1998 Ford Explorer Sport Door Lock & Latch Problems

Which parts fail

• Doors › Latch
  23
• Hood › Latch
  1

Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  16%
• 25k–50k
  16%
• 50k–75k
  528%
• 75k–100k
  528%
• 100k–150k
  528%
• 150k+
  16%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Explorer Sport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

In 2007, my 1998 Ford Explorer driver door lock stopped working. It really didn't bother me all that much until one day by accident the door locked and would not come open. I had to push with all my force and pull up on the interior door handle at the same time. Finally it came open but the door handle broke. Now it was to the point of disgust. Didn't have the money to fix it so we waited until we did. In 2008, I took my Explorer to the local dealership. I was quoted $197 for everything, installation, parts, and labor. But when I came to pay the bill I was informed it was going to be about $100 if not more when completed. So my aunts boyfriend, who does auto body work, fixed it. It was working fine, we still had to jiggle to lock from the outside to get the locks to unlock. And then about a week ago, I was getting out and the door handle broke again. This time the handle is stuck. …

Drivers side door, of my 1998 Ford Explorer, could not be opened (from inside or outside door handles). Attempted to have door latch assembly replaced, as broken spring was found protruding from door latch assembly area <drivers side>. Dealership incorrectly replaced inside door handle and now drivers side door cannot be locked (but can now be opened or closed). Due to door latch assembly problems with canadian Ford vehicles, I fear we now have a serious security & safety issue with our 1998 Ford Explorer. Dealership refuses to repair unless we basically agree to replace all internal parts of door <including seat belt?>. The estimated repair cost (parts & labor) is in excess of $500.

Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. The contact stated that when he turns the key in the unlocked door of his vehicle, the doors become locked. When he turns the key in the opposite direction, the doors still remain locked. When he presses the power lock/unlock button from inside the vehicle, it will lock the doors but fail to unlock them, causing passengers to be trapped in the vehicle. The contact has had to exit through the window. He has not taken the vehicle to a repair shop because he would have to pay for the repairs and he feels the failure should be recalled. The current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.

Dt: the driver's side door will not unlock by key, remote or the inside handle. When the consumer contacted the dealer and manufacturer, they told her that it was not on recall and that she had to take care of the issue herself. The consumer felt that this was a safety issue because if there was an emergency one would not be able to exit the vehicle quickly. The consumer was unable to unlock the door when she left for work on 8-29-05. As of now the problem is still has not been solved. The consumer stated son-in-law was able to fix the door. Update 4/25/07

Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. The driver side door locks malfunctioned. As a result, the contact cannot open the driver side door. The fuse relay of the vehicle is located in the driver side door, which prevents the contact from changing any of the fuses. Prior to the failure, he experienced issues with manually unlocking the doors with the vehicle key. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 70,300.

I have had my driver's seat recliner mechanism repaired before, but the recliner driver's seat has broken again. Now the recliner driver's seat reclines totally, until it touches the back seat cushion. The dealership told me the part to repair the seat is no longer manufactured. I was told I could go to a salvage yard to look for the part. On researching the problem on the internet I came upon the recall notice for the exact problem I have had with this vehicle.

The driver's side door lock is no longer able to be unlocked with the key or by the power lock switch. If it is locked accidentally, it is impossible to enter the vehicle any way other than by crawling in from the passenger side door or by pulling very hard on the inside handle while working the key in the lock. This could present a serious problem in the case of an accident if an individual needs to flee the vehicle.

Dt: the drivers side door was completely locked, the remote key pad or keys did not work. Had used the remote to unlock doors the same as always. Contacted manufacturer, who said to contact the dealer. But dealer said never heard of it. Consumer did not want to pay the dealer to fix it. Found a forum online where other people had the same problem. This happened July 29, 2005.

Driver's side door will not unlock with or without key - will not unlock or open from the inside or the outside. The problem is apparently wide spread in this vehicle and requires a $150 lock assembly to replace a faulty .50 cent spring. Ford needs to recall and fix.

There were no events leading up to this failure I was driving to go see a movie. The door lock on the drivers side stopped working (even with a key it will not unlock). No parts have been replaced on this door except for the door itself over 7 years ago.

Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Explorer Sport years