Ford Explorer Complaints (1992)

633 consumer complaints on file.

#709220July 26, 1999
SEATS
WHEN RETURNING TO SUV AFTER A CAR WASH, GOT INTO THE FRONT SEAT WHICH THEN FELL INTO THE BACK SEAT. REPLACED A HARDEN BOLT IN THE SEAT. VEN "SPO, PART "N805885S58.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#841721July 6, 1999
SUSPENSION
HAS LATERAL VIBRATION IN VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708009June 29, 1999
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SUN ROOF BLEW OFF AT 45 MPH. WAS NOT TOUCHED IN PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. WEATHER WAS MILD IN 80'S. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 3 INCHES. FOOMP! IT WAS GONE!!! SMASHED ON STREET BEHIND ME, NARROWLY MISSING THE NEXT CAR. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "NO". *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#840446June 18, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RECALL 95I007000; RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE 4 YEARS AGO. BUT REPAIRS DONE FOR REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS ONLY APPLIED TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE CYLINDER, NOT THE TOP PART, WHICH IN THIS CASE BROKE OFF FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL AND ALMOST RESULTING IN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#838761June 2, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND FLUID IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CONSUMER CAN SMELL SMOKE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#838678June 1, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SLOWING DOWN , COSNUMER TAPPED BRAKES AND ABS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#545698May 19, 1999
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706443May 12, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AFTER TRYING TO START IT 3 TIMES. STARTING SOUNDED FUNNY AND SMOKE BEGIN TO BILLOW. COULD NOT GET THE HOOD OPEN IN TIME TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837777May 11, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835754May 10, 1999
SUSPENSION
RADIUS ARM BUSHING TOTALLY CRUMBLED ,FELL APART, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837529May 6, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES, EA-99-004. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPOXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE WHICH POURED IN THROUGH THE VENTS, FLAMES WERE IN THE UNDERHOOD AREA. POLICE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXSTINGUISHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706246May 4, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS GETTING OUT IT WAS ALREADY IN FLAMES OVER THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD ONLY LIABILITY ON IT SO IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM I HAD SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD "THEIR IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU. A WEEK AFTER MY EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE ANOTHER EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A KMART PARKING AREA. IT WAS ALSO IN THE THE ENGINE THAT IT STARTED. I HAVE A COMPLETE LOSE HERE AND I'M JUST YOUR AVERAGE WORKING PERSON TO STRIVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN LIFE AND TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING AHEAD I HAVE THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN. A TOTAL OF 8,000 DOWN THE DRAIN NOT COUNTING THE STRESS THAT CAUSED ME TO GET SICK AND BE OUT OF WORK FOR A WEEK. I JUST THINK SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE EXPLORERS CATCHING ON FIRE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BADLY. FORD HAS NO ANSWERS FOR ME AND ACT LIKE MY LOSS IS NO BUSINESS OF THEIRS. I THINK IT IS. I WAS DRIVING A FORD VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IF THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706130April 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706077April 28, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FAILED TO HELP ME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLEARLY A MECHANICAL DEFECT. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, AND I HAD NO WARNING, SUCH AS ENGINE LIGHT, PRIOR TO THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#544899April 12, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
LEAVES GETTING INTO VENTILATION/HEATING SYSTEM RESULTING FIRES AND CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705494April 10, 1999
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
HAVE BEEN REPORTING INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS SINCE 1995. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND THE DEFECT. ON MARCH 29, 1999 WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 190 IN DEATH VALLEY CALIFORNIA, SMOKE STARTED COMMING INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. PULLING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I PROCEEDED TO REMOVE ALL THE VEHICLE FUSES THINKING THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AFTER PULLING ALL OF THE FUSES THE SMOKE CONTINUED. OPENING THE HOOD, A FIRE COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR UNIT. HAVING A WATER BOTTLE IN THE CAR, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED . AFTER SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE TOTALLY BURNED WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704424March 14, 1999
STEERING:LINKAGES
I FIRST NOTICED A SEVERE BRAKE PULL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PULL WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD COME OUT OF MY HANDS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS I NOTICED THE RADIUS STEERING ARM BUSHINGS HAD MELTED. BEING A PREVIOUS CERTIFIED GENERAL MECHANIC AND AN AUTOMOTIVE INSPECTOR FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I KNEW THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NORMAL. I MADE A COURTESY CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO INFORM THEM OF MY FINDINGS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THESE BUSHINGS. MR. ESH (CUSTOMER ID 2160 OF FORD MOTOR CO.) TOLD ME THEY HAD SENT OUT OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS ON 1992 EXPLORERS (94 M 85). I INFORMED HIM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD AN INCORRECT ADDRESS. THEY HAD AN OLD POST OFFICE BOX NUMBER INSTEAD OF MY STREET NAME AND NUMBER. MR. ESH SAID THE TIMEFRAME ON REPLACING THESE BUSHINGS HAD EXPIRED AND HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE BUSHINGS UNDER WARRANTY. I QUESTIONED HIM HOW COME THIS WAS NOT A CONTINUOUS SAFETY RECALL. I DISAGREE WITH FORD'S REFUSAL TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. AT ANY TIME THERE IS STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS BRAKING STABILITY AND STEERING CONTROL, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE BUSHING MATERIAL COMPONENT FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE NTSB DID NOT DEEM IT A SAFETY ITEM. THESE BUSHINGS ARE DISSOLVING LIKE A MARSHMALLOW OVER A FIRE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835758March 12, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
EA99004; THE LEAVES/PINES, ETC, ACCUMULATED IN THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING HEATER COIL TO HEAT UP AND RESULTING IN SMOKE AND A FIRE. HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DLR SAID CONSUMER NEEDED TO KEEP CLEANING OUT THE BLOWER. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704239March 10, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TWICE DURING SAME ROAD TRIP THE THROTTLE FROZE, ONCE IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION AND ONCE IN AN INTERMEDEATE POSITION. ON THE FIRST OCCASION I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE KEY AND ON THE SECOND IT RETURNED TO THE NORMAL POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE FORD GARAGE DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING AND APPLIED A CLEANING AGENT TO THE SYSTEM WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704195March 9, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE REVVED TO WHAT SEEMED TO BE FULL THROTTLE. I PANICED AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL BUT ACCIDENTALLY WENT PAST NEUTRAL AND INTO DRIVE. AT THIS POINT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. I GOT THE TRANSMISSION LEVER BACK TO NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FULL THROTTLE. I EVEN REACHED DOWN AND PULLED BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE ENGINE STOPPED THE HIGH IDLE ONLY WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF. WITH THE CAR STILL IN NEUTRAL, I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND IT RAN NORMAL. I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THE FORWARD TRANSMISSION FAILED. REVERSE IS STILL IN TACT. MY CONCERN AND FEAR IS REGARDING THE ENGINE. IF I HAD BEEN ON DRY PAVEMENT (THE PARKING LOT WAS SNOW-COVERED) I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I HAVE CONTACED FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I AM GOING TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, BUT I AM DREADFULLY AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL RUN WILD AGAIN IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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