1998 Ford Explorer: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

16 builds left the factory as a 1998 Explorer, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN.

  • 10 main configurations
  • 4,514 vehicles built
  • 15 for sale right now

Which Explorer is yours?

Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.

Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.

Pick your Explorer

What actually differs

XL 1FMZU34E-W XLT · AWD XL 1FMZU32E-W Sport
Engine 4L 6-cyl 5L 8-cyl 4L 6-cyl 4L 6-cyl
Power 205 hp 215 hp 205 hp 160 hp
Doors 4-door 4-door 4-door 2-door
For sale right now 8 3 1 —
Vehicles built 1,555 658 599 308
Same on every 1998 Explorer
  • Drivetrain All-wheel drive
  • Fuel Gasoline
  • Body Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
  • Typical price today $5,555
Price trend

Median up $403 over the last 3 months.

1998 Explorer price history →
Cost to run

12/17 mpg city/highway. Roughly $3,320/yr on fuel at 15,000 miles.

EPA estimate for the 1998 Explorer

Safety, in plain English

What 1FMZU34E-W means

1FM ZU34E · W
1FM
the World Manufacturer Identifier Ford registered — assembled in the United States
ZU34E
together encode the Explorer line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 4L 6cyl — as Ford filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
W
in position 10 — model year 1998
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
6 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific Explorer?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.

1998 Ford Explorer prices →