Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Ford Explorer has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of . try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1998 Ford Explorer. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09V399000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V286000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V281000 FORD/HIGH BACK SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01X001000 Tires — Tread/Belt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V422000 FORD/THROTTLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00T005000 FIRESTONE/TREAD SEPARATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V168000 FORD/FMVSS 108/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V164000 FORD/SECONDARY HOOD LATCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V062001 FORD/CRUISE/SPEED CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V060000 FORD/JUMP STARTING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V215000 FORD/FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Ford Explorer has significant recall activity, with 14 campaigns mostly related to speed control, lighting, and structural issues. The absence of owner complaints suggests limited data on actual failure experiences and repair frequencies. This model year should be approached with caution due to these recall issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | Unknown | $150–$400 | rare |
| Seat recliner mechanism | Unknown | $200–$500 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and service
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Timing belt inspection
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive speed control
- Seat back recline issues
- Fuel leakage near battery
- Unusual tire wear patterns
- Failed exterior lighting
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.