1998 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1998 Ford Explorer, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 105,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “caught fire” (12% of reports).
- 114electrical system complaints
- 105,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Caught fire: mentioned in 14 of 114 complaints (12%)
- Steering column: mentioned in 8 of 114 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 37 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 114 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 41 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Explorer electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 9 | 21% | 1,000 |
| 2025 Explorer | 23 | 22% | 3,500 |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 13 | 12% | 33,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 39 | 14% | 24,850 |
| 2021 Explorer | 47 | 11% | 23,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 186 | 15% | 9,900 |
| 2019 Explorer | 20 | 7% | 45,600 |
| 2018 Explorer | 58 | 8% | 35,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 93 | 5% | 46,500 |
| 2016 Explorer | 128 | 5% | 41,785 |
| 2015 Explorer | 93 | 5% | 54,620 |
| 2014 Explorer | 100 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2013 Explorer | 163 | 7% | 57,060 |
| 2012 Explorer | 63 | 8% | 39,000 |
| 2011 Explorer | 95 | 8% | 56,300 |
| 2010 Explorer | 12 | 10% | 60,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 2 | 6% | 250 |
| 2008 Explorer | 38 | 26% | 72,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 25 | 12% | 61,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 39 | 6% | 57,500 |
| 2005 Explorer | 36 | 7% | 78,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 55 | 4% | 52,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 54 | 5% | 51,475 |
| 2002 Explorer | 148 | 4% | 94,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 29 | 8% | 71,500 |
| 2000 Explorer | 78 | 8% | 91,700 |
| 1999 Explorer | 92 | 7% | 75,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 114 | 6% | 105,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 80 | 5% | 98,197 |
| 1996 Explorer | 47 | 3% | 143,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 55 | 7% | 156,914 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
Problem: 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."
Risk: The standard specified that a warning to the driver shall be actuated whenever the key has been left in the locking system and the driver's door is opened.
Fix: Dealers will install a jumper wire to provide the necessary ground circuit in these vehicles.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
I was driving my truck and one day it started acting weird. My stereo started shutting off and coming in by itself. A couple days later i was driving and my stereo and information center went out and came back on. My truck will only go about 30mps cause it won't shift either. Couple days ago it…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Ford Explorers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 114 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1998 Ford Explorer (6% of the 1,959 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Ford Explorer electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 105,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1998 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “caught fire”, in 14 of 114 complaints, followed by “steering column” (8).
Other 1998 Ford Explorer problems
- Tires problems (696)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (281)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (189)
- Suspension problems (111)
- Visibility problems (108)
- Power Train problems (103)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (86)
- Seats problems (70)
See all 1998 Ford Explorer problems or electrical system problems across all Explorer years.