1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO REPAIR CAR PARTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND HAVE SERIOUS SAFTY ISSUES. DRIVERS CAR SEAT BACK COLLAPSE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUPPORT BRACKET ELL OFF THE FLOOR BOAD...NEEDS TO BE WELDED BACK ON.*AK

I BOUGHT A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER FOR MY WIFE AND AT 135,000 MILES THE CAM TENSIONER BROKE, PUTTING A HOLE IN THE VALVE COVER AND POSSIBLY RUINING THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, FLAGGLER FORD. FORD'S REPLY AT FIRST WAS, "YES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WE WILL FIX THIS AT NO COST TO YOU". THEY TOWED MY EXPLORER IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CALLED ME LATER TELLING ME THAT WHILE THE TIME FOR THIS REPAIR IS NOT UP, THE MILEAGE IS OVER WHAT THEY WILL COVER. FORD SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR ANYWHERE FROM $600 TO $6,000! MY MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, SAID HE WILL FIX IT FOR $300 PLUS PARTS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD COSTOMER SERVICE, THIS GOT ME NOWHERE, AND A SUPERVISOR WAS SUPPOST TO CALL ME TODAY BUT AS OF YET...NOTHING.AFTER SEARCHING THE NET I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS VERY PROBLEM. GO TO CARTRACKERS.COM AND YOU'LL FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO, WELL I WOULD BE OK WITH THAT BUT FORD'S STANCE IS THAT WHILE ITS A DEFECTIVE PART MINE LASTED LONGER THAN EXPECTED AND THAT I GET NOTHING BUT A BILL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE LIKE THIS BEFORE, AND I HAVE A DODGE AND A CHEVY WITH OVER 140,000 MILES ON THEM AND HAVE NEVER HAD A INTERNAL ENGINE PART FAIL AND RUIN THE ENGINE. PLEASE HELP ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SOLD THESE VEHICLES HAVEING NO IDEA THAT AT ANY MOMENT THEY MAY HAVE TO BUY A NEW ENGINE WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO PROFITED FROM THESE SALES JUST SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING. HAD I KNOWN THE LIFE OF MY EXPLORER WAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A FORD. THERE WAS NEVER A FORMAL RECALL PUT OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM, JUST A SERVICE BULLITEN, SO PEOPLE WHO HAD THESE DEFECTIVE TENTIONERS WERE NEVER CONTACTED. MY GUESS IS THAT FORD JUST HOPED THAT THE FAILURES WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE 100,000 MILES, AND WOULD JUST DEAL WITH THE ONES THAT DIDN'T.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING SHUT OFF WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. *NM ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. THE ACCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES. *SC

THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAME LOOSE AND THE CAMSHAFT HAD BROKEN RIGHT AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. *PH CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN OPTION BY THE DEALER TO EITHER OVERHAUL THE ENGINE, WITH NO WARRANTY, OR REPLACE THE ENGINE, WITH A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND OUT THAT UPON INSPECTING THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAMSHAFT AREA THAT THE LONG BOLT HOLDING THE PULLEY TO THE CAMSHAFT WAS NEVER TIGHTENED WAS ABLE TO REMOVED WITH THE TECHNICIAN'S FINGERS. IN ADDITION, THE BOLT SHOULD HAVE SOME MARKINGS ON IT CONSISTENT WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BOLT WOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. WHEN ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND PERFORMED ADDITIONAL TEST ON VEHICLE, DEALER FOUND A SMALL FUEL LINE LEAK. FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED AND MADE ANOTHER TEST ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER CURRENTLY SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO MECHANICAL ERROR THAT RENDERED VEHICLE INOPERABLE. *LA

CRANKSHAFT CRACKED AT 93000 MILES. *AK

MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER LTD'S GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S FIREWALL. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS, AND ENDANGERED OUR FAMILY. THIS $39,000 VEHICLE I PURCHASED BASED ON ITS SAFETY AND RATINGS HAS PROVEN OTHERWISE, AS THIS IS THE MOST RECENT IN THIS VEHICLE'S FALIURES.*AK

