1993 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

HYDRAULIC HATCHBACK FAILED.

CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE ATX TIRES DUE PROBLEMS WITH TREAD SEPARATION, LATER 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO ONE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE OTHERS EXPERIENCED VIBRATION, THESE WERE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST SET OF TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF ADJUSTED PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF ADJUSTED BRACKET. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BOLTS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER BROKE, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ELEVATED FOR TIRE ROTATION, I NOTICED A CRACK IN WHAT I CALL THE TORSION BAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THE TORSION BAR IS ATTACHED TO THE OUTER END OF THE CROSS BEAMS INSIDE EACH WHEEL. THE CRACKS LOOKED LIKE FATIGUE FAILURES. THEY ENCIRCLED THE REAR END OF THE TORSION BAR BUSHING WHERE IT GOES THROUGH THE SUPPORT BRACKET. BOTH SIDES WERE ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL. TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THESE PARTS TO FAIL. IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND A FAILURE HAD OCCURRED I WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY HAVE ROLLED OVER. I RETURNED THE FAILED PARTS TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, KEN STOEPEL FORD IN KERRVILLE, TEXAS, AND SUGGESTED HE LET THE MANUFACTURER KNOW. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD CLICKING SOUND WHILE AT STOP LIGHT, PULLED OVER,AND NOTICED THAT FLYWHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF AT 33000 MILES. *AK

FIRESTONE RAIDAL ATX TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSMENT. *SLC

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF.

REAR HATCH BACK ROD BROKE LANDING ON CONSUMER'S HEAD DUE TO WELD FAILURE.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOESN'T LINE UP TOO CLOSE THE DOOR. HAVE TO PICK UP THE DOOR IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO CLOSE. TOOK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT MUST BE A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES DUE TO BUBBLING ON THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE TIRES, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

EA97-011; WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE DEFECTIVE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH IS UNSAFE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VAN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE THE VAN ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY. WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE THE VAN WENT INTO FULL POWER. THERE WAS SO MUCH TORQUE IN THE REAR WHEEL, THE VAN WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT A DITCH. VAN WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP CLEANED BALL JOINT ON ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH WAS ACCUMULATED WITH RUST BUILD UP BELIEVED TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN PHOENIX AND FLAGSTAFF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. INITIALLY THE TREAD DID NOT SEPARATE COMPLETELY AND CAUSED SUSBTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE FORD EXPLORER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

INCIDENT 1 HAPPENED ON HWY 5 GOING NORTH TO SANTA ROSA. TIRE TREAD SPUN OFF AND DESTROYED THE WHEEL WELL AND SIDE MOULDINGS. SINCE FIRESTONE COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THE ALL BUT THE SPARE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES CAME FROM CANADA. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED IN PALM SPRING AND AGAIN THE FIRESTONE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST HAPPENS. THIS SECOND DETREADING OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 27000 MILES. I REPLACED THE SECOND TIRE WITH WILDERNESS BUT I AM CURRENTLY USING THE ORIGINAL SPARE SINCE I DIDNOT WANT TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES TO MATCH.( DOT NUMBER: W1HL TIRE SIZE: 235R15 )

VEHICLES SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

VEHICLE HESITATES TO STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH, AND UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE. VEHICLE AWAITING SERVICE FROM DEALER. *AK

