1992 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE TREAD OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE PRIOR TO RECALL, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, AFTER THE RECALL WAS INITIATED THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE SPARE FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE OTHER FOUR TIRES BUT WAS ONLY REIMBURSED FOR THE SPARE BECAUSE THE OTHER TIRES WERE NOT PURCHASED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER (FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15). 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

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

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

AFTER PURCHASING THIS UV FROM A DEALER.PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS EDDIE BAUER UV,I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 60 MILES AN HIUR,UV WAS SHAING SO BAD. OIL LEAKING ,BRAKES BAD. IT WAS BANDAIDED T SELL I AM SURE. A 8 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 52,000MILES AND IN THIS HORRIBLE REPAIR CONDITION,IS ALMOST SUSPECT TO INQUIRE Y OF A ODOMETER TURN BACK, LUCKILY I BOUGHT INS, TOOK TO A FORD DEALERAND HAD REPAIRS TOTOALLING ALMOST $2500.OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY $800. OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON, THER WERE 3 RECA;LLS WHICH WERE TAKEN CARE OF. THE ENGINE WAS NEEDING SEALS AND MUCH MORE . THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS BROKE,NOW AND THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PUT A QT. OF OIL EVERY WEK. THE CAR IS BASICALLY UNSFAE TO DRIVE,BETWEEEN THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL,WHICH I WAS TOLD IF IT GOT INTO THE GEAR BOX,IT WOULD START A FIRE. THIS WAS THE WORDS OF THE FORD DEALER.WHRE I HAD THE UV SERVICED. RECENTLY I NOTICED AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER COMMENTING ONTHE FROD GASKET FLAW.I HAVE BEEN TRYING FRO DAYS TO CALL THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR INFROMATION LINE ALWAYS BUSY. THEY DO RECALL SOME OF THIS MODEL.IDONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO ANY MORE I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFTEY,A SINGLE MOTHER WITH NO INCOME OTHER THAN 900.. AMONTH FROM WORKMASN COMP. CANT AFFORD ANYMORE REPAIRS NEEED HELP TO WHERE I NEED TO GO, I FEEL THE UV IS NOT SAFE AND I FEEL THAT THE ODOMETER MAY HAVE BEEN SET BACK, THE DEALERS WHERE I PURCHASED ARE TIRED OF HERING MY COMPLAINTS. THEY WORKED ONTHE UV ONCE, BUT NEVER GAVE ME A LIST OF WHAT WORK THEY DID AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THEIR SHOP FOR 10 DAYS. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK,BUT I WILL HAVE TO PROVE THE CAR IS NOT SAFE . TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO. I CAN FGAX YOU ALL THE COPIES OF REPAIR WORK THAT WAS SERVICED ON THIS CAR IN FEB. IF YOU NEED THEM IT MAY HELP U MAKE A DESICION AS TO WHERE I TURN TO NEXT. PLEASE RESPOND WHAT DO I DO??*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. FIRESTONE AND FORD BOTH REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE RECALL OF THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMPREHENSIVE. I HAD TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED APPROX. 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE RECALL. THE RECALL DATES WERE ARBITRARY AND THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY GREATER THAT BOTH FIRESTONE AND FORD ARE ADMITTING.( DOT NUMBER: )

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.

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

REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE SAME AS FACTORY ORIGINAL, RATED AT 50,000 MILES. AT 40,000 MILES, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, THE SOURCE OF WHICH COULD NOT ACCURATELY BE IDENTIFED BY MECHANIC. (U-JOINT AND SEVERAL BEARINGS REPLACED TO NO EFFECT). DURING DRIVING TRIP TO LITTLE ROCK FOR THANKSGIVING, VIBRATION WORSENED, WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO BAD ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS IN MO AND AR. DURING RETURN TRIP TO KANSAS CITY FROM LITTLE ROCK, APPROX. 100 MILES WEST OF LITTLE ROCK ON WB I-40, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD FAILED, DELAMINATING COMPLETELY FROM TIRE CORE AT 70 MPH. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TRAVELED DOWN GRASS EMBANKMENT OF CENTER MEDIAN, HIT CONCRETE DRAINAGE WAY AT CENTER, AND CONTINUED UP THE OPPOSITE EMBANKMENT TOWARD ONCOMING EB TRAFFIC. REGAINED PARTIAL CONTROL AS VEHICLE SLOWED UP THE EMBANKMENT, AND WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE TO REST BACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDIAN. PASSING MOTORISTS ASSISTED IN RETURNING VEHICLE TO THE HIGHWAY, AND I PUT ON THE FULL-SIZE SPARE. PASSING ARKANSAS STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND ASCERTAINED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES NOR COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. NO REPORT WAS FILED. CONTINUED TO KANSAS CITY ON SPARE TIRE; NO FURTHER VIBRATION NOTICED. APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES LATER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH SAME BRAND, FIRESTONE ATX. THESE TIRES NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS TO REPORT. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND SO DID NOT REPORT TO NHTSA UNTIL I HEARD NEWS REPORTS ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS TIRE. NTB SALESMAN NOTED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH FAILURE PROBLEMS ON THIS TIRE AT THE TIME THAT I BOUGHT THE LAST SET. I WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT THEM BECAUSE ORIGINAL SET PERFORMED OK, AND THEY WERE MOST ECONOMICAL PRODUCT FOR MY BUDGET. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R14 )

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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

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

THIS IS THE FOURTH TRANSMISSION. *AK

TIRE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RATE OF SPEED DAMAGE THE FRONT FENDER AND ALL OF THE FENDER HOUSING AREA MESSING UP THE WHEEL COUSED IT TO BE OUT OF ROUND.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

A 1.5FT PIECE OF TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AS I WAS DRIVING ON I 5 NORTH OF LOS ANGELES. THIS SEPARATION CAUSED A LOUD POUNDING. I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND I INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED AND THE 1.5 FT TREAD THAT STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE WAS ABOUT 4 TO 5 INCHES WIDE. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP, THE PIECE OF TREAD HAD DAMAGED TO REAR QUARTER PANAL AND MOLDING AND ALSO KNOCKED OFF THE MUD GUARD. EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES HAD 58000 MILES OF USE, THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT FOR SAME DRIVING.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU IMX TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

THE FRONT TWO TIRE TREADS STARTED TO COME APART AND THE TREADS AND FIBERS COULD BE SEEN BENEATH, ALL FOUR TIRE WERE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1,2000 (FIRESTONE ATX). NLM

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 CONSUMERS FIRESTONE TIRES WERE RECALLED, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TIRE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT BUT WAS GIVEN A DATE 2 MONTHS AWAY, THE CONSUMER INQUIRED WHAT TO DO IN THE MEANTIME AND WAS TOLD HE COULD PURCHASE NEW OR USED TIRES AND BE REIMBURSED, ON THE REPLACEMENT DATE THE CONSUMER PRESENT THE RECIEPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT.(FIRESTONE TIRES) NLM

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 LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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

FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY NEAR TEXARKANA, MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR, SOME METAL WORK DAMAGE. AIR TEMPERATURE THERE WAS IN EXCESS OF 100. I'M SUBMITTING THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE RECALL EFFORT.( DOT NUMBER: H4BNDFA119 TIRE SIZE: P23575515F )

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

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

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.

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX STEEL BELTED RADIAL RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO SEVERAL PEOPLE. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND FRONT TIRE STARTED TO WOBBLE AND SHAKE. LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE FIRESTONE #ATX. *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

IN JUNE OF 1999 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN I15 WHEN I HEARD MY EXPLORER MAKING FUNNY THUMPING NOISES. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND PARKED MY CAR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS SO I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE IN CASE IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE, I ALSO GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES. THIS SAME NOISE HAD HAPPENED TO US LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN AUG. OF 1998 WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. I DID NOT SEE ANY BULGE ON ANY OF THE TIRES SO I DECIDED TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD AND IF THE NOISE PERSISTED I WAS GOING TO PULL OFF AGAIN AND CALL MY FATHER TO COME AND GET ME. I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD FOR A MILE WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW AND I "FISH-TAILED" FOR A WHILE UNTILL THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE AXEL WHICH TOOK ME INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE I ROLLED TWICE. THE POLICE DID COME TO THE SITE AND I WAS NOT CITED FOR THE INCIDENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO AVOID THE INCIDENT. WE NOTIFIED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT OUT WHAT THEY CALLED A "TIRE EXPERT". THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD US THAT THIS TIRE EXPERT INFORMED THEM THAT THERE WAS NO REASON THE TIRE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN. THIS CAR WAS TOTALED BEYOND REPAIR, SO WE HAD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. LUCKILY WE DO HAVE ANOTHER CAR WHICH WE USE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. WE ALSO DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # ON ME BUT PROBABLY COULD FIND IT IF I NEED IT. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANY UPDATED NEWS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL ME. THANK YOU -KRISTIE HEATON( DOT NUMBER: )

ON JUNE 11, 1999 I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 571 IN JACKSON, NEW JERSEY WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE AND THE ENTIRE TREAD WAS SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. I CALLED MY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE ALLSTATE AND HAD THEM COME CHANGE THE TIRE. AT THAT TIME I ONLY THOUGHT OF THIS AS A BLOW OUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS CARRYING A HEAVIRE THEN NORMAL LOAD IN MY TRUNK. UNTIL THE RECALL I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO MY TIRE. THE READ BASICALLY SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE IT SELF. I HAD MY SPARE TIRE PUT AND I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SEARS WHO SOLD ME ANOTHER FIRESTONE ATX TIRE. CURRENTLY, I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE NEW JERSEY RECALLS MAY NOT EVEN HAPPEN FOR YEAR. THIS IS HAPPENING HERE TO AND IT IS A PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED WITH NO DELAYS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TRAVELING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BETWEEN FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA MY 1992 FORD EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING A WHEEL. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE WHEELS OUT AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK. WE PROCEEDED CAUTIOUSLY TO OUR DESTINATION OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA. I ULTIMATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN BRISTOL, TN. AND WAS TOLD THE STEEL BELTS HAD SEPERATED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THERE WAS 10/32 OF TREAD STILL REMAINING ON THE TIRES WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AND HAD TO PAY 195.00. THE TIRES HAD ALWAYS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED WITH PROPER INFLATION AND ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE ATX TIRES AND ON 06/29/99 @ 34383 MILES THEY WERE AGAIN REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE AND THIS TIME WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE USED.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

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.

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

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 NORTH TO NC WHEN I HEARD MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN SUDDENLY MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE ALSO BLEW OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT SPINNED THREE TIMES, AND FLIPPED OVER 1 1/2 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/7515 )

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

TREAD FAILURE REUSLTED IN LOSE OF CONTROL AND CAR FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES AND CRASHED. FURTHER DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

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

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

NO SUMMARY

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

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

RADIUS ARM BUSHING TOTALLY CRUMBLED ,FELL APART, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKES. *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 MARSHMALLOW OVER A FIRE!

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.

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.