1998 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

Your passenger side seat belt works intermittently and may not provide proper restraint when needed. Your door locks are not functioning properly, your driver side window won't move up and down, and your speedometer reads 2 mph faster than your actual speed. Your fenders are rubbing against your tires, which could cause tire damage. Most critically, your airbag did not deploy when you crashed into a tree at 55 mph — a serious safety failure that could have resulted in severe injury or death. The airbag system will need to be diagnosed and repaired by a technician to determine why it failed to activate.

Your parked Explorer caught fire spontaneously after sitting in the driveway for over 15 hours, with flames engulfing the entire vehicle within seconds. The owner believes an electrical malfunction in the cruise control switch caused the fire, which originated near the brake area. This is an extremely serious electrical fire hazard that could result in complete vehicle loss and property damage. Repair will require a complete electrical system inspection and replacement of the faulty cruise control switch and any damaged wiring.

Your interior lights turn on by themselves without any reason, and your radio and other electrical components cut on and off unpredictably. Your brake pedal also works intermittently, only responding when it feels like it. This appears to be related to a Takata recall affecting your electrical system and brake components, and will likely require diagnostic testing and replacement of faulty wiring, switches, or brake system components.

Your Explorer is having trouble starting and occasionally produces smoke when you try to turn it on. The overhead interior lights aren't working, and there's an electrical problem with the battery. Your check engine light is staying on. The dealer has looked at the vehicle, but these issues suggest multiple electrical and engine problems that may need diagnosis and repair of the battery, charging system, and engine components.

Your CD player caught fire while your truck was parked and turned off, causing a complete fire that destroyed the vehicle. You were able to safely evacuate because you were parked in front of a glass restaurant. The electrical system failure in the CD player appears to have been the source of the fire.

While driving at 30 mph, your speedometer, windshield wipers, interior lights, and four-wheel drive system all stopped working at the same time. This problem happened multiple times. The vehicle was reported to Ford but was never diagnosed or repaired. This occurred around 160,000 miles. The issue likely involves a faulty electrical connection or component that controls multiple systems simultaneously.

THE CRUISE SENSOR ON TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER STAY HOT ALL THE TIME AND IT KEEPS BLOWING MY NUMBER 13 FUSE THAT GOES TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND WHEN I PUT A NEW FUSE IN. THE CRUISE SENSOR STARTS SPARKING AN SMOKING REALLY BAD IM A PHRASE THAT IT'S GOING TO CATCH FIRE SOON. *TR

MAY 20, APPROXIMATELY 03:30AM, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH TO WORK IN THE DARK WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON; HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED OFF. LUCKILY THAT SECTION OF THE STREET, HAD STREET LIGHTS WORKING PROPERLY; BUT, I WAS APPROACHING AN UNLIT STRETCH OF WINDING ROAD WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. (DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT AFFECTED.) TURNING THE NORMAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH DID NOT SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I TRIED THE BRIGHT LIGHT FUNCTION, WHICH IS PART OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THEY DID NOT COME ON AT FIRST; HOWEVER WHEN JIGGLING THE "TURN SIGNAL LEVER," I NOTICED A "LOOSENESS IN THE LEVER, AT THE BASE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE STEERING COLUMN." WIGGLING IT, TURNED THE HEAD LIGHTS BACK ON, TEMPORARILY; BUT, WIGGLING FROM VIBRATION IN TRAFFIC CAUSED THEM TO TURN "OFF" AGAIN. THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER IS USED TO CONTROL THE "BRIGHT LIGHTS" AND ALSO CONTROLS WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I AM NOT CERTAIN; BUT, I BELIEVE I HAD THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER ASSEMBLY REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY A FORD DEALER IN SAN DIEGO...NEITHER OF THE DEALERS I USED TO HAVE SERVICE MY VEHICLE ARE STILL IN BUSINESS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AT THAT TIME, HAD TO DO WITH THE WIPERS CUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY; AND, EVENTUALLY, NOT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. FIRST: IS THIS SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE "BEFORE" HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED? SECOND: SHOULD FORD BE THE ONE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM? THIRD: SHOULD FORD REPLACE THE TURN LEVER ASSEMBLY AND PROVIDE THE LABOR AT THEIR EXPENSE? ... ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AFTER WORKING FOR THE SAME COMPANY FOR 12 YEARS AND BEING A WORKAHOLIC, I JUST GOT LAID OFF LAST WEEK. THIS EXPENSE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IN PARTS AND LABOR, WHEN I CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. AT THIS TIME, I CAN RULE OUT TRYING TO APPLY FOR A NIGHT JOB. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER BUT THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY STALL BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. IN ADDITION, THE WIPER BLADES WOULD ALSO FAIL AND WOULD NOT OPERATE AS THEY SHOULD WHEN INCLEMENT WEATHER AROSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY, FOUND THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT MENTION IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FIRE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLEEPING THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOMB. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WAS ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING ANY RECALLS AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. THE FIRE DEPT. DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. JO

CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN WHEN LIGHTER STUCK AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF VEHICLE. AFTERWARD SEVERAL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE REAR WIPERS WERE ALSO ACTIVATED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A YEAR. THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE DISCOLORED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM DID NOT NEED AN ADDITIONAL REPLACEMENT BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNALS, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE BEGAN SMOKING. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE OR RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 191,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE TRYING TO USE THE LIGHTER IN THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN RAINY WEATHER. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE IN THE WIPER/WASHERMOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE99049 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS) ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAKENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, NEXT TO THE WHEEL WELL. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THEM FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE, THEY COULD NOT FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINEER STATAED THAT THE COST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE $250 PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

LAST NIGHT I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK, MY FAMILY HAD DINNER AND I WAS SITTING DOWN IN THE LIVING ROOM TO PLAY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND ASKED MY WIFE WHAT WAS THAT NOISE, SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND YELLED YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE ! MY CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND!!! *JB

ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE... THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *NM

I LOST MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOME LIGHTS AND CHIMES, WINDOWS, RADIO, 4X4. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW GEM MODULE. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND FORD DID A RECALL ON MY SAME VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AFTER TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR OF VEHICLE. BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PROBLEM OR SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE INVESTIGATED. I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO PANEL NO LONGER WORK. SO I CALLED TO HAVE THEM FIXED WELL THEY CANT BE FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIO AT $500.00. WELL I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT JUST SO THE CLOCK AND RADIO STATION SETTING WOULD WORK. AS I WAS INVESTIGATING WEATHER THIS COULD BE FIXED OR NOT I MET 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EACH OF THEM ALSO HAVING TO PURCHASE A $500.00 RADIO SO THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK. THEN I STARTED CALLING FORD DEALERSHIPS AND FOUND THAT EVERYONE I HAVE CALLED HAS TAKEN DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS ON THE LIGHT PROBLEM WITH THE RADIOS. NOW I WOULD SAY AT $500.00 A RADIO TO HAVE THIS FIXED FORD WOULD BE MAKING QUITE A PROVITE OVER SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MINOR PROBLEM. TO ME IT ISN'T A MINOR PROBLEM IF EVERY VEHICHLE THAT HAS THESE RADIOS HAS A LIGHT PROBLEM. TO ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKE TO FEEL THIS SHOULD BE FORDS EXPENSE TO FIX THIS NOT THE CONSUMER. IF IT WAS JUST MY RADIO THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT BUT FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF RADIOS TO BE THIS WAY IS A BIG PROBLEM. *NM

FORD EXPLORER 1998 DATE 8-3-06 I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR OR MINOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE (EXAMPLE) FLUID CHANGES AND BRAKES. EARLY FEBRUARY. I NOTICED AROUND NOVEMBER 2005, MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I DIDN'T TAKE IT TO BE CHECKED; I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG ISSUE. I NOTICED WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE BATTERY SOUNDED WEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO NTB TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHECKED. THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXIDE 72 MONTH BATTERY. I HAD NEVER THE BATTERY REPLACED. NTB INSTALLED THE NEW BATTERY ON FEBRUARY 5, 2006. I DRIVE THIS CAR TO AND FROM WORK REGULARLY, ABOUT 12 MILES. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2006, LEAVING WORK HEADING HOME, I STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I LEFT THE STORE AND WENT HOME. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER STANDING ON MY PORCH, I NOTICED HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD BEHIND THE BATTERY AREA. I RAN TO MY CAR AND OPENED THE DOOR AND RELEASED THE HOOD. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, I SAW THE HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEAR THE WIRING IN FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I RAN IN THE HOUSE TO CALL 911 AND GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE CAR UNDER HOOD AREA WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. AFTER HEARING AND READING THE REPORTS ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, I REALLY THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER PARKED IN GARAGE HAD SPONTANEOUS FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE. THIS WAS A CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOU BY POLICE, INSURANCE, OR FIRE DEPT. IF SO, JUST LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH DUAL MEDIA (AM/FM/CASSETTE/CD) RADIO; THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE GRAPHICS DISPLAY (I.E. TIME, STATION IDENTITY). THE DISPLAY SPORADICALLY LIGHTS UP BRIEFLY FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY FEW MONTHS. ALSO DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT GAS GAUGE. *NM

FORD EXPLORER 1998 DATE 8-3-06 I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR OR MINOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE (EXAMPLE) FLUID CHANGES AND BRAKES. EARLY FEBRUARY. I NOTICED AROUND NOVEMBER 2005, MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I DIDN'T TAKE IT TO BE CHECKED; I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG ISSUE. I NOTICED WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE BATTERY SOUNDED WEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO NTB TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHECKED. THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXIDE 72 MONTH BATTERY. I HAD NEVER THE BATTERY REPLACED. NTB INSTALLED THE NEW BATTERY ON FEBRUARY 5, 2006. I DRIVE THIS CAR TO AND FROM WORK REGULARLY, ABOUT 12 MILES. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2006, LEAVING WORK HEADING HOME, I STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I LEFT THE STORE AND WENT HOME. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER STANDING ON MY PORCH, I NOTICED HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD BEHIND THE BATTERY AREA. I RAN TO MY CAR AND OPEN THE DOOR AND RELEASED THE HOOD. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, I SAW THE HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEAR ARE IN FRONT OF THE WIRING IN FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I RAN IN THE HOUSE TO CALL 911 AND GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE CAR UNDER HOOD AREA WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. AFTER HEARING AND READING THE REPORTS ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, I REALLY THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED IN GARAGE. *JB

MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE IN MY GARAGE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 3 HOURS CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. *NM

98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE 10 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT RESIDENCE- ENGINE COMPLETELY BURNED LEAVING VEHICLE TOTALED. *NM

1. MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT BURST INTO FLAMES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WHILE PARKED AT MY DAUGHTER'S HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. 2. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT BROUGHT TWO UNITS TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. 3. AFTER FILING MY INSURANCE CLAIM, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE FORD EXPLORER POSES A BIG FIRE RISK. 4. SPECIFICALLY, MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 3 MONTHS AGO AND JUST AS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE NHTSA, THE DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. 5. I THANK MY LUCKY STARS NOBODY WAS HURT....BUT IF MY EXPLORER HAD BEEN PARKED INSIDE MY APARTMENT BUILDING THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN MY BUILDING. PLS LET ME KNOW IF YOU REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION OR PHOTOS. *NM

1998 FORD EXPLORER, 5.0, SN [XXX], SPEED CONTROL AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THE FIRES CAUSED BY THE SPEED CONTROL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES I CHECK THE '98. VOLTAGE IS MEASURED AT THE SPEED CONTROL DISENGAGE SWITCH LOCATED ON MASTER CYLINDER. USING A VOLTAGE METER I MEASURED 12 VOLTS TO THIS SWITCH WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. THIS INDICATES THAT THE SWITCH IS HOT 100% OF THE TIME. I HAVE NOT HAD A FAILURE YET, BUT AM CONCERNED THAT THIS REPRESENTS A POSSIBLE FAILURE IN THE FUTURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO URN UP. I HAVE NOTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 16 FAILURES AND FIRES ON 1998 FORD EXPLORERS DO TO THIS PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WE RETURNED HOME FROM A CONCERT AT APPROXIMATELY 11 PM ON JANUARY 21,2006. THIS WAS THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. ON S JANUARY 22 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 AM WE WERE AWAKENED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING 1998 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WAS IN FLAMES. NO INVESTIGATION WAS DONE , BUT THEY SAID IT WAS AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FIRE. EXPLODED FRONT TIRES, BUSTED WINDSHIELD ,HOOD AND GRILL DEMOLISHED, ENGINE COMPARTMENT DESTROYED, BOTH FRONT FENDERS BURNT , GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS MELTED, DASHBOARD DAMAGED IT IS BASICALLY A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF MY NIECE'S 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. ONE AFTERNOON I DROVE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TO THE SUPERMARKET, AND PHARMACY. THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WAS RUNNING FINE, ALL THE GAUGES WERE IN THE MIDDLE, NO SMOKE, NO SMELLS, NO PROBLEMS. . AFTER ARRIVING HOME I PARKED THE FORD 1998 EXPLORER SPORT IN MY DRIVEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM THE GARAGE DOOR, AND APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET FROM THE ENTRANCE TO MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHUT OFF AND SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. DURING THE NEXT HOUR, I BEGIN TO HANG CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ON MY FRONT DOOR, AND I WAS IN & OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WAS STILL FINE IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER I FINISHED MY DECORATING, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING LIKE RUBBER BURNING. I CHECKED MY STOVE, AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FINE. I FIGURE THE BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THEY HAD WORKERS THERE DRILLING AND MAKING REPAIRS. SO I THEN CONTINUE TO DO MY CHORES. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER I WENT TO LOOK OUT MY FRONT DOOR, AND I SAW DARK SMOKE POURING OUT THE HOOD OF THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. I PANICKED, CLOSED THE DOOR, GRABBED THE PHONE, RAN OUT TO THE BACKYARD, AND CALL 911. I WAS TO AFRAID TO GO OUT THE FRONT DOOR, AND ALSO AFRAID TO STAY IN THE HOUSE, THINKING THE HOUSE AND GARAGE WOULD ALSO CATCH FIRE. THANK GOD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SWIFTLY, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE VEHICLE ONLY, THE FIREMEN AT THE SCENE EXAMINE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD, THE CAUSE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY DID NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. IT STILL WORKED ON THE IGNITION AND THE REAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE KEY FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD MAKE A NEW KEY FOR THE DOORS, BUT IF IT WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION IT COULD DAMAGE THE IGNITION. *AK

