1998 Ford Explorer Electrical System

5-5-05 3:30 A.M. LICKING COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED DUE TO FIRE 0F MY 1998 FORD EXPLOYER. IT HAD SET FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. ITS NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. CO-COUNSEL, LIEFF CABRASER REPRESENTING OWNERS OF FORD VECHICLES CLAIMS FORD SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES. ALSO KNOWN AS "BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH," POWERED BY THE BATTERY AND IS MOUNTED ABOVE FLAMABLE FLAMMABLE RESERVOIRES OF BRAKE FLUID. IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS OCCUR, A FIRE CAN BREAK OUT, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND, IN SOME CASES, IDLE FOR DAYS.

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, 5 LITER, AUTOMATIC, WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE SAFETY DISENGAGE SWITCH IS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF THERE IS STILL 12 VOLTS GOING TO THAT SWITCH. THE SWITCH HAS A RED BODY. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ADVISES THT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE SWITCH SETUP AS THAT IN THE FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. PRESENTLY I AM DISCONNECTING THE SWITCH WHEN I PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE.

ON MAY 15, 2004, I WAS FISHING IN A LOCAL BASS TOURNAMENT. I PARKED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER BESIDE ONE OF MY FISHING FRIENDS CHEVY TRUCK AND BOAT TRAILER. AFTER LAUNCHING MY PARTNER FOR THE DAYS BOAT, I PARKED HIS TRUCK AND TRAILER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS LATER, MY PARTNER AND I WERE APPROCHED BY ANOTHER FRIEND AND TOLD US WE WERE NEEDED BACK AT THE PARKING LOT THAT MY EXPLORER HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND, BURNED THE CHEVY WITH THE TRAILER TO THE GROUND AND SCORCHED PAINT AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PARTNERS TRUCK. THE CHEVY TRUCK AND MY EXPLORER WERE TOTAL LOSSES AND I LOST A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS THAT INSURANCE DID NOT PAY FOR. STATE FARM CLAIM # 18-1010-243

HARD TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.

I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF MY NIECE'S 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. ONE AFTERNOON I DROVE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TO THE SUPERMARKET, AND PHARMACY. THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WAS RUNNING FINE, ALL THE GAUGES WERE IN THE MIDDLE, NO SMOKE, NO SMELLS, NO PROBLEMS. . AFTER ARRIVING HOME I PARKED THE FORD 1998 EXPLORER SPORT IN MY DRIVEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM THE GARAGE DOOR, AND APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET FROM THE ENTRANCE TO MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHUT OFF AND SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. DURING THE NEXT HOUR, I BEGIN TO HANG CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ON MY FRONT DOOR, AND I WAS IN & OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WAS STILL FINE IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER I FINISHED MY DECORATING, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING LIKE RUBBER BURNING. I CHECKED MY STOVE, AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FINE. I FIGURE THE BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THEY HAD WORKERS THERE DRILLING AND MAKING REPAIRS. SO I THEN CONTINUE TO DO MY CHORES. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER I WENT TO LOOK OUT MY FRONT DOOR, AND I SAW DARK SMOKE POURING OUT THE HOOD OF THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. I PANICKED, CLOSED THE DOOR, GRABBED THE PHONE, RAN OUT TO THE BACKYARD, AND CALL 911. I WAS TO AFRAID TO GO OUT THE FRONT DOOR, AND ALSO AFRAID TO STAY IN THE HOUSE, THINKING THE HOUSE AND GARAGE WOULD ALSO CATCH FIRE. THANK GOD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SWIFTLY, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE VEHICLE ONLY, THE FIREMEN AT THE SCENE EXAMINE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD, THE CAUSE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL. *JB

DT: ON JUNE 17, 2005 CALLER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. CALLER SAID A PASSERBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND WARNED HER. CALLER'S FIANCE PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION. HE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPORT WAS FILED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORTS THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I PARKED THE CAR AT AROUND 7:00 PM AND AROUND AFTER 10:00 PM HEARD A LOUD EXPLOTION IN THE GARAGE. MY FAMILY WAS ALREADY IN BED AND I WAS WATCHING TV. WHEN I OPEN THE ACCESS DOOR TO THE GARAGE THE FRONT PART OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT THE CAR IS RUINED. MY SECOND CAR IS DAMAGED AND MY GARAGE IS ALSO DAMAGED. NO ONE WAS HURT BECAUSE WE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE ON TIME.*AK

