Faulty transmission in 1998 ford explorer. Vehicle was bought from ford dealership, approximately 4 yrs. Old when purchased. Trans. Not shifting properly after first year of ownership or approx. 65,000 miles. Would not go into reverse at all shortly afterward. Hard and late shifting from 2nd to 3rd, and transmission will frequently totally disengage while driving at 55 to 60 MPH, engine will rev., but car will start slowing down. Engine sounds like it's going to blow up while waiting for transmission to shift. Had transmission rebuilt by private mechanic and problem is still the same.
1998 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 102, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Transmission slips when shifting into gear and clunks. Transmission disengaging out of drive gear; will not stay in gear when moving in the forward (drive) direction. Almost was in wreck due to transmission/drive failure. Had taken vehicle in to transmission specialty service station to have looked at. Faulty solenoid and stuck mechanism due to failure. Total cost of repair $1700.00.
Ford explorer transmission problems ~ haven't had my vehicle in about a month due to continuining problems with the transmission
The 1998 ford explorer accelerator pedal fell off. I was driving at 60 MPH in a straight line and accelerating to 65 MPH when I felt a pop. The accelerator pedal stopped working. Despite the emergency flashers, I was nearly rear-ended by a car that didn't notice I was slowing down on the freeway. Luckily, I pulled over and stopped safely. Looking at the break, I think the sheet metal holding the rivets was too weak.*ak on 5/23/07 I called the ford customer relations hot line. They refused to help stating only there are no recalls on my car. I believe this is a safety issue and can very easily result in an accident and deaths. Ford should investigate this and pay for repairs of defective materials used or improper installation. When was the last time you heard of an accelerator peddle falling off?
Dt: while driving in july the owner noticed that there was a problem with the shift mechanism. The gear position indicator was not correct. The vehicle had a normal position indicator for about 7 years. Then one day it went out of wack. The reverse was where neutral should be, neutral was where drive should be, and drive was where second gear should be. The owner has not taken it to the dealership or contacted them yet. The owner has not contacted the manufacturer. There was no problem with the transmission's performance, the owner is just concerned because he doesn't know what gear the car was in. The owner added that the gas pedal got stuck yesterday. The owner was backing out of a driveway. The owner was going slowly and and went to push the accelerator and it wouldn't accelerate. The gas pedal was jammed. The owner thinks the pedal was down a little bit and there was no reaction. The owner stopped the vehicle and shouted for husband to come over and look. Then she tried again. This time the accelerator worked. This was the first and last time the vehicle has ever this problem.*ak
Drive train failure, differential, within 12 months after having 60,000 mile differential fluid replaced with synthetic ,to ford specs. Differential gears and clutch assembly disentigrated. Resulting in replacement of entire differential. Could have caused gears to lock-up while driving.
Re:ford explorer wheel lockup and uncontrolled skid at highway speed. *bf the vehicle was taken to be repaired. The technician found significant metal fragments in the transfer case indicating severe gear stress when the vehicle self shifted into 4x4 low engagement.
Vehicle lost power (to accelerate) yesterday after grinding noise from transmission. Coasted into a parking lot, but was unable to move it from there. Continued to grind moving shift lever from any gear into park. Vehicle has less than 60,000 miles on it. Current transmission is a replacement. Previous (original) transmission dropped into neutral and engine revved (w/ loss of power) at inopportune moments- while accelerating or trying to accelerate, while coasting or while at a complete stop. Began complaining about this about a month after purchase, but transmission was not replaced until jan. 2002. I was given a 12-month warranty on it then, although the vehicle was purchased with the extended warranty, which was supposed to cover everything (bumper to bumper) to 50,000 miles.
Consumer heard a loud noise when attempting to back up. The vehicle failed to move because the reverse gear failed. *ak *sc
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.
When driving at 40 MPH transmission transfer case would make a loud noise and it would be hard for the driver to accelerate forward.
While traveling on the highway and without prior warning four wheel drive will engage on its own, causing vehicle to suddenly accelerate.
Consumer noticed oil leaking, took vehicle to dealer, dealer stated that seals were defective.
The transmission experienced problems.
At about 73,000 miles the rear differential went out on my 1998 ford explorer.
Consumer states that theres a noise coming from the engine while driving, when the accelerator is pressed the noise stops, the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the mass air flow sensor was the problem, 4x4 sensor is defective. Mr *nlm
4 wheel drive will not engage, and indicator light says it has engaged.
Vehicle lost power to wheels, grinding gear noise in all gears - park selection would not hold.
There is a mild to moderate vibration that can be felt in the steering wheel, floor board, and center console while driving at highway speeds (most obvious at approximately 65 - 70 MPH). It seems worse when applying slight throttle, and seems to subside when you let completely off the throttle.
Experiencing a clicking noise from the transfer case at low speed (forward and reverse).
While driving, rear axle broke on driver's side. Consumer lost control, causing a vehicle roll over. Driver injured. *ak
Torque converter did not disengage when trying to stop the vehicle. Vehicle went through a stop sign and stopped when braking stalled the engine. Ford recommended replacing the solonoid that controls the torque converter. This is a safety issue. This failule is totally without warning and makes the vehicle difficult to stop. Stopping occures only when the brake is applied hard enough to stall the engine.
April 2, 2002, while driving on a flat, straight freeway, the rear driver's side axle broke. The tire came off the car and sailed through the air. I lost control of vehicle immediately, resulting in a severe skid and vehicle roll-over. Crash resulted in driver sustaining large bump on head from roof collapse and a concussion. Numerous cuts, bruises, and severe muscle stress/strain of neck, shoulders and back. Also received deep contusion on chest due to seat belt retraction. I feel blessed to be alive to make this report. 2 weeks after accident still experiencing body pain. I can just now talk about the roll-over without crying. My family and myself have been through hell. Vehicle is a total loss.
Vehicle would not move, rolled off of highway required towing. Very dangerous.
Vehicle was placed in park and without any warning vehicle jumped out of gear into reverse and rolled backwards.
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.
Vehicle makes loud clunk noise and act as if it has been bumped from behind, action aslo felt in the brake pedal and resulting in forward motion. Ford invoice indicates customer statement resulting in r&r transmision and overhal, to no avail. Problem can not be determin
Tsb 99-14-02, repair cost $799.40, repair includes adding a jumper which should be considered a manufacturing flaw and this problem should be listed as a recall. The cost for reapir should be refunded by manufacturer. No safety defect listed.
After coming off a highway stopped at a red light, tried to avoid hitting another vehicle, and red light came on dashboard. Took vehicle to dealer, where they said that transmission had broken down. Please provide more information.
I feel this SUV is very unsafe ford and dealership state otherwise. No safety defect recorded.
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