1998 Ford Explorer VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE FIREWALL, CAUSING LACK OF THROTTLE CONTROL. THIS BRACKET IS SPOT WELDED, AND FORD HAS A TSB REGARDING THIS ITEM FAILURE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

I HAD A 1998 2DR FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO REASON AT MY JOB ON JUNE 17, 2008. IT WAS A UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. I ARRIVED AT WORK AT 8:26 A.M. A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER 11:00 A.M. IS WHEN THE BUILDING MANAGER KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND TOLD ME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS LOOKING FOR ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR ENDED UP BEING A TOTAL LOSS. EVERYTHING ON THE INSIDE WAS SEVERELY SMOKE DAMAGED. MY RADIO MELTED AND I LOSS CERTAIN PAPER WORK THAT I HAD IN MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT. MY HEATER CORD WAS LEFT ON THE GROUND ALONG WITH SOME OTHER WIRES AFTER THE TOW TRUCK TOWED MY TRUCK AWAY. THAT'S HOW BURNED UP MY TRUCK WAS. *TR

1998 FORD EXPLORER SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT 8AM, 12/02/08. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN 12 HOURS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. DOORS WERE LOCKED. NO SIGNS OF ENTRY PRIOR TO INCIDENT. FIRE ENGULFED ENGINE AND SPREAD TO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BEFORE ALAMEDA FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED VEHICLE. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS CLAIMED VEHICLE AS TOTALED AND IS INVESTIGATING. SUSPECTED CAUSE IS CRUISE CONTROL SHUTOFF SWITCH, SUBJECT TO FORD RECALL 05S28. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN AUGUST OF 2006. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN AUGUST OF 2007 AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER. SHE CALLED THE DEALER EVERY OTHER MONTH AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST OF 2008. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT CAUGHT FIRE AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE TRANSMISSION TYPE, RECALL NUMBER, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKING HIS VEHICLE (2 MPH), THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V422000, 06V286000, 99V062001) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 127,577. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FIRE IN ENGINE BAY ORIGINATING AT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL FELT LOOSE AND THEN COMPLETELY DETACHED WHILE PULLING INTO A REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE CAUSED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. HIS SON WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE DASH PANE AREA. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $634 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO RE-WELD THE ENGINE PANEL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET SPOT WELD FAILURE. MINOR CHILD WAS DRIVING AUTO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OVER TO ITS SIDE. NO POWER. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST THROUGH INTERSECTION WITHOUT BEING HIT. MY INSPECTION REVEALED ALL THREE SPOT WELDS HAD FAILED. FURTHER, THE MIDDLE WELD OF THE THREE WAS ONLY ABOUT 1MM IN DIAMETER WITH THE OUTERMOST TWO YIELDING A NUGGET SIZE OF APPROX. 5MM. THE BRACKET SPOT WELDS FAILED DUE TO THE FIREWALL SHEET METAL FATIGUE. THE FIREWALL SHEETMETAL COMPLETELY PULLED LOOSE LEAVING THREE HOLES WHERE THE SPOT WELDS WERE. THIS AREA OF WORKMANSHIP IS OF CONCERN TO ME AS IT ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WITH FORD BUT THE ONLY RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. COST WAS NOT MY CONCERN, GIVING NOTICE OF WHAT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY MATTER WAS MY CONCERN. I WAS INFORMED THAT NO CURRENT BULLETINS OR RECALLS EXISTED FOR THE DESCRIBED PROBLEM. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE. THESE WELDS SHOULD NEVER FAIL. MY BACKGROUND? I AM A WELDING SPECIALIST FOR A MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER IN THE U.S. I DO HAVE SUPPORTING PHOTOS OF THE FAILED SPOT WELDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE PANEL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. A POLICE OFFICER PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

TL*THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AND THEN RELEASE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A MECHANIC'S GARAGE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT THEN PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH HER FOOT, BUT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO THE MECHANIC'S WALL. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, INJURIES OR A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119,031.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL, HOWEVER HE WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO SALE HIM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S ENTIRE REAR END IS DAMAGED, THE TRAILER IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AND THE BOAT THAT WAS PARKED IN HIS YARD NOW HAS A HOLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HE CALLED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. THE CONTACT CALLED AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD REMAIN UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. HE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO THE GARAGE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE FAILED AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V422000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.

