1998 Ford Explorer Sport Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport, and owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 98,052 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 26 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My vehicle will not run on reverse. I can shift perfectly fine to all my gears without any fussing or clunking noises coming from the gear shifts/transmission. But as soon as i try to put it on revers”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 25, 2017 · Power train
“After changing the front wheel bearing hubs, the vehicle ABS light came on. This has been going on for about a year. The vehicle does stop, but the ABS function doesn't work. This has not been a probl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 29, 2016 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–15 / 17–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer Sport model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer Sport model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 37 |
| 1998 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 121 |
| 1999 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 93 |
| 2000 Ford Explorer Sport | 1 | 71 |
| 2001 Ford Explorer Sport | 5 | 188 |
| 2002 Ford Explorer Sport | 3 | 133 |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 65 |
| 2004 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 18 |
| 2005 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 1998 Ford Explorer Sport
How do I know if my 1998 Ford Explorer Sport has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.