1998 Ford Explorer Electrical System

MY EXPLORER HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR WELL OVER 15 HOURS WHEN I HEARD MY NEIGHBOR SCREAMING. THE SUV WAS FULLY IGNITED INTO FLAMES.JUST OUT OF NO WHERE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FIRE OUT WITH MY WATER HOSES BEFORE THE GOTTA DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP BUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS RUINED AND HALF MY GARAGE AS WELL. THE FIRE STARTED DOWN BY THE BRAKES AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGOLFED WITHIN SECONDS. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS ELECTRICAL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MALFUNCTION. MY SUV HAD 134,000 MILES ON IT AND KEPT IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. I WILL DOWNLOAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS REPORT ONCE TO GET IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ONLY GOT MY SERVICE DOG OUT, THANK GOD I WAS IN A GLASS FRONT RESTRAUNT. CD PLAYER CAUGHT THE DASH ON FIRE AND BURNED THE TRUCK COMPLETELY UP. TRUCK WAS PARKED AND OFF FOR 20 MIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY, FOUND THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT MENTION IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FIRE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLEEPING THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOMB. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WAS ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING ANY RECALLS AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. THE FIRE DEPT. DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. JO

CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN WHEN LIGHTER STUCK AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF VEHICLE. AFTERWARD SEVERAL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE REAR WIPERS WERE ALSO ACTIVATED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE TRYING TO USE THE LIGHTER IN THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAKENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, NEXT TO THE WHEEL WELL. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THEM FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE, THEY COULD NOT FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINEER STATAED THAT THE COST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE $250 PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN RAINY WEATHER. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE IN THE WIPER/WASHERMOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE99049 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS) ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB

ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE... THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *NM

I LOST MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOME LIGHTS AND CHIMES, WINDOWS, RADIO, 4X4. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW GEM MODULE. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND FORD DID A RECALL ON MY SAME VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AFTER TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR OF VEHICLE. BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PROBLEM OR SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE INVESTIGATED. I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO PANEL NO LONGER WORK. SO I CALLED TO HAVE THEM FIXED WELL THEY CANT BE FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIO AT $500.00. WELL I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT JUST SO THE CLOCK AND RADIO STATION SETTING WOULD WORK. AS I WAS INVESTIGATING WEATHER THIS COULD BE FIXED OR NOT I MET 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EACH OF THEM ALSO HAVING TO PURCHASE A $500.00 RADIO SO THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK. THEN I STARTED CALLING FORD DEALERSHIPS AND FOUND THAT EVERYONE I HAVE CALLED HAS TAKEN DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS ON THE LIGHT PROBLEM WITH THE RADIOS. NOW I WOULD SAY AT $500.00 A RADIO TO HAVE THIS FIXED FORD WOULD BE MAKING QUITE A PROVITE OVER SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MINOR PROBLEM. TO ME IT ISN'T A MINOR PROBLEM IF EVERY VEHICHLE THAT HAS THESE RADIOS HAS A LIGHT PROBLEM. TO ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKE TO FEEL THIS SHOULD BE FORDS EXPENSE TO FIX THIS NOT THE CONSUMER. IF IT WAS JUST MY RADIO THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT BUT FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF RADIOS TO BE THIS WAY IS A BIG PROBLEM. *NM

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED IN GARAGE. *JB

MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE IN MY GARAGE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 3 HOURS CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. *NM

98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE 10 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT RESIDENCE- ENGINE COMPLETELY BURNED LEAVING VEHICLE TOTALED. *NM

1998 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH DUAL MEDIA (AM/FM/CASSETTE/CD) RADIO; THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE GRAPHICS DISPLAY (I.E. TIME, STATION IDENTITY). THE DISPLAY SPORADICALLY LIGHTS UP BRIEFLY FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY FEW MONTHS. ALSO DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT GAS GAUGE. *NM

WE RETURNED HOME FROM A CONCERT AT APPROXIMATELY 11 PM ON JANUARY 21,2006. THIS WAS THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. ON S JANUARY 22 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 AM WE WERE AWAKENED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING 1998 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WAS IN FLAMES. NO INVESTIGATION WAS DONE , BUT THEY SAID IT WAS AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FIRE. EXPLODED FRONT TIRES, BUSTED WINDSHIELD ,HOOD AND GRILL DEMOLISHED, ENGINE COMPARTMENT DESTROYED, BOTH FRONT FENDERS BURNT , GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS MELTED, DASHBOARD DAMAGED IT IS BASICALLY A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY DID NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. IT STILL WORKED ON THE IGNITION AND THE REAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE KEY FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD MAKE A NEW KEY FOR THE DOORS, BUT IF IT WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION IT COULD DAMAGE THE IGNITION. *AK

I TOOK MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING (I CAN ONLY GUESS HOW LONG THEY WERE NOT OPERATING). AFTER DOING A DIAGNOSTIC THEY DETERMINED I HAD TO REPLACE MY (FORGIVE ME, AS I AM NOT MECHANICAL, BUT IT IS ALL ON MY RECEIPT) CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AS THE COMPONENT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER, BUT I HAD NOT BOTHERED TO FIX IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THAT IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY MASTER CYLINDER SO THAT IT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOTIFYING YOU BECAUSE I FEEL MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WERE JEOPARDIZED IN THREE WAYS: INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE FIRE HAZARD OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND CONSEQUENTLY POOR BRAKES.*AK

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. IT ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS ARE I HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN THE MOTOR AREA WHEN I USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, I ALSO CANNOT GET THE DRIVER WINDOW DOWN UNLESS I MESS WITH IT ALONG TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD BRACKETS 2 TIMES, AND THEY NEED REPLACED AGAIN. THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER DONT CLEAN THE WINDOW WELL ENOUGH AND IT GETS STUCK, SO I HAVE TO GET OUT AND FIX IT. I ALSO KEEP GETTING THE 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT ON AT TIMES WHEN THE DOORS ARE ALL CLOSED. I THINK THERE ARE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. I DONT HAVE THE WARRANTY ANYMORE SO THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID ALL FORD COMPANIES ARE INDEPENDENT. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY WE'LL SEE HOW INDEPENDENT THEY ARE. I THINK ALL EXPLORERS NEED TO BE RE-CHECKED. THEY WERE MADE TOO HASTY OR SOMETHING.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD EXPLORER 13 MONTHS AGO. ON AUG 15,2005 I STARTED MY TRUCK UP AND I COULD NOT ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN THEN I WENT ON TO TESTING THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS ( FRONT & BACK ) THEY DID NOT WORK (THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD ) I TRIED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS THEY DID NOT WORK AND AS WELL AS THE 4X4 SYSTEM. I HAD TO GET HOME SO WHEN AS I WAS DRIVING ( LUCKILY IT WAS NOT RAINING ) I RANDOMLY TESTED EVERYTHING AGAIN STILL NOTHING WORKED, SO I LEFT THE SWITCHES ON AND EVERY NOW AND THEN EVERYTHING WOULD COME ON FOR A SPLIT SECOND. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS BAFFLED AND STARTED LOOKING THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL, NO INFO THAT COULD HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. SO I WENT ONLINE AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON FORD EXPLORERS AND ITS ELECTRONICS. MY SEARCH BROUGHT ME TO THE RECALL SIGHTS AND WHEN I LOOKED ON THAT SIGHT I NOTICED THAT I HAD FOUND THE SAME EXCACT PROBLEMS I AM HAVING AS THE 1999 & 2000 FORD EXPLORER RECALLS AS WELL AS 1999 & 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINERS WHICH IS BY THE FORD COMPANY. THEY ARE UNDER THE TITLE - COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUSES, AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND THE NHTSA RECALL # 00V072000 AND THE REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT. I CALLED FORD COMPANY AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE AND THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THE 1999 & 2000' S THEN IT IS HAPPENING TO THE 1998 AS WELL, THEY ARE THE SAME TRUCK MADE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS AND ONLY UPDATED WITH MORE PHYSICAL FEATURES OR OMITTED OUT DATED PHYSICAL FEATURES. UNFORTUNATLY I CAN'T DRIVE MY TRUCK NOW UNLESS I KNOW THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE CLEAR OF RAIN OR OTHER BAD WEATHER. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT SO I AM STUCK AT THE MOMENT IF ANYONE CAN HELP OR ADVISE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED - THANK YOU DAVID STANSBURY

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHECKED IT AND CONCLUDED FIRE CAME FROM DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE AROUND THE BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 30, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ABOUT 6 OR 7 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT IN FIRE. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SENT A LETTER SAYING SORRY, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING THERE. THIS DID HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE FIREMEN COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK

ALWAYS IN THE SUMMER AND SOMETIMES DURING THE FALL/WINTER, THE AIR FLOW SENSOR MAKES A LOUD, HUMMING NOISE AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF BECAUSE OF THIS.