FORD EXPLORER BURST INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN A SHOPPING PLAZA GARAGE PARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT ALL, HAD BEEN PARKED MORE THAN A COUPLE HOURS. PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE SHOPPING PLAZA. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIR AND THE DEALER ASKED IF ANY FAILURES HAD OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS HAD ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A SERVICE CHARGE OF $100. WHEN THE DEALER WAS TOLD TO ONLY SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL, THEY STATED THAT THE $100 SERVICE FEE WOULD STILL APPLY. THE MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN.

MY WIFE'S 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY KID'S SCHOOL, SHE DROVE FOR 1 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KID, LUCKILY IT DIDN'T BURN IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED AROUND THE BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND ACCORDING TO THE BURN MARKS ON THE HOOD LOOKS LIKE IT WAS THERE WHERE IT BURNED THE HOTTEST, THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED AND LUCKILY THE FIRE DPTM IS REAL CLOSE SO IT DIDN'T BURN COMPLETELY. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED BY THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT CAN RESULT ON FIRE, SO I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS RECALL THAT I HAD NO IDEA OF. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING WITHOUT OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE, I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE ARE SAFE. *JB

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT IS SYSTEMATIC OF FORD VEHICLES. THE FIRE COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN MOST OF MY TWO-STORY HOUSE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE REMAINING AREAS. *TR

ON MARCH 29, 2007, MY WIFE DROVE OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AT 9:00 A.M. AND THEN TO HER WORK LOCATION. AT 9:36 A.M., MY WIFE PARKED THE EXPLORER, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WENT INTO WORK. AT 10:50 A.M, MY WIFE WAS NOTIFIED BY AN EMPLOYEE FROM ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT THE EXPLORER WAS SMOKING. AT THAT TIME, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT STARTED BURNING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AND THERE WAS A CLOUD OF DARK HEAVY SMOKE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND CONFINE THE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT WAS SATURATED WITH SMOKE. THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHALL WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED US THAT SIMILAR SPONTANEOUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THAT FORD IS CURRENTLY RECALLING VEHICLES WITH THOSE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES. THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THAT THIS ENGINE FIRE MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DEFECTIVE OR FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE FIREFIGHTERS DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT. UPON BEING APPRISED OF THE RECALL. WE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT FORD IS CONDUCTING A RECALL OF VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE AND FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES AND THAT THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED INCLUDE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORERS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND/OR ITS AFFILIATED DEALERSHIPS. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT AND INFORM THEM OF THE ENGINE FIRE. WE ALSO CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A CLAIM. TO CLARIFY THE QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THIS NARRATIVE, THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS CONTACTED THEY DID NOT NEED TO GENERATE A REPORT IN LIGHT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS INCIDENT REPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER HAD BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT STUCK. CONSTANT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL WILL RELEASE IT, BUT IN THE PROCESS THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 -THE VEHICEL WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *NM

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON 4 LANE ROAD AT 35 MPH THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. IMMEDIATELY JAMMED MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT OTHER CARS WHILE TRYING TO USE RIGHT FOOT TO GET BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL AND UNSTICK IT. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET PEDAL UNSTUCK. CHECKED TO ENSURE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROCEEDING DRIVING WITH HAZARDS AT LESS THAN 25 MPH. WITHIN 10 MINUTES SAME THING HAPPEN EXCEPT THAT THIS TIME I WAS INITIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE PEDAL TO UNSTICK. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, THE PEDAL POPPED OUT OF PLACE. GARAGE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

1998 EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE TO A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JB

OUR 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE (ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF OUR HOUSE). IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE DAY BEFORE. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO OUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE. BOTH THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE SCENE OF THE FIRE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SWITCH WAS JUST RECALLED BY FORD FOR 1998 EXPLORERS IN AUGUST 2006. HOWEVER, OUR FAMILY DID NOT RECEIVE MAIL NOTIFICATION. OUT SUV WAS TOTALED AND THE ESTIMATED LOSS TO OUR DWELLING AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS ALONE IS $350,000. *NM

1998 FORD EXPLORER ENGINE FIRE TOTAL LOSS WILE PARKED OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE. *NM