1991 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

ABS BRAKES FAILED. THERE IS NO INDICATOR LIGHT TO LET KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO BRAKES. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONAL VALVE. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR AT THE VEHICLE OWNERS EXPENSE. CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING WITH NEW BRAKES. THE PART NUMBER THAT IS BEING REPLACED IS E9TZ-2B373-B, OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY OF THESE WERE SOLD.*AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SMOKE COMING FROM A/C VENTS WHILE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON. THIS CONDITION ONLY OCCURRED TWICE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *NLM

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, INDICATING ABS FAILURE.

THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY TORN FROM THE TIRE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE AS DID THE TIRE SHOP, BUT SINCE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ESCAPE WITHOUT AND ACCIDENT I DIDN'T REPORT IT AT THE TIME. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SOUTHERN ARIZONA DURING THE EARLY SUMMER AT ABOUT 70 MPH,S O WHEN I SAW THE RECALL IT HAD ALL THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER EXPLORER AND WILL HAVE THOSE TIRES REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 INCH )

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE.

BRAKES ARE GRINDING LOUDLY, PEDAL FEELS SPONGY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR PADS/ CALIPERS/ DRUMS, AND ROTORS. WHEN MAKING TURNS GRINDING BECAME WORSE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT FAR SOONER THAN NORMAL.*AK

WRONG MATERIAL USED IN AUTOMATIC HUBS, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.

4-WHEEL DRIVE IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE HUBS WILL NOT LOCK AND VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK. BECAUSE OF NO WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM. *AK

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

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND WIRING. QCAW

EA97011, THE DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED UNNECESSARY INJURIES OR ACCIDENT. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROL UNIT FAILED. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD THE SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER THE TRUCK, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ONCE THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF, IT BOUNCED VERY HIGH OFF THE GROUND, AND THAT'S HOW IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

REAR CRANKSHAFT MAIN SEAL FAILED. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT.

ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1997, I WAS RETURNING HOME (DALLAS, TX) FROM A CAMPING TRIP IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO IN MY 1991 FORD EXPLORER. PRIOR TO LEAVING ON THIS TRIP, MY HUSBAND TOOK OUR EXPLORER TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE ALL 4. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FRONT BRAKE LINE TO CALIPER BRAKE HOSES LEFT AND RIGHT FAILED DUE TO CRACKING OF THE RUBBER.

1ST INCIDENT: STEEL BELT BROKE AND BEGAN FLAPPING AGAINST REAR LEFT FENDER WITH TERRIFIC NOISE, CAR SHAKING, UNTIL BROKE OFF AND COULD STOP. WAS TRAVELING AT 74 M/P/H. COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF FAULTY TIRE HAD BEEN ON FRONT WHEEL.-2ND TIME CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLING AT 20M/P/H, SUSPECTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON A TIRE. AT A LATER OPPORTUNITY, WHILE PUMPING GAS, DISCOVERED R/FRONT TIRE'S STEEL BELT SHOWING THRU OUTER TIRE (AGAIN STEEL BELT BREAKING). LUCKILY DISCOVERED JUST IN TIME.= 3RD TIME, CAR SHAKING AT 65M/P/H. THIS TIME WENT TO GOOD YEAR. THEY FOUND THE 3RD FIRESTONE TIRE SEPARATING. THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW. IHAD ALL 4 FIRESTONE TIRES REPLACED WITH GOOD YEAR , WANTED FIRESTONE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR FROM THE 1ST INCIDENT. TO DO SO, THEY INSISTED ON MY SENDING THEM THE DAMAGED TIRE, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE (LEFT WITH FIRESTONE STORE WHEN REPLACING BAD TIRE). I CONSIDER FIRESTONE TIRES AS VERY HAZZARDOUS, REQUIRING CONSTANT VIGILANCE. WOULD NOT WANT THEM EVER AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF HER FIRESTONE TIRES, ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE (CAR WAS SHAKING AT 65 M/P/H). SAME THING HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY RELATIVES. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU URGE THAT FORD CHANGES ITS BRAND OF TIRES ON ITC CARS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE'S STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IS RUSTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT A CAUSE, EA97-011. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACUTRER TO SEE IF VEHICLE IS LISTED UNDER RECALL, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL . *AK

OVERDRIVE FAILED.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED.

