AI Damage1998 Polaris Explorer reliability: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Polaris Explorer filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 67% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 33% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 33% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Rear windshield wipers malfunctioned during inclement weather, impairing driver's visibility.
Transmission failure; transmission is slow to engage and then will jerk once it does.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,523 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Explorer has 3 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Polaris Explorer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, steering, visibility. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Polaris Explorer?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Polaris Explorer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.