108 of the 2,374 complaints about the 1998 Ford Explorer are about the transmission — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 102,156 miles.
108
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
I WAS GOING DOWN CLINTON KEITH IN MURRIETA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PASSED 3RD. IT WAS WORKING FINE THE DAY BEFORE. SO I TOOK IT SLOW BACK HOME AND THE CLOSER I GOT HOME THE TRANSMISSON STARTED SLIPPING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11114246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REAR END ROARS AND SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING
NHTSA complaint #11020683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10525554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY 1998 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT MOVE AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT IN ANY GEAR IT SQUEALS.
NHTSA complaint #10510712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM STOPPED AND BRAKE POSITION FOR 3 SECONDS AND THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10444907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND O2 SENSORS HAVE TO BE REPLACE EVERY THIRTY TO FORTY THOUSAND MILES. NOW O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING AND CAR DRIVES LIKE IT IS IN FIRST GEAR, SHIFTS HARD.
NHTSA complaint #10301679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1998 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND TRANS STARTED SLIPPING BADLY ALL AT ONCE. CAN NOT DRIVE NOW. I DON'T YET KNOW HOW MUCH A NEW TRANS WILL COST, BUT VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. I BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10300152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
98 FORD EXPLORER IS THERE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION 2 WHEEL DRIVE
NHTSA complaint #10293800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE DRIVING ALONG IN OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME WE DRIVE THE CAR NOW. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT IT WAS 2000 DOLLARS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR. FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED FOR 4000 DOLLARS. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM 98-04 EXPLORERS, AS THEY SHARE THE SAME TRANSMISSION. LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ANYTIME.
NHTSA complaint #10288752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE SOMETIMES IT WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
NHTSA complaint #10272592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN 1998 FORD EXPLORER. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT FROM FORD DEALERSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 4 YRS. OLD WHEN PURCHASED. TRANS. NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AFTER FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OR APPROX. 65,000 MILES. WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AT ALL SHORTLY AFTERWARD. HARD AND LATE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, AND TRANSMISSION WILL FREQUENTLY TOTALLY DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH, ENGINE WILL REV., BUT CAR WILL START SLOWING DOWN. ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BLOW UP WHILE WAITING FOR TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY PRIVATE MECHANIC AND PROBLEM IS STILL THE SAME.
NHTSA complaint #10225915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND CLUNKS. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGING OUT OF DRIVE GEAR; WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR WHEN MOVING IN THE FORWARD (DRIVE) DIRECTION. ALMOST WAS IN WRECK DUE TO TRANSMISSION/DRIVE FAILURE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SERVICE STATION TO HAVE LOOKED AT. FAULTY SOLENOID AND STUCK MECHANISM DUE TO FAILURE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $1700.00.
NHTSA complaint #10217832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ~ HAVEN'T HAD MY VEHICLE IN ABOUT A MONTH DUE TO CONTINUINING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION
NHTSA complaint #10191709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF. I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND ACCELERATING TO 65 MPH WHEN I FELT A POP. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. DESPITE THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY A CAR THAT DIDN'T NOTICE I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY, I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAFELY. LOOKING AT THE BREAK, I THINK THE SHEET METAL HOLDING THE RIVETS WAS TOO WEAK.*AK ON 5/23/07 I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS HOT LINE. THEY REFUSED TO HELP STATING ONLY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN VERY EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND DEATHS. FORD SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND PAY FOR REPAIRS OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS USED OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD OF AN ACCELERATOR PEDDLE FALLING OFF?
NHTSA complaint #10191565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: WHILE DRIVING IN JULY THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT MECHANISM. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR WAS NOT CORRECT. THE VEHICLE HAD A NORMAL POSITION INDICATOR FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS. THEN ONE DAY IT WENT OUT OF WACK. THE REVERSE WAS WHERE NEUTRAL SHOULD BE, NEUTRAL WAS WHERE DRIVE SHOULD BE, AND DRIVE WAS WHERE SECOND GEAR SHOULD BE. THE OWNER HAS NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP OR CONTACTED THEM YET. THE OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S PERFORMANCE, THE OWNER IS JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR THE CAR WAS IN. THE OWNER ADDED THAT THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK YESTERDAY. THE OWNER WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE OWNER WAS GOING SLOWLY AND AND WENT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE GAS PEDAL WAS JAMMED. THE OWNER THINKS THE PEDAL WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND THERE WAS NO REACTION. THE OWNER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHOUTED FOR HUSBAND TO COME OVER AND LOOK. THEN SHE TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE ACCELERATOR WORKED. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND LAST TIME THE VEHICLE HAS EVER THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10134024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE, DIFFERENTIAL, WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER HAVING 60,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID REPLACED WITH SYNTHETIC ,TO FORD SPECS. DIFFERENTIAL GEARS AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DISENTIGRATED. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL. COULD HAVE CAUSED GEARS TO LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10108119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
RE:FORD EXPLORER WHEEL LOCKUP AND UNCONTROLLED SKID AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNIFICANT METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSFER CASE INDICATING SEVERE GEAR STRESS WHEN THE VEHICLE SELF SHIFTED INTO 4X4 LOW ENGAGEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10099697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
VEHICLE LOST POWER (TO ACCELERATE) YESTERDAY AFTER GRINDING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION. COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT FROM THERE. CONTINUED TO GRIND MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM ANY GEAR INTO PARK. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS A REPLACEMENT. PREVIOUS (ORIGINAL) TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REVVED (W/ LOSS OF POWER) AT INOPPORTUNE MOMENTS- WHILE ACCELERATING OR TRYING TO ACCELERATE, WHILE COASTING OR WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. BEGAN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED UNTIL JAN. 2002. I WAS GIVEN A 12-MONTH WARRANTY ON IT THEN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO COVER EVERYTHING (BUMPER TO BUMPER) TO 50,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10056198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
HAVE FORD EXEPLORER 1998 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. JERKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE AND CLUNKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN TO DRIVE. MY EXEPLORER JUST TURNED 60.000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER WORKING,I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR,FROM HAVING A WRECK AND AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING TO ALL OF THE RECALLS,HAD THE BAD TIRES AND WINDSHEILD WIPERS NOT WORKING.THEY SHOULD REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE EXEPLORER FROM THAT YEAR.IBOUGHT MY EXEPLORER IN OCT,98 OF THAT YEAR NEW. WHEN MY EXEPLORER WAS HIT HEAD ON ,THE POLICE ASKED IF I TURNED OFF MY AIRBAGS.THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10045804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE BECAUSE THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10044760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO ACCELERATE FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10037881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WILL ENGAGE ON ITS OWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #10026576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT SEALS WERE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10024711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
AT ABOUT 73,000 MILES THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER.
NHTSA complaint #10000902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERES A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED THE NOISE STOPS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM, 4X4 SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. MR *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8020953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT ENGAGE, AND INDICATOR LIGHT SAYS IT HAS ENGAGED.
NHTSA complaint #8018579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE LOST POWER TO WHEELS, GRINDING GEAR NOISE IN ALL GEARS - PARK SELECTION WOULD NOT HOLD.
NHTSA complaint #765982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE IS A MILD TO MODERATE VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR BOARD, AND CENTER CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (MOST OBVIOUS AT APPROXIMATELY 65 - 70 MPH). IT SEEMS WORSE WHEN APPLYING SLIGHT THROTTLE, AND SEEMS TO SUBSIDE WHEN YOU LET COMPLETELY OFF THE THROTTLE.
NHTSA complaint #764171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
EXPERIENCING A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AT LOW SPEED (FORWARD AND REVERSE).
NHTSA complaint #763459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.