1998 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 1998 Ford Explorer, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (10% of reports).
- 111suspension complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 35%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.
- Ball joints: mentioned in 11 of 111 complaints (10%)
- Tire size: mentioned in 6 of 111 complaints (5%)
- Making turn: mentioned in 6 of 111 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 9 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 111 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 6 an injury.
Ford Explorer suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer | 3 | 3% | 2,289 |
| 2024 Explorer | 3 | 14% | 7,352 |
| 2023 Explorer | 14 | 13% | 3,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 13 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 6,010 |
| 2020 Explorer | 35 | 3% | 43,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 11 | 4% | 88,086 |
| 2018 Explorer | 23 | 3% | 62,500 |
| 2017 Explorer | 58 | 3% | 45,000 |
| 2016 Explorer | 73 | 3% | 67,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 83 | 5% | 76,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 103 | 6% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 79 | 4% | 96,500 |
| 2012 Explorer | 22 | 3% | 135,500 |
| 2011 Explorer | 24 | 2% | 125,525 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2008 Explorer | 3 | 2% | 76,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 6 | 3% | 52,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 5 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2005 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 62,376 |
| 2004 Explorer | 37 | 3% | 65,950 |
| 2003 Explorer | 63 | 6% | 72,203 |
| 2002 Explorer | 422 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 43 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 62 | 7% | 57,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 65 | 5% | 113,850 |
| 1998 Explorer | 111 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 105 | 6% | 117,500 |
| 1996 Explorer | 97 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 93 | 11% | 127,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists suspension for the 1998 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle felt as though it would tip over and swayed when driving approximately 70-75 mph. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the suspension malfunctioned. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, a noise emitted when the steering wheel was being maneuvered. The malfunction occurred whenever making a turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the front and rear…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Ford Explorers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 111 owner complaints about suspension 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 suspension?
No recall currently lists suspension for this vehicle.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 1998 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 11 of 111 complaints, followed by “tire size” (6).
Other 1998 Ford Explorer problems
See all 1998 Ford Explorer problems or suspension problems across all Explorer years.