1991 Ford Explorer complaints

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN THE "PARK" POSITION, TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND A CRASH. THERE WAS RECALL 91V189000 UNDER WHICH THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SHIFTING ITSELF INTO FORWARD DRIVE OR LOW GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

SINCE THE A/C CAN NOT RUN W/O THE HARNESS SPARKING, IT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. NO BRAKE LINE INTERFERENCE FOUND. *AK

I HAVE GENTLY DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE NEVER WENT OFF ROAD WITH IT,CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500 MILES,LEASED ANOTHER CAR TO PRESERVE MY SUV,WHAT I HAVE NOW IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS LITERRLY FALLING APART,EVERYTHING FROM THE PAINT TO THE FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE INTERIOR TRIM ON IS FAILING.I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY SUV AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY.DO I SOUND MAD WELL WOULDN'T YOU BE? *AK

I OWN A 1991 FORD EXPLORER LTX 4WD WITH A 4.0L ENGINE. OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS I'VE HAD A REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF THE LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, ETC.) TWINKLING ESPECIALLY WHEN IDLING. I'M IN THE MILITARY SO I'M CONSTANTLY MOVING THUS DEALING WITH DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL. I'VE HAD AT LEAST 6 NEW ALTERNATORS AND 3 NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED AND EACH TIME THE PROBLEM REOCCURS, USUALLY JUST WHEN THE DEALER'S 12,000 MILE WARRANTY RUNS OUT OR I MOVE. I THEN TAKE UP THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEXT DEALERSHIP AND SPEND ANOTHER $200 FOR THEM TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THEY IMMEDIATELY TELL ME IT'S A BAD ALTERNATOR AND $150 LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THEY THEN SAY WELL IT MUST BE THE BATTERY. SURE ENOUGH $90 LATER THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THIS WHOLE TIME THOUGH I'VE STATED THAT NEITHER COULD BE THE CAUSE AND THEY CERTAINLY DO NOT REFUND MY MONEY FOR NEEDLESSLY BUYING AN ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. TODAY WHILE I WAS IN AN AUTOPARTS STORE A GENTLEMAN INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 91 EXPLORER AND THAT THE DEFECT WAS A RECALL ITEM BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IT ON YOUR WEB SIGHT.

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR , LEAVES CAUSED FIRE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE CABLE RUSTED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YC

DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS DID NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY. OWNER HAD TRUCK CHECKED BY AN AUTO BODY SHOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT TRUCK WAS MOST LIKELY IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE A/C RUNNING, ALL OF SUDDEN BLACK SMOKE STARTING POURING OUT OF THE HEATING VENTS, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER FIVE OR TEN MINUTES, DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TRUCK HOME. DEALER FOUND LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS INSIDE THE BLOWER SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE FIRE. MJS

THE PAINT IS VERY FADED ON ALL AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY A AUTO BODY REPAIRMAN THAT THIS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW BODY PAINT REPAIR IF IT IS IN THE RECALL CATEGORY.

THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF AND THE HOOD HAS BEEN FLAKING OFF SINCE 1995. IT HAS BECOME MORE NOTIEABLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I TALKED TO THE FORD BODY SHOP IN SAN ANTONIO THAT IS AFFILIATED WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER- NORTHSIDE FORD IN 1995 BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PAINT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY'S. THE ONLY WAY THAT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I MAY HAVE SOME RECOURSE, IS THROUGH A RECENT ISSUE OF "CONCUMER REPORTS" - OCT '99 ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR DOCUMENT THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN THIS MATTER.

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICL ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AFTER THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. COULD NOT TURN THE OUTER RING WITHOUT A KEY.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD THEM TO CONTACT THE DEALER*AK.

WHIL ECONSUMER WAS DRIVING ANOTHER CAR HIT HER FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED HER INTO THE CURB, AND THEN INTO A TREE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM REVVING. DRIVER HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE RADIAL AXT) SHREDDED. DURING ROTATION EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE BODY MOULDING, THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE REAR BUMPER AND THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE. *YC

THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER WOBBLES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE WHEEL IS NOT REMOVEABLE BECAUSE THE LUGS: NUTS JUST SPIN ON THE STUDS. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A RESPECTABLE DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY IN OCT. 1995. THE CLUTCH FAILED ME IN MAY 1997. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR APPROX. 600.00. IT THEN FAILED ME AGAIN IN AUG. 1998. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT COSTED ME 1200.00. I WAS AMAZED THE PRICE DOUBLED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED IT SAID THE OTHER COMPANY FAILED TO DO IT THE CORRECT WAY. NOW ONCE AGAIN IT HAS FAILED ME ON SEPT. 1999. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS. I CANNOT TAKE MY TRUCK BACK TO THE PREVIOUS COMPANY BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED BY MIDAS. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE INGITION AND UPON STARTING VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE INGNITION DUE TO VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE, ON TWO OCCASIONS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NLM

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE WHICH LEAKED. MJS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, AND THEN STAYED ON. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY TRANSITION WHEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD DID NOT DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, WIPERS AND PLATE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIED AND HOOD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

THERE ARE HUGE CORROSION HOLES UNDER BOTH REAR DOORS. I NOTICED THE SAME CORROSION PROBLEM ON ALL 1991-1993 FORD EXPLORERS DRIVEN AROUND.

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN SLOWLY BEING APPLIED. HAD TO TURN WHEEL TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO LOCKED BRAKES. HIT A FLAT WALL & WAS FLIPPED OVER AFTER GOING UP A WALL, INSTEAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS. VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THEN THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE TESTED AND DETERMINED THAT IT SKIDS UNDER WET CONDITIONS AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS DISENGAGED. 2 ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE. LUGS: NUTS FALL OFF AND STUDS SHEAR USED BOTH FORD AND NAPA PARTS SAME RESULT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE REMAINED IN THE OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES. *AK

THE SUN ROOF LEAKS AND HAS CAUSED WATER DAMAGE IN THE FRONT PART OF THE INTERIOR, INCLUDING THE ROOF, SEATS AND CARPET. ALSO THE PAINT HAS RAPIDLY WORN AWAY AND RUST HAS FORMED AS A CAUSE OF THIS. THE METAL IS SHOWING WHERE PAINT USED TO BE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SUN ROOF BLEW OFF, AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT CONSUMER WAS SCARED. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK

ENGINE REEVED PAST 6000 RPMS AND COULD NOT GET IT TO RELEASE UNTL VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. *MJS

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE MISSING WHEN GOING UP HILLS AND ALSO ROUGH IDLE AT START UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NAPA, A AAA APPROVED SHOP, WITH ASE MECHANICS. THERE WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO GET IN THE NUMBER 3 CYCLINDER AND PLUG. WHEN THEY TOOK THE HEAD OFF TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T CRACKED THEY FOUND THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES AND PUSH RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PUSH ROD ENDS WERE WORN TO THE SHAPE OF FOOTBALLS AND HAD WORN INDENTATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLIES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER USED OIL. I CHANGE THE OIL/FILTER EVERY 3 MONTHS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN LOW ON OIL OR OVERHEATED. THE SHOP OWNER AND THE MECHANIC BOTH SAID THEY THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND I SHOULD REPORT IT. PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY IN WA OR OR. THE REASON THEY WERE GIVEN WAS THAT THESE PARTS COULDN'T BE KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THEM. I BABY MY VEHICLES AND REQUIRED SERVICE WORK IS DONE ON TIME. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS COST ME $1,493.41 TO REPAIR SOMETHING WHICH I DON'T THINK SHOULD HAVE GONE WRONG. IN THIS CASE AN ACCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN BUT COULD HAVE IF THE RODS HAD GONE THROUGH THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 1997.MY BROTHER, WHO WORKS FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP, INFORMED ME, AFTER I MENTIONED THE FACT, THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED. BUT HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL NOTICE HAD EXPIRED, THEREFORE, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE MY SEATBELTS. NOW HOW CAN THIS BE? I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION, IF I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL???? WE HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THE REAR SEAT. AND THE SEATBELTS ARE DEFECTIVE???? HOW IS THAT GOING TO KEEP HER SAFE? WE BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THESE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHOUT QUESTION. PLEASE HELP. RECALL 92V113000. *AK

SPEED CONTROL SURGES DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS.

DEBRIS, LEAVES AND MOUSE FOUND WITHIN THE HEATER SYSTEM COIL CAUSING SMOKE TO ENTER VEHICLE.

