1992 Ford Explorer complaints

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK.ET.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPR , BOTH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ANTILOCK LIGHTS CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE SITUATION. COULDN'T DETERMINE A PROBLEM SO DROVE TWO BLOCKS TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE I DETERMINED THAT I WAS LOOSING BREAK FLUID. AFTER POURING IN BRAKE FLUID AND IT CAME RIGHT OUT ON THE GROUND I LEFT THE CAR TO BE WORKED ON THE NEXT DAY. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERED DUE TO THE MAIN SPRING SUPPORT BROKE AND CUT THE BRAKE LINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO DID THE REPAIR. THE SECOND MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT THIS VERY UNUSAL FAILURE. HE DETERMINED THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT RUSTED AWAY AND THE SPRING MOVED AND CUT BRAKE LINE. HE HAD TO INSTALL SPRING SUPPORT MEMBER CUT OFF RIVETS AND REPAIR CHASSIS AND NEW BRAKE HOSE AND STEEL LINES.

COMING BACK FROM A TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING. HEARD A LOUD BANG AS IF VEHICLE HAD BEEN REARENDED. TIRE STAYED INFLATED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. PURCHASED ANOTHER TIRE. *AK

ENGINE SPEED INCREASES TO 25OO RPM FROM IDLE WHEN IN PARK AND INADVERTANTLY CHANGES FROM 200 TO 300 RPM WHILE NORMAL DRIVING. *AK

WHILE GETTING INTO THE SEAT LEANED BACK AND HEARD A SNAP AND SEAT WENT BACK. WHEN DRIVING THERE WAS NO SUPPORT. DEALER SAID SEAT FRAME SNAPPED AND ONE OF THE HINGES BROKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO BLOWOUTS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WITH THESE FIRESTONE TIRES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT BUCKLE. SPRING INSIDE THE FEMALE PART IS BROKEN.E DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PART TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL FEBRUARY 1, 1999. PART # F2TZ7861203D. WITHIN 4 DAYS AFTER REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO FORD/NHTSA THE PART WAS SPECIAL DELIVERED AND INSTALLED. *AK

THE CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE BROKE RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPARE TIRE. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FRAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AT WHERE RADUIS ARM AND BRACKET MEET ON TWO OCCASIONS, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER /HEATING UNIT - WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN IS TURNED ON THE RESISTOR STARTS LEAVES ON FIRE THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE RESISTOR. SMOKE THEN POURS OUT THROUGH THE VENTS. PAINT - THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS DEFECTED AND IS DISINTEGRATING.

ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC USED IN MANUFACTURING. YH

CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE FAILED WILL DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THANK GOD THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. MJS

DRIVER UNABLE TO LOCK SEAT BELT DUE TO LATCHING MECHANISM FAILURE. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

RIGHT STRUT/PISTON ON REAR TAILGATE BROKE. PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS BY FORD. IT EXPIRED IN JANUARY 1999. CONSUMER'S STRUT BROKE IN AUGUST 1999. FORD HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY RECALLED IT. CONSUMER TOOK THE MATTER TO FORD'S DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD, BUT THEY REFUSED, SAYING THIS DID NOT FULL UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE S BACK WHEELS LOCKED UP. OWNER HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED IN ORDER TO GET IT OFF THE FREEWAY. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

SUV IS GARAGED KEPT, HOWEVER CLEAR COAT IS PEELING/FLAKING TO THE POINT WHERE BASE PRIMER IS VISIBLE. NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH OLDER FORD SUV AS WELL AS OTHER BRAND SUV. CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF BAD BATCH (LOT) OF PAINT FOR THIS VEHICAL YEAR AND IF FORD WILL REPAINT DAMAGED AREAS.

SEAT BELT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT TO THE SEAT BROKE. YH

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *AK

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. WHENEVER RPMS REACHED 3500, THEY CAUSED ACCELERATION. ALSO, VAPOR LOCK FAILURE. CONTACTED.

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH TRANSMISSION DIED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THIS WAS THE 4TH TRANSMISSION THAT CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACKWARD DUE TO A BOLT PREMATURLY BREAKING. CONSUMER ALMOST LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS MELTING DUE TO A STICKY BLACK LIKE TAR SUBSTANCE FOUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PROLBEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *YC.ET.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH. I HAVE OWNED TWO 1992 EXPLORERS AND BOTH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. DEALER AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS DENY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATA BASE THAT IDENTIFY THE SAME PROBLEM. LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS SAID THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I SEE YOUR DATA BASE LISTS SB033695 AS A LIKELY BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF THE BULLETIN IF FORD DENIES IT EXISTS? THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM SHOWED UP AT JUST OVER 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE DONE SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCING EFFORTS, BEARING AND ROTOR REPLACEMENTS TO CORRECT. ADDITIONALLY, I SUSPECT THE VIBRATION PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO SERVICE BULLETIN SB037583 WHICH DESCRIBES "VEHICLE OPERATION THAT GENERATES HIGH EXHAUST MAY CAUSE THE RADIUS ARM INSULATOR TO DETERIORATE--I HAVE OBSERVED SUCH DETERIORATION ON MY VEHICLE AND MAY BE THE SOURCE OF REDUCED STIFFNESS OR DAMPING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO WHEEL CRITICAL SPEED VIBRATION RESPONSE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET A COPY OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN TOO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE BROKE OFF. OWNER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE TIRE FELL OFF AT. OWNER NO LONGER HAS TIRE. *AK

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.

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

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

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

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND FLUID IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CONSUMER CAN SMELL SMOKE. *AK

SLOWING DOWN , COSNUMER TAPPED BRAKES AND ABS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. NLM

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

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RADIUS ARM BUSHING TOTALLY CRUMBLED ,FELL APART, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKES. *AK

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

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.

NO SUMMARY

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

LEAVES GETTING INTO VENTILATION/HEATING SYSTEM RESULTING FIRES AND CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENTS.

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

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 MARS

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

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.

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.