The 1998 Ford Explorer has 7 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk on 4.0L SOHC models where fuel lines can leak and ignite, and a throttle defect on the same engine that can cause sudden engine surge when the accelerator pedal releases.
The hood latch on certain Explorers can corrode and stick open at the secondary latch, and if the primary latch is not fully engaged, the hood can fly up and block the driver's view while driving. On the restraint side, a bolt attaching the driver's seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame can fracture and allow the seat back to fall rearward unexpectedly, which could leave the driver poorly positioned to control the vehicle in a crash. Two recalls affect only Eddie Bauer and Limited trim models: the key-in-ignition warning chime may not sound when the driver's door is opened, leaving no audible alert that the key has been left in the ignition.