1994 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

6 TIRES RUINED BECAUSE OF TREAD / BELT SEPARATION/SAME TIRES USED AS REPLACEMENT LATEST REPLACE 1ON 12/99 AND 2 ON 3/00/ CAUGHT AFTER EXTREME VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005) NOTIFICATION DUE TO SEPARATION PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE SAW CAR PIECES FLYING BEHIND VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. HER VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION, PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP IN SCHEDULING APPOINTMENT, CONSUMER HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FURTHER AWAY TO RECEIVE REPAIR OF THE BRACKET. *YH

ON 03/14/00, WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 75 IN SARASOTA, FL (MILE MARKER 211) AT A SPEED OF 70MPH, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL SHARPLY TO THE LEFT OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD. THE EXPLORER FLIPPED END OVER END APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES BEFORE SETTLING UPRIGHT. UPON VIEWING THE DAMAGED VEHICLE, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE INITIAL TIRE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE AND ALL NECESSARY INSURANCE INFORMATION, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BRAKES REPLACED. *SLC

PE00020; CONSUMER TRAVELING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. THEN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND VEERED LEFT AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED. CAR THEN ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

THE FIRST TIME NOTICED THIS PROBLEM I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH, I GLANCED AT THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH SHOWED 90MPH! MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO LIFT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND HIT THE BRAKE! AS I LIFTED OFF ON THE GAS, I REALIZED THE THE TRUCK WAS NOT GOING THAT FAST. SO I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP AT A SPEED THAT "FELT RIGHT" BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS MORE A DISTRACTION THAN A HELP. THE SPEEDOMETER KEPT DOING THIS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT ONLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THEN AFTER A SHORT TIME IT WOULD ALWAYS ADD ABOUT 30MPH TO ANY SPEED OVER 35MPH. I CHECKED WITH FORD TO FIND OUT IF THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM OR SUBJECT TO ANY RECALLS AND WAS TOLD NO. AT THAT TIME HAD THE SPEEDOMETER REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP (SAN DIEGO SPEEDO TACH INC. 619-235-0314). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD EXPLORERS AND FORD RANGERS AND THAT THEY REPAIRED SEVERAL A WEEK! NLM

CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE ATX P 235/75R15 TIRES DUE TO THE WOBBLE AND HANDLING PROBLEMS, RECALL NOTIFICATION (00T-005) WAS RECEIVED HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, THE DEALER WAS NOT CONSIDERED A FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE DEALER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

RELATED TO EA99-004. EARLIER INCIDENTS (BEGINNING 1998) WERE JUST A HINT OF BURNING GRASS, USUALLY OCCURING WHEN STARTING CAR WITH FAN SWITCH ON ONE OF THE 'ON' POSITIONS.LATEST INCIDENT HAD BILLOWING CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE POURING FROM VENTS, FILLING CABIN, AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. EXTINGUISHED BY POURING WATER INTO OUTSIDE AIR VENTS. BLOWER MOTER NOW ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING. THIS IS DANGEROUS!

AS TANK ON THE TOP AND IN THE MIDDLE IS RUSTED, AND IS LEAKING GAS. *AK

PERIODICALLY THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PARKING VALVE IS PRESSED PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR.*AK

TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50MPH AND DRIVING UP A HILL CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. SO HE PULLED OVER, AND HE SAW A PIECE OF THE TIRE HANGING OFF OF THE TIRES. REAR LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME APART. IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, REAR LEFT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL 99V310001/ LIFTGATE CYLINDERS. DEALER WANTS THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX (235/75R15)TIRES BEGAN MAKING HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HAD THEM ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED, CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AND THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CEASED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THIS WAS SECOND TIME FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED SINCE JAN-13-1999. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SQUEALING & NOT SHIFTING. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. FORD HAS BEEN OF NO HELP TO THE OWNER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AS IF THE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. I GOT OUT TO CHECK IT BUT IT HAD AIR. I THEN THOUGHT THAT THE ROAD COULD HAVE BEEN BUMPY BUT IN FACT IT WAS NOT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TIRE CHANGED AND BY THE NEXT DAY 3 OF THE 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE TIRE STORE TOLD ME THAT THE BELTS WERE BROKEN IN THE TIRES AND THEY WERE SHAPED LIKE EGGS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES FOR THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS IT WAS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WIFE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, AND HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE OTHER INSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE ALSO WEAK AND BREAK OFF EASILY. *AK

BEAD OF TIRE CAME OFF ON TWO OCCASION, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END VEHICLE BEEN INTO A DEALER SHOP AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND BOTH WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE HUB KIT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO DEFECT ROTOR FAILURE. YH

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AFFECTED BY RECALL (OOT-005), TIRES REPLACED, OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT.