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE COMPLETE SUN ROOF UNIT SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY LATCH. *AK

AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE WHERE THE FUEL SMELL AT TIMES WAS COMING FROM THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE . GAS WAS LEAKING OUT RAPIDLY FROM TOP OF GAS TANK. UPON INSPECTION THE FUEL SENDING UNIT CORRODED OUT AT THE TUBES THAT PROTRUDE FRON SENDING UNIT COVER. THE COVER AND THE RETAINER ARE ALSO VERY ROTTED ALONG WITH THE TABS THAT THE RETAINER(LOCK RING) SLIDES UNDER TO HOLD THE SENDING UNIT IN THE TANK. WHILE I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTO BUSINESS MANY YEARS I HAVE MADE SOME CALLS AND HAVE TALKED TO SOME OTHER MECHANICS ,AND CUSTOMERS, THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPLORERS TOO. I FEEL THAT A PART THAT IS TRANSPORTING GAS UNDER PRESSURE, SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE MADE OF BETTER MATERIAL SO AS NOT TO RUST AWAY AT ALL. *AK

A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON VEHICLE. REPAIR OF THE DEFECT WAS DONE. OWNER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

RADIO VOLUME GOES FULL BLAST WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE WIRING & VOLUME CONTACT; CAUSED HEARING PROBLEM, DEALER REPLACED RADIO FACE PLATE.

REAR ABS BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. *AK

SUNROOF FLEW OFF.

WHILE DRIVING WITH SUN ROOF CLOSED, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

IN REFERENCE TO PE92-084, THE VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 20-25MPH WHICH CAUSED THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS, RESULTING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT. *AK

ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR MIRRORS FAILED, EMITTING SMOKE.

POP-UP SUNROOF FELL OFF AND SHATTERED IN ROADWAY. FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY.

THE RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT CONTROL. TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE ALONE DID NOT WORK. THE IAC WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE IAC WAS STICKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, STOPPED VEHICLE, FIRE UNDER DASH, FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE DEPARMENT. WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL/WIRING HARNESS/RADIO/DUCTS BURNED, RELACED BY AUTO REPAIR SHOP. *AK

RADIATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO POOR DESIGN, CAUSING CRACKING/LEAKING.

SMOKE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE DASHOARD, MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO HELP. *AK

APPLIED BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD, ANTI-LOCK AND REGULAR BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, REMAINED ON, ACCORDING TO DEALER, COULD CAUSE REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. *AK

AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TWICE.

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED 1/97, APPROX. 60000 MILES. REBUILT BY TRANSMISSION SHOP. TOOK BACK 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY CONSIDERED CORRECT. STILL NOT RIGHT. CLUNKED WHEN SLOWING.. 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILED 12/98. DRIVING 65 MPH...JUST QUIT...RPM'S STARTED REVVING...BARELY GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD...HAVE BEEN TOLD BY EVERY TRANSMISSION SHOP I'M DEALING WITH THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THESE EXPLORERS ARE VERY POOR QUALITY, PLUS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REBUILD CORRECTLY...ALL TRANSMISSION SHOPS, INCLUDING FORD ONLY GIVE 12,000/12 MONTH GUARENTEE...THAT'S RIDICULOUS...YOU ASSUME A TRANNY SHOULD OUTLAST THE CAR...THEY ALL SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS UNRELIABLE TO MATCH TO ORIGINAL FORD TRANNY PUT IN...I AM NOW OUT $1875 FOR FIRST TRANSMISSION AND ONE YEAR LATER AM LOOKING AT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR ($1400-1600)...I FEEL FORD SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCTS AND AT LEAST OFFER A REBUILT TRANNY IN THEIR OWN SHOPS THAT IS GUARENTEED FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS....THIS IS WHAT GIVES OUR AMERICAN CARS A VERY BAD REPUTATION....

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON SIDE DIRT ROAD,AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. HE NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, #ATX, P2357515. HE HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK

SMELL GASOLINE FUMES WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE, DISCOVERED GAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE METAL COVER AROUND THE POLYETHYLENE GAS TANK, ONLY DRIP WHEN ENGINE RUNNING, METAL TOP THAT CONNECTS THE GAS LINES TO TANK AND TO WHICH THE FUEL PUMP IS WELDED WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT.

FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN IT SHOULD AND RELEASED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T PRIOR TO RECALL.

THE ENGINE FAN HAS SOME CRACKS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD UNLESS PUT INTO REVERSE, THEN INTO DRIVE, HOWEVER WHEN IN REVERSE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS.

BRAKE FAILURE, IN FOR REPAIR, REPLACED CALIPERS ON THE FRONT AND PADS/ROTORS, THE PADS ARE COMING UNATTCHED FROM THE CALIPERS, CAUSING THEM TO COME OUT OF ROUND AND BE DAMAGED. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT THE LATCH IN THE MIDDLE OF REAR SEAT THAT HOLDS CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOES NOT STAY LATCHED, HE NOTES THAT VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT AND LATCH DID NOT HOLD. *AK

DRIVER'S SEATBACK COMPLETELY COLLAPSED WHEN VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING 25 MPH; SEATBACK WOULD NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK