There are 43 owner-reported engine complaints for the 1993 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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
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
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
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
INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE STALLING. *JB
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
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
INTAKE GASKETS FAILED / LOST COOLANT
VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY AFTER DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OF 40-70 MPH. HAS STALLED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE SHAKES AT 60 MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER STATED A KIT TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS NEEDED. *AK
WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH , THE SPRING FOR THE THROTTLE GAUGE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO FULL THROTTLE. IN ORDER FOR CONSUMER TO STOP VEHICLE HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. *AK.ET.
INSIDE LEFT DOOR HANDLE COMES COMPLETLY OFF IN HAND WHEN CLOSING DOOR. BOTTOM HINGE ON LEFT DOOR BROKE. CATALATIC CONVERTER RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. *AK
PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON FORD PROBLEM. THIS HEAD GASKET BLEW AT ONLY 70,000 MILES ON A 6-YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THIS IS TOO EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM TO HAPPEN. IT COULD BE A FLUKE, BUT THERE ARE INTERNET SITES ABOUT FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY FOR PARTS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EVER DRIVEN ROUGHLY OR PUT UNDER UNUSUAL STRESS--JUST CITY DRIVING. I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH FORD HEAD GASKETS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU.*AK
RESULTS IN OIL LEAK WHICH COULD LEAD TO FIRE AS WELL AS A SOURCE OF POLLUTION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT VALVE COVERS ON HAND. HOW CAN A COMPANY OF THIS SIZE GET AWAY WITH SELLING AS MANY OF THESE VEHICLES AS THEY HAVE AND NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO THERE CUSTOMERS? *AK
MANUFACTURER FAILS TO MAKE LEFT ENGINE VALVE COVER FOR HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. FINALLY RECEIVED PART 5 WEEKS TO THE DAY AFTER IT WAS ORDERED. *AK
SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED BY H&L ON 4/19/99 PART # AWSF-4C, MILEAGE WAS 74,497. FAILURE OF PLUGS WAS DURING TRIP, AT ANOTHER DEALER RHINEBECK FORD, 914-876-4440, THEY REPLACED THEM WITH AWSF-42P- STATING WRONG PLUGS INSTALLED BY H&L. H&L RESPONDED INITIALLY THAT THESE WERE THE CORRECT PLUGS, BUT LATER AGREED THAT THE 42P WERE THE RIGHT ONES. SUBSEQUENT, THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH AND HAD POOR PERFORMANCE. H&L CONTACTED REGARDING THIS, NOTED TO MONITOR FLUID LEVELS, TUNE UP WOULD NOT CURE PROBLEM. MANAGER STATED IT COULD BE A CRACKED HEAD. WITHIN 7 DAYS SINCE 10/11/99, ENGINE IS IN SHOP, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST AND FLUIDS INDICATE A LEAK. MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER FOR THAT YEAR. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, EXPIRED AT 89,830. FEEL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE!
RUSTED CAUSING LOUD NOISE
Showing 1–20 of 43 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026