1992 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, WHEN TURNING THE HEATER ON SHE COULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE AND ALSO NOTICED A LEAK. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE HEATER COIL AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FEEL SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSED AND WOULD INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V024001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A MISSING STUD AND NUT FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 220,000.

BRAKE STUDS THAT ATTACHED MASTER CYLINDER TO POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY BROKE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR,AND DIDNOT STOP VEHICLE. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK

I BELIEVE THAT A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW EXIST IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE FORD EXPLORER. THE LIGHT ON MY ABS BRAKES WOULD COME ON ONCE IN A WHILE THEN GO OUT. I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT EVEN NOTICE. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE THAT I AM AWARE OF, THE FIRST TIME I WAS BRAKING MODERATELY HARD FOR A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SPUN HARD TO THE LEFT I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT AND REGAIN CONTROL I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH UNDER THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS BUT THIS TIME I SPUN OUT AND HIT A CURB DAMAGING MY LEFT REAR RIM AND BREAKING THE SUPPORT CABLE FOR MY SPARE TIRE. THIS TIME I TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. ON A VEHICLE THAT SPINS OUT SO EASY I DONT THINK THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO DISABLE THE ABS BRAKES WITH A LOW FLUID SENSOR. I HAD PLENTY OF FLUID IN MY RESERVOIR THE SWITCH JUST FAILED, IF THE FAULTY SWITCH HAD BEEN SET UP TO JUST INDICATE LOW FLUID THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THAT HAPPENED WOULD NOT OCCURRE. THIS IS A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO FORD. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE ROLL OVER ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE BACKFIRE CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKES. SEVEN VACUUM HOSES TIE INTO THE ONE PIPE AND THEN INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ONLY THE BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST HAS A CLAMP ON THE HOSE. WHEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRES INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IT BLEW OFF THREE OF THESE HOSES RESULTING IN INADEQUATE VACUUM FOR THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES. THE ENGINE FUNS VERY ROUGH BUT MAYBE IT WILL SMOOTH OUT WHEN DRIVEN A LITTLE. SO, YOU DRIVE AND SUDDENLY FIND NO BRAKES. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, YOU HAVE TIME AND ROOM ENOUGH TO STOP.

RECALL 96V024000; WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT AIR BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY WAS BAD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD POWER BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED IN MARCH 1966 DUE TO RECALL ON THIS PART. SO, THE CURRENT FAILURE IS DUE TO THE IMPROPER FIXING BY THE DEALER AT RECALL FIXING. *YH

