1998 Ford Explorer Power Train

EXPERIENCING A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AT LOW SPEED (FORWARD AND REVERSE).*AK

WHILE DRIVING, REAR AXLE BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CAUSING A VEHICLE ROLL OVER. DRIVER INJURED. *AK *YH

APRIL 2, 2002, WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT FREEWAY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. THE TIRE CAME OFF THE CAR AND SAILED THROUGH THE AIR. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN A SEVERE SKID AND VEHICLE ROLL-OVER. CRASH RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING LARGE BUMP ON HEAD FROM ROOF COLLAPSE AND A CONCUSSION. NUMEROUS CUTS, BRUISES, AND SEVERE MUSCLE STRESS/STRAIN OF NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. ALSO RECEIVED DEEP CONTUSION ON CHEST DUE TO SEAT BELT RETRACTION. I FEEL BLESSED TO BE ALIVE TO MAKE THIS REPORT. 2 WEEKS AFTER ACCIDENT STILL EXPERIENCING BODY PAIN. I CAN JUST NOW TALK ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER WITHOUT CRYING. MY FAMILY AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS.*AK

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND ACT AS IF IT HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND, ACTION ASLO FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION. FORD INVOICE INDICATES CUSTOMER STATEMENT RESULTING IN R&R TRANSMISION AND OVERHAL, TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DETERMIN

TSB 99-14-02, REPAIR COST $799.40, REPAIR INCLUDES ADDING A JUMPER WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL. THE COST FOR REAPIR SHOULD BE REFUNDED BY MANUFACTURER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

AFTER COMING OFF A HIGHWAY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND RED LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WAS TOWING CAUGHT FIRE, IT APPEARED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION POSSIBLY OVERHEATED ON THE TOWED VEHICLE DAMAGING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE - OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

I FEEL THIS SUV IS VERY UNSAFE FORD AND DEALERSHIP STATE OTHERWISE. NO SAFETY DEFECT RECORDED. *AK

WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. IGNITION WOULD BE IN BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS INTERLOCK SAFETY AND THE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE RAN INTO A FENCE. *SLC

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD JERK WHEN ACCELERATING, HAS DONE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE DEALER FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM AND MADE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT WHICH HAS REDUCED BUT NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL, IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING USUALLY A FAST ACCELERATION AND IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN I PULL MY BOAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SIGNIFICANT JERKING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME COULD BE CONTRBUTING TO THE TIRE SEPERATION PROBLEMS OR TIRE DAMAGE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANY CAR MAKER WOULD MARKET A CAR WITH THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING AND SAY THAT IS IS NOT UNUSUAL. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE, TURNED ON IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT TURNING ON ENGINE, SHIFTED GEAR WHERE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INCLINE HILL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD, CRASHING INTO A FENCE. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL ON THAT PARTICULAR MODEL.*AK

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED, IT LOST INTERNAL INTEGRITY & EXPERIENCED INTERNAL CLUTCH DAMAGE. METAL EXITING THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED OCCULUSSIONARY BLOCKAGES AT REAR SECTION LUBE ORIFICES ELEVATING INTERNAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURES WHILE ELEVATING STRESS TO GEARTRAIN COMPONENTS. CLUTCHES & BANDS BECAME METAL IMPREGNATED. BEARINGS BUSHINGS & WASHERS BECAME PITTED DUE TO METALIZED FLUID PASSING THROUGH INNER SURFACES. SPRAGS BECAME FLAT SPOTTED AT CAM SURFACE - DAMAGED THE RACE & CREATED MORE METAL. SOLENOIDS WERE METAL CONTAMINATED. INTERNAL SEALS WERE HARD, INDICATING METAL CONTAMINATION. VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RUN IN REVERSE AFTER THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND REQUIRES $2400 IN REPAIRS. CAR ONLY HAS 46000 MILES ON IT. *AK

BEARING FAILED CAUSED BY DIRT PASSING BY SEAL/ CAUSING SQUEAK IN FRONT L/R SIDES / WILL CAUSE BEARING FAIL "FORD SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THAT FORD KNOWS IS "ONLY FRONT DRIVE TRAIN COMPONET NOT COVERED. HAVE HAD TO REQUEST PAST RECALLS TO BE DONE AFTER 8 TIMES BEING TOLD THEY DID IT, I FOUND OUT WAS LIED TO AND HAD TO CONTACT YOU IN PAST TO GET FORD TO FIX. ATTY. GENERAL AZ HAS COMPLAINT FILED. *AK

LEAKING BETWEEN CASE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION STOP WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. FOWARD OR REVERSE GEARS WILL NOT ENGAGE. TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY I SWITCH TO 4W LOW. THE DEALER SAID THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BROKE AND THE 4W GEAR CHAMBER WERE DAMAGED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PART NEEDED IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2001. DEALER USED A SUBSITUTE PART..

4- WHEEL DRIVE HI AND LO LIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT MOTOR AND HARNESS AS PER TSB 94-14-02. MECHANIC SAID IF I DID NOT DO IT, COULD HAVE DROPPED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING. FORD REFUSES TO PAY COST OF $409.28. DEALER SAID PROBLEM HAS COME UP BEFORE. HAVE LESS THEN 500 MILES IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.*AK

GEAR SHIFT KNOB PULLS OFF INTO YOUR HAND AS YOU ARE SHIFTING, THIS IS A DANGER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE MAKING TURNS AND HAVING TO ACCELERATE FAST. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF A CHILD ACCIDENTALLY HIT TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER AND VEHICLE ROLLED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

RR AXLE SHAFT BROKEN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND OVERTURNED. (N.C. CRASH REPORT) *MJS

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION; WHENEVER SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEED,TRANSMISSION WOULD REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR AND CAUSE ENGINE TO STALL OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

PUT TRUCK IN REVERSE - TRUCK STUCK IN REVERSE - HAD TO BE TOWED TO FORD DEALER - WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM DEALER - THEY SAID NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY 4- WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON . THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE HAS BURNED OUT. *AK

4X4 AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING WHEN UNDER HEAVY LOAD ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS ARE NOT SLIPPING, 4X4 SELECTOR IS IN THE AUTO POSITION AND NO ERROR CODES ARE DISPLAYED OR FOUND. CAUSES PULSATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AND GROANING NOISES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOISE AND PULSTATION GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE LOAD IS DECREASED AND OR 4X4 IS SWITCHED TO 4X4 HIGH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE 4X4 COMPUTER AND CHECKED THE AXLES AND DIFFERENTIAL, PROBLEM STILL EXITS. DEALER HAS STATED THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY WILL TRY AND GET A TECHNICIAN FROM FORD THREE WEEKS AGO.

FOR NO REASON THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE AN ODOR AS IF WIRES WHERE BURNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YC