NHTSA Complaint #702355 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

THIS IS AN EXPLORER WITH THE SOHC 4L ENGINE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST A DOZEN EPISODES OF THE ENGINE STALLING, OR NEARLY STALLING, WHEN ACCELLERATING FROM A STOP, AND USUALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER AND ENGINE ARE HOT, AND AFTER IDLING FOR A FEW MOMENTS, SUCH AS WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR A LIGHT OR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC. THE STALL, OR HESISTATION, HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS MOVED PERHAPS ONE CAR LENGTH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE THREE ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS WITH THE SOHC MOTOR, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS, LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE DIRECT LINE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN A DISABLED VEHICLE. FORD HAS NOT ADMITTED A FAULT, OR FIXED THE VEHICLE.