WHILE PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AT 4:30 AM,UNDER THE HOOD ENGULFED IN FLAMES CALLED FIRE DEPT THEY CAME AND PUT FIRE OUT. THE WHOLE ENTIRE MOTOR, AND FRONT OF TRUCK RUINED,NOT DRIVABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FORD THE DAY AFTER FIRE,THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE LIABLE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON 1998 EXPLORERS. *JB

FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF FOR OVER 4 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN AS THE RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD.*AK

UNDERHOOD FIRE IN EXPLORER. MINOR FIRE CONCENTRATED AROUND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT BLOWN. XRAYS SHOW TOTAL INTERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS EVEN THOUGH THE PLASTIC BODY IS STILL RELATIVELY INTACT BUT CHARRED AND DEFORMED.

FORD EXPLORER 98, INTERIOR WINDOWS, LIGHTS, ETC. DO NOT WORK. ELECTRIAL POWER PROBLEMS INTERIORALLY. HAVE TRIED OVER 5 TIMES OVER YEARS TO HAVE FIX BY CARMAX AND FORD. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WOULD WORK FOR 1-2 WEEKS, HAD WARRANTY AT TIMES. BUT NOW WARRANTY IS OUT CARMAX AND FORD STATED IT A MANUFACTORY ELECTICAL ISSUES.*AK

VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT OPERATE. THE RESULT SHOWED THAT A NEW COMPUTER MODULE WAS NEEDED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE RETURNED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP.*AK

I HAVE A 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE RADIO WORKS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A LIGHTING DISPLAY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT MOSTLY ALL EXPLORERS WILL LOSE THE LIGHTING DISPLAY, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS OF YET. THIS IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IT'S NOT LIKE REPLACING A BULB OR SOMETHING. YOU'RE BASICALLY BUYING A NEW RADIO. IF THAT'S THE CASE IT WON'T BE FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND IT WON'T BE THE MANUFACTURERS RADIO WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL CRAP OUT. *JB

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID. *AK

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY FOR MY EXPLORER. THE UNIT STILL PLAYED HOWEVER YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, THE VOLUME, OR WHAT RADIO STATION IT WAS CURRENTLY ON. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A SIMPLE FUSE FIX BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600. LUCKY ME I HAVE THE PREMIUM STEREO SO IT COSTS MORE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE THE 98 EXPLORER SPORT AND THIS ISSUE WAS THE SAME FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. *AK

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DISCHARGING . ALSO THE ENGINE WAS STALLING . I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES , AND FINALLY THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT . THE BATTERY HAS STARTED DISCHARGING AGAIN

WE HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE TRUNK OPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN UNLOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ONE TIME WE WORKED ON IT FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE GETTING IT UNLOCKED. THIS MIGHT BECOME A PROBLEM IF YOU WERE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OR SOMEONE OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *NLM

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL PERIODICALLY STICKS "ON" (NOT FLASHING) WHEN COMMANDED AND SOMETIMES COMES "ON" (NOT FLASHING) WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. IF LEFT "ONO" (NOT FLASHING) FOR MORE THAN 30-45 SECONDS, SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE STOPS AS SOON AS THE LIGHT GOES OFF. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER MODEL, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT 4:00 AM. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 5:30 PM PREVIOUS EVENING. WE WERE ALERTED BY A SMOKE DETECTOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS, GARAGE & ATTIC ABOVE GARAGE BADLY DAMAGED RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY STORED THERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATES THAT THEY THINK THE FIRE STARTED WITH THE BATTERY, WHICH WAS ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM

I WAS DRIVING WHILE TOWING A TRAILER AND HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS WENT OUT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER COOLING OFF, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOLDING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK TOWARDS ME FOR 2-AND-A-HALF HOURS. *NLM

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, DRIVE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND STEERING COLUMN WAS GLOWING AND SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC. WIRING HARNESS, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BOTH MELTED. NO AFTER MARKET ADD ON OR MODIFICATIONS MADE TO VEHICLE. TS

ANTI THEFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER STATED COMPUTER SHOWED NO ERROR CODE, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A KNOCKING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK