1998 Ford Explorer Sport electrical problems

Filed Jul 20, 2009 · Acceleration, Brakes · 132,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer sport. The contact stated that the tail lights failed and the fuses would continuously blow out. An independent mechanic installed new fuses in the vehicle and made the necessary repairs, but the fuses blew out again the same day. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic. While at the repair shop, the vehicle caught fire due to the master cylinder. The mechanic was able to extinguish the fire, but the vehicle was partially destroyed and would need to be rebuilt. The manufacturer stated that there were three open recalls, one of which could result in a fire. The federal safety agency campaign id numbers 06v286000, 03v281000, and 98v060000 were referenced. The current and failure mileages were less than 132,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2007 · Electrical · FL · fire

On the way home from work, pulled into driveway and noticed the engine was on fire, contacted the local fire department who responded and extinguish the fire... The vehicle was destroyed.

Filed Jan 24, 2007 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · PA

I lost my windshield wipers, dome lights and chimes, windows, radio, 4x4. After diagnostic tests, I was told I need a new gem module. After doing a web search, I found ford did a recall on my same vehicle starting with the year after my vehicle was made. I am having the same problems, and after talking to many other people, this is not an uncommon problem for my year of vehicle. But my vehicle was not included in the recall.

Filed Aug 15, 2006 · Electrical · PW

This is not an emergency problem or safety issue but it should still be investigated. I own a 1998 ford explorer and the lights on the radio panel no longer work. So I called to have them fixed well they cant be fixed you have to purchase a new radio at $500.00. Well I was not going to do that just so the clock and radio station setting would work. As I was investigating weather this could be fixed or not I met 4 other people who have the same problem each of them also having to purchase a $500.00 radio so the lights would work. Then I started calling ford dealerships and found that everyone I have called has taken dozens of phone calls on the light problem with the radios. Now I would say at $500.00 a radio to have this fixed ford would be making quite a provite over something that sounds like a minor problem. To me it isn't a minor problem if every vehichle that has these radios has a light problem. To me and several other people I have spoke to feel this should be fords expense to fix this not the consumer. If it was just my radio that would be different but for dozens and dozens of radios to be this way is a big problem.

Filed Jul 26, 2006 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · AZ · fire

1998 ford explorer caught fire and burned in garage.

Filed Jun 27, 2006 · Electrical · PR · fire

My 1998 ford explorer caught fire in my garage after being parked for 3 hours causing extensive damage to the house.

Filed Jun 5, 2006 · Electrical · 174,537 miles · AR · fire

98 ford explorer sport engine caught fire 10 minutes after vehicle was parked at residence- engine completely burned leaving vehicle totaled.

Filed Dec 5, 2005 · Electrical · 103,000 miles · NY · fire

I am the primary driver of my niece's 1998 ford explorer sport. One afternoon I drove the 1998 ford explorer sport to the supermarket, and pharmacy. The 1998 ford explorer sport was running fine, all the gauges were in the middle, no smoke, no smells, no problems. . After arriving home I parked the ford 1998 explorer sport in my driveway, approximately 2 feet from the garage door, and approximately 4 feet from the entrance to my house. The vehicle was parked, shut off and sitting in the driveway with no problems. During the next hour, I begin to hang christmas decorations on my front door, and I was in & out of the house. The 1998 ford explorer sport was still fine in the driveway. Approximately 1 hour after I finished my decorating, I began to smell something like rubber burning. I checked my stove, and electrical outlets, and everything appeared to be fine. I figure the burning smell was coming from my neighbor's house. They had workers there drilling and making repairs. So I then continue to do my chores. Approximately 15 minutes later I went to look out my front door, and I saw dark smoke pouring out the hood of the 1998 ford explorer sport. I panicked, closed the door, grabbed the phone, ran out to the backyard, and call 911. I was to afraid to go out the front door, and also afraid to stay in the house, thinking the house and garage would also catch fire. Thank god, the fire department arrived swiftly, and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to the vehicle only, the firemen at the scene examine the 1998 ford explorer sport, and determined the fire originated under the hood, the cause appeared to be electrical.

Filed Jul 14, 2005 · Electrical · NJ

Always in the summer and sometimes during the fall/winter, the air flow sensor makes a loud, humming noise and eventually the car sometimes shuts off because of this.

Filed Jun 9, 2005 · Electrical · 20,000 miles · WA

I own a 1998 ford explorer. It only has 23,000 miles on it. I have had nothing but trouble with it. The most recent problems are I hear a loud noise in the motor area when I use the air conditioner, I also cannot get the driver window down unless I mess with it along time, I have had to replace the hood brackets 2 times, and they need replaced again. The back windshield wiper dont clean the window well enough and it gets stuck, so I have to get out and fix it. I also keep getting the 'door ajar' light on at times when the doors are all closed. I think there are some electrical problems with my explorer. I dont have the warranty anymore so they want me to pay for everything because they said all ford companies are independent. If anything happens to me or my family we'll see how independent they are. I think all explorers need to be re-checked. They were made too hasty or something.