1993 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

IGNITION SWITCH TURNS WITHOUT A KEY AND THEN IT IS HARD TO INSERT THE KEY. ENGINE STALLED POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE SWITCH WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN.

THE ABS MODULE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 20 MPH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. *BF *AS

MICHELIN LTX M/S XL P235/75R-15 ON 93 EXPLORER XL. TIRES ARE 5 YRS OLD WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES. SERIES OF SIDEWALL CRACKS ABOUT 8" LONG APPEARED IN FRONT RIGHT TIRE, APPROX 5/8" FROM RIM, WITH THE LONGEST CRACK ABOUT 4" LONG AND 0.11" DEEP. NO FAILURE YET, AND THE AMERICAS TIRE DEALER SAYS THE CRACKS ARE NOT A PROBLEM, BUT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF SIDEWALL CRACKING AND BLOWOUTS IN MICHELIN TIRES CONCERNS US. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO MY CONDO'S PARKING GARAGE WHEN DRIVER IN CAR BEHIND ME ALERTED ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND MY FEET GOT REALLY HOT. EXITED VEHICLE AND NOTICED FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 TO REPORT FIRE, AS THE FIRE UNIT WAS ON ITS WAY THE VEHICLE HAD TWO OR THREE EXPLOSIONS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HORN CAME ON. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE 22 STORY CONDOMINIUM FIRE ALARMS WENT OFF, ALL THE ELEVATORS STOPPED WORKING AND THE FIRE MARSHALL EVACUATED THE ENTIRE BUILDING. THE PARKING GARAGE WAS FULL OF SOOTH AND DENSE BLACK SMOKE. THE MAIN LOBBY AND ELEVATOR LOBBY WAS FULL OF SMOKE. THE ER DIAGNOSED ME WITH SMOKE INHALATION AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. SUBSEQUENT LUNG TEST SHOWS 30% DECREASED LUNG CAPACITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE ATX, AND LINE SIZE P235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND FOUR PASSENGERS HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE TIRES WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

ALMOST HOME, WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IT THEN BEGAN TO SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE AND OUT WHILE PULLING INTO YARD. GOT OUT AND THEN NOTICED FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND SMOKE EXITING FROM HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 TO REPORT FIRE, AS THE FIRE UNIT WAS ON ITS WAY THE VEHICLE HAD A EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALED. THE ATTENDING FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FIRE BEFORE WITH FORD F150'S AND OTHER FORD SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY THE SPEED OR CRUISE CONTROL THAT STARTED THE FIRE, AND TO LOOK. PLEASE RESPOND SO THAT I KNOW WHICH STEPS TO TAKE. *TW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. . AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS OF ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MISFIRED. A BYSTANDER NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER EYES, HAIR, AND UPPER PORTION OF HER BODY. SHE HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE A LITTLE OVER 200,000.

FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS LEAK SO IT DID NOT PASS SMOG, NONE AT USED CAR LOTS, REPAIR SHOP STATES HE HAS SEEN THIS ALOT. *TR

SUN ROOF FLEW OFF THE EXPLORER ONTO THE ROAD AND SHATTERED IN A MILLION PIECES ALMOST HITTING A BIKER. *TR

THE WHOLE '!@#$% FRONT END OF MY 93 EXPLORER KEEPS FALLING APART AFTER FIXING IT TWICE AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. I CANT KEEP TIRES ON IT AT ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED DARK SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT WHEN THE SMOKE CEASED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SMOKE REAPPEARED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE HEATER FUSE REMOVED, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM SMOKING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000. UPDATED 05/27/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AC ONLY WORKED ON HIGH AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT WORK. UPDATED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN FOUR DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS ELECTRICAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 125,000. PICTURES AND FIRE REPORT WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

WHILE MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING IN THE CAR, WITH TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, THE TWO YEAR OLD STARTED CRYING AND TOLD US THE BABY'S CAR SEAT WAS BROKEN. WE LOOKED BACK AND THE CAR SEAT WAS SIDEWAYS- THE SEAT BUCKLE THAT HELD IT IN PLACE HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT! WE WERE DRIVING AND I HAD TO LEAN BACK FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND RIGHT THE BABY SEAT WHILE WE PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO REBUCKLE THE BABY'S SEAT INTO THE MIDDLE. THE SEATS DO NOT ACTUALLY FIT THAT WAY FOR EVERYDAY USE AND OUR CAR HAS BEEN UNUSABLE TO US EVER SINCE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND NO OTHER WAY TO ARRANGE THEM IN THE CAR. WE CALLED ABOUT A PART TO REPLACE THAT SEAT BUCKLE AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN- TO HAVE A SEAT BUCKLE GIVE OUT - WHILE DRIVING - WITH A BABY IN IT! WE HAVE TRADED CARS WITH OUR PARENTS IN THE MEANTIME AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PART TO FIX IT. (THIS IS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE.) *TR

STARTED 1993 FORD EXPLORER AND HEATER FAN WAS ON SETTING 2. BURNING LEAF SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE DEFROST VENTS (HEATER SELECTOR WAS SET TO DEFROST). IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF IGNITION AND HAD TO DRIVE OTHER VEHICLE TO WORK. WILL HAVE TO REMOVE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR ASSEMBLY AND CLEAN OUT DEBRIS FROM BLOWER HOUSING. NOTICED BURNT LEAF SMELL BEFORE BUT NEVER SAW SMOKE UNTIL TODAY. *NM

DURING NORMAL OPERATION LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE CRACKED, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID, MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE ON IN MEDIAN, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AFTER LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED MECHANIC WAS BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM, DURING THE PROCESS THE MAIN BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKE LINES CRACKED AND DEVELOPED A LEAK, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID AGAIN!FORTUNATELY THIS TIME IT HAPPENED AT SHOP, HAD ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED, ADVISED SHOP TO HOLD ON TO OLD (ORIGINAL) BRAKE LINES. *JB

1993 FORD EXPLORER SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED IN DRIVEWAY, DAMAGE ORIGINATED IN THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. NO RECALL FOUND FOR YEAR/MODEL, BUT COUNTLESS FIRES REPORTED FOR BASE FORDS OF ALL MODELS AND YEARS. *NM

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALER AND HAVE THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME A TEMPORARY TAG UNLESS I WENT TO HIS MECHANIC FOR A INSPECTION ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY LEAKING OIL SINCE THE 2ND DAY I PURCHASED. *JB

I OWNED A FORD 1992 EXPLORER AND ONE MORNING IT JUST CACTH FIRE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. WE LET IT RUN BEFORE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AS WE DO EVERY COLD MORNING AND IF A LITTLE GIRL HAD BEEN WALKING TO THE BUS STOP AND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURN UP IN THE HOUSE SO LUCKLY SHE SAW AND LET US NO BEFORE IT GOT TO THE PORCH WE CALL THE FIRE DEPT. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT CAME UNLATCHED. THE SAFETY BELT NO LONGER WORKED. THE BUTTON ON THE BUCKLE WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY IN AND LOOSE TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK BROKE AND THERE ARE LOOSE PARTS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE LOCK. *NM

DT: DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE MODEL IS 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE OWNER HAS JUST SEEN THIS ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER SAYS, YES, HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, HIS HOUSE MAY BURN DOWN. THIS IS COMING FROM WHAT THE CONSUMER HAS SEEN ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND INVESTIGATIONS. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS CHECKED YET, BUT THE OWNER HAS ALREADY CONTACTED FORD WITH NO COOPERATION AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO COOPERATION WITH THE 2 DEALERSHIPS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO. CONSUMER FEELS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BECAUSE OF SAFETY. ISSUES.*AK

DT: VECHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATED ACCELERATOR STUCK ONCE IN MARCH 2005, AND HE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIRMAN SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. HE DID NOT RECALL THE PART THAT MECHANIC CLEANED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NOTICED THIS HAPPENING A LOT IN FORD EXPLORERS. CONSUMER HAD NOT NOTICED IT HAPPENING SINCE THEN. HE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF 25 MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM. HE STOMPED THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO MAKE IT DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO CRASH. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK *JB

WHILE TRAVELING SPARE TIRE SHEARED OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE TIRE. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER, LTR 235/75R15. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

