1998 Ford Explorer engine problems

200 complaints about engine have been filed for the 1998 Ford Explorer, which is 8% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 200 8% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 110,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 2 and 17
Injuries and deaths: 2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Based on 39 complaints that include mileage. 8% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.

View the numbers

Mileage	Complaints
0k to 20k miles	0
20k to 40k miles	1
40k to 60k miles	2
60k to 80k miles	4
80k to 100k miles	8
100k to 120k miles	8
120k to 140k miles	6
140k to 160k miles	2
160k to 180k miles	4
180k to 200k miles	2
200k+ miles	2

What the data shows

Of the 39 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 110,000 miles, and 8% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 17 fires, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

While vehicle was in park a fire started in the engine compartment area ,cause unknown. Dealer cannot identify the problem. Please give any further details.

Fire

Engine failure. Engine code p0300. Cylinders 4, 5, 6 have weak compression. Timing chain is damaged. Dealer has previously serviced timing chain twice and after second service ford extended engine warranty to 100k miles (now expired). Dealer now recommends engine replacement at cost of $5,500. What was once a $30,000 beautiful eddie bauer rig now has a kelly bb retail value of ~$8000, but without engine, car is a total (auction block) loss!

Reported at 130,022 miles, February 2008

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Ford models