1998 Ford Explorer Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 189about this part
- Share
- 10%of 1,959 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 189 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Ford Explorer, 10% of the 1,959 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 13 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car was parked in the driveway and was off. We heard a noise from inside the house and my 1998 Ford Explorer was in flames from the engine area. We had to call the fire department and the car was quickly engulfed.”
NHTSA complaint #10562589, filed 2014-02, 180,000 miles“My wife was just leaving our house and the crankshaft broke. This happened without any warning and LED to sudden loss of power steering. She was able to get it to the side of the road without mishap. This was at a low speed. This failure at highway speed could resulted in an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10190632, filed 2007-05, 101,000 miles“The blend actuator door is stuck in the open position which means that I can't set the temperature in the passenger compartment to a comfortable level. After searching this problem on the internet it's apparent to me and others that this has got to be a defect based on the number of complaints.”
NHTSA complaint #10005243, filed 2003-02, 78,000 miles“2nd time this happened...tensioner pulley failed (broke off) while driving on the highway. Serpentine belt came off, car overheated/engine failure/etc. First time was ay 40,000 miles. This time, at 102,000 miles. Towed to a texaco station in aberdeen, md. Service manager says tensioner pulley failure common in explorers. Had to replace pulley/belt. Once I returned home to nj, I started to notice minor dripping of radiator fluid. 2 weeks later, it all gushed out, causing me to also replace my radiator. …”
NHTSA complaint #10031118, filed 2003-08, 102,000 miles“Since purchasing a used 1998 Ford Explorer I have been blessed with nothing but problems with it. 6 months after purchasing the vehicle my wheel bearings went out and damaged the spindle. This was a $500 expense as the spindle was a dealer part. When I purchased it there were 26000 miles on it...there were about 36000 when the bearings went out...just as the warranty expired. Then, about a year later, the upper air intake manifold got a hole burned in it. Again, Ford couldn't offer me any kind of help and said it was a $800-1000 repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #10082273, filed 2004-07, 103,000 milesEngine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 10 | 2% |
| 2020 | 21 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 2% |
| 2018 | 29 | 4% |
| 2017 | 77 | 5% |
| 2016 | 114 | 5% |
| 2015 | 66 | 4% |
| 2014 | 67 | 4% |
| 2013 | 67 | 3% |
| 2012 | 14 | 2% |
| 2011 | 21 | 2% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 164 | 26% |
| 2005 | 29 | 6% |
| 2004 | 71 | 5% |
| 2003 | 69 | 6% |
| 2002 | 163 | 5% |
| 2001 | 39 | 10% |
| 2000 | 90 | 9% |
| 1999 | 100 | 7% |
| 1998 | 189 | 10% |
| 1997 | 198 | 11% |
| 1996 | 81 | 6% |
| 1995 | 45 | 5% |
| 1994 | 74 | 6% |
| 1993 | 55 | 6% |
| 1992 | 64 | 10% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Explorer
696 complaintsVehicle speed control
281 complaintsElectrical system
114 complaintsSuspension
111 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
108 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
103 complaintsBrakes
94 complaintsSeats
70 complaintsSteering
70 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
65 complaintsFuel system
63 complaintsBody and structure
48 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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