1993 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING DUE TO OVER HEATING. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WEAR OUT ONCE A MONTH, THE BRAKES HAD BEEN RESURFACED, ADJUSTED AND REPLACED 5 TIMES. *AK *TT *JB

THE TIRES FAILED.*JB

CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE SERVICE GAS STATION FOR SERVICE. TWO DAYS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A FAULTY SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEATS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.*JB

I RECENTLY PURCHASED ( NOV 2002) FOUR (4) BRAND NEW YKS RADIAL A/T LT235/75R15 TIRES. ON JAN 02,2003 AT APPROX. 1515 HRS- INTERSTATE 40, ASHEVILLE, NC. I WAS GOING EAST AT APPROX. 65-70 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT, CAUSING MY 1993 FORD EXPLORER TO QUICK TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD NEARLY MISSING OTHER CARS IN THE LANE. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES OR TRY TO CONTROL THE TRUCK,BUT LET IT MOVE THE WAY IT WANTED. IF I HAD TIED TO CONTROL THE TRUCK, I FEEL THAT I WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE TRUCK. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK STOPPED, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE TIRE DAMAGE. THE TIRE HAD SEPERATED (RIPPED) FROM THE TOP SEAM OF THE TREAD.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN PREPARATION FOR EXIT, THE VEHICLE MADE A STRANGE "CLUNKING" NOISE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. ATTEMPTS TO SLOW DOWN UTILIZING THE BRAKES AND DOWNSHIFTING TRANSMISSION WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND ENGINE WAS STILL "REVVING" HIGH. TS

VENT HOSE IS ON REAR AXLE HOUSING AND RUBBING ON REAR BRAKE LINE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING NEEDS EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO PROPERLY APPLY BRAKES. CONSUMER HEARS SQUEAKING NOISE.*AK

ATLAS, SILVERTRAC, P23575R15 DOT UUTHLAJV331. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A FORD EXPLORER, 1993. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VIHICLE ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. *AK *JG

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THERE WAS TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE SIZE 235R15. PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT#. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

IN 1998 MY FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR NHTSB ID # 97V083000, COMPONENT: VISUAL SYSTEMS: MIRRORS. THE RECALL WAS TO CORRECT A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITH CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF A SEPARATED PART OF THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY BRIDGING THE SWITCH POSITIVE BATTERY PAD AND ADJACENT CHASSIS GROUND PAD. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. BUT, THE EXACT DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL OCURRED ON MY VEHICLE. EVIDENTLY THE INSTALLATION OF A 10 AMP INLINE FUSE WAS NOT A POSITIVE CORRECTION TO THIS DEFECT! I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE "SWITCH". I HAVE THE SWITCH IN MY POSSESSION IF NEEDED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE SWITCH. *AK

ANTI-FREEZE IS LEAKING INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH MAKE IT HARD TO SEE WHEN ANTI-FREEZE IS NEEDED TO DEFOG WINDOW.

WHILE DRIVING WHEEL HUB CAME OFF. *AK

FAILURE OF 1993 FORD EXPLORER FRONT SEAT LOWER HALF AT MOUNTING POINTS. FORD PART 61704, LEFT AND RIGHT. MATERIAL FAILURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. MOVEMENT AND FLEXING OF LOWER SEAT FRAME CAUSES MATERIAL FAILURE APPROX. INCH ABOVE ATTACHMENT BOLT POSITION. REPEATED LOSS OF SEAT ATTACHMENT BOLT TORQUE ALLOWED FRAME MOVEMENT, WHICH RESULTS IN MATERIAL FAILURE. SEAT MOVES BACK AND LATERALLY AWAY FROM NORMAL DRIVING POSITION. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS INJURY.

CONSUMER REPLACED THE RECALL FIRESTONE TIRES AT OWN EXPENSE WITH B.F.GOODRICH RADIAL TIRES, SIZE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER IS NOW CALLING TO REPORT THAT ALL FOUR OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRE CORDS ARE PROTRUDING THROUGH SIDEWALL. CONSUMER FEELS THAT EXPLORER IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM NOT FIRESTONE OR GOODRICH TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

EXPLORER - REAR ENDED. BOTH BUCKET SEAT |"BACKS" FELL BACKWARDS ONTO REAR PASSENGERS. SEAT RECLINE MECHANISM DESTROYED IN BOTH. *AK

