1991 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

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

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

ENGINE FIRE. MJS

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR , LEAVES CAUSED FIRE

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.

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON. THE PROBLEM BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE OVER TIME, ONE DOOR AND THEN THE OTHER. THE ENTIRE HANDLE EVENTUALLY BROKE FROM HAVING TO BE PULLED ON SO HARD.

MY INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO USE. THESE HAVE FAILED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND MY INQUIRIES TO THE MANUFACTURER HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED, REPORTEDLY BECAUSE MY REPORTS AND THOSE OF OTHERS HAVE FAILED TO RESULT IN EITHER A RECALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THRESHOLD. I HAVE VOLENTARILY REPLACED BOTH REAR DOOR PANELS AT MY COST. THE PASSENGER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY PASSENGERS HANDS A FEW WEEKS AGO, SO I MAILED IT BACK TO FORD WITH A DETAILED LETTER. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE YOU THAT LETTER IF YOU REQUEST IT. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER (NON-ELECTRONIC) DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED: ONE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY AND ONE CAN NOT BE LOCKED. I ALSO FEEL THESE CONDITIONS ARE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 50MPH SPARE TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE, AN D HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN COMING TO A GRAUDAL STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED REAR OF VEHICLE SHAKING. ALSO, A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TRAVELING AT 15 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER INDICATED THAT HORSE CLIP BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES, CAUSING AXLE TO SEPARATE. HORSE CLIP REPLACED. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHEN TRAVELING, THE SAME AXLE ONCE AGAIN DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED VEHICLE SHAKING. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND TIRE A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARK POSITION BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL WHEEL OFF TO RETURN TO NORMAL WHILE TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR ROCKER PANELS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMOUNGST FORD EXPLORER'S (1991-1994). MANY AUTO BODY SHOPS HAVE CONFIMED THAT THIS CRONIC PROBLEM IS A A RESULT OF POOR DESIGN OF NOT ADDING DRAIN HOLES IN THE REAR PROPORTION OF THE ROCKER PANELS. THOUGH THIS MATTER IS NOT A SAFTEY FACTOR IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. *AK

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

THE QUESTIONNAIRE DOES NOT FIT MY COMPLAINT. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE FRONT LEFT AND REAR RIGHT HAVE BROKEN. THIS MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOORS TIGHTLY. I HAVE LOOKED INTO SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME INSIDE DOOR PANELS AND THEY ALSO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THE HANDLES BROKEN. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN SINCE IT SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO ONE LIKE MINE YET AND NOT FOUND AT LEAST ONE HANDLE BROKEN. I E-MAILED TO FORD INQUIRING INTO RATHER THERE HAD BEEN AN RECALL ON THE INSIDE DOOR PANELS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLY. ALSO THE FRONT RIGHT PANNEL HAS A CRACK IN IT. *AK

ESCORT FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY RESULTED IN HIGH PRESSURE MASSIVE GASOLINE LEAKS, FUEL PUMPS ARE UNDER THE BACK SEATS. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP LEAK THE PRESSURE IS LIKE A GARDEN HOSE SPEWING GASOLINE

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: THERE IS HAIR LINE CRACK ONE HALF INCH INSIDE THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER, ALL AWAY AROUND ALL FOUR TIRES. THESE ARE FIRSTONE ATX TIRES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PROVIDE BY FORD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BLWOUT AT 60 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY RR TIRE. DAMAGED REAR PORTION OF THE SUV. TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TREAD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK BUT FOR THE SKILL OF THE DRIVER AND GODS GRACE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE DRIVER(MY GRANDAUGHTER). I REPLACED THESE TIRES AT THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER BUT AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD 4 NEW "SAFE" TIRES, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM 2 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

I PURCHASED THIS VECHICLE MARCH 2000. THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR END AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH. TIRES HAVE BEEN COMPUTER BALANCED THEREFORE ILIMINATING THIS AS A CAUSE. THIS VEHICLES DOES HAVE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND I HAVE BEEN READING AND KEEPING UP WITH THE POSSIBLE RECALL. TO FIND THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS VIBRATION I DID SOME RESEARCH OVER THE WEB TO FIND THAT THOUSANDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SOME PROBLEM. MANY OF THEM HAVE WRITTEN OFF THE CAUSE AS "INHERANT TO THE VEHICLE". I HAVE A THEORY THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES ARE NOT JUST THE TIRES BUT ALSO STEM FROM THIS VIBRATION IN THE REAR END OF THE FORD EXPLORER. THE INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN READING SEEMS TO POINT TO THE FORD EXPLORER BEING THE MOST FREQUENT VEHICLE WITH FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE MUST BE A LINK. AUTOMOTIVE CHAT ROOMS ARE FILLED WITH EXPLORER OWNERS HAVING THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM.

LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED AT 70-75MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

NO SUMMARY

TIRE FAILURE-BLOWOUT IN APR 2000 WHILE IN-ROUTE TO FLORIDA. APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON TIRE; TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED REGULARLY AT 26 PSI. NO INJURIES AS TIRE WAS ON REAR OF VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH TRAVELING AT 60 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X75X15 )

ALL FIRESTONE TIRES NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES THAT CAME ON MY "91 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THE SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT TIRES ALL DEVELOPED CRACKS ALL AROUND THE TIRES WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I STOPPED BUYING FIRESTONE TIRES. THE TIRES I NOW HAVE, SHOW NONE OF THESE SIGNS OF CRACKING. INVESTIGATE ALL OF FIRESTONE TIRES, THERE IS A PROBLEM GREATER THAN CURRENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED!!!

