While parked for 45 minutes a fire started under the hood. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
1998 Ford Explorer electrical complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 114, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have a 1998 ford explorer 4 dr 2wd and the driver door will not open something went wrong with the lock from the inside u can open it from the outside but it wont open from the inside since that occured my anti-theft my security system and my horn also stopped working I have checked the fuses and the relays they tell me that its something in the wiring what should I do
The consumer parked the vehicle at her house for at least 7 hours. Then, vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was contacted, and they indicated that the cause of the fire was possibly electrical. Also, consumer contacted the manufacturer, who was no help at all. *ak the vehicle was totaled.
Vehicle taken to repair shop when the left turn signal did not operate. The result showed that a new computer module was needed. Then, vehicle was driven home when consumer heard a crackling noise coming from inside the steering column. Vehicle returned back to the repair shop, and mechanic determined that there was a problem with the electrical wires in the steering column. Repair was performed by the repair shop.
Underhood fire in explorer. Minor fire concentrated around cruise control deactivation switch. Fuse for that circuit blown. Xrays show total internal destruction of the switch contacts even though the plastic body is still relatively intact but charred and deformed.
Ford explorer 98, interior windows, lights, etc. Do not work. Electrial power problems interiorally. Have tried over 5 times over years to have fix by carmax and ford. Electrical problems would work for 1-2 weeks, had warranty at times. But now warranty is out carmax and ford stated it a manufactory electical issues.
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.
While driving at night the interior and exterior lighting shut off which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The rear end of the vehicle began to fish-tail and the vehicle rolled over twice. *nm all systems including the antilock brakes failed. The accident was a result of multiple system failures.
Vehicle would not start. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and dealer indicated that battery was leaking acid.
1998 ford explorer, we have had problems at different times getting the driver side door to open after the car had been unlocked. This happened several times. This might become a problem if consumer was trying to get out from the vehicle in case of an emergency.
Right turn signal periodically sticks "on" (not flashing) when commanded and sometimes comes "on" (not flashing) when the ignition is started. If left "ono" (not flashing) for more than 30-45 seconds, smoke comes out of the steering column. The smoke stops as soon as the light goes off.
1998 ford explorer eddie bauer model, caught on fire while parked in my garage at 4:00 am. Vehicle had not been driven since 5:30 pm previous evening. We were alerted by a smoke detector. Vehicle was total loss, garage & attic above garage badly damaged resulting in complete loss of our personal property stored there. Fire department report states that they think the fire started with the battery, which was original to the vehicle.
Cruise control failed while activated on 4 lane highway in washington d.c. Traffic. Then realized the horn had failed as well days later. The ford dealer seems awful aware of the problem, and the need to replace a "clock spring" in the steering column.
We have a 1998 ford explorer, we have had problems at different times getting the trunk open after the car has been unlocked. This has happened several times and one time we worked on it for over an hour before getting it unlocked. This might become a problem if you were trying to get something or someone out of the back of the vehicle in case of an emergency.
Defective alternator, rear axle seals, and oxygen sensor.
I was driving while towing a trailer and headlights, parking lights, and fog lights went out and smoke came out of the steering column. After cooling off, I drove the rest of the way holding the dimmer switch back towards me for 2-and-a-half hours.
There is a problem with the battery discharging . Also the engine was stalling . I had to take the vehicle to the shop 4 times , and finally they changed the thermostat . The battery has started discharging again
Electrical fire in steering column. While traveling at highway speeds at night, drive lights went out and steering column was glowing and smell of burnt plastic. Wiring harness, multi-function switch both melted. No after market add on or modifications made to vehicle. Ts
Vehicle was parked outside of home and without prior warning it caught on fire. Dealership was aware of problem.
Anti theft indicator illuminates, vehicle will not start. This has happened 3 times. Dealer stated computer showed no error code, cannot remedy the problem.
Immediatly after starting vehicle there was a loud explosion under the hood, then a knocking sound. Vehicle was towed to dealership, a spark plug had blown out, causing damage to engine.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
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.
1998 ford explorer 4wd mileage: 82000. The problem just started yesterday. I noticed no problems with the way the vehicle drives or handles...but the 4wd hi and 4wd lo lights on the dashboard periodically (every 5 - 10 minutes) blink 5 times simultaneously. The dash is normal for 5 minutes, and then the lights blink again. This happens repetitively whether driving in town, on the highway, etc. I have had the vehicle in 4wd auto the whole time. I have not used the 4wd very much at all!
Vehicle accelerates while consumers foot is on the brake pedal, it will accelerate when going forward and when going in reverse with the wheel turned, dealer installed a throttle plate, however that did not remedy the problem, they also installed a battery that did not remedy the problem.
Consumer stated thermostat and valvebody gasket failed.
Stalling - ford says it's not their responsibility.
Multiple severe hesitations on acceleration from stop. Close calls from oncoming traffic 2 times, most recently 8/17/01. When parked in front of home, would not start for 2 days.towed to a dealer-atchley ford in omaha. They said could find no problem and started for them ok. Has hesitated twice since then but not stalled. Told by atchley mechanic explorer does not have ignition problem. Claimed to be no error codes in processor.
Ignition often dies if accelerating from around 20 MPH -- as when accelerating from toll booth, or after slowing to turn left or right.
It started with the rear driver window intermittently not working. Then the lock drop down inside door making the door unable to unlock and open. Also engine stalled. Took to the dealer. They fixed the door but couldn't find anything wrong with the engine or the window. Window worked for them. Brought the truck home that night and while I was driving it the battery light on the dash when on and the battery gauge started fluctuating to the "h" and finally held there. Turned truck off and let sit and everything went back to normal. Didn't reacurr for a couple of days but then started up again. Abs light also started coming on and outside temp gauge started to go crazy. Also engine idle started to surge as the battery gauge surged. This was on a weekend. Took truck back to dealer. They couldn't make it do any of these things. They kept it for 5 days and drove it. Still nothing. They decided to look at the electrical system and found the maxi fuse and wiring system burnt. I asked if it could have caught fire and they said no. However I looked at your web site under consumer complaints and found the several people have complained that their explorer had caught fire because of the wiring harness. Some of these explorers were not running at the time of the fire and were parked in a garge. The dealer did replace the fuse and wiring harness however it took 11/2 weeks to get the parts in because they were backordered. Obviously there is a problem with the wiring systems. I also park mine in a garge. I am now worried and afraid to park it in the garge. I have two small children and their safety is my first concern.
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