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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,200 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #15

Feb 262007

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles

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

Last night I pulled into my driveway after coming home from work, my family had dinner and I was sitting down in the living room to play with my 2 year old son. I heard a popping sound and asked my wife what was that noise, she looked out the window and yelled your car is on fire ! my car burned to the ground!!!

- Lantana, FL, USA

problem #14

Apr 142006

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles
1998 Ford Explorer parked in garage had spontaneous fire in engine compartment department put out fire. This was a cruise control deactivation switch fire. It may have been reported to you by police, insurance, or fire dept. If so, just let me know you have the information.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #13

Feb 252006

Explorer 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
1998 Ford Explorer, 5.0, sn [xxx], speed control after learning about the fires caused by the speed control on other Ford vehicles I check the '98. Voltage is measured at the speed control disengage switch located on master cylinder. Using a voltage meter I measured 12 volts to this switch with the ignition switch in the off position with the key removed. This indicates that the switch is hot 100% of the time. I have not had a failure yet, but am concerned that this represents a possible failure in the future causing the vehicle to urn up. I have noted that there have been 16 failures and fires on 1998 Ford Explorer do to this problem. Updated 07/17/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #12

Jul 272005

Explorer 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The engine caught on fire while the car was sitting there. This did happened on July 27, 2005. The firemen could not determine what started the fire. The vehicle had been sitting for approximately four hours before it caught on fire. The vehicle had not been driving any different before this happened.

- La Vernia, TX, USA

problem #11

Jun 272005

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles
Fire started in vehicle in the garage of our home

- Martinez, GA, USA

problem #10

May 152004

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles
On May 15, 2004, I was fishing in a local bass tournament. I parked my 1998 Ford Explorer beside one of my fishing friends Chevy truck and boat trailer. After launching my partner for the days boat, I parked his truck and trailer on the other side of my Explorer. Approximately 4 hours later, my partner and I were approched by another friend and told us we were needed back at the parking lot that my Explorer had burned to the ground, burned the Chevy with the trailer to the ground and scorched paint and melted parts of my partners truck. The Chevy truck and my Explorer were total losses and I lost a lot of personal items that insurance did not pay for. State farm claim # 18-1010-243

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #9

Feb 142005

Explorer

  • 105,000 miles

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

While parked for 45 minutes a fire started under the hood. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #8

Sep 172004

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles
Underhood fire in Explorer. Minor fire concentrated around cruise control deactivation switch. Fuse for that circuit blown. Xrays show total internal destruction of the switch contacts even though the plastic body is still relatively intact but charred and deformed.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #7

May 072002

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle was parked outside of home and without prior warning it caught on fire. Dealership was aware of problem.

- Miama, FL, USA

problem #6

Apr 092001

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle was parked in off position for over ten minutes and caught on fire in engine compartment. Also, vehicle was serviced for recall 00V422000 regarding throttle. Consumer not sure if cause of fire was due to that problem.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #5

Nov 012000

Explorer

  • miles

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

Fire under hood while vehicle parked, with power off. Vehicle sat for 5 hrs, then fire started. Flames under hood and from rear window defogger connection. Battery then exploded. No fire under car. Passenger compartment untouched.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #4

Jul 212000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Multi unit radio system, the clock/station displayed went out.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #3

May 312000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Ford said that they were not interested in looking at the vehicle to determine what the cause was. The engine fire occurred 3 1/2 hours after the vehicle was parked. It was parked in the street, but it is normally in my garage. If it had been in the garage, my house would have caught fire and my family could have been killed. I will never feel confortable with it in the garage again. Is there something that you can do ?

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #2

May 312000

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After parking vehicle for 3.5 hours engine compartment broke out into a fire. The fire was determined to be an electrical short. Dealer has been contacted.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #1

Apr 091998

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving the truck lost all power and electricity. Took the truck to dealer and they said that they fixed an alternator wire loom for excess, and replaced a part of the power distributor box. The nut to the alternator wire loom was left loose which could cause the truck to melt from the mounted plate that they could not tighten.

- Tarzana, CA, USA

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