I WAS DRIVING FROM THE STORE ON 10/27/05 ,WHEN I STOP TO A RED LIGHT AND I SAW SMOKE COME FROM THE SIDE AND FRONT OF THE CAR. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME ,WHEN I GOT HOME I RAN UP THE STAIRS TO WHERE I LIVE AND EXPLAIN TO MY BOYFRIEND SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE CAR HE WENT DOWN STAIRS TO CHECK AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY HOOD MY BOYFRIEND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE AND WE ALSO DROVE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH WE GOT NO ANSWERS. NOW ON 10/28/05 WE HAD A WRECKER TO TOW THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SO THEY WOULD SEE THE DAMAGE THEY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND WE WERE INFORMED THERE'S NO RECALL ON THE FORD WINDSTAR GL, BUT THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I ASK THE MANAGER WHAT DID HE SUGGEST HE SAID, CALL MY INSURANCE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT I TOWED THE CAR TO A ELECTRITION AND HIS DESCRIPTION WAS THE PIGTALE WAS BURNT AND ALSO THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS BURNT UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT I KNOW THERE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FIRE.*JB

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR FOUR HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER 13 MONTHS AGO. ON AUG 15,2005 I STARTED MY TRUCK UP AND I COULD NOT ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN THEN I WENT ON TO TESTING THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS ( FRONT & BACK ) THEY DID NOT WORK (THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD ) I TRIED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS THEY DID NOT WORK AND AS WELL AS THE 4X4 SYSTEM. I HAD TO GET HOME SO WHEN AS I WAS DRIVING ( LUCKILY IT WAS NOT RAINING ) I RANDOMLY TESTED EVERYTHING AGAIN STILL NOTHING WORKED, SO I LEFT THE SWITCHES ON AND EVERY NOW AND THEN EVERYTHING WOULD COME ON FOR A SPLIT SECOND. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS BAFFLED AND STARTED LOOKING THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL, NO INFO THAT COULD HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. SO I WENT ONLINE AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON FORD EXPLORERS AND ITS ELECTRONICS. MY SEARCH BROUGHT ME TO THE RECALL SIGHTS AND WHEN I LOOKED ON THAT SIGHT I NOTICED THAT I HAD FOUND THE SAME EXCACT PROBLEMS I AM HAVING AS THE 1999 & 2000 FORD EXPLORER RECALLS AS WELL AS 1999 & 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINERS WHICH IS BY THE FORD COMPANY. THEY ARE UNDER THE TITLE - COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUSES, AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND THE NHTSA RECALL # 00V072000 AND THE REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT. I CALLED FORD COMPANY AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE AND THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THE 1999 & 2000' S THEN IT IS HAPPENING TO THE 1998 AS WELL, THEY ARE THE SAME TRUCK MADE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS AND ONLY UPDATED WITH MORE PHYSICAL FEATURES OR OMITTED OUT DATED PHYSICAL FEATURES. UNFORTUNATLY I CAN'T DRIVE MY TRUCK NOW UNLESS I KNOW THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE CLEAR OF RAIN OR OTHER BAD WEATHER. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT SO I AM STUCK AT THE MOMENT IF ANYONE CAN HELP OR ADVISE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED - THANK YOU DAVID STANSBURY

AT ABOUT 6:00 PM ON SATURDAY 13 AUG 2005 I WENT INTO MY GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING AND NOTICED IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, FLAMES ROLLED FROM BENEATH IT. I IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY WIFE HAD ALREADY CALLED 911 BY THIS TIME. THE FIRE FIGHTERS DETERMINED THE SOURCE OF THE ELECTRICAL FIRE TO BE A CONNECTOR ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT THE FIRE IN TIME. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE SLEEPING WE MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE NOW. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR THIS. I AM SENDING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY, IF THIS IS NOT A RECALL PART I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND PROBABLY NOT PARK THEIR FORD IN THE GARAGE. *JB

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHECKED IT AND CONCLUDED FIRE CAME FROM DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE AROUND THE BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 30, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ABOUT 6 OR 7 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT IN FIRE. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SENT A LETTER SAYING SORRY, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING THERE. THIS DID HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE FIREMEN COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK

MY WIFE HAD THE FORD EXPLORER PARKED OUTSIDE THE CURVES GYM WHERE SHE AND HER MOTHER WORK OUT. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED THEY WERE TALKING OUTSIDE WHEN HER MOTHER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OTHE THE SUV. THE EXPLORER THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED.

ALWAYS IN THE SUMMER AND SOMETIMES DURING THE FALL/WINTER, THE AIR FLOW SENSOR MAKES A LOUD, HUMMING NOISE AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF BECAUSE OF THIS.

5-5-05 3:30 A.M. LICKING COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED DUE TO FIRE 0F MY 1998 FORD EXPLOYER. IT HAD SET FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. ITS NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. CO-COUNSEL, LIEFF CABRASER REPRESENTING OWNERS OF FORD VECHICLES CLAIMS FORD SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES. ALSO KNOWN AS "BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH," POWERED BY THE BATTERY AND IS MOUNTED ABOVE FLAMABLE FLAMMABLE RESERVOIRES OF BRAKE FLUID. IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS OCCUR, A FIRE CAN BREAK OUT, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND, IN SOME CASES, IDLE FOR DAYS.

