One problem related to trunk wiring has been reported for the 1998 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Rear windshield wiper motor keeps shorting out has burn four motors completly up. Now total system out. No door locks, windows, seats or anything electric. Can smell burning wires. Ford will not do replacement or buyback. Their solution is to bring it in once a month for a new motor, sooner or later it will quit burning them up.