1998 Ford Explorer Sport: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Jan 15, 2009 · Engine · 158,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport. The vehicle caught fire while parked. The police and fire departments were notified. The entire front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames and damaged. The vehicle was towed to an impound. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not on fire when they disconnected the cruise control. There was no power running through the vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 158,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2006 · Acceleration · 138,000 miles · VA · fire

I arrived back from taking my son to the park at approximately 6:00pm, watched tv and then fired up the grill around 7:45pm. I came back in the house and heard a loud noise. I yelled upstairs to my husband and asked if he had heard the noise, he yelled back and said, call 911 your truck is on fire. He immediately began to fight the fire with two fire extinguishers and the water hose. We were scared as the fire department had not yet arrived and we were worried it was going to blow up as it was only approximately 7 feet from the house. The fire department showed us the area in which the fire started which was under the hood on the driver's side, however, deemed it indeterminable. I was in shock that this occurred as I only had one payment left to payoff the loan. I researched and found out that the same vehicles that were being recalled by ford for a faulty cruise control switch was also used on my 1998, however, had not been recalled. After much research, I have found there are several other vehicles that are the same year as mine were catching on fire for no apparent reason without warning. There have been recalls, however, not on my particular vehicle. Ford sent me a form letter that was addressed to my husband with our address, however, the letter states dear ms. X. (a true indication of their concern for my issue) I am angered that there have been so many vehicles that have burst into flames without warning, burned down cars and homes and lives lost and ford believes they have no responsibility. Could they have not issued a consumer alert for all vehicles and at least afforded the consumer the opportunity to make a decision to pay $20 to replace this part? I will be paying to have a thorough investigation done to prove to ford that they are in fact responsible and will take this as far as I have to. Someone needs to investigate the number of complaints and do something to inform the public of this hazard and potentially save someone's life.

Filed Apr 25, 2005 · Acceleration, Engine · 94,000 miles · FL · fire

After vehicle was parked for six hours the owner was awakened by some neighbors and informed that vehicle was on fire. Which was coming out of the fender well and consumed the entire vehicle. The fire department was called to the sceneand determined that cruise control was cause of the fire.

Filed Apr 10, 2005 · Electrical · FL

I took my 1998 ford explorer sport to my local dealership because my brake lights were not working (I can only guess how long they were not operating). After doing a diagnostic they determined I had to replace my (forgive me, as I am not mechanical, but it is all on my receipt) cruise control harness as the component had completely melted. My cruise control had stopped working a couple of months earlier, but I had not bothered to fix it. The cruise control had gotten so hot that it burned a hole through my master cylinder so that it also needed to be replaced. I am notifying you because I feel my and my family's safety were jeopardized in three ways: inoperable brake lights, the fire hazard of the cruise control, and consequently poor brakes.

Filed Mar 25, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 80,000 miles · SC

Speed control switch failed on my 1998 ford explorer, resulting in cruise control failure, major electrical short circuit, blown 20a fuse, no tail lights, leaking brake fluid from master cylinder thru faulty switch, and wires, switch and connector burned approximatly six inches back from switch. Switch was burned, also. A new switch was put on the vehicle, along with a pigtail (wires & connector), the brake system had to be bled and a new fuse installed. At that time, I knew nothing of a defect. Ford said nothing of the problem. The repair was made 1/14/05. To the best of my knowlege, the defect is not corrected, but only repaired as it was originally equipped. When I heard about the recall, it did not include my 1998, explorer, sport. I have saved the old switch. The new switch number is sw-5945, f3tz-9f924-bb.

Filed Nov 26, 2003 · Acceleration, Locks · GA

Over the last year my 1998 ford explorer 2 door sport has been loosing some interior electrical features. The first was the display lights on the radio. They would come and go..... Now the display is totally gone. However the radio, cd player and tape deck still work. I just can't see what track, station, or the time. Then the next electrical problem was the driver side power unlock switch. I can lock all the doors but I cannot unlock the doors, next the lights went out on the left side of my dash..... I can't remember if this was the same time the lights went out on the steering wheel controls (cruise control settings) or if that went out separately. Now........ I cannot unlock the driver door with a key. I can move the key around and unlock the other doors but not the driver door. I have to go through the passenger side and yank on the driver handle several times before the door will open. This is very inconvenient. I plan on taking the vehicle to the dealership for repairs..... But I have heard several other explorer owners having the same problems...... Should ford repair this at their cost? It seems to me this is a ford issue and not something I have done to the vehicle, especially if other owners are having the same problem. Sounds like something is defective in the electrical harness.