APPARENTLY THE MAZDA STD 5 SPD SOLD IN THESE TRUCKS IS DESTINED TO FAIL. IT HAS SO I'M TOLD (RECENTLY SAW WHEN I WAS FORCED TO GET REBUILT DO TO DEALER REFUSING TO ACT ON MY COMPLAINT)THREE RUBBER PLUGS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL. WHY THEY ARE THERE IS BEYOND ME. AFTER A TIME THEY START TO SEEP AND CAUSE TRANSMISSION FLIUD TO SLOWLY LEAK OUT ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING IE IN GEAR. AS THE FLUID DRIPS OUT MOVING DOWN ROAD YOU DON'T NOTICE IT. ONCE IT GETS LOW ENOUGH IT CAUSES TRANNY TO OVERHEAT. I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME THIS TELL TALE SIGN OF NO CLUTCH OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT DEALER SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TEST DROVE VEHICLE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. OF COURSE WHEN I GOT THERE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE IT HAD COOLED DOWN, BOTH OUTSIDE TEMP & VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PARKED WHILE IN LAWYERS OFFICE. I POINTED OUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMETHING & THEY SHRUGGED IT OFF AS PROBALY AN OIL LEAK. SINCE THEY WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRING IN @ A LATER DATE I TOOK IT TO MEAN, SINCE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WELL APPARENTLY I DID BECAUSE AFTER ABOUT A MONTH THE INPUT SHAFT WAS SEVERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DRIVING BESIDE A 18 WHEELER. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED TO VEHICLE BUT WOODY ANDERSON PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER UNNECESSARILY BY IGNORING MY PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT LATER THE SERVICE MGR WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM W/ THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT NEGLECTED TO TRAIN HIS STAFF ON IT. THEIR GENERAL MGR KI. HARRIS SAI

WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON THERE WOULD BE A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP & MECHANIC FOUND LEAVES, PINE NEEDLES AND OTHER DEBRIS INSIDE THE HEATER SYSTEM.*AK

FOR ABOUT A YEAR THERE WAS AT TIMES A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. IN JANUARY, 1999 SMOKE POREDE OUT OF THE DASH AND THE HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING. BURNING LEAVES IN THE AIR INTAKE. NOW THE VENT SYSTEMS EXUDE A BURNT SMELL AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR IS PERMEATED WITH THE SMELL. THE BLOWER MOTOR RELAY (OR SWITCH?) WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HOW DO WE AVOID ANOTHER FIRE? HOW DO WE GET RID OF THE SMELL?

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMANTLY ONE MILE I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL AND CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE. I STOPPED THE VEHICAL AND TURNED IT OFF. SMOKE WAS SO THICK I HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICAL. UPON INVESTIGATION UNDER THE HOOD I COULD FIND NO SOURCE OF FIRE OR DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK.I USED THE HEATER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO MATCH UP WITH THE FEB,23 1999 NEWSPAPER ARTICAL I READ. I AM INTRESTED TO KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS.

SMOKE AND FLAMES FROM ALL AC VENTS WHILE DRIVING, FIRE CONSUMED ENTIRE VEHICLE. FIRE REPORT, PICTURES & INSURANCE REPORT AVAILABLE. REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. NO POSITIVE RESULTS.

NO SUMMARY

CONTINUE TO GET SMOKE/BURNING SMELL THRU VENTILATION SYS. EVEN AFTER REPAIR TO BLOWER

ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER STEAM AND SMOKE WAS POURING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 2 MINUTES IT CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FORD WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A REASON.

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ENGINE STARTED TO RACE REAL HIGH, CONSUMER HAD TO CUT OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK

I INSTALLED A LIFT KIT AND BIGGER TIRES. KNOWING THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE OFF, I HAD A SHOP CHECK IT OUT FOR ME AND FOUND THAT WITH THE LARGER TIRES, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALMOST PERFECTLY MATCHED TO REAL SPEED (NEW TIRE SIZE 31X10.5X15) THIS MEANS THAT THE ORGINAL SETUP FROM THE FACTORY WAS OFF, THEREFORE INCREASING THE MILAGE SHOWN ON MY ODOMETER, WHICH HAS DECREASED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL A, MAKING THE WARRANTY END AT A SOONER DATE. *AK

THERE IS A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65MPH AND 70MPH. VIBRATION WAS PRESENT WITH OLD TIRES AND DID NOT GO AWAY WITH A NEW SET ON RIMS AND TIRES. ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY FAN CLUTCH FROZE, CAUSING THE FAN ITSELF TO DEVELOP STRESS CRACKS. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UNITS. *AK