IllustrationI HAD TO REPLACE THE CENTER ARMREST ON 9-9-99 UNDER WARANTY AND A SECOND TIME AT MY EXPENSE. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT WAS MISSING. RAZZARI FORD IN MERCED, CA, CANNOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. *JB FORD MOTOR COMPANY CLAIMS MISSING BOLT AND DEFECTIVE ARMREST IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I REMINDED THEM I WILL NOT BUY NEW FORDS AGAIN.
1998 Explorer Van Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ford Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsBROKEN DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME. *AK
WHILE THE HOOD WAS OPEN, THE HYDRAULIC HOOD "STRUTS" GAVE WAY, & THE HOOD CAME CRASHING DOWN & HIT ME ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD. LUCKILY, IT WAS A GLANCING BLOW, & I DIDN'T SUSTAIN A MAJOR INJURY.
EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN FAILED WHEN RETURNING FROM BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS TO REGULAR LIGHTING. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT DUE TO THE SWITCH, HAD TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO GET LIGHTS BACK ON. I DISCOVERED BY HOLDING THE SWITCH TOWARDS MY DIRECTION (THE FLASH BRIGHTS MODE), I COULD GET HOME. THIS OC…
Read full complaint
EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN FAILED WHEN RETURNING FROM BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS TO REGULAR LIGHTING. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT DUE TO THE SWITCH, HAD TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO GET LIGHTS BACK ON. I DISCOVERED BY HOLDING THE SWITCH TOWARDS MY DIRECTION (THE FLASH BRIGHTS MODE), I COULD GET HOME. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN PITCH DARK . LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT DURING THIS ACTION. IT WAS RATHER SHOCKING TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON BOLT REPLACEMENT DATED AUGUST 2003. FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR THE FRONT SEATS IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROKEN RECLINING TO THE BACK SEAT, I HAVE BLANKETS AND PILLOWS PILED IN THE SEATS THAT ENABLES ME TO SIT UP ENOUGH TO DRIVE AND BUCKLE MY SEAT BELT. ON 9/10/03 I CALLED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO A …
Read full complaint
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON BOLT REPLACEMENT DATED AUGUST 2003. FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR THE FRONT SEATS IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROKEN RECLINING TO THE BACK SEAT, I HAVE BLANKETS AND PILLOWS PILED IN THE SEATS THAT ENABLES ME TO SIT UP ENOUGH TO DRIVE AND BUCKLE MY SEAT BELT. ON 9/10/03 I CALLED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO A REPRESENTING BY THE NAME OF NICOLE TO COMPLAIN. I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ERNIE HAIR AT FORD, WHO LOOKED AT THE SEATS AND MADE A DETERMINATION THAT TOOK 5 MINUTES, THAT IT WAS THE RECLINER NOT THE BOLT I THEN TOOK THE SERVICE REP TO THE VEHICLE TO SHOW HIM THE RECLINER WORKS HE THEN SAID OH THE REP MUST HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT PROPERLY AND THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SEPARATING FROM THE TOP AND THAT IT HAS CAUSE THE SEAT TO RECLINE. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS REPAIRED HE SAID THAT THE COST OF REPAIRING THE SEAT WILL BE "300.00 $ PER SEAT " THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEED TO BE ATTENDED TO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE REASON FOR THE LAPSE IN TIME IS I HAD TO CALL A SECOND TIME TO RECEIVE A COMPLAINT PACKAGE. THANK YOU:AISHA PATTERSON JAMES. *AK
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION GEARS FAILED WITH JUST 78,000 MILES AND MAINLY HIGHWAY ONLY MILES. *NLM
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.