1998 Ford Explorer: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Dec 6, 2019 · Airbags, Electrical · NC · crash

My seat belt on my passenger side does not work half the time. My door locks do not work right. I can't get my window on the driver side to go up and down. I hit a tree going 55 miles an hour in my airbag did not even deploy. I'm lucky I'm still alive. The fenders rubbing up against my tire. Speed control is wrong. Whenever I'm going 55 miles an hour it says 57 actually I don't remember the correct date. But I'm sure it shows I know it was 2017. Somebody ran me off the road. My truck hit the tree and my airbag did not deploy. I'm lucky it didn't I guess because don't airbags have metal shards in them is what I was told

Filed Jul 14, 2019 · Body · 101,000 miles · GA

Door locks and windows quit working after buying it. So many issue ..the steering wheel control words melted. Back door don't shut probably and never has since bought. This was bought as a new not used vehicle. Door locks was the worse.they sometimes stick and won't unlock since bought new.never fix by butler ford in milledgeville ga. Overdrive switch slips out of position. Does not show correct speed. I could go on and on

Filed Jun 15, 2018 · 185,000 miles · PA

Front passenger door lock and latch stuck and unable to open door from either inside or outside. Occurs both stationary and in motion.

Filed Apr 10, 2018 · Body · 140,000 miles · OH

I have 1998 ford explorer and I noticed trying to unlock the door automatically that it would stick sometimes. Sometimes becale always and noticed the passenger door never would unlock. Then one day parked I tried to open passenger door and it wouldnt open. I had to open it from the inside. Now it wont open from the inside. The door is totally non functional. Door latch issue I dont know but have read many complaints of the same. Also driver door lock will sometimes stick, the door open but when closing it it never wants to shut all the way the first time or the 2nd it takes a few times to get the door to completely close but the passenger door is a loss no one can ride in it. Seen many other complaints of the same problem ford should have to fix this issue they know about

Filed Oct 25, 2009 · Locks · 135,000 miles · GA

Door locks are stuck on passenger side of 1998 ford explorer. The door will not open at all.

Filed Sep 24, 2009 · Locks · 116,500 miles · OR

I own a 1998 ford explorer xlt with electric door locks. Both the front driver and passenger door locks do not operate using any of the three available methods for unlocking. The remote key fob operation, the exterior driver door entry pad or the interior locking mechanism do not unlock the doors. This vehicle has the doors set to automatically lock when put in to any other gear than 'park' and the doors can only be opened using the interior handle which is only accessible from the rear door of my 4-door vehicle. This vehicle was purchased today to replace a similar vehicle (1999 ford explorer xlt) that had the exact same issue. Thankfully when I totaled the vehicle in an unfortunate accident the door did not stick close with the lock being the culprit.

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Locks · 125,000 miles · MD

One day when I attempted to enter my 1998 ford explorer, parked in my garage, the drivers side door would not unlock. Whenever the automatic feature locks the doors when I am driving or I lock the door using my key fob, it will not open from the exterior. I have to reach in from the rear door (or if I am in the drivers seat) and open the door with a very strong pull on the door handle. I have not taken the vehicle in for repair as yet. I have been aware of this situation for about 2 weeks as of today. Tedwards

Filed Dec 29, 2008 · Locks · 76,000 miles · TX

1998 ford explorer driver side door lock won't open. It won't open if you use the key, remote, or manually try to pull up on it while inside. However, the other doors and tailgate unlock ok. I am forced to enter the car on the passenger side and climb over a console in the middle to get into driver seat. I believe this is a serious safety issue as there is no way to get in or out of the car on the driver side. I am 76 years old and this is extremely difficult to get in over the console on passenger side. There are numerous complaints on internet for this exact problem.

Filed Oct 20, 2008 · Locks · WA

Drivers side door is permanantly locked....a small spring fell out of door. It started about 7 months when the handle was getting a little difficult to pull. You could feel the pressure between the door and handle...about 3 weeks later the panel around the handle fell out and I found a small spring on the trucks floor....for a while after that I was able to open the door from the outside but not the inside. Very scary thought to know that if you were in accident you wouldn't be able to get out from the inside however, 2 weeks after that the door wont open at all (from the outside or inside!). Its such a pain to have to crawl through the vehicle to get in and out and im pretty sure this very unsafe in case of an emergency. I know it cant be something I did to the vehicle because it was perfectly fine when I drove off the lot 2 years ago. I've researched this situation online and have found that there are tons of other people with the same problem, yet no solutions has been made...any ideas on this matter would be greatly appreciated, seeing how im still making payments on this vehicle and am literally "stuck" in it till its paid off.

Filed Apr 17, 2008 · Locks · 135,000 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that he could not open the driver side door from the inside or outside. The door handle would not respond to any movement and the door would not unlock. The manufacturer has not been notified. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 140,000 and failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2008 · Body, Locks · 145,000 miles · TX

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.

Filed Dec 6, 2007 · Body · 132,050 miles · CA

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.