AFTER PURCHASING THIS UV FROM A DEALER.PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS EDDIE BAUER UV,I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 60 MILES AN HIUR,UV WAS SHAING SO BAD. OIL LEAKING ,BRAKES BAD. IT WAS BANDAIDED T SELL I AM SURE. A 8 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 52,000MILES AND IN THIS HORRIBLE REPAIR CONDITION,IS ALMOST SUSPECT TO INQUIRE Y OF A ODOMETER TURN BACK, LUCKILY I BOUGHT INS, TOOK TO A FORD DEALERAND HAD REPAIRS TOTOALLING ALMOST $2500.OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY $800. OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON, THER WERE 3 RECA;LLS WHICH WERE TAKEN CARE OF. THE ENGINE WAS NEEDING SEALS AND MUCH MORE . THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS BROKE,NOW AND THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PUT A QT. OF OIL EVERY WEK. THE CAR IS BASICALLY UNSFAE TO DRIVE,BETWEEEN THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL,WHICH I WAS TOLD IF IT GOT INTO THE GEAR BOX,IT WOULD START A FIRE. THIS WAS THE WORDS OF THE FORD DEALER.WHRE I HAD THE UV SERVICED. RECENTLY I NOTICED AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER COMMENTING ONTHE FROD GASKET FLAW.I HAVE BEEN TRYING FRO DAYS TO CALL THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR INFROMATION LINE ALWAYS BUSY. THEY DO RECALL SOME OF THIS MODEL.IDONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO ANY MORE I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFTEY,A SINGLE MOTHER WITH NO INCOME OTHER THAN 900.. AMONTH FROM WORKMASN COMP. CANT AFFORD ANYMORE REPAIRS NEEED HELP TO WHERE I NEED TO GO, I FEEL THE UV IS NOT SAFE AND I FEEL THAT THE ODOMETER MAY HAVE BEEN SET BACK, THE DEALERS WHERE I PURCHASED ARE TIRED OF HERING MY COMPLAINTS. THEY WORKED ONTHE UV ONCE, BUT NEVER GAVE ME A LIST OF WHAT WORK THEY DID AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THEIR SHOP FOR 10 DAYS. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK,BUT I WILL HAVE TO PROVE THE CAR IS NOT SAFE . TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO. I CAN FGAX YOU ALL THE COPIES OF REPAIR WORK THAT WAS SERVICED ON THIS CAR IN FEB. IF YOU NEED THEM IT MAY HELP U MAKE A DESICION AS TO WHERE I TURN TO NEXT. PLEASE RESPOND WHAT DO I DO??*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPR , BOTH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ANTILOCK LIGHTS CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE SITUATION. COULDN'T DETERMINE A PROBLEM SO DROVE TWO BLOCKS TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE I DETERMINED THAT I WAS LOOSING BREAK FLUID. AFTER POURING IN BRAKE FLUID AND IT CAME RIGHT OUT ON THE GROUND I LEFT THE CAR TO BE WORKED ON THE NEXT DAY. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERED DUE TO THE MAIN SPRING SUPPORT BROKE AND CUT THE BRAKE LINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO DID THE REPAIR. THE SECOND MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT THIS VERY UNUSAL FAILURE. HE DETERMINED THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT RUSTED AWAY AND THE SPRING MOVED AND CUT BRAKE LINE. HE HAD TO INSTALL SPRING SUPPORT MEMBER CUT OFF RIVETS AND REPAIR CHASSIS AND NEW BRAKE HOSE AND STEEL LINES.

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON APPLICATION. REPAIRS ONLY HELP TEMPORARILY THEN PROBLEMS REOCCURS.

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE FOR SERVICE ON THE MASTER CILINDER WICH THEY HAD RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE. *AK

BRAKES CALIPER: WHLE DRIVING DOESN'T MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, UPON BRAKING THERE'S A GRINDING NOISE, VEHICLE SHIMMERS. HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK *ML

EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE. THE HOSE WAS CONTACTING A NUT WHICH BOLTS THE LOWER SWAY BAR TO THE CHASSIS. THE SWAY BAR BOLTS, WHICH WERE INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY, ARE ORIENTED WITH THE HEAD OF THE BOLT FACING OUTBOARD. *AK

BRAKE LINE RUSTED, CAUSING THE BRAKES NOT TO WORK, A CRASH ALMOST TOOK PLACE BECAUSE CONSUMER COULDNT STOP VEHICLE. *AK

THE BRAKES AND EXHAUST SYSTEM IN THE TAILPIPE WERE HOT, EXHAUST ON THE METAL CLAD BRAKE LINE IN WHICH THE INSIDE IS PLASTIC AND CAUSE IT TO MELT, RESULTING IN BRAKE LOSS AND LOCK UP. *AK

PULLING OFF A ROAD TO GET ONTO AN INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, HAD TO PUT GEAR IN PARK POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP AND EVERYTHING WAS BURNING. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM: THE BRAKES GRAB FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, DEALER STATES BRAKE SHOES NEED REPLACING. REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES BUT THE PROBLEM WOULD REOCCURS. *AK

ABS PROBLEMS, ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT GRAB AT ALL. VEHICLE JUST KEPT GOING AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE DOOR. *AK REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *AK

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE SLOWING FOR A 15MPH CURVE AND THE EXPLORER TRACKED STRAIGHT AHEAD. ANY AND ALL BRAKING SEEMED USELESS DURING THE ATTEMPTED DECELARATION PROCESS. I'M TARDY IN REPORTING THIS EVENT,BUT A SIMILAR ACCIDENT BY FRIENDS OF OURS IN A 1993 EXPLORER MADE ME THINK THEV WHOLE ACCIDENT OVER. I FIRMLY BELIEVE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR EARLIER EXPLORERS IN REGARDS TO ABS/DISC BRAKES/AND SLOWING IN GENERAL. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ISOLATED EVENT OR WHETHER THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMMOM IN THE EARLIER PRODUCTION EXPLORERS.