116 of the 2,374 complaints about the 1998 Ford Explorer are about the suspension — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,500 miles.
116
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND ONE DAY IT STARTED ACTING WEIRD. MY STEREO STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND COMING IN BY ITSELF. A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEREO AND INFORMATION CENTER WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON. MY TRUCK WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 30MPS CAUSE IT WON'T SHIFT EITHER. COUPLE DAYS AGO IT STARTED BACK FIRING. WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11170910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULD TIP OVER AND SWAYED WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #10730295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A NOISE EMITTED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BEING MANEUVERED. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHENEVER MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10480865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
DURING THE ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE TWO FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER LINK BOLTS WERE BROKEN. EACH BOLT HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF RUST AND CORROSION AT THE UPPER END WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE STABILIZER. THIS RESULTED IN A DEGRADATION OF HANDLING ABILITY, WHICH IN A SUV VEHICLE WITH HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY, COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PARTS WERE REPLACED AND I AM RETAINING WHAT IS LEFT OF THE FAILED PARTS FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
NHTSA complaint #10222723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FAILURE OF FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY. WHEEL BROKE LOOSE LEAVING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10205524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT: CONTACT STATED THAT RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE HAD REPLACE THE BRAKES, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED , THE ANTI LOCK SENSORS WHERE REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED . THE AIR BAGS ARE ALSO DEPLOYED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT VIBRATES ON THE LEFT SIDE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON A RACK TRYING TO LINE THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD NOT LINE UP. THEY FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS BAD, ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE FRAME IS BENT BEYOND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10142752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A BROKEN SWAY BAR LINK PIN. HE STATES THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE THEY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND THEN PULL TO THE RIGHT REAL BADLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINK PIN TWICE. THIS STARTED ON AUGUST 4, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON AUGUST 8, 2005 . THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED LESS THAN 20 DAYS LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10139326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKE ROTORS
NHTSA complaint #10128418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKE ROTORS
NHTSA complaint #10128418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKE ROTORS
NHTSA complaint #10128418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
SINCE PURCHASING A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE MY WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND DAMAGED THE SPINDLE. THIS WAS A $500 EXPENSE AS THE SPINDLE WAS A DEALER PART. WHEN I PURCHASED IT THERE WERE 26000 MILES ON IT...THERE WERE ABOUT 36000 WHEN THE BEARINGS WENT OUT...JUST AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEN, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE UPPER AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GOT A HOLE BURNED IN IT. AGAIN, FORD COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY KIND OF HELP AND SAID IT WAS A $800-1000 REPAIR. ON A SIDE NOTE, THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD. IN FACT, RECALLS WERE MADE BY FORD TO REPLACE THE INTAKES FREE OF CHARGE TO FLEETS BUT NOT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. JUST RECENTLY MY FREEZE PLUGS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED MY CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS HAS BEEN QUOTED BY FORD AS A $1300 REPAIR. I CALLED FORD TO SEE ABOUT SOME SORT OF GOODWILL WARRANTY AND OF COURSE ANYTHING WITH GOODWILL IN THE EQUATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FORD WILL NOT DO. I CURRENTLY HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT ON THE LOAN FOR A PIECE OF CRAP CAR THAT ISN'T EVEN WORTH HALF OF WHAT I STILL OWE ON IT. I AM REALLY THINKING OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND PARKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ENTRY WAY AND TAKING THE KEYS WITH ME AND TELLING THEM TO STICK IT UP THEIR REARS. FORD MAKES THE WHOLE CAR INDUSTRY LOOK REALLY BAD AND IN NO WAY WOULD I EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS OUT AND MAKE THE GAME FAIR BETWEEN THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS...WE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE THEY KEEP GETTING RICHER AND RICHER.
NHTSA complaint #10082273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE LOCKED UP AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR OF DRIVING. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IT WILL COST CONSUMER $100.00 JUST FOR FORD TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT WAS AFRAID THAT HE WILL.
NHTSA complaint #10081416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IN JANUARY I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE STEERING SEEMED OFF AND I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE SUSPENSION--THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION. I WAS TOLD I WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND I WOULD HOPE THIS COULD BE INVESTIGATED TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD OCCUR IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NO ONE REALIZES IS OUT THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10060348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER "EDDIE BAUER" AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN PULL TO THE LEFT. UPON ARRIVING AT OUR MECHANIC, LA AUTOBODY - NEWTON MA, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WERE MISSING BOTH OF OUR SWAY BARS. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM FORD TRUCK OWNERS? IF SO WHEN WILL A RECALL BE DEMANDED BY THE NHTSA. ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES AND IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10047037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS HEAVY REAR VIBRATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD TO THIS POINT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10040271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, REAR AXLE SEALS, AND OXYGEN SENSOR. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10026545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10022602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING UPPER BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10021872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WARPED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END FELT LOOSE AND VEHICLE WAS VEERING TO THE RIGHT DUE TO CRACKED BALL JOINTS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED, AND A RED BROWN LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE POWER STEERING RACK WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TIMING GEAR, AND UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS.
NHTSA complaint #10017752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD RIGHT FRONT TIRE GOT SUCKED INTO CAR. VEHICLE SWERVED, AND HIT A TREE AND EXPLODED. VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT FROM VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8018246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE SHAKES AND WILL NOT STAY IN LANE, AND STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RACK AND PINION INSTALLED, BUT IT STARTED LEAKING AND BECOME LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #8013098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEIR IS A LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, AND UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE VIBRATES.CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8012510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WANDERED FROM LANE TO LANE.
NHTSA complaint #8011446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SHAKES BAD, NO SHOCK REBOUND, SWAYS AND HARD TO STEER.
NHTSA complaint #762662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHEN MAKING TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE SLIDES AND ALMOST TURNS OVER.*AK. 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.
NHTSA complaint #8008389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON GOING SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT WHEELS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW PARTS WOULD ELIMINATE THE NOISE, BUT IT HAS NOT.
NHTSA complaint #8005927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY GOING 60MPH WHEN A LOSS OF STEERING CAUSED VEHICLE TO JERK SIDE TO SIDE AND ROLL OVER. METAL FATIGUE CAUSED THE HYDRUALIC RACK AND PINION TO BURST AND LEAK FLUID. THIS MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #8004713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER, RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER, THE ROOF CRUSHED IN ON THE PASSENGER AND BROKE HIS NECK, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8004650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
THERE WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT STABILIZER BAR BROKE ON LEFT SIDE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8003562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.