Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My Explorer had been parked in my driveway for well over 15 hours when I heard my neighbor screaming. The SUV was fully ignited into flames.just out of no where. I was able to get the fire out with my water hoses before the gotta department showed up but the entire vehicle is ruined and half my garage as well. The fire started down by the brakes and the entire vehicle was engolfed within seconds. Obviously it was electrical. Upon further investigation I believe it was the cruise control switch malfunction. My SUV had 134,000 miles on it and kept in immaculate condition. I will download the fire departments report once to get it. [redacted]
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to start and smoked appeared on numerous occasions. In addition, the overhead lights in the vehicle did not work and the battery had a shortage. The contact stated that the service engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Ford Explorer 1998 date 8-3-06 I've had this car for three years. I've never had any major or minor problems. I have regular required maintenance done (example) fluid changes and brakes. Early February. I noticed around November 2005, my cruise control stopped working. I didn't take it to be checked; I didn't think it was a big issue. I noticed when starting my car, the battery sounded weak. I took the car to ntb to have the battery checked. The battery was bad and was replaced with the exide 72 month battery. I had never the battery replaced. Ntb installed the new battery on February 5, 2006. I drive this car to and from work regularly, about 12 miles. On February 28, 2006, leaving work heading home, I stopped at the grocery store about 1 mile from my house. I left the store and went home. …
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact was awakened in the early morning hours because his vehicle caught fire while parked. He inspected the vehicle and noticed that the flames were coming from under the hood on the driver's side, next to the wheel well. A couple of minutes later, the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police and fire report were filed. The fire department determined that the fire was caused by electrical failure under the hood. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed to call his insurance company to have them file a complaint against Ford. The insurance company stated that because the contact only had liability insurance, they could not file a complaint against the Ford manufacturer. …
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer xlt. The contact stated that the turn signals were inoperable. The dealer replaced the directional control arm yet the failure recurred within a year. The directional control arm was replaced a second time by the dealer. He also noticed that the wires were discolored and stated that the vehicle needed several additional repairs. The contact declined to have the vehicle repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the control arm did not need an additional replacement but suggested replacing the fuse. On a separate occasion, while using the turn signals, the turn signal switch inside began smoking. There were no additional repairs made to the vehicle or related recalls. The manufacturer stated that since there were no recalls, they would not provide any assistance. …
At about 6:00 pm on Saturday 13 aug 2005 I went into my garage to get something and noticed it was full of smoke. I saw smoke coming from under the hood of my 1998 Ford Explorer. When I raised the hood, flames rolled from beneath it. I immediately extinguished the fire and then disconnected the negative battery terminal. My wife had already called 911 by this time. The fire fighters determined the source of the electrical fire to be a connector on the brake master cylinder. I was very lucky to have caught the fire in time. If this had happened when we were sleeping we might not be alive now. I have not received a notice of recall for this. I am sending the vehicle to the dealership on Monday, if this is not a recall part I will have to pay for the repairs. I think that people should know about this problem and probably not park their Ford in the garage.
1. My 1998 Ford Explorer xlt burst into flames with absolutely no warning while parked at my daughter's high school parking lot. 2. The vehicle was consumed by flames and is a total loss. The local fire department brought two units to put the fire out. 3. After filing my insurance claim, I researched the problem and found that the Ford Explorer poses a big fire risk. 4. Specifically, my cruise control stopped working 3 months ago and just as been documented by the NHTSA, the defective cruise control caused the electrical fire. 5. I thank my lucky stars nobody was hurt....but if my Explorer had been parked inside my apartment building this incident would have burned down my building. Pls let me know if you require additional documentation or photos.
On May 15, 2004, I was fishing in a local bass tournament. I parked my 1998 Ford Explorer beside one of my fishing friends Chevy truck and boat trailer. After launching my partner for the days boat, I parked his truck and trailer on the other side of my Explorer. Approximately 4 hours later, my partner and I were approched by another friend and told us we were needed back at the parking lot that my Explorer had burned to the ground, burned the Chevy with the trailer to the ground and scorched paint and melted parts of my partners truck. The Chevy truck and my Explorer were total losses and I lost a lot of personal items that insurance did not pay for. State farm claim # 18-1010-243
Tl. The contact owns a 1998 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while sleeping the contact heard a loud bomb. The contact looked out the window and the vehicle burst into flames. The contact called the fire dept. To put out the fire. No one was injured nor was any property damage. The contact called the manufacturer regarding any recalls and the manufacturer informed the contact the vehicle has no outstanding recalls. The fire dept. Determined the fire was started by a electrical component on the driver side. The contact stated someone could have been seriously injured due to the fire. The failure mileage was 150,000. Jo
My seat belt on my passenger side does not work half the time. My door locks do not work right. I can't get my window on the driver side to go up and down. I hit a tree going 55 miles an hour in my airbag did not even deploy. I'm lucky I'm still alive. The fenders rubbing up against my tire. Speed control is wrong. Whenever I'm going 55 miles an hour it says 57 actually I don't remember the correct date. But I'm sure it shows I know it was 2017. Somebody ran me off the road. My truck hit the tree and my airbag did not deploy. I'm lucky it didn't I guess because don't airbags have metal shards in them is what I was told
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
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."
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire to provide the necessary ground circuit in these vehicles.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Electrical complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 114 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Ford Explorer, 6% of the model year's 1,959 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Explorer electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 97V-215 (control module, Nov 24, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Explorer electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 41 fires and 6 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.