I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 12/2003 MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, I WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CAR RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT BOTH AIR BAGS WENT OFF. AT IMPACT I FLEW UP FROM MY SEAT, DIDN'T TOUCH THE AIR BAG BUT I HIT THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WITH MY FACE. I BROKE THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE, REAR VIEW MIRROR, STEREO, TWO AIR VENTS, AND THE COUNSEL BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. THE RESULTS FROM MY SEAT BELT NOT WORKING WAS 50 PLUS STITCHES TO MY FOREHEAD AND NOSE, AND A CLOSED HEAD INJURY. NOW I AM SCARED FOR LIFE BECAUSE MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN ME AND CONTINUES NOT TO WORK. *NM

ON DECEMBER 17,2003 THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT RELEASE ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER BROKE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO ADJUST THE SEAT BACK. THE STEEL THAT ATTACHES THE POSITIONING LEVER TO THE MECHANICAL PART OF THE SEAT SHIRRED OFF IN A CLEAN BREAK AND CAME OFF IN MY HAND. MY SEAT BECAME STUCK IN A FORWARD POSITION WHILE I WAS IN THE SEAT FORCING ME INTO A FORWARD POSITION. I HAD TO DRIVE IN THIS POSITION TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY USED A LARGE VICE GRIP TYPE WRENCH TO RELEASE THE SEAT BACK INTO A POSITION SO I COULD DRIVE THE CAR. AT THIS TIME THE SEAT IS JAMMED IN A STATIC POSITION WHILE THE REMAINING PART OF THE STEEL IS STILL IN THE RECLINING GEAR.

THE SPARE TIRE WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, SNAPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. *JB (THE WENCH SYSTEM) *SC THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS REPLACED. *JB

I HAVE READ 24 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0 SOHC ENGINES AND SEEN 23 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THIS OCCURS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE,NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT IT ALSO BLOWS THE ENGINE REQUIRING IT TO BE REPLACED AT A COST NEAR $5000. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED REPLACEMENT WITH MILEAGE LIMITATIONS. IF THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS ,WHY IS THIS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION? MY FORD IS 4000 MILES OVER THE LIMIT SET BY FORD TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN QUESTION. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT LESSEN THE DANGER WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TO MY WIFE, 5 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS WHILE IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL DUE TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WAS TOLD IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY BY FORD AND IT IS LEGAL FOR THEM TO SET THOSE LIMITATIONS. THIS IS UNCONCEIVABLE THAT THEY CAN PLACE INDIVIDUALS IN HARMS WAY KNOWINGLY AND IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE A BUCK, NOT A LIFE , SET LIMITS TO THE REMEDY OF THE SITUATION. WHY ARE THESE COMPLAINTS NOT BEING INVESTIGATED AND IF THEY HAVE WHAT WAS THE END RESULTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION? *LA DAVID KYDE 810 THIRD ST. #5 TRENTON, OHIO 45067 513-988-6516

VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE HEAD ON WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PREVENT THE CONSUMER'S CONTACT WITH THE SUN VISOR. *SC

CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE BOLT DID NOT BREAK THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DRIVERS' SEAT FRAME CRACKED, AND HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER. ALSO, CONSUMER INSISTED THAT WHAT THE RECALL STATED WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THE RECLINING BOLT CRACKED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

DRIVERS-SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN BY USING THE KEY, POWER-LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR PULLING THE INSIDE HANDLE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE IN CASE THE POWER LOCKS FAIL. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERS, LOCKSMITHS, AND AFTER-MARKET PROFESSIONALS.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE LEVER BRACKET FELL FROM CONNECTION TO PLASTIC DASH. FORD WILL SPLIT THE $2000 COST 50/50 TO REPAIR SINCE NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. FEEL POOR DESIGN ATTACHING MECHANISM TO PLASTIC DASH INSTEAD OF METAL BRACKET. WHEN USED CURRENTLY, MUST BE CAREFUL TO NOT LET RELEASE GET STUCK UNDER DASH MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE AND RELEASE THE LEVER. *LA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER "EDDIE BAUER" AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN PULL TO THE LEFT. UPON ARRIVING AT OUR MECHANIC, LA AUTOBODY - NEWTON MA, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WERE MISSING BOTH OF OUR SWAY BARS. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM FORD TRUCK OWNERS? IF SO WHEN WILL A RECALL BE DEMANDED BY THE NHTSA. ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES AND IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD. *LA