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. CANNOT DETERMINE EXACT SPEED OF VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! *AK

MY TRUCK WAS MAKING AN AWLFUL CLUNK NOSIE FROM UNDERNEATH. I WENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RADIAL ARM....KEEPING MY TIRES FROM SHIMMYING FORWARDS/BACKWARDS. I CONTACTED FORD ON 1-29-00 & WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANF. DEFECT BUT NEVER RECALLED SO I WAS RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. WHEN THE TIRE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, MY TIRES WERE PART OF THE RECALL, SO I CALLED FORD AGAIN ON 08-07-00. THEY NOTED MY COMPLAINT ONCE AGAIN AND TOLD ME IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY ONCE AGAIN. I HAD IT FIXED @ FORD DEALERSHIP TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $400. THIS WAS DONE ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE CLUNK IS BACK! I ALSO ADVISED FORD THAT I WAS WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES...TO NO AVAIL. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE LOOKED INTO THIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF NEEDED. *AK

RECALL 99V310.001/HYDRAULIC LIFTGATE CYLINDERS: PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE, LIFTGATE BROKE OFF THE WELD AND BENT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER. DEALER DID THE NECESSARY RECALL REPAIRS, BUT ATTACHED THE SAME BENT CYLINDER. HOWEVER, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUTURE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX RADIAL TIRE (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP AS THE TREAD CAME APART. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM AIRPORT TRAVELING 15MPH STARTED SMELLING SMOKE FROM THE HEATER. TURNED OFF HEATER. PULLED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF CAR. VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. SMOKE GOT WORSE. WHOLE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK

WHEN PUTTING CAR IN PARK IT WILL ROLL FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THEN THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN USE. WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TAPPED, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC COULD NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. DRIVER SIDE FRONT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE WAS FLAT AND OFF RIM. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN PULLING ON SEATBELT, THEREFORE, CONSUMER FEELS CHILD IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED. *AK

THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE NOT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE. FRONT WHEEL DRIVER MUST BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

THE TIRES WARPED CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION, THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE OF THE TREAD PEELING NEAR THE SIDEWALL, FIRESTONE REFUSED TO HONOR THE TIRE WARRENTY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PROOF OF PROPER ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCING, AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THEY WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL, SINCE FIRESTONE REFUSED WARRANTY SERVICE THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUG 9 ON A PRO-RATED BASIS(FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX 15"). NLM

ALL FOUR TIRE FAILURES INVOLVED TREAD SEPARATION ON TRIPS ON I-10 BETWEEN TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA. REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE AT NON-FIRESTONE FACILITIES. CASES SUCH AS THIS ARE THE VERY CAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL, YET ACCORDING TO THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR EITHER REPLACEMENT TIRES OR A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE, SINCE THESE FAILURES WERE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL RECALL DATE!( DOT NUMBER: VNHL IMO TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC WHEEL HUBS DID NOT ENGAGE WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BRAKES REPAIRED INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS, WHEN HUBS WERE REPLACED THEY PACKED THEM WITH GREASE CAUSING FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC HUBS. *AK

WAS DRIVING DOWN ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WHEN THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE & OUTSIDE VEHICLE DID NOT CHANGE. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF. WASN'T CLOSING OR OPENING THE SUN ROOF WHEN IT SHATTERED. *AK

WE LOANED OUR EXPLORER TO OUR SON-IN-LAW TO DRIVE TO KERRVILLE, TEXAS AT CHRISTMASTIME AND ON THE WAY UP THERE ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW ALL THE TREAD OFF. WE DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEARS AND TRADED THE TIRE IN FOR AN IDENTICAL TIRE FOR THE EXPLORER. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES STILL LOOK GOOD, BUT APPARENTLY THERE WAS A DEFECT. MY SON-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HE AND MY DAUGHTER WERE PRETTY SHOOK-UP, BUT NOT INJURED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES AFTER DRIVING AN EXCESS OF 200 MILES. COMPUTER DIAGNOTIC TEST INDICATES NOTHING IS WRONG. WHEN INSPECTING VEHICLE, THERE IS AN GASEOUS ODOR AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SPUTTER. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS IF DRIVEN LESS THAN 200 CONSECUTIVE MILES. THANK YOU. *AK

TWO FIRESTONE TIRES DELAMINATED, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. NLM

I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED, WHEN I HEARD A "FLOP FLOP" LOUD NOISE. I PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD WAS IN 1 LONG STRIP, STILL ATTATCHED TO PART OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT, BUT NOT DRIVEABLE. A LOCAL SHERIFF DEPUTY STOPPED TO HELP ME. HE THOUGHT THAT I HAD A "RE-TREAD" TIRE. I TOD HIM THAT IT WAS THE ORIGINAL SPARE. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND FIRESTONE. I DID. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. THE DAMAGE TO MY SUV, WAS TO THE LEFT REAR FENDER, LEFT PASSENGER DOOR, AND TRIM. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL TIRES AND KEPT 1 OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. CLUTCH MATERIAL FOUND IN PAN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED SOLELY FOR COMMUTING. *AK

THE BUSHINGS AROUND THE HINGE PINS WERE WEAK, CAUSING THE DOOR TO SAG, WHICH IN TURN MADE THE DOOR DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. EVENTUALLY THE LATCH MECHANISM HAS BEEN WEAKENED AND THE INTERIOR PANEL/DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF. I HAVE CALLED ALL AREA WRECKING YARDS (IN WESTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON) AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE COMPONENTS ARE SOLD OFF THE EXPLORERS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE. THE FELLOW AT THE PARTS-DESK AT THE COURTESY FORD DEALER IN POULSBO SAYS HE HAS HAD TO ORDER MANY HINGES AND LATCH REPLACEMENTS FOR EXPLORERS. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM BETWEEN EXPLORER OWNERS.

THE BRACKET AND GAS ASSIST CYLINDER ON MY VEHICLE HAS BROKEN AS STATED IN ID #'S 95I007000 AND 99V310001. I CONTACTED FORD TO REPAIR AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GREATER THAN 60,000 MILES AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSOBLE FOR REPAIRING. TWO POINTS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE OWNER NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE DEFECT. HAD I, MAYBE THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED. POINT 2, YOU HAVE 2 ID NUMBERS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD DID NOT MENTION THE LATEST RECALL, ID# 99V310001, THAT HAS A 1999 YEAR OF RECALL. I ONLY SPOKE WITH FORD LAST WEEK, 12/08/99. WHY DIDIN'T THEY REFER TO THIS ID#. THIRDLY, I DO N OT BELEIVE THIS DEFECT IS A FUNCTION OF TIME OR MILEAGE. IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE HATCH IS OPENED AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY EXPOSURE. MY WIFE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND TOLD ME THE REAR HATCH WAS MAKING A POPPING SOUND. I OPENED THE HATCH TWICE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND THE BRACKET BROKE THE SECOND TIME. THE HATCH DROPPED DOWN IMMEDIATLEY AND I HAD TO CATCH IT. HAD THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE, OR WORSE YET, WHILE HOLDING OUR 2 YR OLD, THERE IS NO WAY SHE WAY SHE COULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE DOOR. I AM SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURY. FORD STATED TO ME THAT EVEN IF I HAD RECEIVED A OWNER NOTIFICATION, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IF IT SHOWED NO SIGN OF FAILURE. I HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY DEFECT AND CORRECTED. THE DEFECT THAT THEY ADMIT TO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH A RESULT OF PERSONAL INJURY WITH 1.5 MILLION VEHICLES WITH THE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT WILLL NOT ALWAYS MANIFEST ITSELF WITHIN 6 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. IT IS A FUNCTION OF USAGE AND THEREFORE THE CASE SHOULD BE REOPENED AND PROPER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY PROVIDED. LASTLY, THE DEFECT ALSO CAUSES A PPROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH PROPERLY SECURING AFTER THE BRACKET HAS BROKEN. THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR CAUSES THE HATCH TO MIS ALIGN AND WILL NOT SECURLEY LATCH.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 94V16900 AND 99V310001. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK

SPEEDOMETER READING FLUCTUATES 20+ MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BUZZING SOUND ASSOCIATED. *AK

TRAVELING WITH BOAT IN TOW, WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER, RESULTING IN THE FORD EXPLORER AND THE BOAT BOTH BEING TOTALED. BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1M0194 TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

WHILE OPENING REAR HATCHBACK, LEFT REAR SUPPORT ROD/HYDRAULIC CYLINDER & ASSEMBLY DETATCHED FROM VEHICLE CAUSING DOOR TO COME DOWN & HIT MYSELF ON HEAD. INJURY WAS MINOR & DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE SUPPORT ROD POPPED OFF OF THE HATCHBACK, CAUSING THE HATCHBACK TO FALL DOWN ON CONSUMER'S HEAD. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED ROLLOVER OF SUV AND DEATH OF CHILD. TREAD WEAR AT TIME OF CRASH WAS 25,000 MILES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIMO204 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK