1993 Ford Explorer Body & Structure Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE INSULATION BLANKET UNDER VEHICLE'S HOOD DETERIORATED AND FELL DOWN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN PEALING AWAY THE HANGING DOWN MATERIAL PERIODICALLY, HOWEVER MY CONCERN IS THAT MATERIAL MAY FALL APART, FALLING UPON THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE.*AK

WHEN CLOSING DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE DETACHED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

RECALL REPAIR FOR LIFT CYLINDER BRACKETS (99V310001) WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. NLM

THE BUILT IN HANDLE USED TO CLOSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE BROUGHT THE FORD EXPLORER TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE DOOR PANEL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT INADEQUATE MATERIALS WERE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DOOR PANEL AND HANDLE UNIT. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A FORD EXPLOERE, LIMITED EDITION THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *AK

RECALL 99V310000/ HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS. PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

BOTH REAR ROCKER PANELS WERE RUSTED OUT. THE BODY HAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST RUST, BUT THE RUST WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL THE SIDE SKIRTS OVER THE ROCKER PANELS WERE KNOCKED OFF. WHEN I CALLED FORD, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUST WAS BAD ENOUGH , THAT IT HAD TO BE DEVELOPING WELL WITHIN THE 6 YEAR TIME FRAME.*AK

THE WELD FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURE WITH NO LIMITATIONS TO MILEAGE OR YEARS ON THE ROAD.

APPLICABLE FORD RECALL LETTER #95M87 ISSUED OCTOBER 1995. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

LIFTGATE WELDS BROKE. RECALLED BY FORD, HOWEVER ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JAN 1992 TO MAR 1993. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 5/26/93. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR. CLAIMING VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY DUE TO MANUFACTURE DATE.

REAR TAILGATE LIFT CLINDER MOUNTING BRACKET WELD FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE WELD THAT BROKE WAS FROM LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET TO TAILGATE. TAILGATE WILL NOW NO LONGER STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE LIKE METAL. THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS, THAT ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS AND WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE, BROKE OFF. THE BRACKET WELDS FRACTURED.

RUSTING, REAR QUATER PANEL, AROUND GAS CAP(INSIDE AND OUT.)FILLER TUBE COULD COME LOSE. KNOW OF 30 VECHICALS 1993-1994 WITH THIS PROBLEM. COULD BECOME A GAS FILLING PROBLEM. CLARKE FORD IN HUDSON, OHIO " THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD, WE DONT CARE." CALLED FORD SERVICE 1-800-392-FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. ALSO FORD SAID IF I REPAIR IT, SAVE ALL RECIEPTS INCASE OF RECALL. *AK

BRACKET & CYLINDER TOTALLY BROKE/DETACHED FROM LIFTGATE. DEALER HAS FAILED TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE TO FIX @ NO CHARGE. I DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL LETTER UPON PURCHASE OF USED VEHICLE & WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECT UNTIL IT OCCURRED. REQUESTING WRITTEN NOTICE FROM NHTSA TO DIRECT DEALER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE @ NC UNDER RECALL PROGRAM. THANK YOU. RECALL 95V16401. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER CAUSING FAILURE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (95V164000 & 95V164001). *YC