1992 Ford Explorer complaints

BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO LIFTGATE HAVE FRACTURED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN # 95 V 164 001.*AK

BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO LIFTGATE HAVE FRACTURED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK

ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 29, 2001, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO COLLISION ON ICY STREETS. DURING THIS COLLISION, MY SEAT BACK FAILED, ENDING UP NEARLY FLUSH WITH THE FLOOR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT, STILL STRAPPED INTO M

I BELIEVE THAT A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW EXIST IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE FORD EXPLORER. THE LIGHT ON MY ABS BRAKES WOULD COME ON ONCE IN A WHILE THEN GO OUT. I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT EVEN NOTICE. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE THAT I AM AWARE OF, THE FIRST TIME I WAS BRAKING MODERATELY HARD FOR A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SPUN HARD TO THE LEFT I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT AND REGAIN CONTROL I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH UNDER THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS BUT THIS TIME I SPUN OUT AND HIT A CURB DAMAGING MY LEFT REAR RIM AND BREAKING THE SUPPORT CABLE FOR MY SPARE TIRE. THIS TIME I TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. ON A VEHICLE THAT SPINS OUT SO EASY I DONT THINK THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO DISABLE THE ABS BRAKES WITH A LOW FLUID SENSOR. I HAD PLENTY OF FLUID IN MY RESERVOIR THE SWITCH JUST FAILED, IF THE FAULTY SWITCH HAD BEEN SET UP TO JUST INDICATE LOW FLUID THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THAT HAPPENED WOULD NOT OCCURRE. THIS IS A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO FORD. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE ROLL OVER ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ON 21 JANUARY 2001, WHILE IDLING, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING CABON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, KILLING MY SON. THE FIRE THEN ENTERED AND SLIGHTLY BURNED HIS BODY BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AND FORD MOTOR CO. SUPPOSEDLY INVESTIGATED BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM EITHER AGENCY.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYUUF6A186 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

RECALL 97 V 235 001/SUNROOF LABEL: SUNROOF CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT REPLACING THE SUN ROOF COSTS $2500- 3000, AND THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *YH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

ENGINE BACKFIRE CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKES. SEVEN VACUUM HOSES TIE INTO THE ONE PIPE AND THEN INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ONLY THE BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST HAS A CLAMP ON THE HOSE. WHEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRES INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IT BLEW OFF THREE OF THESE HOSES RESULTING IN INADEQUATE VACUUM FOR THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES. THE ENGINE FUNS VERY ROUGH BUT MAYBE IT WILL SMOOTH OUT WHEN DRIVEN A LITTLE. SO, YOU DRIVE AND SUDDENLY FIND NO BRAKES. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, YOU HAVE TIME AND ROOM ENOUGH TO STOP.

THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE THEY WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF SEVERE TREAD SEPARATION, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THE REPLACE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 (FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15). NLM

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO NOTICED VEHICLE WAS HANDLING ROUGH AND THE SOURCE SEEMED TO BE THE FRONT WHEELS. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL TODAY (3/5/01) WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MENTIONED ROUGH HANDLING PROBLEM. MECHANIC (RAY'S CHEVRON PALMDALE, CA) TOLD ME THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE AND WAS COMING APART. I WAS UNAWARE UNTIL TODAY THAT COOPER TIRES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO FIRESTONE. I THANK GOD THAT THE TIRE DIDN'T FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P23575RX15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575RX15 )( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575RX15 )( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575RX15 )

FUEL LINE LEAK. REPAIRS WERE DONE BY CONSUME. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, BLUE SMOKE WITH A SMELL OF BURNED WIRING POURED THROUGH INTERIOR DASH VENTS. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE; WE WERE IN A POOR PLACE TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE CAR; ALL I COULD DO WAS LOWER THE WINDOWS AND CONTINUE DRIVING ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY (AND BREATHABILITY) UNTIL WE COULD PULL OVER AND GET OUT. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT A HEATER FIRE SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPECTED OCCURRENCE IN A WELL-CARED-FOR VEHICLE WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER FORD EXPLORER HEATER FIRES. I THINK FORD SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $401.55 THAT I SPENT ON REPAIRS. CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO?

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WHEN FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSES STEERING LINKAGE OR TIE ROD HITS THE RUBBER BRAKE LINE. BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING! *AK

TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 75 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL 5 FAULTY FIRESTONE ATX TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

FROM THE BEGINNING THE EXPLORER HAS HAD ENGINE VIBRATION,OIL LEAKAGE PROBLEMS,AT 98 MILES, OF BUYING THE EXPLORER FROM THE DEALER FROM BRAND NEW. AS TO DATE THE EXPLORER HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, AND WHEN I HAVE TAKEN THE EXPLORER IN TO BE FIXED,THEY ASK ME TO TAKE IT HOME FOR THEY DONE WANT TO FIX IT.I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE ATTERNEY GENERALS OFFICE,AND FORD WROTE THEM A LETTER AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG,BUT THEY LYIED???? THE ENGINE HAS BEEN FIXED 22 TIMES FOR OIL LEAKS,TRANSMITTION 3 TIMES,VIBRATION 12 TIMES OR MORE,3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE MISSING,3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE BEENING NOISEY,AND ONE DEALER WORKED ON IT HAS SAID IT CAN'T BE FIXED, THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE IT, BUT THIS WAS DENIED BY FORD AS THE DEALER HAD MADE THE REQUEST. AFTER ALL OF THIS ?? THIS DOESN'T SEAM FAIR??? FOR WE STILL HAVE THE EXPLORER WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS,OIL LEAKS ,VIBRATIONS,TRANSMITTION NOT RIGHT,GAS IN THE OIL,AND STILL MISSES. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE BY YOU??

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE, CAUSE BELIEVED TO BE A POORLY DESIGNED TANK MOUNTING, WHICH ALLOWED MUD AND SNOW TO ACCUMULATE ON THE TOP OF TANK, TANK ROTTED FROM THE OUTSIDE, FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT AND RETAINING RING REPLACED, NOW FUEL GAUGE NOT AS ACCURATE. CJ

UPON DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, ON A HOT DAY, FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TREAD SEPARATED WITH A LOUD BANG. IT WAS POSSIBLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND CHANGE THE TIRE. WHEN I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER HE INDICATED HE COULD GIVE ME A GOOD PRICE TO REPLACE IT. HE MADE NO MENTION THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. UPON CONTACTING FIRESTONE THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE TIRE DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT IT AS A DEFECT. I HAVE SINCE HAD ALL MY OTHER TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELINS (2 AT MY OWN EXPENSE - PRE RECALL AND 3 UNDER THE RECALL). (TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMT YET AND IT HAS BEEN PASSED THE 6-8 WEEK PERIOD. NLM

VEHICLE HAD TWO FLATS AND TWO BLOWOUTS, CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRE AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED. NLM

SMOKE A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT OF A/C HEATER VENTS THE SECOND TIME SO MUCH IT WAS HARD TO SEE OUT THAT WINDSHIELD SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. *AK

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE UNTIL STOPPED(FIRESTONE P225 70R15). NLM

2 FLYWHEELS WARPED AND CRACKED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AT MOUNTING BOLTS: 11/1999 AND 12/2000 FOLLOWING SERVICE BY FORD (1) AND INDEPENDENT (2). *AK

GREAT VEHICLE IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THESE FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN LOST TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE HIT THE BRIDGE AND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THEN SLIDE SIDEWAYS, CONSUMER SAYS IT WAS NOT A FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

FRONT BRAKES FELL APART. ON A HILL VEHICLE WILL SLIDE RIGHT THOUGH A STOP SIGN. CONSUMER STATED TGHAT AT 20,000 MILES BRAKES SHOULD NOT FALL APART. CONSUMER HAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER DRIVER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER DUE TO DRIVER ERROR, THE DRIVER TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE ONTO THE ROADWAY, OVERSTEERING ON LOOSE GRAVEL, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL THE RIGHT FRONT (FIRESTONE ATX) TIRE LOST AIR PRESSURE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER, WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES TO PASSENGERS. *MJS

THE STEEL WAS EXPOSED ON FIRESTONE TIRE AND CONSUMER PROMPTLY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT FIRESTONE REFUSE REFUND BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO JAN. 1,2000.

CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES AFTER 4 TIRE ROTATIONS AND TIRE BALANCES DUE TO VIBRATION AND NOISE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

THE DRIVERS SEAT RUNNER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT WAS BROKEN, THE METAL AT THE BASE WAS RIPPED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND TO TILT BACKWARDS. NLM

WAS DRIVING 30MPH WHEN TIRES SLIPPED & VEHICLE FLIPPED ON SIDE. HIT CURB & VEHICLE FLIPPED BACK. RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD LOST ITS TREAD. THEY WERE REPLACED DUE TO OTHER TIRES FAILING TO MAINTAIN AIR. DO NOT HAVE TIRES.*AK

VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) AND EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER, THE CONSUMER DID NOT SAY THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00T-005 REGARDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES, THE CONSUMER HAS THE FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) AND IS REQUESTING THE REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT STATED IN THE RECALL LETTER. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT FIVE OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE COVERED IN THE RECALL (00T-005),CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES THEN WAS DENIED COMPLETE RECALL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL FIVE TIRES. CONSUMER REPLACED THE TWO REAR TIRES PRIOR DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS. *MJS

2 BLOWOUTS DIFFERENT DAYS - ONE PASSENGER REAR, ONE DRIVER REAR; BOTH ON FREEWAY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 105S M+S TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

EVERY 1992 FOR EXPLORER THAT I HAVE SEEN HAS HAD BOTH REAR ROCKER PANELS RUSTED AWAY. ORIGONAL BODY RUST WAS GUARENTEED FOR 4 YEAR OR 60, 000 MI. MY RUST BEGAN MUCH PRIOR TO 60,000 MI. BUT I WAS TOLD AT MY FORD DEALER THAT THE RUST WOULD HAVE TO HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. MY WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND DID NOT RUST AS MUCH AS MOST. FORD DOES NOT EVEN OFFER OR MAKE ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THIS. ASK ANY DEALER IN A 4 SEASON STATE AND THEY CAN TELL YOU THIS IS TRUE. I FEEL THIS IS WAY TOO WIDESPREAD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD SOME TIME AGO. THEY SAID MY COMPLAINT WAS NOTED AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. THANK YOU.

3 TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, WE COMMUTE 88 MILES ROUNDTRIP A DAY (HIGHWAY MILES) AND SELDOM IF EVER TOW ANYTHING.*AK

TRANSMISSION QUIT, POWER STEERING QUIT, CLUTCH AND BEARINGS QUIT! *AK

THE SUPPORT BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS LIFTGATE BROKE. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE FIRESTONE (ATX P235/75R15) TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY RECEIVING RECALL (00T-005) REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

OWNER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF IRREGULAR TREAD WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION. OWNER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL (00T-005). *CJ

WE WERE GOING ON VACATION AND HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT REAR AT 65 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF INTERSTATE 10 . THE CAR BEGAN FISHTAILING AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. MY WIFE ASKED WHY I WAS PULLING OVER AT FIRST BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WERE DRIVING ALONE AT THE TIME OR WITH OUR DAUGHTER. THEY MAY HAVE BECOOME STATISTICS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN EXPLORERS EQUIPPED WITH THESE TIRES. UNFORTUNATELY, I STILL HAVE 5 OF THESE FIRESTONES, AND THE WAIT IS MONTHS TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. (TIRESIZE: P235R75/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235R75/15 )

TIRES HAVE SEPARATION/ CRACKING ENTIRE CIRCUMFRENCE AT CARCASS TO TREAD JOINT BOTH SIDES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P235-75R15)

CONSUMER PURCHASED 2 NEW TIRE BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, FIRESTONE REFUSES REFUND BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT GET THEM REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER. NLM

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE. REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. THE FIRESTON E#AT P23575R15. THERE WERE INJURIES.*AK

HAD 10 FLAT TIRES, AND TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO TIRES, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE TIRES. TIRES ARE LITERALLY FALLING APART. HAVE REPLACED THEM RECENTLY, OUT OF FEAR FOR MY LIFE USING THEM. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO DISCUSS A REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY COSTS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL TIRESIZE: 235-15)

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY FREEZE UP, OR STOP OPERATING ALTOGETHER DURING A TURN. IT ACTS EXACTLY LIKE IT WOULD IF THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE OFF (NOT THE CASE). IF YOU FORCE A TURN, IT WILL ACT NORMALLY AGAIN.THIS IS VERY INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE (FOR OTHER REASONS), BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHILE SOMEONE WHO IS STRONG MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE A TURN WITHOUT THE USE OF THE POWER STEERING, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT MAY RESULT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX REPLACED YET, AS I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS 1ST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECORD OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS.

WHEN THIS BUSHING FAILS IT AFFECTS THE STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER AND MIGHT BE A CAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILERS (WARE AND HEATING OF TIRES). I HAVE BEEN CHECKING OTHER EXPLORERS AND HAVE FOUND THAT ALMOST HALF OF THE EXPLORERS I HAVE SEEN SHOW VISABLE SIGNS OF THIS BUSHING BEING EXCESSIVELY WORN. THE RIGHT SIDE BUSHING IS NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC