1998 Ford Explorer Body & Structure Problems

Your car's door locks have stuck and wouldn't unlock since you bought it new, and the door lock system has never been properly repaired by the dealership. You've also experienced issues with the back door not closing properly, steering wheel control buttons melting, the overdrive switch slipping out of position, and the speedometer not showing the correct speed. Fixing these issues will likely require inspection and replacement of the door lock actuators, door latch mechanism, and potentially the instrument cluster and steering wheel pad.

Your passenger door latch has failed and the door won't open from either the outside or inside, making that seat unusable. Your driver's door lock occasionally sticks, and the door requires multiple attempts to close properly. The door latch mechanisms likely need replacement or repair to restore normal operation.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER AND GO OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH, THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS BECAME JAMMED AND WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WIND WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT WAS DISENGAGED FOR THE REAR WINDOW AND THE HINGES WERE FRACTURING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

RUNNING BOARDS ARE SO BADLY CORRODED YOU COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH TO THE ROAD. RUST SPREADING BADLY THROUGH UNDERCARRIAGE. HAD TO HAVE RUNNING BOARDS REMOVED BEFORE THEY FELL OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE FRONT DOORS. WHEN SHUTTING EITHER FRONT DOOR, RUST WOULD FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

SPOT WELDS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND ALLOWING PEDAL TO FALL BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY FORD EXPLORERS ARE EXPERIENCING AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! *TR

GAS PEDAL HOUSING FELL OFF THE WALL NHTSA ITEM #616531. *TR

ALL LOCKING DOOR MECHANISM'S HAVE FAILED AND I HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR THEM. THE REAR HATCH LOCK IS NO LONGER OPERATING UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE LOCK AND THEN, ONLY SPORADICALLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE, HAS BROKEN OFF TWICE AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THEREBY EFFECTIVELY "TRAPPING" ME IN THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AND REMOVE MYSELF FROM ANY POTENTIAL DANGER. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE CAR, I HAD TWO OPTIONS, EITHER CLIMB OUT OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE OR PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION, TURN ON THE VEHICLE, LOWER THE POWER WINDOW AND OPEN THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE, I OPTED FOR THE SECOND SOLUTION UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO ORDER A SECOND NEW DOOR HANDLE AND REPLACE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE UNLOCK BUTTON; HOWEVER, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE AND HATCH DOORS UNLOCKED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. FORD STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,099 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,050.

ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2007 AT AROUND 4:15 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME ON CHEVERLY AVENUE I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY TWO WAY RADIO FROM THE CHEVERLY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE CALLER STATED THAT MY 1998 FORD TWO DOOR, FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAD DROPPED ITS SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHEVERLY AVENUE. AT FIRST I DID NOT BELIEVE THE OFFICER, BEING THAT I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, I THOUGHT THAT HE JUST NEEDED TO TALK TO ME SO I MADE A U-TURN AND DROVE BACK TO WHERE THE OFFICER WAS PARKED. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS THE OFFICER WITH A SPARE TIRE WHICH I LATER IDENTIFIED AS BEING MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPARE TIRE. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE CABLE THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACED WAS DAMAGED, RUSTED, AND IT HAD DROPPED THE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EARLIER THAT DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE CAPITAL BELTWAY ROUTE 495 IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA AND IF THAT TIRE WOULD HAVE DROPPED I THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSY ROADWAY CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT? FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO FIND A BETTER IDEA FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND FORD OUGHT TO TELL ALL VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR SYSTEM FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO CHANGE THEM, REPLACE THEM EVERY SO MANY DAYS AND/OR USE DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT WOULD NOT RUST. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOING AT A LOW SPEED. OTHERWISE ONLY GOD WOULD KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

THE SPOT WELDS BROKE ON THE METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN COLD WEATHER, THE HINGES DO NOT HOLD THE HOOD IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE HOOD TO FALL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND NECK, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE HOOD HINGES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1998 FORD EXPLORER HAD A LIFTGATE PROBLEM. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HINGE BUSTED AT THE TOP. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE HINGES, BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE HINGE WAS NOTICED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. THE LIFTGATE CANNOT ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY DUE TO THE BROKEN HINGE. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO FORD, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY FREE REMEDY. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED YET, BUT WAS GOING TO DO SO. *AK

DOOR LOCK WAS NOT WORKING WHEN IT WAS COLD. NOW, DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS COMPLETELY OUT, THE KEY JUST TURNS IN THE LOCK AND DOES NOT WORK. THE OTHER LOCKS (PASSENGER AND BACK WINDOW) DO NOT WORK EITHER. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY MANY TIMES BEFORE LOCK WORKS, THEN YOU HAVE TO EITHER CRAWL OVER THE SEATS OR PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE LOCK ENGAGES. I WAS OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE LOCK TO WORK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR BECAUSE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. ON GOING PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS.*JB

CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER DOES NOT WORK, DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN DOOR, KEY DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT DIVIDER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOOR. THE DRIVER IS LITERALLY TRAPPED IN THE CAR. *AK

THE HOOD HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT. THE RAMS THAT HELD THE HOOD WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND CAUSED TO HOOD TO FALL DOWN. THE RAMS WERE REPLACED. *AK *NM

1998, FORD, EXPLORER, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT OPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

TAILGATE SHELL SHOWS CRACKS AROUND THE HINGES FROM METAL FATIGUE. *MR THIS APPEARED TO BE A DEFECT. *SC *JB *AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THEREFORE THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS. ALSO, THE FRAME ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR IS CRACKED NOW. *AK

I WAS CHECKING FUSES UNDER THE HOOD OF OUR 98 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HOOD CAME DOWN WITHOUT PROVOCATION, CRUSHING FINGERS ON MY LEFT HAND. THE PISTONS THAT HOLD THE HOOD UP, GAVE WAY CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. TO DATE I HAVE DIFFICULTY USING MY LEFT HAND CORRECTLY. I SPOKE WITH MANY ATTORNEYS AND THEY SAID SINCE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY SIMILAR CASES TO MINE, NONE WOULD PURSUE IT. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF THE INCIDENT. FORD MANUFACTURED A DEFECT, HARMED ME AND EVERYONE JUST WANTS TO ROUND FILE THE CASE. WOULD YOUR GROUP LIKE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY CRUSHED FINGER? IT HAPPENED, AND FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? GARRY MELOTT. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.*AK BOTH THE KEY AND KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IT WAS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SINCE LINKAGES WERE BENT AND LATCH MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE. LATCH ASSEMBLY AND ARMS WERE REPLACED. *YH

CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER DOES NOT WORK, DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN DOOR, KEY DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT DIVIDER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOOR. THE DRIVER IS LITERALLY TRAPPED IN THE CAR. I HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE AT THE DEALER TOMORROW, JULY 9, 2002. I WILL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE SERVICE PEOPLE GET IN OR GET OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN I DROP THE CAR OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL COMPONENT AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF A PERSON WAS REQUIRED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN AN IMERGENCY.*AK

CONSUMER STATE THAT ON JULY 3 1999 WHILE SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER MULITIPLE TIMES, AS A RESULT OFM THE ROLL OVER THE PASSENGER WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS, WHEN THE ROOF CAVED IN ON HIS HEAD, PASSENGER SUSTAIND PERMANENT INJURIES. *MJ

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BROKE 3 TIMES. GAS PEDAL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HEATER WENT OUT; MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A 1997 FORD PART ON THE 1998 TRUCK. FACE PLATE FOR THE RADIO, TIME IS OUT. LEVER FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OFF. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AT 25,000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST FORD I EVER OWNED AND UNFORTUNATELY THE LAST!*AK

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL, KEY CODE AND KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK VEHICLE. NOR WILL INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WORK. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT SHE WILL BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. *AK

DOORS ON DRIVER AND BACK PASSENGER SIDES WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD POSE A RISK IF QUICK EXIT IS NEEDED. *AK CONSUMER STATES UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE TRIED TO EXIT VEHICLE BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FAILED TO OPEN, CONSUMER STATES SHE HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES SHE ALSO HAS TO GO THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE TO GET INTO VEHICLE , ALSO THE BACK DOOR ON THE SAME SIDE IS BROKEN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CATCH PROPERLY. NLM

REAR HATCH DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. NLM

I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT HAS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS, THE MANUFACTURER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE. THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS SEVERAL LISTINGS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED: NHTSA ITEM # SB613200 NHTSA ITEM # SB605343 NHTSA ITEM # SB613320 ALL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ENGINE HESITATION. MY VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT CONDITION OCCURRES, WHEN PULLING INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC OR CROSSING ACROSS TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE MAY LEAVE ME AS A "SITTING DUCK". ANOTHER PERSISTANT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS A DRIVELINE VIBRATION.AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) AT MY EXPENCE, THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS ESPECIALLY UNDER A TOWING LOAD.THIS PROBLEM ALSO WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE REPAIRED, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION/REAR END IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VIBRATION CAUSED BY REAR END/TRANSMISSION DEFECTS OF IT'S TRUCKS BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN IT. IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO PROPERLY CLOSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BROTHER WAS CHECKING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE & NOTICED THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS RUSTY. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS INFORMED IT'S NORMAL DUE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT THAT WAS USED. ALSO, SEAT & ANCHOR ATTACHMENTS WERE RUSTY. VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW DUE TO LOW MILEAGE, ACCORDING TO DEALER. *AK

VIBRATION.

LEFT FENDER WELL WAS HITTING FRONT TIRE ON TURN.

LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WINDOWS HINGES THREADS WORE OUT, SCREW AND WINDOW FELL OFF ON THE DRIVER HAND AND DAMAGED LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. YH

VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL DUE TO POOR TIRE(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS) TRACTION RESLTING IN AN ACCIDENT AND DUE TO POOR STABILITY OF THE DESIGN IT RESULTED IN VEHICLE ROLL OVER.

POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING; ONCE UNLOCKED AND CONSUMER GETS OUT GO TO REAR OF PASSENGER SIDE TO TAKE INFANT OUT OF CSS, THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. IT TOOK SIX TRIES BEFORE SHE COULD GET TO THE DOOR. *AK

TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED. NLM

HATCHBACK LATCH IS LOOSE, HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN STRAIGHT UP. MGM

GRILL LOWER PANEL FAILED. YH

CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE DESIGN IS TO HEAVY AND NOT VERY STABLE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. YH

VEHICLE TILTS TO LEFT ON FLAT LEVEL SURFACE WHICH COULD RESULT IN ROLLOVER WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. *YC

HYDRAULIC HATCHBACK COLLAPSED AND SHATTERED THE REAR WINDOW. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK

FRONT BUMPER VERY FLIMSY, PLASTIC.

ADHESIVE ON ROOF LINER FAILED.