1998 Ford Explorer Ford Explorer 1998

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1998 Ford Explorer repairs by problem area

Engine (31%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (0%)

Suspension and Steering (17%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (31%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (7%)

Chart based on 29 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 1998 Ford Explorer.

1998 Ford Explorer repair cost distribution

$2500+ (8%)

$1000 - $2499 (0%)

$500 - $999 (21%)

$100 - $499 (46%)

< $100 (25%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 24 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

1998 Ford Explorer

Engine not specified

Ford in North Carolina, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2012
May 2011

195900 mi
Driver's Window shattered at Bottom. Might have been installed incorrectly by previous owner. Replaced with Window from similar vehicle. 
Jan 2012

US $300
Old Wheel Bearing caused Vehicle Instability, was replace and Problem Reduced. 
Ford in Alabama, United States
Feb 2011 - Apr 2011
Apr 2011

176000 mi
Small coolant leak when sold. 
Ford in North Carolina, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2013
Jun 2013

212000 mi

US $500
Recently rebuilt transfer case failed. Case was removed from vehicle and repaired, and reinstalled. 
Ford in Maine, United States
Oct 2012 - Oct 2012
Oct 2012 All the doorhandles broke off 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

8-cylinder automatic AWD

Ford in Oregon, United States
Mar 2011 - Oct 2011
Apr 2011

148000 mi

US $500
Ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends, camber cams, shocks all needed replacing. They were original ford OE Stock from when it rolled off show room. Replaced all with aftermarket brands, raybestos, monroe. Parts are superior to OE parts 
Oct 2011

154000 mi

US $3200
Transmission blew 7 bearings, a servo and a band. Oil Can Henries put wrong transmission fluid in. They are refusing to honor damage, so paying out of pocket to repair. 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

8-cylinder automatic 2WD

Ford in Florida, United States
Jun 2010 - Jun 2013
Sep 2010

94000 mi

US $600
A/C variable motor control module was replaced. Lock function was not working; replaced lock control parts so that lock function would work. Unlock function was always working - it was only the lock function that was broken. Radio Antenna would not power up/down although radio itself was working. Powered radio antenna was replaced.  Rear trunk/door latch brushings were replaced and door alignment was done to insure proper closing so that "door open" light wouldn't stay on.  
Oct 2010

95000 mi
Radio lights did not work although radio/Cd/Cassette worked fine. I replaced the entire radio so that you could see the station ID as well as clock time. 
Nov 2010

96000 mi

US $100
AC needed re-charging. O-ring replaced. Work done by Firestone for $100. 
Feb 2011

97000 mi

US $397
A/C was not repaired with o-ring replacement. After additional check, the evaporator was replaced. Oil change/tire rotation and alignment done at same time. All 3 wipers replaced. 
Jun 2011

100000 mi

US $500
Car was taken in for engine light. Diagnosed and repaired two O2 sensors. Oil changed. And wiper connectors were replaced. Tires were replaced at Firestone at separate cost. 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

6-cylinder manual 4WD

Ford in California, United States
May 2008 - May 2010
Dec 2008

158000 mi

US $130
Radiator and tank leaking. Replaced radiator. 
Feb 2009

170000 mi

US $200
OBDII indicated bad O2 sensor. I replaced all three sensors, and reset the check engine light. 
Jun 2009

178000 mi

US $224
Front wheel bearings noisy. Replaced hub, bearings, seals, ABS sensor as a unit, both sides. Took about 3 hours. 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

6-cylinder automatic AWD

Ford in Minnesota, United States
Apr 2009 - Jul 2011
May 2009

108000 mi

US $800
Car lost ability to accelerate while I was driving on the highway. I coasted up an exit and called a tow truck. Repair shop couldn't find a smoking gun but replaced a few different things. 
Aug 2009

109000 mi

US $200
AC blowing hot air - had lost all coolant - still don't know if there is a leak or not but I have some cool air now. 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 4WD

Ford in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2008 - Jun 2011
Jun 2008

112000 mi

US $2500
transmission failed all sensors and torque converter 
Sep 2008

120000 mi

US $145
Short in wire caused engine failures. Idler pulley snapped off, tension pulley broke and serpentine belt broke. 
Oct 2008

120000 mi

US $100
Bearing on driver side went bad-- replaced bearing and hub 
Ford in District of Columbia, United States
May 2011 - Jun 2013
Jun 2011

146000 mi
Replacement of one catalytic converter. Passed the DC emissions test. 
Jul 2011

146700 mi

US $400
The Exploder was running rough at low idle and the problem became worse as it became harder to maintain speed on the road without frequent accelerator modulation. The 02 sensor had gone back and there was a misfire in cylinders 4,5 and 6. 
Ford in Ohio, United States
Jan 2009 - Jul 2015
Feb 2009

127000 mi
Repaired the dim LED issue on radio. Purchased rebuilt powersupply from online vendor. Very satisfied. The first time this happened the radio was repaired under extended warranty. This time I repaired myself for 25% of the cost of a dealership repair. 
Aug 2012

127000 mi

US $75
Speedo and Odometer intermittently stop working. Problem was a bad instrument cluster printed circuit membrance. Replaced cluster with used unit and it works fine. 

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1998 Ford Explorer 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

Ford in Florida, United States
May 2008 - Feb 2010
Mar 2009

153000 mi

US $145
Sway bar replaced. 

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1998 Ford Explorer Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 1998 Ford Explorer problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.