1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S JOB, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL PERTAINING TO HIS VIN; THEREFORE, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V422000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CORRECT INCIDENT DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 149,382.

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR IT HAD TO BE GIVEN MORE GAS BECAUSE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO STICK CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *NM

WE HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. ON JANUARY 25TH, 2005 O EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY & HAD BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. CONSUMER'S WIFE HAD PUT CHIDREN IN THE CAR & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE BRAKE FLUID ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CHILDREN OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NOT RUNNING THEY SEEMED TO HAVE NO IDEA & SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE NEXT NIGHT WHILE WATCHING THE NEWS SAW THE RECALL FORD HAD FOR LATER MODEL VEHICLES DUE TO THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. ICONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THISCAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS A 1998 EXLPLORER EVEN THOUGH THE PICTURES ON THE NEWS SHOWING WERE THE FIRE OCCURED LOOKED IDENTICAL TO THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE. FORD DID NOT SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED & THE DEALER JUST TOLD ME TO KEEP RECIEPT IN CASE THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND ABOUT THE RECALL. I TOOK PICTURES OF MY ENGINE IF NEEDED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $700.00 PLUS RENTAL CAR FEE & TOWING EXPENSE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWICTH, BRAKE FLUID ASSEMBLY, & HOOD INSULATION WERE REPLACED. DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS.*AK

DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE, DIFFERENTIAL, WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER HAVING 60,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID REPLACED WITH SYNTHETIC ,TO FORD SPECS. DIFFERENTIAL GEARS AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DISENTIGRATED. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL. COULD HAVE CAUSED GEARS TO LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING.*AK

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. THE REPAIR WAS MADE 1/14/05. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEGE, THE DEFECT IS NOT CORRECTED, BUT ONLY REPAIRED AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL, IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY 1998, EXPLORER, SPORT. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD SWITCH. THE NEW SWITCH NUMBER IS SW-5945, F3TZ-9F924-BB. *AK

DRIVER DOOR WON'T OPEN ON MY 1998 EDDIE BAUR EXPLORER. DOOR LOCK STUCK SHUT... SAFETY ISSUE! *JB

I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 1988 BOUGHT NEW IN 1999. I HAVE ONLY 36.000 MILES ON IT AND LAST MONTH I WAS JUST DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MILES WHEN I SENSED A POWERFUL SMELL OF GAS. PULLED OVER IMEDIATELY, OPENED THE HOOD A I SAW GASOLIN POURING ON THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERIES FROM THE TWO FUEL LINES GOING INTO THE FEUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IN TOP OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THE FORD DEALER WHERE I HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM(700$ !!!!). OLD ME THEY ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM OTHER TIMES. PLEASE DO AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE PEOPLE WILL DIE BURNT ALIVE. I DROVE NEW, OLD AND VERY OLD CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. *AK IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL DO SOMETHING THANKS SORIN

DOOR LOCK WAS NOT WORKING WHEN IT WAS COLD. NOW, DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS COMPLETELY OUT, THE KEY JUST TURNS IN THE LOCK AND DOES NOT WORK. THE OTHER LOCKS (PASSENGER AND BACK WINDOW) DO NOT WORK EITHER. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY MANY TIMES BEFORE LOCK WORKS, THEN YOU HAVE TO EITHER CRAWL OVER THE SEATS OR PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE LOCK ENGAGES. I WAS OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE LOCK TO WORK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR BECAUSE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. ON GOING PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *NM

DT: 1998 FORD EXPLORER, ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK WHILE CONSUMER DRIVING, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLES SAFETY, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 20 TIMES THIS YEAR. *AK

INNER DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED DUE TO A SMALL SPRING BREAKING. THE RESULT IS THAT THE DOOR EFFECTED (DRIVERS DOOR IN THIS CASE) WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THUS, TRAPPING A PERSON IN THE EVENT THAT AN EXIT MUST BE MADE QUICKLY. A REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE DAMAGED PIECE. THE DAMAGED PIECE WILL BE AVAILABLE. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS PART WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THIS LEAKAGE AND PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE VEHICLE AND THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 00V422000; FORD ISSUED A THROTTLE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH, ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AND ENGINE SURGED FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS FREED. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATED FROM THE FLOOR ON MY EXPLORER. THE CAR WOULD ONLY IDLE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I RE-BOLTED THE BRACKET TO THE FLOOR AFTER VISITING THE DEALER. IT APPEARS TWO SPOT WELDS BROKE. *JB

VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT OPERATE. THE RESULT SHOWED THAT A NEW COMPUTER MODULE WAS NEEDED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE RETURNED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

VERY HEAVY RATTLING IN THE ENGINE OF MY 1998 EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY CLAIMED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOTOR, TWICE. SOME TIME LATER TENSIONERS BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND MOTOR CEASED. NO COOPERATION OFFERED ON FORD'S PART. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE OUT OF POCKET FOR FORD'S DESIGN FLAW, WHICH HAS BEEN GETTING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG FOR YEARS NOW. ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPLACEMENT FORD OFFERED TO FIX OTHERS, IF FOUND BEFORE 75K MILES, ETC. TOO LATE FOR ME. HOW MANY FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED? WHAT IF THIS FAILURE HAD OF OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, INSTEAD OF IDLE SPEED. CHECK THE FIGURES ON THIS PROBLEM, IT'S SCARY, AND FORD IS PITIFUL. *JB

CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER DOES NOT WORK, DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN DOOR, KEY DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT DIVIDER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOOR. THE DRIVER IS LITERALLY TRAPPED IN THE CAR. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK AND LATCH NO LONGER WORK AND PREVENT DOOR FROM OPENING. THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR DRIVER WHO NOW CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE RELIABLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS EFFECTIVELY PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND DRIVER MUST ENTER/EXIT VIA PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. DOOR LOCK NO LONGER RESOUNDS TO REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY, OUTSIDE KEY, NOR INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. ONLY AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON TAPERED DOOR KNOB WHILE REPEATEDLY PRESSING INTERNAL ELECTRIC DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON WILL DRIVER'S DOOR SOMETIMES BECOME UNLOCKED AND THEN THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS TO THE VEHICLE (4 DOOR PLUS REAR HATCH) HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY TO THROUGH NHTSA BY NUMEROUS OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS, YET APPARENTLY NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE VISTA FORD DEALER ON NOVEMBER 28, 2004 FOR A SAFETY CHECK AND WARRANTY REPAIR OF BOLT IN DRIVER'S SEAT. DEALER INITIALLY ESTIMATED $230 FOR REPAIR, BUT AFTER INSPECTION THEY DEMANDED $500+ (INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR). REPAIR NOT PERFORMED. VEHICLE REMAINS IN HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *JB

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER HOUSE FOR AT LEAST 7 HOURS. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SC

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER INSIDE OF THE ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT HEADS AND PISTONS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE, DESTROYING OTHER PARTS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE ULTIMATE RESULT OF THIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AT HIGHWAY SPEED PRIOR TO GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER HAS A WARANTY EXTENSION IN PLACE PRIOR TO 72,000 MILES, BUT NO RECALL, AND CONSIDERS A VEHICLE THAT LOOSES POWER AND CANNOT BE COMPLETED STEERED AS A RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE NOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE!?!?!? THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, BUT WILL ONLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THE VEHICLE HAS SYMPTOMS. I HAD THE FIRST MINOR SYMPTOM ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND A MAJOR PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY.*AK

DEFECTIVE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO DRIVER SEAT FRAME KEPT THE SEAT FROM RECLINING. *BF CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V281000 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH STATED THAT DRIVERS MAY EXPERIENCE LOOSENESS OR NOISE IN THE SEAT AND IN EXTREME CASES IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ONE TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY $110. TO HAVE A COMPONENT WITHIN THE SEAT REPAIRED SO THEY COULD EASILY REPAIR THE RECALLED PART. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO PAY FOR SERVICE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR. . *TC *JB

NHTSA RECALL 03V281000; FORD ISSUED A HIGH BACK SEAT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE SEAT RECLINED BACK, ALMOST TOUCHING THE SECOND ROW CUSHION. DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THE SEAT FORWARD. *AK

TODAY, I WAS GOING TO ADJUST MY DRIVERS SEAT AND THE LEVER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST THE SEAT SNAPPED OFF. I DIDN'T USE FORCE OR ANYTHING. NOW MY SEAT IS UNABLE TO BE ADJUSTED. *JB

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BAKES FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE NON CORRODING STEEL BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND RUPTURED. *SC

WHILE PULLING UP THE SEAT LEVER DRIVER 'S SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT AND LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 HOURS, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK SIX TO NINE MONTHS PRIOR TO FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. *BF

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE STARTED PRODUCING A CLICKING SOUND. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK

THE LOCKING MECHANISM AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED, AND UNLOCKED BY ITSELF. THE KEY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OR SHE GOT OUT, BUT COULD NOT GET IN. *AK KEYS DO NOT WORK ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CONSUMER BROKE THE DOOR LATCH TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. IT TAKES MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO EXIT OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT HELP EITHER. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! *NM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES LOCKED . AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH OR WITHOUT KEY - WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY WIDE SPREAD IN THIS VEHICLE AND REQUIRES A $150 LOCK ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE A FAULTY .50 CENT SPRING. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR ON. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

UNDERHOOD FIRE IN EXPLORER. MINOR FIRE CONCENTRATED AROUND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT BLOWN. XRAYS SHOW TOTAL INTERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS EVEN THOUGH THE PLASTIC BODY IS STILL RELATIVELY INTACT BUT CHARRED AND DEFORMED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SMASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ONGOING, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RECALLED VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD A TIRE FAILURE. *TC

HARD TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.

DT: CONSUMER HAD A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR, AND TO THE BRAKE RESERVOIR. A BYSTANDER SAW THE FIRE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE IT WAS USED AND OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30AM ,AND THE FIRE STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45AM. CONSUMER STATESDTHAT THEY HAVE ONLY USED THE CRUISE CONTROL APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS HYDROLIC UNIT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT SPITS OUT BRAKE FLUID WHICH DAMAGED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKES. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE OWNER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

DRIVER'SW SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK. TRIED HOLDING THE HANDLE AND PRESSING UNLOCK BUTTONS ON THE DOOR AND KEYLESS REMOTE. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGER IN AN EMERGENCY. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. WHY NOT??? SEEMS THAT MANY DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE THE DAY AFTER THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE BOLT NOT THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED AT NO COST TO HER (RECALL #03S04). * NM

WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACE THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THROTTLE STICKS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONAL FORCE IS REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE THROTTLE, WHICH RESULTS IN TH VEHICLE LURCHING. THE STICKING THROTTLE MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THERE VEHICLE IN TIGHT SPOTS SUCH AS PARKING AREAS. FORD DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT SAID THE VEHICLE WAS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BETWEEN 30000-35000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TC

HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. SIDE MARKERS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, AS DO HI-BEAMS WHEN IN FLASH/PASSING MODE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE TREAD CAME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T, P225/75R15, DOTW1345600.

THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR'S LOCK BROKE. ONCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GIVES AROUND THE WAIST CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO LOSE WITH NO RESTRAINT WHILE DRIVING. *AK

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IS TO HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT AND REPAIR.*AK