1998 Ford Explorer: jerking or lurching

Filed Nov 1, 2004 · Acceleration · 77,317 miles · WA

When the consumer place the gear in drive or reverse, the throttle became stuck, as a result the vehicle lurched forward. Please provide additional information. Throttle sticks after starting the vehicle. Additional force is required to depress the throttle, which results in th vehicle lurching. The sticking throttle makes it very difficult to maneuver there vehicle in tight spots such as parking areas. Ford dealer was notified but said the vehicle was past the extended warranty for this problem. The problem occurred again between 30000-35000 miles and was repaired under warranty.

Filed Nov 9, 2003 · Transmission · 45 miles · OH

Have ford exeplorer 1998 transmission has been acting up for a year and a half. Jerking when you put it in reverse and clunking when you put it in to drive. My exeplorer just turned 60.000 miles and the transmission is no longer working,I can not believe the problems I have had with this car,from having a wreck and airbag not deploying to all of the recalls,had the bad tires and windsheild wipers not working.they should really have to do something about the exeplorer from that year.ibought my exeplorer in oct,98 of that year new. When my exeplorer was hit head on ,the police asked if I turned off my airbags.the car had to be towed.

Filed Nov 5, 2003 · Seats · 75,000 miles · WI

While driving 20 MPH on a curve the reclining seat back lurched forward. This abrupt forward motion caused the recliner handle to break off. *ak *scc

Filed Dec 18, 2002 · Acceleration · 18,000 miles · MI

Prior to the recall for the throttle 00 v 422 000, the part was replaced under warranty. Consumer received a recall letter, and the problem has recurred, the dealership briarwood ford; saline mi;734‑429‑5478; is refusing to honor the recall. Ts the recall was previously repaired, thereby making it null and void. The accelerator pedal sticks until enough force is applied for the vehicle to lurch forward.

Filed Feb 28, 2002 · Steering, Suspension · OH · crash

Vehicle was approximately going 60mph when a loss of steering caused vehicle to jerk side to side and roll over. Metal fatigue caused the hydrualic rack and pinion to burst and leak fluid. This manufacturer was notified, and vehicle was totaled.

Filed Jun 8, 2001 · Suspension · MO

Whenever vehicle hits a bump it would jerk either to right or left. This causes steering wheel to jump out of driver's hand. Contacted dealership and manufacturer, and informed consumer it was front end suspension.

Filed May 13, 2001 · Transmission · OH

The 4 wheel drive would jerk when accelerating, has done this for a couple of years, the dealer finally discovered that there was a service bulletin for this problem with the auto 4 wheel drive system and made computer adjustment which has reduced but not eliminated the problem. They say this is normal, it occurs when accelerating usually a fast acceleration and is more pronounced when I pull my boat. I am concerned that this significant jerking over a period of time could be contrbuting to the tire seperation problems or tire damage. I can't believe that any car maker would market a car with the problem that I have been having and say that is is not unusual. I am wondering if this is a large problem since there has been a service bulletin on it.

Filed Mar 16, 2001 · Acceleration · MA · crash

Consumer had an accident when gas pedal got stuck, then, vehicle accelerated, and lurched forward. Dealer replaced throttle body, speed unknown. Currently, consumer received recall on this component.*ak the manufacturer denied any defective part exists.

Filed Aug 2, 2000 · Tires · IL

On february 27, 2000 my daughter and two friends were returning to our home in downers grove, illinois from iowa city, iowa where they were visiting my son and other daughter at college. While on eastbound interstate 88, at approximately mile marker 15, traveling about 65 miles per hour, the right front tire suddenly exploded. Pieces of the tire flew in all directions with some hitting both the windshield and side windows. The vehicle immediately fell onto the rim and jerked to the right, forcing the vehicle out of the left-hand lane, through the right-hand lane and onto the right shoulder before it could be stopped. We were extremely fortunate that no one was in the right hand lane or on the right hand shoulder  and especially fortunate that the vehicle did not roll over. My daughter and her friends were very upset and shaken. After replacing the blown tire with the spare tire they continued their trip and arrived in downers grove. On february 28th I took several pictures of the damage to the vehicle and the remains of the tire and I would be happy to share them with you. On february 29th I went to the local firestone store where I strongly inquired about the safety of the tire and its history of blowouts. I was assured by the manager of the firestone store, ron degner, that there was no history of this problem and that my daughter probably ran over something on the highway. I paid firestone $472.78 for a new tire, reconditioned rim, and all the other work associated with replacing the tire. I then went to joe madden body shop, the ford dealer where I purchased the vehicle. I strongly inquired about the safety of the vehicle and the wilderness tires and any history of blowouts. I was assured by the body shop adjuster, bob schretter, that there was no history of this problem. I arranged for the appropriate repairs to my vehicle, and after two visits to the body shop paid a total of $331.94. I was reimbursed $265.09 from my insurance company.

Filed Jul 27, 2000 · Tires · TX

I was driving southbound in the right lane of ih 35 in southern oklahoma at about the # 3 mile marker. We had left wichita, ks earlier that day and were enroute to our home in carrollton, tx. I had been noticing a shudder in the vehicle not unlike the one I felt prior to learning that another one of the tires having separated on a trip from corpus christi to san antonio earlier in the summer. The firestone dealer in s. A. Advised that you could not tell by looking at the tire on the vehicle that there was a problem. I paid an adjusted price for that tire and just purchased another new wilderness tire on 7/28/2000 both of which were mounted on the front of the vehicle. The two tires on the rear were originals. I heard a loud bang to my left and immediately felt the vehicle lurch into the left lane. I believe that only my police training in driving vehicles at high speeds enabled me to keep control of my vehicle. I was able to steer it to the right shoulder and due to the tire only separating and not losing air pressure was I able to limp into gainesville, tx to glen polk ford. I was told by them that they had never seen a vehicle with so much damage from a tire separation. I had to pay for another adjusted wilderness tire and we were on our way. I have since learned of several lawsuits against ford and firestone for fatal accidents resulting from tire separations of this same tire on explorer's and minivans. As a coincidence, when I went to get an estimate on the damage at a ford dealership in carrollton, one of the repair estimators showed me another explorer with wilderness tires in the auto body shop with extensive damage to the right rear due to a tire separation incident. The driver of that vehicle was lucky because they were towing a trailer with a porsche on it when the tire separated and an accident did not occur. *ak( dot number: v0h11py527 tire size: p235/75r15 )

Filed May 2, 2000 · Acceleration · FL

Vehicle experienced problem with deceleration after acceleration. Within seconds, vehicle would lurch forward and then start to operate normally. Dealer notified, ford is not providing help with repairing vehicle. *ak

Filed Sep 8, 1999 · Acceleration · CA

Throttle. Gas pedal started to stick--more pressure on the pedal doesn't cause the car to accelerate smoothly, waits a couple of seconds and then lurches forward.