1998 Ford Explorer Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a driver-side door lock that will not unlock, interior seat mechanisms that break or recline unexpectedly, and under-hood fires while the vehicle is parked. Many reports come from older, high-mileage vehicles, though several describe failures well under 100,000 miles. A separate group describes erratic idle, stalling or engine damage around the intake and timing components.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Driver-side door will not unlock

   • 25 complaints (21%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2009

   Owners describe the driver-side door lock failing so the door cannot be opened with the key, remote, keypad, or the inside handle. Some say the door can only be opened by pulling very hard on the interior handle while working the key, and a few report the handle breaking in the process. According to the complaints, dealers generally treated it as a non-recall item the owner had to pay for, and some reported replacing the latch assembly for a broken internal spring. Reported from about 60,000 to 175,000 miles, with many complaints in the 70,000-130,000 mile range.

   What to check: Try locking and unlocking the driver door with the key, the remote and the inside handle, and check that the door opens from both inside and outside. Ask whether the latch assembly has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drivers side door, of my 1998 Ford explorer, could not be opened (from inside or outside door handles). Attempted to have door latch assembly replaced, as broken spring was found protruding from door latch assembly area <drivers side>. Dealership incorrectly replaced inside door handle and now drivers side door cannot be locked (but can now be opened or closed). Due to door latch assembly problems with canadian Ford vehicles, I fear we now have a serious security & safety issue with our 1998 Ford explorer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10122068, filed 2005-05, 149,484 miles

   “In 2007, my 1998 Ford explorer driver door lock stopped working. It really didn't bother me all that much until one day by accident the door locked and would not come open. I had to push with all my force and pull up on the interior door handle at the same time. Finally it came open but the door handle broke. Now it was to the point of disgust. Didn't have the money to fix it so we waited until we did. In 2008, I took my explorer to the local dealership. I was quoted $197 for everything, installation, parts, and labor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10256522, filed 2009-01, 122,700 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Under-hood fire while parked

   • 21 complaints (17%)
   • median 129,788 mi at 8.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners report fires starting under the hood while the vehicle was parked and shut off, sometimes hours or overnight after it was last driven. Several complaints state the fire department or an inspection concluded the fire began at an electrical short or around the speed-control/cruise-control wiring; one owner says a mechanic determined the cruise control was involved. Owners whose vehicles were not covered by the speed-control recall describe being told their VIN was not included. Reported from about 95,000 to 195,000 miles, typically when parked with the ignition off.

   What to check: Ask whether any speed-control or cruise-control recall campaign was completed on this VIN, and have the under-hood wiring near the master cylinder inspected for cracked insulation or signs of heat.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10114708, filed 2005-03, 80,000 miles

   “I arrived back from taking my son to the park at approximately 6:00pm, watched tv and then fired up the grill around 7:45pm. I came back in the house and heard a loud noise. I yelled upstairs to my husband and asked if he had heard the noise, he yelled back and said, call 911 your truck is on fire. He immediately began to fight the fire with two fire extinguishers and the water hose. We were scared as the fire department had not yet arrived and we were worried it was going to blow up as it was only approximately 7 feet from the house. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10153477, filed 2006-03, 138,000 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Driver seat recliner and seat back failure

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2010

   Complaints describe the recliner handle or lever breaking off, the seat back dropping or reclining on its own while driving, and seat release latches snapping so the seat will not tilt forward. Several owners mention a seat-recliner bolt recall and say the work was not performed, was refused as too old, or did not hold afterward; one was told the repair part was no longer made and to look at a salvage yard. Reported from about 50,000 to 145,000 miles; some failures occurred while the vehicle was moving.

   What to check: Recline and return both front seats, try the tilt-forward release on each, and check whether the seat-back bolt recall work is documented as completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my driver's seat recliner mechanism repaired before, but the recliner driver's seat has broken again. Now the recliner driver's seat reclines totally, until it touches the back seat cushion. The dealership told me the part to repair the seat is no longer manufactured. I was told I could go to a salvage yard to look for the part. On researching the problem on the internet I came upon the recall notice for the exact problem I have had with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10347147, filed 2010-08, 121,895 miles

   “Drivers side seat recline lever broke off. The seat is unable to move forward, preventing access to the rear from the drivers side. The metal is too weak and at an awkward position. The dealer will not replace, even through this is an obvious faulty part as the replacement part is designed with a thicker metal.”

   NHTSA complaint #10039030, filed 2003-09, 77,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Intake leaks, erratic idle and misfires

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 100,251 mi at 5.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2005

   Owners describe air or vacuum leaks at the intake manifold that produce an erratic idle and check-engine codes, along with carbon buildup requiring a dealer decarbonization service. Some complaints mention a cam tensioner breaking at around 135,000 miles and putting a hole in the valve cover, and one reports the crankshaft breaking and causing a loss of power steering. Dealers, according to the complaints, quoted substantial repair costs and in some cases declined goodwill coverage based on mileage. Reported from about 30,000 to 195,000 miles, with several cases around 100,000-140,000 miles.

   What to check: Listen for a rough or hunting idle and ask whether intake manifold work, decarbonization or timing-chain/tensioner repairs have been done. Scan for stored check-engine codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down the road, I heard a snap and a pop like a fanbelt broke. I lost all power. This includes power steering and air conditioning. I driving around a curve, on an incline, and to pull over I was on a slope downhill. I have since been informed that this problem is not uncommon with the motor that is in my car. The crankshaft broke in my car. If this is a common problem why has there not been a recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #10041070, filed 2003-10, 100,251 miles

   “I have the same problems in my Ford. Service bulletin number: 01205 ,0232 and 15406 some vehicles may exhibit vacuum or air leaks in the intake manifold and / or engine system causing diagnostic trouble codes p0171 and or p0174. Some vehicles equipped with the 4.0l sohc engine may exhibit a check engine light on with diagnostic trouble codes p0300 (random misfire) or p0301. Concerns with rear wipers that do not sufficiently clean the back glass.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000883, filed 2003-01, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Blend door failure, no heat or defrost

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 63,400 mi at 5.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2006

   Complaints describe the ventilation blend door actuator failing so the system blows hot in summer and cannot defrost the windshield in cold weather. Owners say they found it to be a recurring complaint on this model and paid for the part themselves; one notes a newer part number was used in the repair. Some also mention a rear wiper that jams or does not clear the back glass. Reported from about 63,000 to 148,000 miles, with symptoms most noticeable in cold weather.

   What to check: Run the heater and A/C and switch between defrost and vent to confirm the airflow changes and the windshield clears; check that the rear wiper moves freely.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Blend door in the ventilation system does not operate. Leads to heat in the summer and difficulity defrosting the winshield in the winter. From what I have read this is a common problem on the 1998 explorers. I also had the evaporator tank replaced last year. This is a manufacturing problem and should be recalled to fix. I also had two sets of brakes and rotors on this vehicle and the radio still does'nt work right.”

   NHTSA complaint #10014516, filed 2003-04, 63,400 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10124646, filed 2005-06, 20,000 miles

Buying note. Check the driver door lock function, the front seat mechanisms, defrost and heater operation, and the under-hood wiring and recall history before deciding. These are older vehicles, so documented maintenance and completed recall work matter as much as mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.