Front end was making strange noises at the time of purchase. The dealer had this fixed, but a few months after the warranty ran out, the noise came back.
The turn signal switch had to be replaced.
Various problems with the electrical system over the past two years.
The radio caught fire and needed replaced.
The four wheel drive system makes awful noises when turning and I am scared to use it.
I like the looks of the car. The inside is very nice and it used to drive like a dream. There are just too many problems with the vehicle.
The 4wd system is not designed to be used on road. Occasionally I forgot to switch it over going from off to onroad and when turning there's some jarring and clonking. I think because the diff locks when in 4wd.
Even offroad on fairly solid ground where the tyres can't slip so easily, you can get the clonking noises.
I lease a 1998 Ford Explorer Limited. I agree with the ticking time bomb comments. From day 1 I have had problems with the front end suspension, for 2 years now my local ford dealer says there is no problem. My 94 caravan with 135 thousand miles on it rides better. Lucky for me I bought the extended warranty. The radio illumination system does not work (not covered) I have have had the front rotors replaced 3 times. Thank god - January 2004 I'm out of this lease.
I would have to agree with the bomb theory - A large lemon just waiting to drain your wallet... buy japanese.
Fan belt makes noises at low rpm's, dealer has replaced fan belt twice and the problem comes back when the belt stretches after a few miles. has anyone got a solution for this problem, my dealer does not.
Help 1998 Ford Explorer, creaking noises started when turning. Anyone know anything? I am clueless.
Karen Ostby.
I recently purchased a 98 Explorer Sport after three happy years with a 93 Explorer XLT. I checked out two Sports before settling on the second one. Both of these vehicles had broken driver's side seat recline levers which I thought (at first) was an odd coincidence. It was only after I purchased the necessary part and installed it (rather than pay Ford's $110 installation fee) that I found out how flimsy this piece really is. In no time, it is bent almost completely in half, and bending it back into shape will only hasten its fatigue and eventual break from its support. I believe this problem must be endemic to Sport models and should be recognized by Ford as such, prompting a recall or refund at least.
How to drive an Explorer, leave 4 WD switch in Auto and let it do its stuff. If you get stuck or the rear is sliding about put it in 4 WD. Clonking and banging in 4 WD is due to transmision wind up due to the road not being slippery enough for you to have put it in that setting in the first place. The car is smarter than most drivers. In the UK seat bolts have been replaced on recall. I use three Explorers for my business and they are the only 4x4 that has worked well I've had all the Japanese stuff with it's expensive repairs and Discovery's that get stuck everywhere and spend more time broken than working. All explorers steering groans if you turn it when not moving. Chain driven cams so no expensive belt repairs an cheap parts. All I buy is service items because they are so reliable, problem is some Ford garages don't service them properly.
My husband and I bought a 98 ford explorer limited, I thought it was beautiful. 3 months after we bought it the antenna started not extending all the way and making horrible sounds, the front end started shaking and we were told the screws were loose in the you joint of the drive shaft, the LCD goes on and off due too bad wiring, the rear windshield wiper only works when it wants to and that also goes for the windshield washer fluid it makes a horrible sound when you turn and the temperature gage is nuts. It tells me the car is overheating all the time, but I ignore it due to the fact that the computer says it's not and when you touch the engine it's normal temperature. Basically it seems to be a wiring mess and mechanically unstable. Dealer ship gave us a 2 year warranty that doesn't cover anything. They say they didn't know if it was our fault or not that all these things happened? But who in their right mind can cause so much damage in 3 months!!! So now we're stuck with it, but I'm going to rig it to work for a couple of weeks... long enough to pawn it off on another dealership, which is exactly what they did to us.!!! I cannot believe that Ford has not recalled all these very expensive lemons!!!
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