I OWN A '93 FORD EXPLORER. ABOUT 4-5 YEARS AGO, THE LIFT BACK DOOR TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE BODY - THE HINGES TORE OUT OF THE METAL. I TOOK IT TO MERIDIAN FORD IN MERIDIAN IDAHO FOR REPAIR - AND THEY REPAIRED IT AT NO CHARGE, INFORMING ME THAT THE DOOR PROBLEM WAS ON "RECALL". I STILL OWN THE CAR, AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING AGAIN; I CAN TELL THE DOOR HINGES ARE AGAIN BEGINNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAR BODY AND I TRY TO AVOID USING THAT REAR DOOR IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF AGAIN. I CALLED MERIDIAN FORD SERVICE DEPT. ABOUT REPAIRING IT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO DO THE REPAIR AND THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE A REPAIR FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. I THEN CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE: "IF A REPAIR IS MADE ON A RECALL, IT IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. THIS HARDLY SEEMS EQUITABLE - GIVEN THE FACT THAT IF THAT DOOR COMES LOOSE WHEN SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING MY CAR - IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR TRAGEDY. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC "INCIDENT" DATE - OTHER THAN THE DAY I FIRST HAD THE DOOR REPAIRED, AND THE GARAGE "GUARANTEED" IT. I DON'T HAVE THAT DATE, BUT I'M SURE IT WOULD BE RECORDED ON MY VIN NUMBER. IN THE FOLLOWING SPACE FOR "INCIDENT DATE" I HAVE NOTED 12-01-04 AS THE APPROXIMATE DATE WHEN I CALLED BOTH THE MERIDIAN FORD GARAGE, AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *NM

MULTIPLE FAILURES, CONTINUALLY BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE ALSO OVERHEATED, THERMOSTAT REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. A/C COMPRESSOR MALFUNCTION, ETC. *BF A BLOWOUT RIPPED THE RUNNING BOARD ASSEMBLY, THE ABS LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE AND VIOLENTLY SKIDDED TO A STOP, THE EXHAUST WAS REPLACED TWICE, THERE WAS A NOISE THAT LINGERED ON IN THE FRONT END AND A LOUD CREAKING SOUND. *SC

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING LIKE IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING AND COOLING VENTS. AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SMOKED STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT BUT WERE NOT SURE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED FROM. THIS HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 1, 2004. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WENT UP. THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE, SNAPPED CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB WHEN THE TIRE FELL IT THREW THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE AIR. *TC

GOODYEAR REGATTA 2 TIRES.*MR ONE OF THE TIRES HAS A CONCAVE/CIRCULAR INDENTATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2-3/4 INCH BEGINNING AT THE TREAD SURFACE AND RUNNING VERTICALLY UP THE SIDEWALL ARE 2-3 INCHES FROM THE OUTER TREAD. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY FROM FIRST TO THE SECOND GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL #95V164001 FAILED. THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS WERE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT WERE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY DID ALL THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. *JB

INTERMITENT - ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILURE. PEDAL DROPS DOWN AND NOISE (GROWL) OCCURS, FOLLOWED BY VEHICAL PULLING TO ONE SIDE WITH LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. RECENT INCIDENT REQUIRED EXTREME BRAKING AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE SLID OUT OF CONTROL.*AK

DUNLOP LIGHT TRUCK TIRES LT 235-75R15 RADIAL ROVER AT FIRST PROBLEM WAS A TIRE BLISTER THAT CAUSED AN UNEVEN TIRE WEAR PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE TIRE BACK TO THE TIRE STORE, WHERE I PURCHASED SAID TIRES, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE TIRE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD PUT LESS THAN 50% WEAR ON TIRE. ON JUNE 13, 2004, WHILE RETURNING FRIM A TRIP DOWN TO LONG BEACH, HEADING NORTH BOUND ON INTERSTATE 5 IN CALIFORNIA I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE DETREADED OR BLEW ITS TREAD OFF AND THIS CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY FORD EXPLORER ( BUBBLES, WAS THE CARS NAME SINCE SHE WAS CHAMPAGNE COLORED ). I SLID BETWEEN THE LANES OF THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR. I DIDN'T REGAIN CONTROLL BUT ENDED UP ROLLING IT DOWN THE SHOULDER AND AFTER BOUNCING AROUND LANDED UPRIGHT ON MY TIRES FACING THE WRONG DIRECTION. SOME HOW I DIDN'T GET HURT BUT I DID DESTROY MY 1993 EXPLORER. THE TRUCK I LOVED AND SINCE I DIDN'T GET HURT IN THE ROLL OVER I HAVE ZERO COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY FORD IN FACT I THINK I WILL TELL THEM ABOUT THE ROLL OVER AND THANK THEM FOR BUILDING A CAR THAT I ROLLED AND STILL DIDN'T GET HURT. MY DUNLOPS TIRES ON THE OTHER HAND I HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS, ONE COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE THAT DIRECTLY LEAD TO ME WRECKING MY CAR AND ONE BLISTER THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A ROAD HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS TO YOU TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AND IF YOU NEED TO RESEARCH INTO THIS. I KNOW I AM LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BUT FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. *AK, *GEM

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. *MR THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS UNTIL ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BAD BATTERY CABLE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS LOCKED. THE HINGES BROKE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. *AK

FIRE IN HEATER BLOWER, 1993 FORD EXPLORER, HEAVY SMOKE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

1ST CASE WAS SUMMER TIME, ENGINE WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER WHEN TRYING TO START IT. AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN ON EARLIER. TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH TO OFF AND ENGINE STARTED AND RAN JUST FINE. ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO BAD COMPRESSOR LOADING DOWN THE ENGINE. $900 LATER WITH NEW COMPRESSOR AND CONVERSION TO NEW REFRIGERANT I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. TRUCK IS 2ND VEHICLE NOT USED MUCH UNTIL WINTER. DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE HEATER SWITCH IN, (AIR-CONDITIONER ON MODE) AND THE ENGINE INSTANTLY SHUT OFF, AS WELL AS ALL THE LIGHTS AND THE HORN. RESET THE SWITCH AND ONCE AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NEVER BLEW A FUSE! EXPECTED A WIRE HARNESS FIRE AFTER THAT! I'D EXPECT THE LOAD LINE TO THE COMPRESSOR TO BE ON A SEPARATE CIRCUIT AND ISOLATED BY A FUSE LINK OR REPLACEABLE FUSE! REPLACED THE $95 SWITCH AND INSPECTED IT. IT WAS ALL MELTED INSIDE. I WONDER IF THE SWITCH WAS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND THE COMPRESSOR WAS ACTUALLY GOOD SINCE THE AIR WAS COLD WHEN IT WAS RUNNING. COULD IT GO FROM GOOD TO INSTANTLY SEIZED? COULD THE CIRCUITRY IN THE EXPLORER SPORT ALLOW A LARGE CURRENT DRAW TO MELT THE SWITCH? IF SO FORD OWES ME FOR THE COMPRESSOR AND LABOR. CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A FUSELINK OR FUSE DIDN'T BLOW. ONLY A DEAD SHORT WOULD KNOCK OUT THE LIGHTS, AND HORN. LUCKILY THE SWITCH COULD BE SWITCHED OFF, AS I ROLLED TO A STOP. SECOND ITEM TO REPORT WAS THAT WHILE REPLACING THE BAD RESISTOR COILS FOR FAN'S SPEED CONTROL, THE HEATER ENCLOSURE WAS PACKED WITH LEAVES- VERY DANGEROUS. VACUUMED EVERYTHING OUT. NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THERE IS NO SCREEN SOMEWHERE. *AK

THE VEHICLES COOLING FAN CRACKED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAN WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

CYLINDER HEADS NEED REPLACING. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN INCIDENT OR ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK REPAIR COMPLETED 9/18/03. CONSUMER NOTED HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND WITH 27K MILES ON IT, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE IN ONE YEAR. *PH

CRUISE CONTROL:1993 FORD EXPLORER- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON. AS I APPROACHED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE, AND I HAD TO PUSH THE "OFF" BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GAIN CONTROL. THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. ALSO WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES BAD, IT IS APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, AS THEY DON'T WORK WHEN IT GOES OUT. ON ALL OCCASIONS WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES OUT, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER(ROSS FORD- PIEDMONT, MO.) TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, SO IT SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *LA

1993 FORD EXPLORER THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK SHOULDER BOLT AT THE BASE OF THE SEAT SNAPPED. VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY BUT CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *PH *NLM

THE CONVERTIBLE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISCONNECT FROM THE LATCH IN THE CHILD SEAT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONSUMER HAD CHECKED ON THE CHILD TO FIND THE CHILD NOT SECURED IN THE SEAT.*AK

UNDERMOUNT SPARE TIRE BOLT RUSTED CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DROP FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. TIRE WENT FLYING,BOUNCING AND ROLLING ACROSS ROAD LUCKILY BYPASSING TRAFFIC TO MY REAR. 1993 FORD EXPLORER WITH NEW TIRES AND SPARE TIRE DUE TO FIRESTONE RECALL (2 OR 3 YRS. AGO), ALL MOUNTED BY FORD DEALER. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX IMATELY60 MPH, AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL , CAUSING HER TO HAVE A BLOWOUT. SHE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IN A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING A 1993 ,FORD, EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND HAD ABOUT 3000 MILES.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL GOT STUCK. THIS CAUSED THE ABS LIGHT TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. *JB JAMIE CONADAY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. SCC

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB PRIOR TO IMPACT THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS BODY WAS TOSSED TO THE LEFT ONTO THE DOOR AND THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *SCC *NLM