1988 Ford Explorer problems

General information about Ford-Explorer
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Ford Explorer is a range of SUVs manufactured by Ford Motor Company since the 1991 model year. As the first four-door SUV produced by Ford, the Explorer was introduced as a replacement for the two-door Bronco II. Within the current Ford SUV range in North America, the Explorer is slotted between the Ford Edge and Ford Expedition. As with the Ford Ranger, the Explorer derives its name from a trim package previously offered on the Ford F-Series pickup trucks.

The Explorer has been offered in multiple chassis and powertrain layouts. The first two generations were directly derived from the Ford Ranger, switching to a model-specific chassis for the third and fourth generations. The fifth generation was repackaged as a crossover SUV, adopting a variant of the Ford Taurus chassis architecture.

Alongside the five-door Explorer wagon, a three-door Explorer wagon was offered from 1991 to 2003, officially referred to as the Explorer Sport after 1999, serving as the direct replacement of the Bronco II; the 2001–2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was a crew-cab pickup derived from the model line. For police use, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility has been derived from the fifth and sixth-generation Explorer to replace the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (and the later Taurus-based Police Interceptor Sedan). Through rebranding, Mazda, Mercury, and Lincoln have sold versions of the Explorer; Lincoln currently markets the sixth-generation model line as the Lincoln Aviator.

For the North American market, the first four generations of the Explorer were produced by Ford at its Louisville Assembly Plant (Louisville, Kentucky) and at its now-closed St. Louis Assembly Plant (Hazelwood, Missouri); the model line is currently produced at Chicago Assembly Plant (Chicago, Illinois).

In 2020, CNBC reported the Ford Explorer range as the best-selling SUV of all time in America.

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Common 1988 Ford Explorer problems

The Ford Explorer, produced since 1991, has been a popular SUV despite recurring issues through the years. This article will focus on the 1998 Ford Explorer and discuss common problems based on complaints from owners.

Suspension Problems: Numerous 1998 Ford Explorer owners have reported a bouncy ride quality, particularly along the freeway. The primary cause is often worn-out shock absorbers. To resolve this issue, all four shock absorbers need to be replaced.

Ventilation System Issues: Some 1998 Ford Explorers have insufficient airflow to the floor area during defrosting, resulting in cold feet. This problem is due to excessive air bleed to the defroster caused by a faulty floor/defroster door. The solution is to install a new door, which requires removing the affected section of the ventilation system, fitting the new door, and reinstalling the ventilation set-up in the Explorer.

Rattling Steering Column: A dislocated spring in the tilt lever can cause a rattling steering column in the 1998 Ford Explorer. This issue can be fixed by replacing the tilt lever spring.

Power Door Locks: Power door locks on the 1998 Ford Explorer can cause problems, especially when the actuator disengages from the bracket, preventing entry into the vehicle.

Rear Wipers: Rear wipers on the 1998 Ford Explorer are known to be prone to erratic or failed operation, especially during rainy days.

These common problems with the 1998 Ford Explorer are based on complaints from owners and can help potential buyers or current owners be aware of potential issues that may arise with this vehicle.

1988 Ford Explorer car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Explorer problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Electrical system problems
Service brakes problems
Hydraulic problems
Tires problems
Suspension problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Ford Explorer vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1988 Ford Explorer complaints

The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Ford Explorer.

2001-12-02

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TIRES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: 2FMZA5145WB
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TIRES
Summary: I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE&I AM CONCERN ABOUT THE TIRE&THE BRAKE. *AK

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2000-05-25

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Components: SUSPENSION
Summary: VISITED DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF NOISE(GROWL) IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. ALSO, FRONT SUSPENSION HAS NUMEROUS SQUEAKS AS YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IN AN OLDER VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT HAD PROPER LUBRICATION. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL. DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL. I INTEND TO TAKE VEHICLE TO SPECIALIZED SUSPENSION REPAIR SHOP FOR EVALUATION. *AK

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1999-07-29

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: 1FABP1798JW
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: IGNITION REPLACED ON RECALL 8/7/96. FUEL & TEMPERATURE GAUGES FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTION WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS & OVERHEATS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATES OVERHEATING. FOCUSING ON OVERHEATING PROBLEM OVERLOOKS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF THE IGNITION WHICH WAS REPLACED ON RECALL. ALSO RADIATOR FAN WILL NOT ENGAGE & ACTUAL OVERHEATING WILL TAKE PLACE. LUCKILY NO IGNITION FIRE. REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH & AVOID FORD PRODUCT IF POSSIBLE.

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1997-02-26