THE ENGINE, REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR DRIVING CONDITIONS SHUTS OFF AND CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE LIGHTS, HORN, FLASHER FUNCTION ,BUT THE ENGINE JUST CRANKS WITHOUT STARTING SOMETIME 5 MINUTES, SOMETIMES ONE OR MORE HOURS BLOCKING TRAFFIC LANES. AAA HAS TOWED TO GARAGES A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WHEN THE MECHANICS TURN THE KEY, THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP AND A DIAGNOSTIC CANNOT BE PERFORMED. I DO NOT WISH TO BE A VICTIM IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANY VEHICLE BEFORE FORD DECIDES TO INVESTIGATE THIS FAILURE THAT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. I CHECKED WITH FORD IN ORDER TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS RE CALLED, BUT IT WAS NOT AS OF 10/29/01. *AK

BALL JOINTS ARE COMPLETELY SHOT. CONSUMER FEELS WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SPARE TIRE FELL OFF. CABLE THAT HOLDS TIRE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE HAD SNAPPED. NO INJURIES.*AK *TT

COPY OF NOTICE SENT TO FORD MOTOR CO ON 10/10/2001 -- > URGENT I REPLACED MY 5 FIRESTONE TIRES, AND ALMOST LOST MY SPARE BECAUSE THE 1/8" INCH CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE UP ROTTED THROUGH. FORTUNATELY IT FELL OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND NOT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE TIRE DEALER ON INTERSTATE 87! -- END OF MESSAGE TO FORD. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS 1/8" CABLE THAT HAS NO PROTECTION FROM CORROSION, IS THE SOLE METHOD USED TO HOLD THE SPARE IN PLACE! THIS PROBLEM PROBABLY EXISTS IN MANY OTHER OLDER EXPLORERS... AND IF YOU NEVER NEED THE SPARE... YOU MIGHT NOT FIND OUT UNTIL SOMEONE BEHIND YOU GETS INJURED!

MANUFACTURER CLOSED THE RECALL CASE AND WILL NOT PERFORM REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *LA THE SERVICE DEALER HAD INSPECTED THE REAR LIFT GATE AND SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS SUBJECT OF A RECALL THAT FORD ISSUED. RECALL#95V164001 *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE PAPER WORK STATED THE REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED WHEN IT HAD NOT BEEN, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE STALLING. *JB

TIRE SIDE WALL TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE THREAD AND BLEW OFF THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING A 50MPH. TIRE BELT CAME APART.

THE SPARE TIRE CRANK WIRE FRAYED AND BROKE RELEASING THE SPARE TIRE ON TO THE ROAD. FORD MOTOR OWNER RELATIONS WAS CONTACTED AT 1-800-392-3673 AND INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS DEVICE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE WHEN THE WIRE FAILS THE TIRE RELEASES ON TO THE ROAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *AK

CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UP BROKE DUE TO FATIGUE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SPARE TIRE FELL OUT. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE CABLE WILL RUST AND BREAK DUE TO FATIGUE AND WEIGHT OF THE TIRE.

FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH DUNLOP TIRES. DUNLOP REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH. CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF, AND SIDEWALLS EXPLODED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHLAWR330 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMERS NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDOWS, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, HOWEVER BY THE TIME THE DOORS WERE OPENED FLAMES WERE SMOLDERING IN THE FRONT SEATS, FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC

BRIDGESTONE, D693P-MET 235/75R15; TIRES RUMBLE VERY BADLY. THESE WERE REPLACEMENTS, NOT ORIGINAL TIRES.*AK *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURES IN THE FUTURE, CONSUMER WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO TIRES IN STOCK BUT TO KEEP CHECKING BACK, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF CHECKING CONSUMER DECIDED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE ACCEPTABLE REPLACEMENT TIRES FROM ANOTHER DEALER AND BRING THE RECEIPT AND DOT CODES FOR THE TIRES BACK TO THEM AND THEY WOULD PROCESS AND SUBMIT THE REFUND FOR REQUEST, AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM THE LOCAL DEALER FOR MORE THAN 10 WEEKS CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER SUBMITTED AND THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO CONTACT A FIRESTONE DEALER, CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS TOO LATE AND THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS AUGUST 29, 2001, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE OF THE MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE 3 WILDERNESS ATX TIRES, CONSUMER STATED PREVIOUSLY, TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DAMAGE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RADIAL ATX TIRES, P23575R15 M/S, CAMPAIGN 00T005. *JB

THERE WAS A RECALL 95V164001/ HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. . WENT BACK TO DEALER FOR A WATER LEAK COMING FROM DOOR, DEALER READJUSTED DOOR, BUT IT WAS STILL LEAKING. DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK

INSUFFICIENT BRAKING RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION. 2ND ACCIDENT OF SAME NATURE AFTER FORD SERVICE INSPECTION. INDEPENDENT BRAKE SHOP REPLACED REAR BRAKES AND PROBLEM IS OK. FORD ARGUES THAT BRAKES AND VEHICLE WERE OK. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OWNER'S WIFE JUST TOUCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ENGINE SUDDEN ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A TREE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THROTTLE VALVE WAS OPEN. *AK

