Problems · by component

1998 Ford Explorer structure problems

52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Explorer cite structure, 2% of all 2,099 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
52
2% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER BUYING IT. SO MANY ISSUE ..THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL WORDS MELTED. BACK DOOR DON'T SHUT PROBABLY AND NEVER HAS SINCE BOUGHT. THIS WAS BOUGHT AS A NEW NOT USED VEHICLE. DOOR LOCKS WAS THE WORSE.THEY SOMETIMES STICK AND WON'T UNLOCK SINCE BOUGHT NEW.NEVER FIX BY BUTLER FORD IN MILLEDGEVILLE GA. OVERDRIVE SWITCH SLIPS OUT OF POSITION. DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT SPEED. I COULD GO ON AND ON”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2019StructureODI 11231838
“I HAVE 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND I NOTICED TRYING TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY THAT IT WOULD STICK SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES BECALE ALWAYS AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER DOOR NEVER WOULD UNLOCK. THEN ONE DAY PARKED I TRIED TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR AND IT WOULDNT OPEN. I HAD TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. NOW IT WONT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE DOOR IS TOTALLY NON FUNCTIONAL. DOOR LATCH ISSUE I DONT KNOW BUT HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME. ALSO DRIVER DOOR LOCK WILL SOMETIMES STICK, THE DOOR OPEN BUT WHEN CLOSING IT IT NEVER WANTS TO SHUT ALL THE WAY THE FIRST TIME OR THE 2ND IT TAKES A FEW TIMES TO GET THE DOOR TO COMPLETELY CLOSE BUT THE PASSENGER DOOR IS A LOSS NO ONE CAN RIDE IN IT. SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW ABOUT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2018StructureODI 11084286
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER AND GO OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2015Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10715686
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH, THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS BECAME JAMMED AND WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2014StructureODI 10594398
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WIND WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT WAS DISENGAGED FOR THE REAR WINDOW AND THE HINGES WERE FRACTURING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2011StructureODI 10382970
“RUNNING BOARDS ARE SO BADLY CORRODED YOU COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH TO THE ROAD. RUST SPREADING BADLY THROUGH UNDERCARRIAGE. HAD TO HAVE RUNNING BOARDS REMOVED BEFORE THEY FELL OFF. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2010StructureODI 10352319

Showing 6 of 52 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.