ON 8/15/97 WE WERE TRAVELLING WEST ON I-40 BETWEEN WINSLOW, AZ AND FLAGSTAFF, AZ WHEN OUR REAR PASSENGER TREAD CAME FLYING OFF OUR TIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE, REDUCE OUR SPEED AND PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE EXAMINED THE DAMAGE, THERE WAS SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF BODY DAMAGE, BUT THE TIRE, STILL INFLATED, HAD NO TREAD. WE REMOVED THE TIRE, REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE AND MADE OUR WAY SLOWLY TO FLAGSTAFF WHERE WE FOUND A DISCOUNT TIRE CO. AND HAD THE DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED, NOT WITH FIRESTONE TIRE, AND WE CONTINUED ON OUR WAY TO LAS VEGAS THE NEXT DAY. IN NOVEMBER WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO DISCOUNT TIRE TO HAVE THE OTHER 3 TIRES REPLACE AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY ALL SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND WE WERE LUCKY. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE FIRESTONE TIRES AS A SPARE AS IT SHOWED THE LEAST TO NO SEPARATION. THE DOT # I PROVIDED IS FROM THE SPARE. I DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE ACTUAL DEFECTIVE TIRE. NO REPORTS FILED SINCE THERE WAS, THANKFULLY, NO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM BOTH TIRE PURCHASES AND ONE FROM FORD STATING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MATCHING TIRES SINCE WE'D REPLACED THE ONE, SO THEY COULDN'T DO THE ALIGNMENT REQUESTED THAT WE THOUGHT WAS WHY THE SUV PULLED TO THE RIGHT SO DRASTICALLY. WE WERE TOLD, BY DISCOUNT TIRE CO. REP., THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE SEPARATION THE OTHER TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE AFTER LEARNING OF THE RECALL. WE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT TYPE OF TIRE SEPARATION BEFORE AND THE TIRES APPEARED TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE! THEY WEREN'T ALL THAT OLD NOR WORN. THIS WAS OUR FIRST TRIP IN THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS FRIGHENING BUT WE CHALKED IT UP TO A BLOWOUT TYPE OF INCIDENT AND DID NOT REPORT IT. THE SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE HAS SINCE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF TOO.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1M0083 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SHAKING, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE, HOWEVER FIRESTONE REJECTED CLAIM DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT TIRES BEING PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. *SLC

HATCHBACK CYLINDER BROKE AND FELL ON OWNER'S WIFE . THE DOOR WAS HANGING OFF ON ONE SIDE. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALERAND MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL . AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE OWNER NOTICED THAT THE POWER MIRROR DID NOT TURN, AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DID NOT LOCK AND WERE OFF CENTER. OWNER SAID THAT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTON WORSE DUE TO THE REPAIRS. 97V-083000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH TRYING TO SHIFT VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SMOKE WAS STARTING COMING UNDER THE HOOD. COMSUMER'S HUSBAND SAID THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A SHOP. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

TRANSMISSION JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE ON ITS OWN VEHICLE PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, UNOCCUPIED, CRASHED INTO BUILDING, NOT CHECKED BY DEALER. *AK

THE BRACKETS ON THE LIFTGATE BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. DEALER WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THE CAR EXCEEDED MILEAGE. *AK

THE TREAD SEPARATED AT 60MPH AND DAMAGED THE REAR OF THE CAR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

I HAD TWO EARLY TIRE PROBLEM ONE BUBBLE ON TREAD AREA AND THE OTHER A CHUNK 5X10 INCHES CAME OFF WITH NO DAMAGE. IN EARLY SUMMER A LARGE SEPERATION FLAP CAUSED ABOUT $1500 DAMAGE TO THE LT REAR QUARTER PANEL AREA, WHICH FIRESTONE PAYED WITH NO QUESTIONS. LATER IN AUGUST THE RT. REAR SEPERATED WITH A SMALLER FLAP THAT DID ABOUT $500 DAMAGE. A CLAIM WAS NOT SUBMITTED HERE AS THE FAMILY WAS ON THE WAY TO ROCKY PT AND HAD NO ROOM TO STORE THE OLD TIRE. WE JUST HAD TO BUY ANOTHER ATX FIRESTONE TIRE BECAUSE THE TIRE STORE WASN'T A FIRESTONE STORE. JUST LAST MONTH, JULY 2000 I HAD A NOTICABLE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS YOU GUESSED IT, THE TREAD WAS STARTING TO BUBBLE. I BOUGHT A USED FIRESTONE ATX FROM THE DEALER THAT USED TO HANDLE MY TIRES. I NEEDED TO MATCH THE WEAR ON THE OTHER TIRE AS 4 WHEEL DRIVES REQUIRE EQUAL ROLLING RADIUS ON ALL WHEELS. I TOOK THE OLD TIRE TO THE FIRSTONE COMPANY STORE AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT THEY COULDN'T WARRANTEE IT BECAUSE THAT TIRE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THAT I CONCIDER TO BE AN INTENTIONALLY MISS LEADY STATEMENT WHEN A TOTAL RECAL COME OUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I WAS NEVER OFFERED A SUBTITUTE FOR TIRES! I ALSO HAVE A SPARE THAT HASN'T BEEN ON THE GROUND IN YEARS, SINCE THE EARLYEST TIRE PROBLEM. THIS TIRE IS CHECKED, PEALING AND HAS PEA SIZED VOIDS IN THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM THE TREAD AREA. MY GUESS IS THAT THIS IS CAUSED BE THE HIGH RAD HEAT IN THE LOCAL AND IS GUARENTEED NOT FROM OF ROAD USE. I DECIDED TO RIGHT THIS BECAUSE ON THE TV NEWS TONIGHT THERE WAS A SEGMENT WEREIN IT WAS STATED THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN THAT MANY COMPLAINTS. WELL--- PHOOEY! NOT EVERYBODY COMPLAINS, IF A SET OF TIRE COST ME A WEEKS TAKE HOME PAY I'D COMPLAIN HARD. I THINK A LOT OF BETTER OFF PEOPLE (OR YUPPIE STAGECOACH DRIVERS) JUST THINK OH WELL BAD LUCK AND BUY MORE TIRES. I DO HATE TO GET SCREWED THOUGH. IV'E BEEN WAITING TWO WEEKS NOW FOR ACCEPTABLE ATX TYPE TIRES THAT WILL RUN ON A LITTLE SNOW OR ICE. LOOK DEEPER.

ABS BRAKES ARE SUBJECT TO INTERMITTENT FAILURE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS BRAKES MADE GRINDING SOUNDS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. CAUSING TRUCK NOT TO STOP. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10, THE TREADS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A 360 DEGREE SPIN. IT HIT A TURNAROUND DIVIDER, CONTINUED AROUND AND HIT ONE SIDE RAIL OF THE INTERSTATE, CONTINUED TO SPIN AND CAME TO REST WITH THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE ATOP THE CURB WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT SUN ROOF WAS GOING TO SHATTER. THE WHOLE SUN ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE HINGE. THIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION EA-97 011. *AK

TIRE(NO BRAND, NAME, OR SIZE GIVEN) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, OVER TURN, AND CAUSE MANY INJURIES. *SLC

REAR LIFTGATE LATCH COLLAPSED ON OWNER'S HEAD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK *SLC

THE LEFT REAR TIRE LOST ITS TREAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, THE DRIVER OVERCORRECTED TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A BROADSKID ACROSS BOTH LANES, THE VEHICLES RIGHT SIDE TIRES SEPARATED FROM THE WHEELS CAUSING THE WHEELS TO DIG INTO THE GROUND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES (POLICE REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, W2HL1M0203, LEFT REAR). NLM

THE CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE CRACKED & BROKE, FALLING FROM UNDER VEHICLE INTO THE HIGHWAY CROSSING ONTO UNCOMING TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS OPENING THE LIFTGATE WHEN BRACKETS BROKE, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL ON TOP OF CONSUMER. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS AFTER FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. *AK

ABS BRAKES ARE NOISY.

SPARE TIRE RESTRAINING CABLE RUSTED, ALLOWING TIRE TO DROP ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED

GAS PEDAL FELL OFF DUE TO BOLT THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL FALLING OFF. WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE PEDAL FELL OFF. *AK

PLAIN CHEVROLET 97S70/97V083. DEALER REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH RECALL, REASON: TOO MUCH MILEAGE. *AK

AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED ITS SPEED AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE CALIPER STICKING AND CAUSING ROTORS TO BE CUT AND WARPED. VEHICLE BEEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

RECALL # 97V083000, DEALER HAS NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PERFORM RECALL WORK. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD OWNER THAT THEY WILL CONTACT DEALER, AND THAT THE DEALER WILL CALL CONSUMER ON AUG. 12,1997. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE DEALER THAT SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BECAUSE SHE HAD A HARD TIME WITH THEM IN THE PAST. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER HERSELF, SHE ALLOWED THE MANUFACTURER TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER WHICH NO ONE KNOWS IF THEY DID OR NOT. 97V-083000. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 20 MPH THE ABS DID NOT RESPOND WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP MANY TIMES, THE MECHANIC DID REPLACED THE TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK ALSO THE LEFT SPEAKER WAS INOPERABLE, AND DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT COVER GASKET DUE TO AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK. *JB

SPARE TIRE CABLE/HOLDER BROKE OFF RESULTING IN TIRE FALL OFF OF VEHICLE. MJS

VACUUM MODULE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP UNDER LOAD.

ON THREE OCCASIONS THE TREADS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE (FIRESTONE ATX TIRES). NLM