SHEET METAL ROOF IS RUSTING BADLY AT THE POINT OF THREE OF FIVE SCREWS WHICH HOLD LUGGAGE RACK TO VEHICLE.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE LOCAL INTERSTATE, THE TREAD ON ONE OF OUR REAR TIRES SEPARATED. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE THE RECALL, WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A FLUKE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE, WHICH IS ALSO FIRESTONE, AND ANOTHER SPARE WAS PURCHASED. NOW, WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER REAR TIRE -- WE HAVE CALLED OUR LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER DAILY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SHIPMENT FOR RECALL REPLACEMENTS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO MAKE A MAJOR PURCHSE OF 4 NEW TIRES, AND FEAR OUR SAFETY. WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN WE DO? PLEASE ADVISE -- I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE, BUT ONLY GET THEIR STANDARD SCRIPTED ANSWERS. I ALSO OBJECT TO THE WAY FIRESTONE IS PLACING THE BLAME OF THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP ONTO THE CUSTOMER AND HOT WEATHER. IF THEIR TIRES CANNOT HOLD UP TO HOT TEXAS SUMMERS, THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE SELLING THEIR PRODUCT IN TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO VENT.( DOT NUMBER: )

I HAVE A 1991 EXPLORER WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.WHEN I RECENTLY INSPECTED MY SPARE FOR THE FIRESTONE RECALL, I WAS REMINDED OF A PROBLEM I FOUND BACK IN 1991 WHERE WHEN I LOWERED THE SPARE FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE WERE 2 CUTS ON EACH SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE;DEEP ENOUGH TO CUT THRU THE STEEL BELTS.THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME CHAFING THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING. I CALLED FORD DEARBORN AND WAS TOLD TO SEE THE TIRE MANUFACTURER.THE INSTALLATION CHAFED THE TIRE ,NOT FIRESTONE.I STILL HAVE THE TIRE AND WILL TAKE A DIGITAL PICTURE AND FWD TO U.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ENGINE FAILED. *SLC

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00T005, CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

I CALLED THE FORD DEALER, AND HE JUST LEFT ME ON HOLD, I CALLED BACK, SOME KIND OF WAY WE WERE DISCONNECTED, I CALLED BACK AND WAS LEFT ON HOLD AGAIN.

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED 2 BLOWOUTS AND CONSTANTLY WENT FLAT, CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 00T005, BUT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BEFORE RECEIVING THE NOTICE. *SLC

OWNER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE UNDER RECALL (OOT-005) FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. *CJ

TIRES BEGAN SEPARATING PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT FIRESTONE REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE DATES SPECIFIED (FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15). NLM

JUST SEEMS A LITTLE ODD TO HAVE HAD TWO BROKEN FLY WHEELS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. A FRIEND WHO HAS OWNED A 1991 EXLPORER IN THE PAST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A MECHANIC WE KNOW SAYS THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, YET THE FORD DEALER WE CALLED WOULDN'T ADMIT TO EVER HEARING THE PROBLEM BEFORE. IS THIS AN EXPLORER PROBLEM IN GENERAL OR MAYBE JUST THE OLDER ONE'S. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW BEFORE I DECIDE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL OUT. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. WOULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS MASS AIR FLOW WAS CAUSING A SHORT IN ENGINE LIGHT. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELLING 70 MPH OR MORE, THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ALIGNED, HOWEVER THE VIBRATION DID NOT GO AWAY, LATER A MECHANIC FOUND THE FIRESTONE ATX WILDERNESS TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

DUE TO CLIMAX OF WEATHER IN THIS STATE WIRE THAT USED TO SUPPORT SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE RUSTED, AND BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DROP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMERS HOME GARAGE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTICED GASOLINE SMELL, CONSUMER WENT TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND IT EXPLODED, BURNING THE CONSUMER, VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE. *MJS

THE PROPORTIONING VALVE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (SELF ADJUSTING MECHANISM) CAUSING POOR STOPPING ABILITY. *MJS

PERIODICALLY, WHEN BEGINNING TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND IF THE EXPLORER OPERATOR'S LEFT FOOT IS TOO HIGH, THE TOP OF THE FOOT WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUSE BOX LEVER (BETWEEN THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER) UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WILL DISENGAGE THE FUSE BOX FROM ITS SECURE POSITION AND LOWER THE FUSE BOX. ON THE NEXT ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL, THE FOOT WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUSE BOX, HINDERING AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND EFFECTIVELY OPERATE THE CLUTCH. *AK

CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR STICKS TO THE FLOOR CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO SLIP THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A REMEDY. *SLC

THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL REIMBURSEMENT OF $100 PER TIRE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTUER SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR THE BALANCING. NLM

STARTER FAILED. *SLC RADIUS ARM NEEDED REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED REPLACED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

KNOCKS WHEN PRESS BRAKES, NO HEAT. *AK

THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. NLM

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIUS ARM BRACKETS TWICE ALREADY SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 3 YRS AND THE BUSHINGS ARE SQUEAKING AGAIN SO I AM SURE THE BRACKETS ARE CRACKED AGAIN. THIS IS GETTING REDICULOUS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THESE CRACK SO EASILY AND NEED REPLACED SO MUCH.*AK

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 92V113000. SEAT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED, RESULTING FROM A MALFUNCTION WITHIN BUCKLE INJECTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK