1998 Ford Explorer Sport Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 2%of 121 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 163,466miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport, 2% of the 121 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 163,466 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My vehicle will not run on reverse. I can shift perfectly fine to all my gears without any fussing or clunking noises coming from the gear shifts/transmission. But as soon as I try to put it on reverse my vehicle does not move, it seems like it's in neutral instead of reverse. At the moment of discovering my vehicle does not move in reverse it was stationary in park. I tried turning the vehicle on and off and tried messing with all the gears but to no avail.”
NHTSA complaint #10956882, filed 2017-02, 163,466 miles“While driving, vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate to very high rpms without warning. Problem occurs when vehicle stops at traffic lights, when brakes are applied, and also when in reverse. Vehicle is noisy and locked in 4x4 with o/d light blinking, dealer could not duplicate problem, cause unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #898927, filed 2001-11Related service bulletins
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport
33 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsSeats
14 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsTires
11 complaintsEquipment
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology