1998 Ford EXPLORER SPORT TRAC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
51,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 40.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10110295 · 2005-02-10 (February 10, 2005)
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. PLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115703 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING LOCK COMPONENTS. *AK THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE HANDLE. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED WITHOUT EXCESSIVE EFFORT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 51,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149271 · 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)
ON JANUARY 26TH, 2006 AT 3AM OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER EXPLODED IN 33 DEGREE WEATHER AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 15 HOURS. THE FIRE CAUSED MY VEHICLE, A 1994 BUICK CENTURY TO CATCH FIRE AS WELL. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR RULED THE FIRE AS AND "UNKNOWN CAUSE" AND RULED OUT ARSON OR FOUL PLAY. WE BELIEVE THIS SPONTANEOUS FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE FORD EXPLORER DUE TO THE QUICKNESS AND FIERCENESS OF THIS BLAZE. DUE TO QUICK THINKING WE SAVED AND PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM SPREADING …
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166683 · 2006-08-27 (August 27, 2006)
THE BRAKE LINE ON BOTH OF MY 1996 AND 1998 FORD EXPLORER RUSTED OUT LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR ON BOTH SUVS, CAUSING THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO TOTALLY FAIL ON THE 1996 AND LOST ONE SET OF BRAKES ON THE 1998. WE WERE VERY LUCKY. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN PARKED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183727 · 2019-03-03 (March 3, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL.. THE LIGHTS INSIDE WILL CUT ON FOR NO REASON. THE RADIO AND OTHER COMPONENTS WILL CUT ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WANT..THE BRAKE PADDLE WORKS WHEN IT WANT .
Owner-reported narrative. 179,766 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183727 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.