1998 Ford Explorer Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 281about this part
- Share
- 14%of 1,959 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 281 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Ford Explorer, 14% of the 1,959 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,500 miles. 31 of these say a crash was involved and 49 a fire, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Speed control gets hot to touch. All top facing has melted off from heat. I was on highway and my steering wheel became extremely hot. My seat was repaired after recall years ago. It continues to drop low to floor.”
NHTSA complaint #11298074, filed 2020-01, 182,000 miles“I was driving 45 MPH when the accelerator went all the way to the floor, I put the car in neutral and then speedometer went all the way up to the max, and coasted off to the side as soon as I could. This caused the engine to be damaged and the car is not drivable.”
NHTSA complaint #10439965, filed 2011-12, 236,000 miles“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!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10183601, filed 2007-02, 135,000 miles“When accelerating from a stop, the bracket that suspends the accelerator pedal broke free from the firewall (it was tack welded in several spots). This caused an immediate loss of power. Luckily I was leaving my residence with no traffic behind. If I had been accelerating via on ramp to highway with vehicles right behind me might have been a different story. Local garage repaired ($47.50) by drilling holes and reattaching with bolts. According to serious explorations users group, not an uncommon problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10650485, filed 2014-10, 164,581 miles“When I stepped on the gas pedal and started to proceed through an intersection, I lost all power and had to roll or coast very slowly through the intersection and stop on the other side in a dangerous position in traffic when I could coast no further. The gas pedal bracket had completely broken off the firewall and was laying on the floor. The bracket had been attached by three spot welds. Some other people stopped traffic and pushed me to a safe place to park. The Ford dealer parts' department has no parts to fix it and suggested we buy some bolts somewhere and reattach it ourselves somehow. …”
NHTSA complaint #10892670, filed 2016-08, 140,000 milesRelated recalls
- 09V399000Oct 13, 2009Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150…Covers: Ford Explorer 1995–2002, E-150 1992–2003, E-350 1992–2003 +12 more
- 06V286000Aug 1, 2006On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.Covers: Ford Explorer 1998, F-250 1994–2002, F-350 1994–2002 +10 more
- 00V422000Dec 27, 2000Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or…Covers: Ford Explorer 1997–1998, Mercury Mountaineer 1997–1998
- 99V062001Mar 30, 1999Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999…Covers: Ford Explorer 1997–1999, Ranger 1998–1999, Mustang 1998–1999 +6 more
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 7 | 7% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 3% |
| 2021 | 15 | 3% |
| 2020 | 29 | 2% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 10 | 1% |
| 2017 | 21 | 1% |
| 2016 | 76 | 3% |
| 2015 | 16 | 1% |
| 2014 | 29 | 2% |
| 2013 | 38 | 2% |
| 2012 | 17 | 2% |
| 2011 | 18 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 12% |
| 2009 | 5 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 6% |
| 2006 | 28 | 4% |
| 2005 | 44 | 9% |
| 2004 | 76 | 6% |
| 2003 | 37 | 3% |
| 2002 | 152 | 5% |
| 2001 | 36 | 10% |
| 2000 | 113 | 12% |
| 1999 | 148 | 11% |
| 1998 | 281 | 14% |
| 1997 | 202 | 12% |
| 1996 | 148 | 10% |
| 1995 | 81 | 10% |
| 1994 | 51 | 4% |
| 1993 | 38 | 4% |
| 1992 | 14 | 2% |
| 1991 | 30 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Explorer
696 complaintsEngine cooling
189 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 30, 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