1993 Ford Explorer complaints

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO SPLINTERS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND I HAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OPEN. *AK

RECALL REPAIR FOR LIFT CYLINDER BRACKETS (99V310001) WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. NLM

MASTER CYLINDER TO BRAKE BOOSTER STUD SHEARED OFF PROBABLY DUE TO STRESS CORROSION CRACK AS DETAILED IN NHTSA RECALL # 96V024001. BRAKING SERVICE SEVERELY DIMINISHED AS MASTER CYLINDER DEFLECTS TO ONE SIDE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST IN REPAIR COST EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO THEM.

RECALL OF THE BREACKET ON THE LIFTGATE 99V-310 CANNOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM

RECALL 99V310000/ HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS. PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE WHICH IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, BY A SUPPORT BRACKET, BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AFTER HITTING A BUMP. THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO DISMOUNT AND FLY FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH , THE SPRING FOR THE THROTTLE GAUGE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO FULL THROTTLE. IN ORDER FOR CONSUMER TO STOP VEHICLE HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. *AK.ET.

THE LIFTGATE CYLINDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V310001. NLM

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEM, CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR REPAIR (99V-310). *MJS

SPRING TO THE TROTTLE GAUGE STUCK, CAUSING CAR TO ACCELERATE AT FULL THROTTLE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK BECAUSE AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN A PANIC BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH MY BRAKES, I THREW IT INTO PARK KNOWING THE VEHICLE MUST SLOW DOWN. I WAS GOING 55 MPH AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AT ALL WITH THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE NOT COVERED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE TO CAR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I DIDNT DECIDE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE MANNER I CHOSE. *AK

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS W/ OUR 93 EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 93000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS LIGHT KEEPS FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND WE ARE NOT SURE WHICH SENSOR IS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE AN ARM & LEG JUST TO TELL US WHICH SENSOR IT IS. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT BEEN POSITIVE. THEY CHARGE TOO MUCH FOR SIMPLE TASKS AND I HAVE BEEN LIED TO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR VEHICLE. IT IDLES ROUGH AND WE HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE PARTS THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID WERE BAD AND IT STILL IDLES REAL ROUGH. WE HAVE SPENT MORE ON AUTO REPAIRS THAN WHAT THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. THE AIR CONDITIONER RECENTLY WENT OUT, THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, NOW THEY ARE TELLING US IT IS THE FAN SWITCH - SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GIVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY A SWIFT KICK. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AS LONG AS I LIVE. IT SEEMS THAT FOREIGN VEHICLES ARE WORTH THE FEW EXTRA BUCKS IN THE LONG RUN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, DRIVER TURNED ON DEFROSTER AND FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DRIVER THEN TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND TOOK FIRE OUT. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE AND FIRE STARTED AGAIN.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE HANDLE FOR FRONT LEFT SIDE DOOR IS LOOSE. YH

THE BUILT IN HANDLE USED TO CLOSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE BROUGHT THE FORD EXPLORER TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE DOOR PANEL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT INADEQUATE MATERIALS WERE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DOOR PANEL AND HANDLE UNIT. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A FORD EXPLOERE, LIMITED EDITION THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *AK

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I10 & THE TIRE THREW THE TREAD WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHAKING AND MOVING ERRATICALLY. SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL, BUT FORTUNATELY MANAGED TO GET IT STOPPED WITHOUT A ROLLOVER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: P235 TIRE SIZE: 75R-15 )

BRAKES LOCK UP ON ICE AND WATER AND WHILE HITTING A BUMP AND APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE. HAVE TAKEN TRUCK TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS; NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM INCLUDING DEALERSHIP. *AK

MANUFACTURER FAILS TO MAKE LEFT ENGINE VALVE COVER FOR HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. FINALLY RECEIVED PART 5 WEEKS TO THE DAY AFTER IT WAS ORDERED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING REAR LEFT TIRE TREAD CAME OFF, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO FLIP OVER 3 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BOUNCE, BUT CONSUMER MAINTAINED CONTROL, AND PULLED TO THE SIDE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 70MPH HEADING SOUTH, RUBBER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FISHTAIL. AS HE WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. TOTALLED THE VEHICLE. DIDN'T CALL DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

STARTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. YH

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO YOU ONGOING INVESTIGATION...NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE99072 MAKE: FORD TRUCK MODEL: EXPLORER YEAR: 1993 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: TUE, NOVEMBER 30, 1999 SUMMARY: SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE HAD DETERIORATED TO JUST ONE SMALL WIRE HOLDING UP THE TIRE. I HAD THE SPARE TIRE CHANGED AND THE MECH. SAID THAT I SHOULD GET A NEW WINCH. FORD WAS HAPPY TO SELL ME ONE AT $70, THEY HAD THEM RIGHT IN STOCK, SINCE I GUESS THEY FAIL ALL THE TIME. MINE DID NOT ACTUALLY FAIL BUT WAS VERY CLOSE TO IT. THE WIRE WAS BROKEN/ROTTED JUST ABOVE THE PIECE THAT IS CRIMPED ON TO HOLD THE PIECE THAT GOES IN THE CENTER OF THE SPARE TIRE. *AK

RESULTS IN OIL LEAK WHICH COULD LEAD TO FIRE AS WELL AS A SOURCE OF POLLUTION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT VALVE COVERS ON HAND. HOW CAN A COMPANY OF THIS SIZE GET AWAY WITH SELLING AS MANY OF THESE VEHICLES AS THEY HAVE AND NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO THERE CUSTOMERS? *AK

THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO SUFFER FROM PREMATURE WEARING OUT OF FRONT DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS. NEW PADS AND ROTORS RESURFACING WERE NEEDED AT APPROX 15400 MILES, AND NEW PADS AND COMPLETE NEW ROTORS WERE REQUIRED AT APPROX 28608 MILES. WHEN FORD SERVICE WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS FREQUENT DISC BRAKE REPLACEMENT, THE RESPONSE WAS "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH EXPLORERS FROM THIS SAME MODEL YEAR WHO HAVE REPORTED EVEN MORE FREQUENT DISC BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT. *AK

APPLICABLE FORD RECALL LETTER #95M87 ISSUED OCTOBER 1995. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

THE WELD FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURE WITH NO LIMITATIONS TO MILEAGE OR YEARS ON THE ROAD.

MADE A TURN & CAME TO A STOP, DRIVER'S SEAT WENT FORWARD. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & CHECKED THE SEAT. NOTICED THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ANCHOR SUPPORT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. YH

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON A 7 HOUR TRIP THERE WAS VERY BAD VIBRATION. REPLACED TWO TIRES ON FRONTS, DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY SAID SHAKING PROBLEM WAS WITH THE 1993 VEHICLES. NEEDED TO INSTALL MOTOR MOUNTS BRACKETS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR. NOT UNDER WARRANTY WILL NOT REPAIR. *AK

SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED BY H&L ON 4/19/99 PART # AWSF-4C, MILEAGE WAS 74,497. FAILURE OF PLUGS WAS DURING TRIP, AT ANOTHER DEALER RHINEBECK FORD, 914-876-4440, THEY REPLACED THEM WITH AWSF-42P- STATING WRONG PLUGS INSTALLED BY H&L. H&L RESPONDED INITIALLY THAT THESE WERE THE CORRECT PLUGS, BUT LATER AGREED THAT THE 42P WERE THE RIGHT ONES. SUBSEQUENT, THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH AND HAD POOR PERFORMANCE. H&L CONTACTED REGARDING THIS, NOTED TO MONITOR FLUID LEVELS, TUNE UP WOULD NOT CURE PROBLEM. MANAGER STATED IT COULD BE A CRACKED HEAD. WITHIN 7 DAYS SINCE 10/11/99, ENGINE IS IN SHOP, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST AND FLUIDS INDICATE A LEAK. MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER FOR THAT YEAR. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, EXPIRED AT 89,830. FEEL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE!

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE LIKE METAL. THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS, THAT ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS AND WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE, BROKE OFF. THE BRACKET WELDS FRACTURED.

VEHICLE IS USED. OWNER HAD PARKED VEHICLE & WENT TO REAR TO LIFT HATCH. THE CYLINDER ATTACHMENT HAD BROKEN OFF FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME AS IT WAS CLOSING. THE LEFT SIDE HAD FAILED TO HOLD & FELL ON THE OWNER. HATCH WAS HEAVY & NEEDED 2 INDIVIDUALS TO LIFT IT. HAD CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO WAS UNWILLING TO AUTHORIZE REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL THAT HAS EXPIRED. *AK

CONSTANT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH ALLLOWS MOISTURE TO SIT, AND CAUSES RUST TO EAT THE SEAL IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

RIGHT SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW LEAKED ALSO. BOTH WINDOWS HAD ALL OF THE ATTATCHING NUTS LOOSE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK

I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS OPENING UP THE GLASS PORTION OF THE TAILGATE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED IN MY FACE. THE GLASS BROKE INTO A MILLION SMALL PIECES AND MANY LARGE JAGGED PIECES. I FOUND GLASS AS FAR AS 20 FEET AWAY, I ALSO FOUND SEVERAL PIECES IN MY FACE AND HAND. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND EVERY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A REAR DEFOGGER WILL HAVE THIS HAPPEN. USUALLY AS THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR SHUTTING ONE OF THE SIDE DOORS. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO A LOCAL GLASS REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AT ALL. I PLAN ON SENDING FORD A LETTER, IF I CAN EVER FIND AN ADDRESS TO THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, BUT I WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THANK YOU.

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT END WAS MAKING A BANGING NOISE, IT WAS AN ANOYING NOISE THAT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BECOME WORRIED. WHEN IT WAS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BUSHINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ACCELERATOR COLLAPSED AND ENTERED INTO FULL ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING

PLASTIC ENGINE COOLING FAN HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHILE IN PARK. CONSUMER HAD THE SPEED CONTROL DISENGAGED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

REAR TAILGATE LIFT CLINDER MOUNTING BRACKET WELD FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE WELD THAT BROKE WAS FROM LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET TO TAILGATE. TAILGATE WILL NOW NO LONGER STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN.

WHEN DRIVING ANDI APPLYING BRAKES THEY MADE NOISE, AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF TOTAL BRAKING POWER. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER CHECKED THE BRAKING FLUIDS ALL THE TIMES AND ITS ALWAYS FULL THE CONSUMER HAD TWO RECALLS. THE MILEAGE FOR THE FIRST RECALL WAS 35000, AND VEHICLE LOST BRAKING POWER AT 50000 MILES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES, THERE WAS A NOISE AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. NEED NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

TRANSMISSION PLATE RUBBER PLUGS ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK RAPIDLY FROM THE CASING WHILE DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION PARTS AND CASE WERE "MELTED" DUE TO THE HEAT CAUSED BY THE FRICTION OF THE PARTS. MECHANICS AGREE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DESIGN FLAW IN THE FORD TRANSMISSION. IF FORD WOULD HAVE USED A BETTER SEALING SURFACE FOR THE PLUGS, THEN THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. FORD NO LONGER MANUFACTURS THESE TRANSMISSIONS.

THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V083000. FORD MAINTAINS THAT MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEARS DESCRIBED AND I HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED. I PURCHASED A $32 REPLACEMENT SWITCH (IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL) AND I AWAIT THE NEXT FIRE.

LIFTGATE WELDS BROKE. RECALLED BY FORD, HOWEVER ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JAN 1992 TO MAR 1993. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 5/26/93. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR. CLAIMING VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY DUE TO MANUFACTURE DATE.

THE BRAKE CALIPERS STICK TO THE FRONT ROTOR, CAUSING THE BRKE FLUID TO OVERHEAT, AND THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO NOT RESPOND IN LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WIRE CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH CHASSIS BROKE RELEASING SPARE TIRE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CABLE HAD RUSTED AND FRAYED TO FAILURE

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. BRAKE PEDAL LOCKS IN UP POSITION. WON'T GO TO FLOOR. NO BRAKES. HIGH PRESSURE (PERHAPS 300 LB) WILL FORCE PEDAL DOWN AND GET BRAKES. REMOVAL OF ABS FUSE PREVENTS RECURRANCE, BUT NO ABS BRAKING THEN.

THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION/SHAKING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED WITH NO PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL DEALER IN BLACKFOOT, ID. THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW AND THEY ARE BALANCED PROPERLY. FORD HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I WROTE THEM A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT THEY BLEW IT OFF AS AN EXPIRED WARRANTY ISSUE. FORD HAS ADMITTED TO THE DEFECT THROUGH PUBLISHING OF A TSB # 96-4-15. IT RESOLVES A VIBRATION/SHAKING PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OF WHICH MY PROBLEM EXISTS AT 60-75 MPH. IT VIOLENTLY SHAKES THE FRONT END TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. THE FIX IS A NEWLY REDESIGNED LEFT AND RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND AN ADDITION OF A LATERAL SHOCK ABSORBER INSTALLED IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. I WANTED THEM TO FIX IT AS A SAFETY RECALL BUT THEY REFUSED. I'M CURRENTLY TAKING OTHER ACTIONS SUCH AS REPORTING THIS PROBLEM THROUGH YOUR SITE. EVIDENTLY, FORD THINKS THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY HAS DEVELOPED CORROSION AND CRACKED . VEHICLE INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 96V024001. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK