1992 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHEN IN DRIVE CAR ACTS LIKE IN NEUTRAL, THEN WITH GAS ADDED, JERKS AND GOES INTO GEAR - ONLY IN COLD SEASON AND FIRST THING IN MORNING

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

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

SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY (CABLE) RUSTED OUT CAUSING TIRE TO FALL ONTO HIGHWAY

MY EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE FIRE WAS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE ALSO IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, SO FIRE IS UNKNOWN WHERE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE THE POWER LOCKS HAD LOCKED THE DOORS AND HAD TO BREAK WINDOWS TO PROCEED PUTTING FIRE OUT FROM THE INSIDE. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER OR CONTACT ME ON WHO I NEED TO CONTACT WITH THIS MATTER.

EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES; WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE IN THE REAR. OWNER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO KEEP A FIRE FROM STARTING. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *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.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY; INTERMITTENTLY IT WOULD UNLATCH ITSELF OR WOULD NOT LATCH AT ALL. ALSO BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE; NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HANDLES, DOOR WOULD NOT UNLATCH FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL @ 72MPH, RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM TIRE WHICH CASED MY EXPLORER TO TURN 180 DEGREES FOLLOWING WHICH I HIT THE GRASS MEDIAN AND ROLLED 21/2 TIMES. THESE WERE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND I WAS SENT TO THE ER. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF THE PROCEEDINGS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE ENTIRE REAR DOOR WAS RECALLED BACK IN 1993. THE DOOR WAS REPLACED BY FORD. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THE HYDRAULIC LIFT WHICH I JUST PURCHASED. IT FELL OFF DURING NORMAL USE. *AK

AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE BUTTOM HEATER. DRIVER NEVER SAW ANY FLAMES, JUST SMOKE AND A SMELL OF BURNING LEAVES AND PINE STRAW. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE #AT, P23575R15. FIRESTONE WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

THE DOOR GRIP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE EXPLORER CRACKED OFF FIRST. ONE MONTH LATER THE DOOR GRIP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CRACKED OFF. THE DOOR GRIP IS THE ONLY WAY OF SECURELY CLOSING THE DOORS. THE GRIP CRACKED OFF AS IT IS ONE MOLDED PIECE. THE ONLY MEANS OF REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL AT A COST OF $415.00 PER DOOR PLUS LABOR. THIS GRIP HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED ,CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. OIL PICK UP TUBE TOO SMALL. SMALL METAL CHIPS EMBEDDED IN SCREEN WOULD NOT COME OUT DURING OIL CHANGE. *AK

VENTILATION SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DP98001 HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION; WHILE DRIVING DRIVER FEELS A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATION IS FELT MORE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNDER 50 MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WIT WHEEL HUB. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE MAKES A HUMMNG AND CLONKING SOUND. THE HUB CAME LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION. ALSO, THERE IS A BANGING SOUND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

3 TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, WE COMMUTE 88 MILES ROUNDTRIP A DAY (HIGHWAY MILES) AND SELDOM IF EVER TOW ANYTHING.*AK

POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. NLM

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLEY 55 MPH SUN ROOF WHICH WAS IN A CLOSED POSITION, DISCONNECTED BY ITSELF/FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK

THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY WITH THE BLOWER UNIT COMMON TO THE A/C AND HEATER. THE A/C WAS ON WHEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ROUGHLY $1,500. AS THE FIRE DESTROYED THE BLOWER AND OTHER A/C-HEATER COMPONENTS. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

STANDARD TRANSMISSION IS MAZADA-BUILT 5-SPEED AND WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. PROCEEDING ON INTERSTATE AT SPEED. DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH FOR TRAFFIC. COULDN'T UP SHIFT TO 5TH. COULD SHIFT FROM 4TH TO NEUTRAL. STOPPED VEHICLE. COULDN'T SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 5TH OR REVERSE. ONLY HAD 4TH GEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 78,500 MILES TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL AND QUALITY CHECKED BY OWNER AS PART OF ROUTINE SELF-MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGE. FLUID LEVEL AND QUALITY LAST CHECKED BY DEALER AS PART OF 60,000 MILE SERVICE. HAVE INVESTIGATED COMPLAINT DATABASE AND TSB DATABASE. I BELIEVE THERE MANY RECURRING INCIDENTS OF THIS PROBLEM. REPAIR SOLUTION WAS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER. ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE IF CONDITIONS WARRANTY INVESTIGATION AND POTENTIAL RECALL.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN THE FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT, IN WHICH MY LEG WAS BROKEN AND ME AND MY HUSBAND SUFFERED CONCUSSIONS. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD TWO MISCARRIAGES AND SUFFERED SEVERE BACK PAIN. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CARE OF A CHIROPRACTOR SINCE THE ACCIDENT. MY LEG WILL NEVER BE THE SAME- THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. I HAVE PICTURES TO SUPPORT MY CLAIMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO SCAN MY PICTURES.*AK

BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON APPLICATION. REPAIRS ONLY HELP TEMPORARILY THEN PROBLEMS REOCCURS.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 OR 10 MPH THE LEAF SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

MY SON HAD A BLOW OUT WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM VIRGINIA. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOSS THE TREAD AND DAMAGED THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. AFTER HAVING A TOW TRUCK REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE HE HAD ANOTHER BLOW OUT LOSSING THE TREAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THAT SIDE QUARTER PANEL. HE THEN NEED TO BE TOWED TO A TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIRE SINCE THE SPARE WAS ANREADY USED. THIS OCCURED WITHIN ABOUT 200 MILES OF EACH OTHER. THE FINAL INCIDENT OCCURED NEAR JUPITER FL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON A TRIP HOME, I HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES ON MY FORD EXPLORER. I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH, WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED AND SEND US ON A WILD RIDE ACROSS THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SAFE STOP. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACE WITH THE SAME BRAND, SIZE, AND TYPE AFTER THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER ASSURED ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE SAFE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO SPEED AND HIGHWAY HEAT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

OWNER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF IRREGULAR TREAD WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION. OWNER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL (00T-005). *CJ

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

PE00020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS SLIGHT VIBRATION AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. TIRES WERE FIRSTONE #ATX. *AK

WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT AND AN ENGINEER'S REPORT DETAILING THE FAILURE OF THE TIRE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT RESULTING IN A SPINAL FUSION FOR THE OTHER OCCUPANT, BRAD WEST, WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MYSELF AS PASSENGER. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND A LENGTHY ARBITRATION PROCESS RESULTED IN THEM SETTLING WITH US OUT OF COURT. THEY CONTENDED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS AN ISOLATED ONE. AS WE SEE NOW, THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THE REPORTS IN THIS CASE TO HELP IN ANY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: 1PB 355 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SPARE TIRE BRACKET FELL OFF VEHICLE DUE TO RUST.

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

I HAD THE FIRST BLOWOUT IN FEB. 98, I HAD THE SPARE PUT ON AND WENT TO FIRESTONE THE NEXT DAY (I WAS APPROX. 60 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED). THEY WOULDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THEM BECAUSE I WASN'T THE PURCHASER. I HAD CONTACTED THE PERSON WHO SOLD ME MY EXPLORER THE NIGHT OF THE BLOWOUT AND THEY WERE GOING TO BRING ME THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK ON THE TIRES TO USE THE WARRANTY BUT FIRESTONE SAID THIS WASN'T POSSIBLE SINCE THEY WERE NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. I HAD THE SECOND BLOWOUT IN JUNE OF 98 ON THE FREEWAY JUST LEAVING TEXAS AND COMING INTO NEW MEXICO, THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT 95*. I WAS NO WHERE NEAR A FIRESTONE DEALER. A TOW TRUCK STOPPED AND CHANGED MY TIRE FOR ME AND FOLLOWED ME TO THE CLOSEST TOWN (ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY). THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL TIRE SHOP THERE (NO FIRESTONE DEALER) AND I PURCHASED THE BEST USED TIRE HE HAD (HE HAD NOTHING NEW IN MY SIZE). WHEN I GOT TO LAS VEGAS THE NEXT DAY I WENT AND PUCHASED A NEW TIRE, BUT AT THIS POINT I HAD STOPPED PURCHASING THE EXACT SAME TIRE. I BOUGHT 2 DIFFERENT TIRES THAT WERE COMPARABLE AND PUT THE FIRESTONE AS MY SPARE. I HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM YET BUT NOW AM SCARED TO DEATH OF WHAT'S TO COME. MY BEST FRIEND'S SON WAS IN A FATALITY CRASH (NOT HIM FORTUNATELY) 2 WEEKS AGO IN A 1999 EXPLORER. THEY ARE NOW CHECKING THE TOTALLED VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT ALSO HAD THESE TIRES ON IT AND IF SO WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT AND POSSIBLY A LAW SUIT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/R7515 )

SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 20MPH, SUDDENLY VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO CURB. RIGHT SIDE TIRES EXPLODED/RIMS/FRONT SUSPENSION/RIGHT SIDE FENDER TORE UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SVC MANAGER NOTICED SUSPENSION STABLIZER BAR PIN WAS CUT.BEFORE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO VIBRATE. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE FOR SERVICE ON THE MASTER CILINDER WICH THEY HAD RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT A STAND STILL WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S HEAD/ BACK/NECK AND KNEES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

TAILGATE BRACE BROKE DESPITE RECALL REPAIR.

STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL UNDER THE FACTORY LEATHER WRAP MELTS FROM HEAT AND IS LEAKING OUT OF COVERING.

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND WHEN DRIVERTURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF THE VEHCLE STALLED, FORCING CONSUMER TO PULL SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE SHOP. THE FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE ONE ON THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN. *AK

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE, CAUSE BELIEVED TO BE A POORLY DESIGNED TANK MOUNTING, WHICH ALLOWED MUD AND SNOW TO ACCUMULATE ON THE TOP OF TANK, TANK ROTTED FROM THE OUTSIDE, FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT AND RETAINING RING REPLACED, NOW FUEL GAUGE NOT AS ACCURATE. CJ

WHILE PICKING UP SPEED FROM A HIGH CLEARANCE DIRT ROAD TO A 2 LANE PAVED ROAD CONSUMER FELT THE CAR VIBRAING INTENSLY SLOWED DOWN,PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED WITH THE TREAD PULLED AWAY COMPLETELY. NLM

EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE IS 1/2" FROM A RUBBER BUSHING ON THE RADIUS ARM- PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE INTENS EHEAT DETERIORATES THE BUSHING, CAUSING MOVEMENT IN RADIUS ARM AND RIGHT WHEEL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND MAILED IN 1/98. BUT IT ALSO EXPIRED IN 1/98, CONTACT94-M-85. *AK

CONSUMER WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT FIVE OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE COVERED IN THE RECALL (00T-005),CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES THEN WAS DENIED COMPLETE RECALL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL FIVE TIRES. CONSUMER REPLACED THE TWO REAR TIRES PRIOR DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS. *MJS

WELD HOLDING 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 5TH GEAR BROKE, CAUSING 5TH GEAR ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION.

LIFT GATE (REAR CARGO DOOR) SUPPORT BRACKET TORE