Ford Explorer Complaints (1994)
1,207 consumer complaints on file.
- #10137612September 26, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. SHE BELIEVES THIS WAS RELATED TO THE FORD RECALL 05V388000 CONCERNING THE SCDS. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-22-05. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED. SHE REPORTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT AND NOT WORK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. HAD NO ANYONE TO TELL HER THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. BUT, BECAUSE OF THE RECALLS A AND THE RECENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE FORD RECALLS OF SCDS WHICH CAUSED COMPARTMENT FIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER SHE WOULD NEED THE VIN NUMBER BEFORE THEY COULD TELL HER IF HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. SHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136448September 14, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I BOUGHT THIS 1994 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER SUV FROM A DEALER. THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALARM SO THE DEALER REMOVED IT. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. A WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STOPS, CAR COMES TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND THE STEERING LOCKS. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK. IT STARTS BACK ON AFTER FEW MINUTES. IT DOES NOT START IF HAZARDS, HEADLIGHTS OR ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ON. AFTER THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS ONCE AT NIGHT 12''O CLOCK. IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW. I'M NOT DRIVING IT ANYMORE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10123740June 1, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: 1994, FORD, EXPLORER LIMITED, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHCILE STARTED SMOKING. CONSUMER STARTED HAVING BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE SMOKE STARTED THICK, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE, AND HE PULLED OVER. WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE CAR HE EEN SPARKS, THEN THE CAR BLEW UP. OWNER HAD NO PHYSICAL INJURIES. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT TIRES MELTED AND EVEN THE KEYS MELTED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114971May 6, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THEY WERE WORN OUT AND LEAKING FLUID. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK ABS SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED. FOUR TIMES IN FEB., 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDAS. THE CONSUMER ASKED THE MIDAS MANAGER TO CHECK THE BRAKED BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. MIDAS AUTO CORP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND IN NOT DRIVABLE. *BF *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10119216April 27, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114972March 11, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THEY WERE WORN OUT AND LEAKING FLUID. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114987March 11, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND LOCKING UP WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOW THAT THERE IS FLUID LEAKAGE AND BRAKES ARE WORN OUT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112624March 6, 2005TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
1994 FORD EXPLORER - SPARE TIRE DROPPED ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. TIRE BOUNCED IN AIR 3 - 4 FEET IN FRONT ON VEHICLE FOLLOWING, WHICH SWERVED TO AVOID. CABLE SUPPORTING SPARE TIRE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. TYPICAL UNDER VEHICLE SUPPORT SYSTEM ON PICKUPS AND SUVS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112531March 4, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING UNDER DASH TOTAL LOSS TO VEHICLE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112308February 28, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON JULY 31, 2004, AT 5:00AM, I WAS AWAKEN BY POUNDING ON MY DOORS AND WINDOWS. AS I WAS COMING DOWN THE STAIRS I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW CAUSE I SAW ALOT OF LIGHT. I OPENED THE DOOR TO FIND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TELLING ME AND MY KIDS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. HE STATED THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS HAD HAPPEN AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT SINCE 7:00PM THE PRIOR DAY. MY VEHICLE WAS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER XL, 4 DOOR. THANK GOD THAT SOMEONE HAD SAW IT BECAUSE WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MY GAS METER ON THE HOUSE. THIS COULD OF KILLED ME AND MY CHILDREN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PRY OPEN MY HOOD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY EVEN TRYED BREAKING OUT MY WINDOW TO GET TO IT. BY THEN THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED THE DASH BOARD, GLOVE BOX AND EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED. I ONLY HAD NO-FAULT INSURANCE SO THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING TO HELP ME FIX OR REPLACE IT. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT AWAY. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THEM EITHER. I DID TAKE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THIS HAPPENED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111425February 7, 2005SEATS
WHILE BACKING INTO GARAGE THE DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY AND FORCEFULLY FELL BACK. THE THICK STEEL SEAT BOLT RESPONSIBLE FRO HOLDING THE SEAT SECURELY HAD BROKEN IN HALF. *BF WHEN THE SEAT COLLAPSED THE CONSUMER LOST SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO SCRAPE AGAINST THE GARAGE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10100330November 22, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THEY FAIL AFTER ONLY BETWEEN 75,000-125,000 MILES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10098866November 15, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1) SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL INSULATION WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF IDAHO FALLS, ID. PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO START ON ONE OCCASION. MULTIPLE VEHICLE STARTS AFTERWARDS HAD BEEN WITHOUT INCIDENT.*AK 2) PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. FOUND THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE GLOWING RED AND THE INSULATION BURNING. IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, AND REMOVED THE BATTERY CABLES. ALTERNATOR WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH (THEREFORE > 140F). 3) REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. REMOVED SIX INCHES OF BURNED UP ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE (#6 AWG) AND THE CONNECTION LUG (#6 AWG W/ 1/4" POST). RELUGGED THE OUTPUT WIRE AND INSULATED THE LUG WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND HEAT SHRINK TUBING. NOTED THAT THE CONNECTION LUG HAD SHORTED TO THE ALTERNATOR FRAME BY THE EVIDENCE OF MELTED ALUMINUM FROM THE ALTERNATOR ON THE LUG. THE FACTORY INSTALLED LUG WAS NOT INSULATED BETWEEN THE LUG SHAFT AND THE ALTERNATOR CASE. IT WAS PROTECTED ON ITS EXTERNAL SIDE BY A BOOT SLIDE ON BOOT. OLD PARTS AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10096436October 26, 2004EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1994 EXPLORER 4.0 V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REBIULT 3 TIMES IN PAST YEAR .COUNTLESS TIMES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ACTING AS IF THE FUEL PUMP QUIT, FUEL PUMP REPLACED, COIL PACKS REPLACED, RELAYS REPLACED. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, ANOTHER TIME WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. USUALLY UPON START UP. AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH SHORTED OUT, SAW BURNED WIRES ON SWITCH UPON REPLACEMENT. ANTIFREEZE SPEWED OUT FROM SIDE OF MOTOR, ASSUMED TO BE AROUND HEADS BUT HAS NOT BEEN TO SHOP YET.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10073547October 6, 2004VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE POWER WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10092567September 17, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 10-20 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS/ REAR DRUMS AND FRONT PADS TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083480August 20, 2004PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
WHILE APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE ON A INCLINE OR FLAT SURFACE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE BRAKE MECHANISM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC ABOUT RECALL(94V169001). THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086963August 16, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON 14 APRIL 2003 I PAID FOR SERVICE ON AN "INTERMITTENT START" PROBLEM; CHECKED THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM, THE ALTERNATOR, AND TESTED THE BATTERY.PAID FOR LABOR $76.50 AND $79.95 FOR BATTERY ASSY. HERE IT IS 2004 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. PURCHASED TWO NEW ALARM/ENTRY DEVICES (FOBS) ON 29 JUN 04 BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD BY ONE OF THE MECHANICS THAT THE NEW DEVICES SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS BILL CAME TO $211.10. ALREADY PAID $70.65 ON OR ABOUT APRIL 28, 2004 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND TOLD THE REPAIR PART NEEDED COST $210. I WAS UPSET AND ONLY PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I'M GLAD WE DIDNT PAY FOR THAT PART, BECAUSE EACH SUCCESSIVE TIME, THE SOLUTION TO THE "PROBLEM" HAS BEEN DIFFERENT AND COST ADDITIONAL MONEY. NOTHING THE MECHANICS HAVE DONE HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM; ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE AND THE COST HAVE TOTALED $814.67 FOR THIS PROBLEM SO FAR. THE MECHANIC SAID THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING BACK UP AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF IS TIED IN TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ANTI THEFT CONTROL MODULE ON 26 JULY 2004, $368.82. NOW THE WIRING IS NOT PERFORMING, AS IT SHOULD!!! VEHICLE IS NOT STARTING AGAIN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WON'T GO OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AFTER IT WAS "FIXED", BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON; SEEMS TO HAVE A WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM NOW. MR. LEE HIGGS, RED TEAM SERVICE MANAGER, HAD THE FUSE TO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TAKEN OUT SO THE LIGHTS WONT DRAIN THE BATTERY, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY CAN GET IT BACK IN TO BE FIXED "AGAIN". THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING INSTEAD OF DECREASING. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN OPENING IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE SHOP TO GET THIS RESOLVED AGAIN! *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086453August 9, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I BOUGHT MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER (4WD) IN MAY OF 1999 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50900 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT NOW HAS 89000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME I COMPLETED BRAKE WORK WAS BECAUSE THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER OVERHEATED AND FAILED. I THEN REPLACED BOTH FRONT CALIPERS. THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM AT SPEEDS OF 55-67 MPH. I RECENTLY PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, HAD THEM BALANCED, HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED, AND REPLACED THE SHOCKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT STILL VIBRATES AT THE ABOVE MENTIONED SPEEDS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PCM (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I REPLACED THE PCM AS A LAST RESORT BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSING THE PROBLEM. REPLACING THE PCM CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN DURING INITIAL STARTING AND THEN GOES OUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-3 MILES. I ALSO HAVE A SOUND COMING FROM MY AIR VENTS WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. NOW FOR MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS READING HOTTER THAN NORMAL SO I OVERHAULED THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING: NEW THERMOSTAT, NEW COOLING FAN (OLD ONE WAS CRACKED ALL AROUND THE HUB), NEW FAN CLUTCH, NEW RADIATOR, NEW ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND NEW FLUID FLUSH AND REFILL. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL READS THE SAME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NOW. ANY RECALL INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD HELP. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR PARTS PURCHASED AND WORK PERFORMED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087146August 4, 2004TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF TIRES FOR BLOW OUTS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, RIPPING ACROSS THE MIDDLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WITHOUT ANY COLLISIONS THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL, SERIES GENERAL AT, /P2357515. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0