DRIVER SEAT BACK BROKE WHILE OWNER DRIVING RESULTING IN SEAT BACK FALLING TO FULL RECLINING POSITION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INJURY OR ACCIDENT AND HAD TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN UNSAFE CONDITION UNTIL WAS ABLE TO FIND AN OBJECT TO BRACE THE SEAT BACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. BROKEN PART REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE AT NON-FORD GARAGE. COMPLAINT FILED AFTER OWNER RECENTLY LEARNED OF NUMEROUS OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS, THEREFORE DATE OF INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE SINCE IT WAS NOT DOCUMENTED AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. *AK

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS DERIVED FROM A MAZDA MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND IS WELL-KNOWN TO LEAK LUBRICANT RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILURE.*AK

WIRE UNDER POWER SEAT CAME LOOSE, SHORTED AGAINST SEAT TRACK, SEAT CUSHION CAUGHT FIRE. DRIVER BARELY ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. PROPERTY DAMAGE IS ABOUT $2100.00. WIRING SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO NOT COME LOOSE AND SEATS SHOULD NOT BE COMBUSTIBLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH FENDERS. VEHICLE BURNED, TOTALLED. FIRE CHIEF THOUGHT THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSED FIRE. *AK

WHILE STEERING VEHICLE OFF DIVIDER STRIP, IT CAUSED A ROLLOVER CRASH, NO INJURY REPORTED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

THE ALUMINUM FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER UNIT UNDER THE HOOD HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND IT THE DUCTS FRESH AIR INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER BLOWER DUCTING. THIS SHROUD BECAME FULL OF LEAVES WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE , FILLING THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH DENSE SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL THE DUCT WORK UNDER THE HOOD APART AND BLOW OUT THE REMAINING ASH AND LEAVES TO ALLEVIATE ANY FUTURE FIRE SOURCE. FORD HAS A DEFECT IN THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTING WHICH ALLOWS LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS TO DRIFT DIRECTLY INTO THE BLOWER HOUSING SHROUDING WHICH BECOMES A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. I NOW HAVE TO COVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE UPPER HALF OF THE HOOD INCLUDING THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTS WITH FIBERGLASS WINDOW SCREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE TO ASSURE LEAVES DO NOT FILL THE DUCTING SYSTEM AGAIN CAUSING ANOTHER FIRE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND 2 OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS BLOWER HOUSING FIRES IN OTHER NHTSA INCIDENTS ON THIS SITE AS REFERENCED BY THIS :*AK

DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NO INJURY, BUT SEAT FOLDED BACK AND THERE WAS NO SUPPORT BEHIND ME. HAD TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE A SAFE STOP.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 4.5 HRS AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE BURNED TO GROUND, AND SET VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO IT ON FIRE TOO. TOTAL LOSS TO CONSUMER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM SANDIEGO, MY VEHICLE SEEMED VERY UNSTABLE. THREE DAYS EARLIER I HAD JUST HAD MY 4 MONTH OLD TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED AND ALIEGNED. IMMEDIATLY RETURNED TO DEALER TO BE TOLD I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A BLOW OUT, THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD A 10" BULGE ON THE INSIDE WALL. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE. 30 DAYS LATTER, I NOTICE A SIMILAR UNSTABLE RIDE, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE TOLD IT WAS NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WITH A SIMILAR DEFECT. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE, I OPTED TO UPGRADE TO A MICHELLIN TIRE. 2 WEEKS LATTER, I NOTICE I AM MISSING A LUG NUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE. THE BIG "O" TIRE DEALER TELLS ME THE BOLT IS STRIPPED AND FORGOT TO TELL ME.*AK

FUEL LINES ON THE SENDING UNIT HAD CORRODED/ROTTED SO THAT RAW GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING UP ONTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE CREATING, IN MY OPINION, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE GETS WARMED UP IT WILL STALL BECAUSE IGNITION MODULE WILL MALFUNCTION, AND VEHICLE WILL CUT OFFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER 25 MINUTES, BOTH HI AND LOW BEAMS BEGIN TO FLASH STEADILY. YELLOW RUNNINGS LIGHTS DON'T FLASH. WHEN THE MULTI-FUNCTION HANDLE IS PULLED TOWARD DRIVER SO THAT BOTH HI AND LOW BEAMS ARE MANUALLY LIT, FLASHING CEASES.*AK

UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKE. ; DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

ON ICEY ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND ENTER INTO A DITCH AND TIPPED OVER. VEHICLE TIPPED OVER ONE OTHER TIME IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER MAKING AN SHARP TURN.