Overview & Reviews
The 1998 Ford Explorer gets a restyled tailgate.
- The Explorer is the best selling sport-ute on the market for a reason. A comfortable interior, three engine choices, and multiple trim levels mean that there is an Explorer for nearly any budget or lifestyle.
- Abysmal gas mileage. Handling is sloppy in corners.
User Reviews:
Showing 11 through 20 of 176.00-
Pushed Limits - 1998 Ford Explorer
By DocBone - August 11 - 8:35 pmI have owned my explorer for 2 years now and have not had to deal with any major problems. I did learn the hard way that the o-ring from the oil filter can occasionally get stuck and has to be peeled off. In the last 2 years I have managed to put on nearly 40K miles, between driving to and from school (about 150miles round trip)and pizza delivery. Slightly bothered by the less that stellar gas mileage, but on the highway I have gotten 20+ mpg a few times. Strongly recommend to anyone needs a decent amount of space in their car. Also, after surviving through 2 winters, I have no complaints, snow is not an issue. This car can easily modified without affecting its electrical system
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Overall, reliable - 1998 Ford Explorer
By Mike13 - July 29 - 1:22 pmI have owned this truck for a few years and it has never given me any MAJOR problems. A small electrical problem with the drivers door lock and recently replaced the vent blower moter, but other than some small normal wearntear repairs, it always gets me where I need to go. 189,000+ miles and running strong.
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More reliable than my Lexus - 1998 Ford Explorer
By John - June 30 - 8:26 pmPurchased used 75000 miles ago
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Good car if maintained - 1998 Ford Explorer
By Welderman - June 19 - 6:38 amThe Eddie Bauer AWD Explorer is a reliable car if properly maintained. I have never had problems with the drive train or engine (88,000 miles). It gets an honest 18.7 mpg at 55-65mph and the car is over 10 years old. My major maintenance was replacing rusted brake lines and rear brakes when they failed from corrosion. Im big so I find it very comfortable, especially the leather bucket seats as do passengers in the back seats. The A/C is used a lot in the South and it works great. Change the oil every 5000 miles and change the transmission oil every 50,000 miles. Flush the radiator out when you change the transmission oil and it will last a long time. Built Ford tough.
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Ford Quality not too shabby - 1998 Ford Explorer
By Andy - May 20 - 2:04 pmI have owned Fords all of my life. This was our first and only SUV purchase. We bought it new and have only had to make routine maintenance repairs mostly. I did recently repair the door latch on the drivers side, but other than that it has been batteries, tires, brakes, and so far no tune-up. I will complain about two items: the stereo display and the rough ride. The display on the stereo went out right after the warranty ended and I know this has happened on many other fords. The ride is very rough, but maybe I just need to break down a buy new shocks. We have owned a Honda and a Saturn, both of which lost their transmissions at 80K miles, so I feel the explorer was a good choice for us.
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reliable recreational vehicle - 1998 Ford Explorer
By wild rose native - February 25 - 10:00 amI have had the truck for about two years now and it has performed according to my expectations. It has ample power to tow a travel trailer weighing 4500 pound. Around the city, this Explorer is fun to drive. Other than the LED display disappearing on the combo cd/cassette player and the annoying engine light turning on for no reason, I have had no troubles with this truck. I am crossing my fingers hoping that I can avoid the problems that other owners have had.
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Good so far - 1998 Ford Explorer
By Midwest - February 24 - 4:06 pmBought this from a credit union (repo) and have been having fun. Have done a lot of maintenance that you would expect at 125,000 miles. Shocks, water pump, tires, ball joints, etc. Now that it has what it needed, I would drive it cross country with no hesitation. Its good for its age. Awesome in snow!
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98 awd, xlt - 1998 Ford Explorer
By kmday - December 15 - 10:00 amthe car was great for the first year or so. the front end ball joints went at about 30,000K. wheels went out of alighment quite often. ive been thru 3 sets of tires. the radiator coil blew at 45,000. the truck has had 2 different tune- ups, and one guy replaced 2 or the four hot/cold sensors. its. ok in heat, in cold its"chitty chitty bang bang" shakes,and rattles and causes the check enging light to go on and when read via the computer, it stated enging misfire, but cannot designate where. and somewhere in the middle of all this mishap, the l.e.d. readout on the radio, cd, and tape have vanished, as well as the clock.
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Still truckin - 1998 Ford Explorer
By mispinla - December 12 - 12:03 amIts almost a year later since my last review. I have a true love hate realtionship with this car. I love its reliability but hate driving a ten year old car. Overall, Ive gotten my moneys worth out of it. I now have almost 170,000 miles on it and this year have only had to buy tires and an altenator besides the regular matinence of course. I drive about 40 miles to and from work M-F. Everythings working on the car right now and has all year. It still starts without applying gas and can keep up in the fast lane. Plan to keep it until the wheels roll off (Id feel wasteful buying one if not necessary). At this rate Ill be driving it until Im ready for retirement (in about 25 years!)
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98 XLT - 1998 Ford Explorer
By Bgriffin - December 1 - 10:00 amVery good Power from the DHC V6, good handleing, good highway gas mileage, can use some work on the city mileage. Great room inside, a lot better than the competing GM products. Had some bad brake work done, but another place did them right.