BLEND DOOR BROKEN ON 98 FORD EXPLORER. THIS CAUSED THE HEATING AND COOLING IN THE ENGINE TO BE STUCK IN THE "COLD" POSITION THROUGHOUT WINTER. WHILE DRIVING IN WINTER, I HAD TO LOOK OUT THE FREEZING COLD WINDOW TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER IN MY WINDSHEILD WOULD NOT HEAT THE WINDOW.

DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINING LEVER BROKE. HAD BEEN BENT FOR SOMETIME. WILL COST ALMOST $200 TO REPLACE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD BEEN IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSES OF $850.00. TWENTY DAYS AFTERWARDS THE PROBLEM WAS STILL RECURRING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH GAS PEDAL DISCONNECTED FROM THE FLOOR. CONSUMER COASTED TO THE SHOULDER TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE. AAA WAS CALLED TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT THE WELD CONNECTION FROM THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BROKE. *AK

AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *PH *TT *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING RECALL 03281000 RELATED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME. THE VEHICLE SEAT NEVER EXHIBITED ANY SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE CONSUMER NOTICED INSTABILITY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REPAIRS THEY PERFORMED DID NOT CAUSE THE INSTABILITY AND THAT IT MAY BE THE WEARING OF THE TRUCK THAT CAUSED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED AND THAT THEY WOULD SEND A COMPLAINT FOR. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE FORM. THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE EXPIRED. DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK *NLM

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO GET IN/OUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE BECAUSE THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK

VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLS AND STARVES FOR FUEL. CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG .*AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED. FORD SHOULD RECALL VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB. SURGES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH BRAKES ON. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA THAT INDICATED THAT REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE DURING THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO INCLUDE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER 5.0 LITER ENGINE IN THE SCOPE OF RECALL 00V-422. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S RECLINING SEAT BROKE IN HALF. DRIVER WAS NOT HURT, BUT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND CHILD'S WAIST, CONSUMER HAD TO CUT CHILD OUT . AS A RESULT, SEAT BELT LEFT A BRUISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT .AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE REAR PASSANGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT.TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S 255/70R16.TIRE SEPERATED FROM SIDEWALL 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND.HAD RAGGED EDGE LIKE IT WAS PULLED APART.TIRE DEFECTIVE ? LOOKED LIKE DRY ROT.98 EXPLORER HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT .NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EGUITMENT.BOUGHT CAR USED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A SNAP AND A POP LIKE A FANBELT BROKE. I LOST ALL POWER. THIS INCLUDES POWER STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONING. I DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, ON AN INCLINE, AND TO PULL OVER I WAS ON A SLOPE DOWNHILL. I HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THE MOTOR THAT IS IN MY CAR. THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE IN MY CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL?

WHILE DRIVING SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

A COOPER TIRE'S [DISCOVERER H/T-SIZE P235/75 I5 M+S-DOT UTHL G5U4700 M5R] TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING HWY 95 IN NEVADA. IT DID APPROX. $2500.00 DAMAGE TO MY 98 FORD EXPLORER'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL.. COOPER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES.THEY BLAME UNDERINFLATION AND THAT IS A BIG LIE. I CHECKED THE PRESSURE THAT VERY SAME DAY!*AK

