #97

Apr 182002

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Torque converter did not disengage when trying to stop the vehicle. Vehicle went through a stop sign and stopped when braking stalled the engine. Ford recommended replacing the solonoid that controls the torque converter. This is a safety issue. This failule is totally without warning and makes the vehicle difficult to stop. Stopping occures only when the brake is applied hard enough to stall the engine.

- Marshall, MI, USA

problem #96

Feb 172002

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When making turns, especially right turns, vehicle slides and almost turns over.. 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.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #95

Sep 112001

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Without warning engine is overheating and caused vehicle to stall twice.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #94

Sep 202000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

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

Engine continues to stall when driving at speeds of 30 mph. I am concerned for my safety and that of my passengers everyday.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #93

Aug 072001

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
When making a left turn or accelerating to left vehicle completely shuts down, cause unkown. Also, consumer has concerns about wheels being out of around.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #92

Jun 222001

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Ford initiated a recall on the 4.0liter single-overhead cam engine on the Ford Explorer. When I took my car in to have it check for the problem I was told that my car did have the problem but that there was no fix yet for it. One of the statements on the recall notice said that this could lead to engine damage. I asked what could happen if there was engine damage and the response I got was that the car could stall while I am driving. Then the service manage assured me that a stalled car, even when driving on the highway, is not a safety problem. I consider this to be a problem. I am amazed that Ford acknowledged that my car has a problem then told me to drive it home with my young children in the back seat. Do I have any recourse?

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #91

May 012001

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Trunk door will not shut properly. Consumer is able to slide his hand in while door is shut. Consumer contacted dmv and found out vehicle had been in an accident, consumer specifically asked for a vehicle that had not been damaged, however dealer sold it to him anyway, consumer feels deceived and is experiencing multiple problems with vehicle. Radio is inoperative at times. Hatch rubs agains frame of vehicle. Taillight and headlight are out of alignment, fog lights had lamp failure. Vehicle experiences problems with absorbing road shock, vehicle pulls to right. Check engine light illuminates, vehicle experiences low power. Rear power window motor failed. Power antenna failed. Right windshield wiper interior garnish molding loose, rear wiper blade skips center of glass, dealer replaced rear wiper arm and blade assembly. Steering gear assembly replaced due to noisy. Bumper not even.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #90

Dec 282000

Explorer

  • miles

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

No summary listed for above vehicle. (dot number: Unkown tiresize: 22575)

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #89

Aug 072000

Explorer

  • miles
While driving vehicle would vibrate once it goes over 30mph. There would be severe shaking & hard to control. This would happen when just idling or waiting. Sometimes vehicle would stall out.

- Ft Myers, FL, USA

problem #88

Jul 011999

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When vehicle comes to complete stop or when it takes off vehicle stalls without prior warning. Dealership is aware of problem. The vehicle had stalled more than six times but the cause was not known.

- Oakland, TN, USA

problem #87

Feb 242001

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No summary listed for abov evehicle.

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

problem #86

Jan 062001

Explorer

  • miles
Check engine light came on while driving vehicle, problem may have occurred because of recall (00V-422) and (00M12).

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #85

Jan 152001

Explorer

  • miles
Engine failed.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #84

Jan 032001

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle stalls for no apparent reason. Nlm

- Gainsville, VA, USA

problem #83

Jul 122000

Explorer

  • miles
When wheather is hot vehicle will lose power for a couple of seconds, then it will come back on.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #82

Dec 232000

Explorer

  • miles
Ongoing problem with noise coming from engine. Vehicle taken to dealer for inspection. Please feel free to provide any further details.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #81

Oct 022000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Consumer vehicle stalls intermittently, the dealer has replaced the fuel filter, timing guide and now they propose to replace the fuel pump and check for carbon deposits in the rngine but they cannot guarantee this will stop the stalling. Nlm

- Morristown, TN, USA

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