1998 Ford Explorer problems
The 1998 Ford Explorer has 2,374 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns tires. Next are cruise control (12%) and engine (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,374 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Tires 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 219 and 124
- Injuries and deaths
- 261 and 20
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 364 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 38 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 57 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 63 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 60 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 42 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 41 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 20 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 10 |
| 200k+ miles | 11 |
What the data shows
Of the 364 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 100,000 miles. For tires specifically, the median reported mileage is about 86,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 219 complaints mention a crash; 124 complaints mention a fire; 261 injuries reported; 20 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 82% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford Explorer with enough data (1,473 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 9 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Severe blowout, rollover 4 times resulted in paralized back seat occupant, shoulder belt did not deploy, only lap then released at 3 rollover( DOT number: )
Detread caused loss of control, vehicle rolled 2-1/2 times. Severe roof crush. Tire remained inflated after crash.( DOT number: vdhl1py118 tire size: p235/75r15 )
While driving 20 MPH on a curve the reclining seat back lurched forward. This abrupt forward motion caused the recliner handle to break off. *scc
Consumer was complaining about seat belt problem on driver's side. When belt was latched into the buckle, it didn't hold.