HAVE FORD EXEPLORER 1998 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. JERKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE AND CLUNKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN TO DRIVE. MY EXEPLORER JUST TURNED 60.000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER WORKING,I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR,FROM HAVING A WRECK AND AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING TO ALL OF THE RECALLS,HAD THE BAD TIRES AND WINDSHEILD WIPERS NOT WORKING.THEY SHOULD REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE EXEPLORER FROM THAT YEAR.IBOUGHT MY EXEPLORER IN OCT,98 OF THAT YEAR NEW. WHEN MY EXEPLORER WAS HIT HEAD ON ,THE POLICE ASKED IF I TURNED OFF MY AIRBAGS.THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS HEAVY REAR VIBRATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD TO THIS POINT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO OPEN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN UNLOCKED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS MIGHT BECOME A PROBLEM IF CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET OUT FROM THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 EXPLORER SPORT SUV. I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS NOT OPENING AND LOCKING ME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO PUSH THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON SIX OR SEVEN TIMES TO GET IT TO WORK. THE HANDLE ON THE DOOR WON'T EVEN OPEN IT.

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES, THEY WOULD FAIL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINES WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING FRONT ASSEMBLY SEAT RECLINER FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DEALER INDICATED THEY DID NOT HAVE YET RECALL PARTS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL# 03V281000 REPAIRS CONCERNING HIGH BACK SEAT FAILURE. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE AND FELL ALL THE WAY BACK. DEALER WAS REFUSING TO DO ANYMORE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A CURVE THE RECLINING SEAT BACK LURCHED FORWARD. THIS ABRUPT FORWARD MOTION CAUSED THE RECLINER HANDLE TO BREAK OFF. *AK *SCC *JB

TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE RECALL (03S04) PERFORMED FOR BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT BOLTS. (DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN AND LEANS WAY BACK ) . I ALSO ASKED THEM TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. THE ELECTRIC LOCK STAYS DOWN I CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR I HAVE TO CRAWL OUT PASSENGERS SIDE OR OUT THE DRIVERS WINDOW. AS I HAVE BEEN OVERCHARGED FOR REPAIRS IN THE PAST I SAID I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX THE DOOR. THEY ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $68.00 JUST TO HAVE THEM TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK. I HIT THE ROOF, AS THEY HAVE CHEATED ME IN THE PAST. (THIS DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO SELL ME A NEW CLUTCH FOR F150 PICKUP, IT TURNED OUT THAT FORD HAD ALREADY CREATED A $20 KIT THAT FIXED THE CLUTCH. ) SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO THE RECALL AND TOLD ME TO LEAVE. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALERSHIP OWNER THEY TOLD ME THAT HE WAS NOT IN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP10 MINUTES LATER AND THE OWNER WAS THERE. I HIGHLY SUSPECT I WAS LIED TO . I TOLD MIKE PALLATA THE OWNER I WANTED THE RECALL PERFORMED. HE TOLD ME THAT HIS DEALERSHIP WAS NOT GOING TO DO THE RECALL. MY EXPLORER IS ON THE ROAD WITH DEFECTIVE SEAT AND A DRIVERS DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN. FORD HAS REPLACED TWO SETS OF DEFECTIVE TIRES AND REPLACED A HOOD LATCH WITH ALL THESE DEFECTS WHY AM I TO THINK THE DOOR LATCH IS NOT ALSO A SAFETY DEFECT. I PREVIOUSLY LEASED A 97 FORD EXPLORER THE PASSENGERRS SEAT BROKE ON THIS ONE JUST LIKE ON THE 98. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY TO FIX THAT SEAT AT THE END OF THE LEASE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

CAM SHAFT BROKE INSIDE ENGINE, DURING NORMAL OPERATION. CAR HAD ONLY 85,000 MILES, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE PART. IT COST $3,500 TO REPAIR DAMAGE. *AK

UPPER INTAKE PLENUM HAD BURNT A HOLE IN IT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE RUBBER/PLASTIC. THE HOLE IN THE PLENUM CAUSED TWO VACUUM HOSES TO MELT. *PH *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH STEERING LOCKED UP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER MODEL, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT 4:00 AM. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 5:30 PM PREVIOUS EVENING. WE WERE ALERTED BY A SMOKE DETECTOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS, GARAGE & ATTIC ABOVE GARAGE BADLY DAMAGED RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY STORED THERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATES THAT THEY THINK THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE BATTERY, WHICH WAS ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM