Vehicle Data Hub

1998 Ford Explorer drivetrain & axles problems

39 complaints about drivetrain & axles have been filed for the 1998 Ford Explorer, which is 2% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
39 2% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
119,000 miles 10 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When drivetrain & axles problems show up

Drivetrain & axles complaints by mileage, 1998 Ford Explorer Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 119,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 0 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 0 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 1 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 2 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 119,000 miles
Based on 10 complaints that include mileage. 20% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles0
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles0
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles1
160k to 180k miles2
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 10 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 119,000 miles, and 20% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

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.

April 2002 CrashInjury

The timing chain tensioner broke allowing the chain to slip. It was a recall problem but I was not the original owner and the problem must not have been addressed, or else the recall didn't get done properly. After the repair it hasn't had good oil pressure at idle. It is too bad that ford put this motor in so many vehicles and doesn't stand behind they. It is poor design in my opinion to have four timing chains on a 4.0 liter motor is crazy.

Reported at 166,000 miles, January 2013

Other problems reported for the 1998 Ford Explorer

Drivetrain & axles problems in other years

Drivetrain & axles problems across all Ford models