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Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Recalls by model year:

Recall campaigns

1. 09V399000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 13 Oct 2009 · 4,500,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

   Consequence: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.

   Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 09S09).

2. 06V286000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 1 Aug 2006 · 1,200,000 units

   Defect, as filed: On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.

   Consequence: Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 05S28).

3. 03V281000SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINERReported 5 Aug 2003 · 1,552,880 units

   Defect, as filed: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.

   Consequence: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt. Owner notification began on august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 03S04).

4. 00V422000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 27 Dec 2000 · 220,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or 97jf-9e926-AC). Some of the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built too narrow. This reduced clearance allowed the engine deposits normally present in the throttle body to contact or bridge the gap. If the engine deposits bridged the gap between the throttle plate and bore and then hardened, on the initial application of the accelerator pedal after the engine has cooled, the operator would need to apply additional force to the accelerator pedal to break the bridge.

   Consequence: This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S58).

5. 00V168000EXTERIOR LIGHTINGReported 19 Jun 2000 · 20,637 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.

   Consequence: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.

   Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S14).

6. 99V164000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHReported 29 Jun 1999 · 854,288 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot and stick in the open position.

   Consequence: If this occurs and the primary hood latch is either not engaged or is released, a hood fly-up could occur.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a secondary hood latch with components that are coated prior to assembly for improved latch pivot corrosion protection.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 99S18).

7. 99V062001VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 30 Mar 1999 · 898,739 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.

   Consequence: If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 99S09).

8. 98V060000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSReported 19 Mar 1998 · 320,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0l single overhead cam engines. The engine fuel lines can be damaged if the vehicle is jump started and the ground cable is attached to the fuel line bracket that is located near the battery. Since the bracket is not grounded, the stainless steel fuel line braid could act as a ground potentially overheating the ptfe inner liner of the fuel line resulting in damage to the fuel line.

   Consequence: The fuel lines can leak, and in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could potentially result.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a warning label on the fuel line bracket advising owners not to use it for a jump start ground. Also a revised bolt will be installed in the alternator bracket to provide a convenient jump start ground location.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 98S09).

9. 97V215000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULEReported 24 Nov 1997 · 1,100 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles, eddie bauer and limited editions. The key-in-ignition/door open warning chime may not function when the door is opened. This does not fully comply with FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection."

   Consequence: The standard specified that a warning to the driver shall be actuated whenever the key has been left in the locking system and the driver's door is opened.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire to provide the necessary ground circuit in these vehicles.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1998 Ford Explorer (black) against all 1998 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.

1,955 unique complaints, 2,367 component mentions; 215 injuries and 16 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.

Complaints by year received

Investigations

Other Ford Explorer model years

Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.

All Ford Explorer model years · Ford: 201 model lines

Questions and answers

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.