1991 Ford Explorer Powertrain & Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CLAIMED TO REPAIR IT, BUT ACTUALLY DID NOT. THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE GREATER THAN 100,000. UPDATED 03/11/08. *LJ

I FOUND SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. IT IS AN OLD VEHICLE, BUT I ONLY BOUGHT IT IN 2003. I KNOW SOME OF THEM EXPIRED, AND IT SAYS TO CONTACT FOD. I DID VIA WEB SITE. THEY DO NOT SHOW ANY RECALLS. BUT, YOU SHOWED ME OVER 5 RECALLS? CAN I STILL GET THEM FIXED? MY TIRES I GUESS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THEY DID NIT REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. I STILL HAVE THE RECALLED SPARE TIRE?? WHAT DO I DO NOW? CAN I DO ANYTHING? BUT, I STILL HAVE BAD TIRES, THE 2001 TIRE RECALL DOES NOT SAY WHAT BRAND? I HAVE ATX AND APT FIRESTONE TIRES. CAMPAIN #92V113000,91V189000,00T005000 AND ANOTHER TIRE RECALL, I DID NOT GET THE #, BUT IT WAS IN 2001. THANK YOU. *AK

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRASMISSION SLIPPED AND I WOUDNT GO FORWARD TEN SMOKED POURED OUT AND PEOPLE IN THE STREETS STARTED YELLING SAYING "THERE'S FIRE COMING OUT THE HOOD!!" I PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT AND THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES!!! VEHICLE TOTALLED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO PULL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. HAD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. DRIVER SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO DISENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

AFTER PURCHASING THIS FORD EXPLORER I CHECK ALL FLUIDS AND ADDED AND CHANGED AS NESSASARY ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED IT MY STEPSON AND MY WIFE AND LARGE DOG WENT ON A LITTLE TRIP TO CHECK OUT THIS THING, AFTER LETTING OUT THE WIFE AND DOG MY STEPSON AND MYSELF TRIED TO GO UP A SLIGHT HILL IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO SEE IF IT WORKED, AFTER IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT UP THE HILL WE BACKED IT DOWN AND HEADED BACK FOR MY WIFE WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSY FELL OFF DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE FAILING INSIDE AUTOMATIC HUBS CAUSING C CLIP TO FAIL, I HAD TO CALL MY BROTHER IN LAW TO GET MY TRUCK AND TRAILER TO GET THIS THING HOME WHERE BY SKINNING MY KNUCKLES ON ROCKS TRYING TO GET THIS ON A JACK, I LATER WENT TO FORD TO TRY TO BUY JUST DAMAGED PART THEY WANTED 385 DOLLARS FOR WHOLE KIT WHICH NOW HAS A LOCKING DEVISE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE NUT TO FREELY SPIN OFF, I BELIEVE THE NEW PIECE IS NO LONGER MADE OF PLASTIC EITHER, I WENT TO JUNK YARD AND GOT A USED PLASTIC PIECE AND MADE MY OWN PERMANT LOCKING DEVISE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. FAULTY DESIGN.

THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND, AND BOTTOM OF VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

TRANSMISSION WAS NOISY AND CAUSING A VIBRATION DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT LOWER END SHAFT BEARINGS WENT, AND HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION FOR A TEMPORARY FIX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

TRANSFER CASE LOCK UP LOW SPEED, 0-7MPH MAD. *AK

BEARINGS WERE LOOSE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL FRONT WHEELS BACK AND FOWARDS, CONSUMER FEARS THAT WHEELS MAY FALL OFF. *AK

TRANSMISSION LEAKED OUT ALL OF ITS OIL WHILE IN HIGH GEAR (5TH) AT 65 MPH RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE MAIN DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. AFTER A $1200 REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE EXACT OCCURENCE HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME AT 70 MPH WITH ONLY ABOUT 3500 MILES ON THE, REBUILT TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER $1200 REPAIR WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT THIS TIME THE RUBBER PLUGS AT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE (WHICH WAS EXPLAINED AS THE POINT OF THE LEAK) WERE SEALED. I TRADED THE CAR ABOUT A YEAR LATER AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED A THIRD TIME DURING A TEST DRIVE BY A PERSPECTIVE BUYER.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN THE "PARK" POSITION, TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND A CRASH. THERE WAS RECALL 91V189000 UNDER WHICH THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A RESPECTABLE DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY IN OCT. 1995. THE CLUTCH FAILED ME IN MAY 1997. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR APPROX. 600.00. IT THEN FAILED ME AGAIN IN AUG. 1998. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT COSTED ME 1200.00. I WAS AMAZED THE PRICE DOUBLED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED IT SAID THE OTHER COMPANY FAILED TO DO IT THE CORRECT WAY. NOW ONCE AGAIN IT HAS FAILED ME ON SEPT. 1999. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS. I CANNOT TAKE MY TRUCK BACK TO THE PREVIOUS COMPANY BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED BY MIDAS. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

APPARENTLY THE MAZDA STD 5 SPD SOLD IN THESE TRUCKS IS DESTINED TO FAIL. IT HAS SO I'M TOLD (RECENTLY SAW WHEN I WAS FORCED TO GET REBUILT DO TO DEALER REFUSING TO ACT ON MY COMPLAINT)THREE RUBBER PLUGS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL. WHY THEY ARE THERE IS BEYOND ME. AFTER A TIME THEY START TO SEEP AND CAUSE TRANSMISSION FLIUD TO SLOWLY LEAK OUT ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING IE IN GEAR. AS THE FLUID DRIPS OUT MOVING DOWN ROAD YOU DON'T NOTICE IT. ONCE IT GETS LOW ENOUGH IT CAUSES TRANNY TO OVERHEAT. I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME THIS TELL TALE SIGN OF NO CLUTCH OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT DEALER SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TEST DROVE VEHICLE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. OF COURSE WHEN I GOT THERE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE IT HAD COOLED DOWN, BOTH OUTSIDE TEMP & VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PARKED WHILE IN LAWYERS OFFICE. I POINTED OUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMETHING & THEY SHRUGGED IT OFF AS PROBALY AN OIL LEAK. SINCE THEY WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRING IN @ A LATER DATE I TOOK IT TO MEAN, SINCE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WELL APPARENTLY I DID BECAUSE AFTER ABOUT A MONTH THE INPUT SHAFT WAS SEVERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DRIVING BESIDE A 18 WHEELER. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED TO VEHICLE BUT WOODY ANDERSON PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER UNNECESSARILY BY IGNORING MY PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT LATER THE SERVICE MGR WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM W/ THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT NEGLECTED TO TRAIN HIS STAFF ON IT. THEIR GENERAL MGR KI. HARRIS SAID TO ME ON 12/15 THAT HE WAS IN BUSINESS TO SERVICE VEHICLES & HE WOULD DO WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. WELL NOW IT'S ME AGAINST THE BIG DEALERSHIP, FOR HE HAS GONE ACK ON HIS WORD. I NEED ADDITIONAL DATA TO SUPPORT MY POSITION FROM YOUR DATA BANKS TO SHOW THIS IS ONE A POOR DESIGH & TWO A KNOWN PROBLEM WAS NOT CONVEYED TO CUSTOMER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY IF I LOST POWER PASSING ON A ONE LANE ROAD OR SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE I COULD NOT AVOID AN ACCIDENT .

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE.

WRONG MATERIAL USED IN AUTOMATIC HUBS, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.

4-WHEEL DRIVE IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE HUBS WILL NOT LOCK AND VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK. BECAUSE OF NO WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM. *AK

OVERDRIVE FAILED.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED.