1991 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A DRIVEWAY INCLINE, THE ENGINE IDLED EXCESSIVELY HIGH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT DETECTED SMOKE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND MASSIVE FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND HAS NOT BEEN TOWED AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER HANDS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE GAS STATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL IN IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE LOST ITS FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT NO LUGS; BOLTS WERE PUT BACK ON THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING ENGINE WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. WHY WOULD THEY TAKE THE WHEELS OFF TO SERVICE THE ENGINE, AND THEN NOT PUT THE BOLTS BACK ON. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS AN ACT OF VANDALISM. *SC *JB

I HAVE A 1991 FORD EXPLORER AND AT 91026.8 MILES IT BLEW THE HEAD GASKETS . I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS TRUCK IS BAD FOR DOING THIS . IT HAS A 4.0 - V6I DON'T KNOW WHY FORD IS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS . *NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA/RUNNING GEAR/WHEEL AREA.*JG (FIRE INCIDENT REPORT)

WHILE CONSUMER WAS PAYING A TOLL AT THE TOLL BOOTH, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TOLL BOOTH AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC

TRUCK LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AND MANIFOLD GASKET. *NLM

WHILE CONSUMER'S DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THEN, DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE WHEN SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. JUMPED OUT, AND VEHICLE BURNED DOWN. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE FIRE HAD STARTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

FAN THAT COOLS ENGINE IS MADE OF NYLON, IF IT FAILS IT COULD COME THROUGH FAN BLADES AND THROUGH RADIATOR. CONSUMER FEELS ITS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK FAILURE OF NYLON FAN COULD CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO RADIATOR, HOSES AND THE HOOD. *YH

THE FAULTY ALUMINIUM HEADS CRACKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN THE NUMBER ONE PISTON MELTING AND DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDERS. *YH

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK THE BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. MAF SENSOR FAILED. THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET FAILED. RADIATOR IS LEAKING. THERMOSTAT FAILED. *YH

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED IN THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $627.69. I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. THEY DECLINED TO PAY FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE, ON TWO OCCASIONS. NLM

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE MISSING WHEN GOING UP HILLS AND ALSO ROUGH IDLE AT START UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NAPA, A AAA APPROVED SHOP, WITH ASE MECHANICS. THERE WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO GET IN THE NUMBER 3 CYCLINDER AND PLUG. WHEN THEY TOOK THE HEAD OFF TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T CRACKED THEY FOUND THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES AND PUSH RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PUSH ROD ENDS WERE WORN TO THE SHAPE OF FOOTBALLS AND HAD WORN INDENTATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLIES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER USED OIL. I CHANGE THE OIL/FILTER EVERY 3 MONTHS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN LOW ON OIL OR OVERHEATED. THE SHOP OWNER AND THE MECHANIC BOTH SAID THEY THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND I SHOULD REPORT IT. PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY IN WA OR OR. THE REASON THEY WERE GIVEN WAS THAT THESE PARTS COULDN'T BE KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THEM. I BABY MY VEHICLES AND REQUIRED SERVICE WORK IS DONE ON TIME. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS COST ME $1,493.41 TO REPAIR SOMETHING WHICH I DON'T THINK SHOULD HAVE GONE WRONG. IN THIS CASE AN ACCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN BUT COULD HAVE IF THE RODS HAD GONE THROUGH THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER STEAM AND SMOKE WAS POURING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 2 MINUTES IT CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FORD WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A REASON.

THREE LARGE CRACKS IN FLYWHEEL CAUSED BINDING NOISE. (QCAW)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

REAR CRANKSHAFT MAIN SEAL FAILED. *AK

RADIATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO POOR DESIGN, CAUSING CRACKING/LEAKING.

THE ENGINE FAN HAS SOME CRACKS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

FAN BLADE CRACKED.