1998 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2374 complaints
2374
Total Complaints
100,000mi
Median Mileage
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Top Issue
219
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

74,207 25th Percentile
100,000 Median Mileage
132,537 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
381
TIRES
340
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
154
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
100
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
87
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
55
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
48
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
44
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
40
SUSPENSION:FRONT
40

Severity Assessment

219
Crashes
124
Fires
261
Injuries
20
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN A LOAD IS PLACED IN THE CARGO AREA THE REAR END SAGS TERRIBLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH REAR AXLE JUMPS/HOPS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK"
"THE DEALER/ FACTORY DID NOT FULLT TIGHTEN THE THE MAIN POWER WIRE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED POWER SURGES IN ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BY CONSUMERLOOSENING POWER TO STEERING/LIGHTS OR BRAKES. *AK"
"WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WIDE LEFT CURVE AND RIGHT SIDE TIRE WENT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND RIGHT REAR TIRE SKIDDED OUT, TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND TRIED T CORRECT THE FISHTAIL, HAD A ROLLOVER. STARTED AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28