DT: ON JUNE 17, 2005 CALLER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. CALLER SAID A PASSERBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND WARNED HER. CALLER'S FIANCE PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION. HE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPORT WAS FILED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK

FIRE STARTED IN VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE OF OUR HOME

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, 5 LITER, AUTOMATIC, WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE SAFETY DISENGAGE SWITCH IS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF THERE IS STILL 12 VOLTS GOING TO THAT SWITCH. THE SWITCH HAS A RED BODY. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ADVISES THT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE SWITCH SETUP AS THAT IN THE FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. PRESENTLY I AM DISCONNECTING THE SWITCH WHEN I PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE.

ON MAY 15, 2004, I WAS FISHING IN A LOCAL BASS TOURNAMENT. I PARKED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER BESIDE ONE OF MY FISHING FRIENDS CHEVY TRUCK AND BOAT TRAILER. AFTER LAUNCHING MY PARTNER FOR THE DAYS BOAT, I PARKED HIS TRUCK AND TRAILER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS LATER, MY PARTNER AND I WERE APPROCHED BY ANOTHER FRIEND AND TOLD US WE WERE NEEDED BACK AT THE PARKING LOT THAT MY EXPLORER HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND, BURNED THE CHEVY WITH THE TRAILER TO THE GROUND AND SCORCHED PAINT AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PARTNERS TRUCK. THE CHEVY TRUCK AND MY EXPLORER WERE TOTAL LOSSES AND I LOST A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS THAT INSURANCE DID NOT PAY FOR. STATE FARM CLAIM # 18-1010-243

HARD TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IT ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS ARE I HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN THE MOTOR AREA WHEN I USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, I ALSO CANNOT GET THE DRIVER WINDOW DOWN UNLESS I MESS WITH IT ALONG TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD BRACKETS 2 TIMES, AND THEY NEED REPLACED AGAIN. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER DONT CLEAN THE WINDOW WELL ENOUGH AND IT GETS STUCK, SO I HAVE TO GET OUT AND FIX IT. I ALSO KEEP GETTING THE 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT ON AT TIMES WHEN THE DOORS ARE ALL CLOSED. I THINK THERE ARE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. I DONT HAVE THE WARRANTY ANYMORE SO THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID ALL FORD COMPANIES ARE INDEPENDENT. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY WE'LL SEE HOW INDEPENDENT THEY ARE. I THINK ALL EXPLORERS NEED TO BE RE-CHECKED. THEY WERE MADE TOO HASTY OR SOMETHING.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR MORE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORTS THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I PARKED THE CAR AT AROUND 7:00 PM AND AROUND AFTER 10:00 PM HEARD A LOUD EXPLOTION IN THE GARAGE. MY FAMILY WAS ALREADY IN BED AND I WAS WATCHING TV. WHEN I OPEN THE ACCESS DOOR TO THE GARAGE THE FRONT PART OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT THE CAR IS RUINED. MY SECOND CAR IS DAMAGED AND MY GARAGE IS ALSO DAMAGED. NO ONE WAS HURT BECAUSE WE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE ON TIME.*AK

I TOOK MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING (I CAN ONLY GUESS HOW LONG THEY WERE NOT OPERATING). AFTER DOING A DIAGNOSTIC THEY DETERMINED I HAD TO REPLACE MY (FORGIVE ME, AS I AM NOT MECHANICAL, BUT IT IS ALL ON MY RECEIPT) CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AS THE COMPONENT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER, BUT I HAD NOT BOTHERED TO FIX IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THAT IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY MASTER CYLINDER SO THAT IT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOTIFYING YOU BECAUSE I FEEL MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WERE JEOPARDIZED IN THREE WAYS: INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE FIRE HAZARD OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND CONSEQUENTLY POOR BRAKES.*AK

SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILED ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER, RESULTING IN CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, MAJOR ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, BLOWN 20A FUSE, NO TAIL LIGHTS, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM MASTER CYLINDER THRU FAULTY SWITCH, AND WIRES, SWITCH AND CONNECTOR BURNED APPROXIMATLY SIX INCHES BACK FROM SWITCH. SWITCH WAS BURNED, ALSO. A NEW SWITCH WAS PUT ON THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH A PIGTAIL (WIRES & CONNECTOR), THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE BLED AND A NEW FUSE INSTALLED. AT THAT TIME, I KNEW NOTHING OF A DEFECT. FORD SAID NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WAS MADE 1/14/05. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEGE, THE DEFECT IS NOT CORRECTED, BUT ONLY REPAIRED AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL, IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY 1998, EXPLORER, SPORT. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD SWITCH. THE NEW SWITCH NUMBER IS SW-5945, F3TZ-9F924-BB. *AK

WHILE PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AT 4:30 AM,UNDER THE HOOD ENGULFED IN FLAMES CALLED FIRE DEPT THEY CAME AND PUT FIRE OUT. THE WHOLE ENTIRE MOTOR, AND FRONT OF TRUCK RUINED,NOT DRIVABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FORD THE DAY AFTER FIRE,THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE LIABLE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON 1998 EXPLORERS. *JB

FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF FOR OVER 4 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN AS THE RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD.*AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS GALORE--I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, PERIOD--LET ALONE A WINDSTAR. TAILGATE LOCK NEVER OPENED WITH KEY. DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 6 MONTHS LATER. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT. DOWN TO SLIDER ONLY THAT OPERATES WITH KEY AND IT TURNS VERY HARD. INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON....AND STAYED ON. REMOVED FUSE AND WINDOWS SHARING FUSE ALSO WOULDN'T GO UP--WAS WORTH IT TIL I HAD TIME TO GO AROUND AND REMOVE EVERY SINGLE INTERIOR BULB IN THE VEHICLE. REPLACED FUSE JUST TO HAVE WINDOWS OPERATE. DOOR AJAR SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED SECURELY AND ACCOMPANYING WARNING BELL CONTINUES TO GO OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN IT DROPS TO GOING OFF WHEN I SLOW TO A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN WHEN I SPEED UP. ABSOLUTELY THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED IN MY LIFE. POS -- DOES NOT MEAN POINT OF SALE. HINT: FIRST WORD MEANS "PIECE" AND SECOND WORD MEANS "OF." YOU GET THE IDEA. *NM

VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT OPERATE. THE RESULT SHOWED THAT A NEW COMPUTER MODULE WAS NEEDED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE RETURNED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP.*AK

UNDERHOOD FIRE IN EXPLORER. MINOR FIRE CONCENTRATED AROUND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT BLOWN. XRAYS SHOW TOTAL INTERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS EVEN THOUGH THE PLASTIC BODY IS STILL RELATIVELY INTACT BUT CHARRED AND DEFORMED.

FORD EXPLORER 98, INTERIOR WINDOWS, LIGHTS, ETC. DO NOT WORK. ELECTRIAL POWER PROBLEMS INTERIORALLY. HAVE TRIED OVER 5 TIMES OVER YEARS TO HAVE FIX BY CARMAX AND FORD. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WOULD WORK FOR 1-2 WEEKS, HAD WARRANTY AT TIMES. BUT NOW WARRANTY IS OUT CARMAX AND FORD STATED IT A MANUFACTORY ELECTICAL ISSUES.*AK

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY FOR MY EXPLORER. THE UNIT STILL PLAYED HOWEVER YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, THE VOLUME, OR WHAT RADIO STATION IT WAS CURRENTLY ON. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A SIMPLE FUSE FIX BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600. LUCKY ME I HAVE THE PREMIUM STEREO SO IT COSTS MORE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE THE 98 EXPLORER SPORT AND THIS ISSUE WAS THE SAME FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. *AK

I HAVE A 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE RADIO WORKS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A LIGHTING DISPLAY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT MOSTLY ALL EXPLORERS WILL LOSE THE LIGHTING DISPLAY, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS OF YET. THIS IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IT'S NOT LIKE REPLACING A BULB OR SOMETHING. YOU'RE BASICALLY BUYING A NEW RADIO. IF THAT'S THE CASE IT WON'T BE FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND IT WON'T BE THE MANUFACTURERS RADIO WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL CRAP OUT. *JB

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO OPEN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN UNLOCKED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS MIGHT BECOME A PROBLEM IF CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET OUT FROM THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *AK

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL PERIODICALLY STICKS "ON" (NOT FLASHING) WHEN COMMANDED AND SOMETIMES COMES "ON" (NOT FLASHING) WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. IF LEFT "ONO" (NOT FLASHING) FOR MORE THAN 30-45 SECONDS, SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE STOPS AS SOON AS THE LIGHT GOES OFF. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER MODEL, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT 4:00 AM. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 5:30 PM PREVIOUS EVENING. WE WERE ALERTED BY A SMOKE DETECTOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS, GARAGE & ATTIC ABOVE GARAGE BADLY DAMAGED RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY STORED THERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATES THAT THEY THINK THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE BATTERY, WHICH WAS ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM

WE HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE TRUNK OPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN UNLOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ONE TIME WE WORKED ON IT FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE GETTING IT UNLOCKED. THIS MIGHT BECOME A PROBLEM IF YOU WERE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OR SOMEONE OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *NLM

SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND PARK LIGHTS TURNED ON ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. ALSO MOVING THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN SIGNAL ,THE INSTUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT WAS STUCK "ON" AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK AT THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRUCK. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT SIGNAL HAS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING. THIS EVENT OCURRED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO RELAYS(I PAID FOR), ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THIS IS THE FIX.*AK

I WAS DRIVING WHILE TOWING A TRAILER AND HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS WENT OUT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER COOLING OFF, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOLDING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK TOWARDS ME FOR 2-AND-A-HALF HOURS. *NLM

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DISCHARGING . ALSO THE ENGINE WAS STALLING . I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES , AND FINALLY THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT . THE BATTERY HAS STARTED DISCHARGING AGAIN

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, DRIVE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND STEERING COLUMN WAS GLOWING AND SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC. WIRING HARNESS, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BOTH MELTED. NO AFTER MARKET ADD ON OR MODIFICATIONS MADE TO VEHICLE. TS

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF HOME AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ANTI THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER STATED COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERROR CODE, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A KNOCKING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER 4WD MILEAGE: 82000. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED YESTERDAY. I NOTICED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE DRIVES OR HANDLES...BUT THE 4WD HI AND 4WD LO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD PERIODICALLY (EVERY 5 - 10 MINUTES) BLINK 5 TIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DASH IS NORMAL FOR 5 MINUTES, AND THEN THE LIGHTS BLINK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS REPETITIVELY WHETHER DRIVING IN TOWN, ON THE HIGHWAY, ETC. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4WD AUTO THE WHOLE TIME. I HAVE NOT USED THE 4WD VERY MUCH AT ALL!*AK

THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND FOUR DAYS LATER, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. *YH

THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND FOUR DAYS LATER, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. *YH

CONSUMER STATED THE SOLENOID BRACKET IS INOPERATIVE.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE SOLENOID BRACKET IS INOPERATIVE.*JB

STALLING - FORD SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

MULTIPLE SEVERE HESITATIONS ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. CLOSE CALLS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC 2 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY 8/17/01. WHEN PARKED IN FRONT OF HOME, WOULD NOT START FOR 2 DAYS.TOWED TO A DEALER-ATCHLEY FORD IN OMAHA. THEY SAID COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AND STARTED FOR THEM OK. HAS HESITATED TWICE SINCE THEN BUT NOT STALLED. TOLD BY ATCHLEY MECHANIC EXPLORER DOES NOT HAVE IGNITION PROBLEM. CLAIMED TO BE NO ERROR CODES IN PROCESSOR. *AK

IGNITION OFTEN DIES IF ACCELERATING FROM AROUND 20 MPH -- AS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM TOLL BOOTH, OR AFTER SLOWING TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK

IT STARTED WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. THEN THE LOCK DROP DOWN INSIDE DOOR MAKING THE DOOR UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN. ALSO ENGINE STALLED. TOOK TO THE DEALER. THEY FIXED THE DOOR BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR THE WINDOW. WINDOW WORKED FOR THEM. BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME THAT NIGHT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE DASH WHEN ON AND THE BATTERY GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING TO THE "H" AND FINALLY HELD THERE. TURNED TRUCK OFF AND LET SIT AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. DIDN'T REACURR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN STARTED UP AGAIN. ABS LIGHT ALSO STARTED COMING ON AND OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO GO CRAZY. ALSO ENGINE IDLE STARTED TO SURGE AS THE BATTERY GAUGE SURGED. THIS WAS ON A WEEKEND. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO DEALER. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS. THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND DROVE IT. STILL NOTHING. THEY DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND THE MAXI FUSE AND WIRING SYSTEM BURNT. I ASKED IF IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY SAID NO. HOWEVER I LOOKED AT YOUR WEB SITE UNDER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR EXPLORER HAD CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. SOME OF THESE EXPLORERS WERE NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WERE PARKED IN A GARGE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUSE AND WIRING HARNESS HOWEVER IT TOOK 11/2 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKORDERED. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING SYSTEMS. I ALSO PARK MINE IN A GARGE. I AM NOW WORRIED AND AFRAID TO PARK IT IN THE GARGE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THEIR SAFETY IS MY FIRST CONCERN.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN DASHBOARD AREA WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. PRIOR TO FIRE, IF TURN SIGNAL WAS LEFT ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ROUGHLY OVER A MINUTE, SMOKE WOULD COME FROM DASHBOARD. NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN MADE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OFF POSITION FOR OVER TEN MINUTES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 00V422000 REGARDING THROTTLE. CONSUMER NOT SURE IF CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DUE TO THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE IGNITION COILS WERE OVERHEATING AND MELTING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BACKFIRE AND RUN ROUGH. FATHER IS WRITING IN FOR DAUGHTER AND IS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. *MJS

IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT A 30% GRADE OR MORE WITH A 1/4 TANK OF GAS OR LESS ENGINE SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS CHECKED TWICE, AND SAID THAT IT HAPPENED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *AK

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 14 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETEMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FIRE UNDER HOOD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED, WITH POWER OFF. VEHICLE SAT FOR 5 HRS, THEN FIRE STARTED. FLAMES UNDER HOOD AND FROM REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER CONNECTION. BATTERY THEN EXPLODED. NO FIRE UNDER CAR. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNTOUCHED. *AK

TRAVELING 20MPH, HAD NO PRIOR WARNING;, AND LOST POWER, JUST STOPPED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, IT WOULD CATCH AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING OR TURNING CORNERS, VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS PCM RELATED. PROBLEM MAY BE SOLVED*AK. THE DEALER COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH

VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AT 70 MPH ON 4 LANE INTERSTATE 85/40 WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP STATED THE PASSENGER'S FOOT UNKNOWINGLY DISCONNECTED WIRING HARNESS CAUSUNG ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION IN WHICH IT COULD BE DISCONNECTED BY THE PASSENGER.

PERIODICALLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS PULLING INTO AN INTERSTATE. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP ONLY ATTEMPTED TO FIX VEHICLE ON THE 3RD OCCASION. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE CAUSE OR ISSUE A REMEDY.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS REPEATED STALLING PROBLEMS (ONLY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR FROM LOW SPEEDS). THIS TROUBLE HAS BEEN REPORTED FOUR TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALWAYS SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. ON SEPT 21 MY WIFE WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH A SERVICE TECH. INSIDE. THEY IMMEDIATELY SEARCHED FOR TROUBLE CODES AND FOUND NONE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR OFTEN BUT IT OCCURS WHEN YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR INTO TRAFFIC. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF MY FAMILY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT MAKING ANY REASONABLE OFFERS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ANY RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK

MULTI UNIT RADIO SYSTEM, THE CLOCK/STATION DISPLAYED WENT OUT. *AK

THE INTERMITTENT HESITATION PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED UNDER CONDITIONS THAT HAVE POSED SAFETY RISKS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS CONDITION. ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOST AT THIS POINT. ALSO, I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WHILE WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE WIDESPREAD. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION MOTOR WAS REPLACED. LATER ON, WINDSHIELD WIPER COMMENCED TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. ALSO, NOTICED INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON BOTH OF THESE MATTER. *AK

FORD SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THE ENGINE FIRE OCCURRED 3 1/2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE STREET, BUT IT IS NORMALLY IN MY GARAGE. IF IT HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE, MY HOUSE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WILL NEVER FEEL CONFORTABLE WITH IT IN THE GARAGE AGAIN. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO ?*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR 3.5 HOURS ENGINE COMPARTMENT BROKE OUT INTO A FIRE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN DUE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

THE HORN FAILED. YH

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK AND 4-WD DASH LIGHT FLASHES WHEN ENGINE IS COLD AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 40 DEG F. WIPERS WORK OK AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP (ABOUT 5 MIN).

VEHICLE HAS HESITATION PROBLEMS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & PLACED ON MONITORING AFTER IT HAPPEND 5 TIMES. NOTHING SHOWED UP. MANUFACTURER SENT INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM WITH COMPUTER CHIP WHICH WAS REPLACED. *AK

WHEN OPENING UP THE DOOR AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE DASHBOARD MELTED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO A SHORT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *YC

WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED . YH

ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AFTER FAILURE AT 8324 MILES. *YC

TWO SPARK PLUGS ARE DEAD. YH

BATTERY FAILED. YH

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

WHEN I TRY TO START THE TRUCK, THE THEFT LIGHT FLASHES AT ME AND WON'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO START. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY RE-PROGRAMED THE THEFT SYSTEM. THEY ACCUSED ME OF STICKING ANOTHER KEY IN THE IGNITION. I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES THIS TRUCK. THANK GOD, WE ONLY HAVE ONE FORD- THIS ONE! I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FORD AND A GM KEY. I NEVER STUCK ANY OTHER KEYS IN THE IGNITION. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 6 DAYS AFTER THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN! PLEASE HELP. I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. I NEVER KNOW IF THE TRUCK WILL START WHEN I DRIVE SOMEWHERE.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR KEEPS SHORTING OUT HAS BURN FOUR MOTORS COMPLETLY UP. NOW TOTAL SYSTEM OUT. NO DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS, SEATS OR ANYTHING ELECTRIC. CAN SMELL BURNING WIRES. FORD WILL NOT DO REPLACEMENT OR BUYBACK. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO BRING IT IN ONCE A MONTH FOR A NEW MOTOR, SOONER OR LATER IT WILL QUIT BURNING THEM UP.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SAW THE VEHICLE UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL WIRE. *AK

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER AND FRIEND HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE TRUCK STALLED OUT. CONSUMER THINKS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM . TRUCK HAS BEEN IN SHOP 8 TIMES. *AK

FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH AREA. THIS IS THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH USED IN OTHER FORD VEHICLES WHICH HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR SHORTING PROBLEMS AND FIRES.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERIOR LAMPS/ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER, WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS WENT OUT. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE FUSE. DEALER'S ENGINEERS ARE LOOKING INTO PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPAIRED WIRING. *SLC

IGNITION KEY ANTI THEFT DESIGN (GLASS VILE INSIDE THE KEY) BROKE, NOT PERMITTING VEHICLE TO START.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK LOST ALL POWER AND ELECTRICITY. TOOK THE TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY FIXED AN ALTERNATOR WIRE LOOM FOR EXCESS, AND REPLACED A PART OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTOR BOX. THE NUT TO THE ALTERNATOR WIRE LOOM WAS LEFT LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO MELT FROM THE MOUNTED PLATE THAT THEY COULD NOT TIGHTEN. *AK

BECAUSE OF MINOR DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE IGNITION KEY, THE EXPLORER WILL NOT START. MANUFACTURER OR DEALER NOT WILLING TO REMOVE FEATURE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

THE DEALER/ FACTORY DID NOT FULLT TIGHTEN THE THE MAIN POWER WIRE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED POWER SURGES IN ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BY CONSUMERLOOSENING POWER TO STEERING/LIGHTS OR BRAKES. *AK