NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHEN OWNER TOOK TRUCK FOR STATE INSPECTION THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SURFACE ON THE ROTORS WERE PEELING OFF IN CHUNCKS. OWNER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY BRAKING PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE EXPLORER , THE FRONT LINK PIN FELL OFF, WAS MISSING. *AK
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS/RADIO AND POWER DOOR LOCKS TO FAIL. *AK
ON MAY 9, 1998 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A USED 1995 FORD EXPLORER FROM HOOKS FORD IN GRANBURY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE MY HUSBAND COMMENTED ON ONE OF THE TIRES. THE SALESMAN ASSURED US HE WOULD HAVE THE SERVICE DEPT. CHECK THE TIRES. AFTER MERELY "ROTATING" THE TIRES, THEY DECLARED IT SAFE. THREE DAYS LATER, MAY 12, 1998 WHILE DRIVING HOME TO AUSTIN, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER AND ROLL 5 1/2 TIMES. A FOUR YEAR-OLD CHILD WAS THROWN THROUGH A WINDOW AND SURVIVED. A SECOND CHILD RESTRAINED IN A CAR SEAT WAS PHYSICALLY UNHARMED. THE DRIVER, MYSELF, REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED BUT MY SEAT BELT FAILED AND I SUSTAINED A COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF MY NECK, LACERATION OF MY HEAD AND EAR, AND WENT INTO A COMA. WE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO FORD AND NEVER HEARD BACK FROM EITHER. WE CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY AND BECAUSE WE NO LONGER "HAD" THE VEHICLE IN HAND, HE COULDN'T PROVE ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND WAS FOLLOWING THE EXPLORER IN A U-HAUL AND WATCHED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. THIS ACCIDENT CHANGED MY LIFE, AS I SUSTAINED PERMENANT INJURIES. OUR FAMILY WAS DEVISTATED. IF THERE IS EVERY A CLASS ACTION SUIT OR ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAMILY FROM ENDURING WHAT WE WENT THROUGH. PLEASE LET US KNOW! WE DO HAVE PICTURES FROM THE ACCIDENT AND PROOF I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, WHICH FAILED. WE DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TIRE THAT BLEW, CAUSING THE WRECK.*AK
CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL 00T005 AND IS HAVING TROUBLE SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
A STUD IN THE SWAY BAR LINK ASSEMBLY, WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN AND NOT TORQUED PROPERLY ALLOWING NUT TO WORK LOOSE AND FAIL ALLOWING ASSEMBLY TO FALL COMPLETELY FREE FROM VEHICLE.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE SERVO SEAL FAILED.
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF ROTORS AND PADS WHICH ARE CAUSING ERRATIC NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FREEDOM FORD IS THE DEALERSHIP THAT PROVIDED A $2,772.85 ESTIMATE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM COLORADO SPRINGS JEEP/EAGLE INC. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME AT 55706 MILES, REBUILT AT A COST OF $2,628.92. NOW IT HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME WITH AN ADDITIONAL 51644 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED MOSTLY FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING, AS I COMMUTE A 101 MILES EACH DAY. IT HAS NOT BEEN USED TO TOW AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE DURING SNOW STORMS. THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN NEGLECTED AND THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE FAILED UNLESS THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I DID BRIEF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. THERE IS INFORMATION THAT INDICATES THAT FORD IS AWARE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS USED IN THESE VEHICLES HAVE DESIGN DEFECTS, ARE POOR QUALITY AND THAT THEY HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE. HOWEVER, FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS. I INTEND TO PURSUE THIS SITUATION AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE OR INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN PROVIDE. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US. *AK
DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK, CAUSINGFLUID LEAKS.
2 FAILURES LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE, LINK BROKE AND FELL OFF CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OWNER WAS ADVISED BY TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT FAILURE WAS UNPREVENTABLE AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN FORD EXPLORERS.
PRIOR TO ACCIDENT I COULD NOT KEEP THE TIRES BALANCED. I ALSO HAD THE 16 INCH TIRES FAIL ON MY 1998 EXPLORER. I COULD NOT KEEP THEM BALANCED AND THEY WOULD BOUNCE ALL OVER. I REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 INCH )
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. FIRE STARTED IN DASH AREA OF VEHICLE. FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY LOST. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
FLUID WHICH WAS LATER CONFIRMED TO BE OIL FROM OVERFLOW TANK SPILLED OUT ON BRAKES ON PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD TO DRIVE 2 HOURS BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IN GALAX, VA CLOSED AT NOON ON SATURDAYS. IF I WAS BY MYSELF IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY BUT I HAD MY CHILD WITH ME. TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD CONFIRMED THE SITUATION AND STATED THAT FORD HAD SENT OUT A MEMO SAYING IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN WARRANTEE THE COULD PUT THE COVER ON TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM BUT DUE TO MY MILEAGE I HAD TO PAY $375.OO NOT INCLUDING PARTS TO HAVE THIS TAKING CARE OF. MY QUESTION IS IF THEY PUT THIS DEVICE ON AND KNEW THIS COULD HAPPEN WHY NOT WARN THE CONSUMER INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT THIS WAY AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHICH WAS NOT OF MY MAKING. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; GOT A CLAIMS NUMBER AND THAT WAS IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID CALL TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD WHICH THE REGIONAL REP STILL HASN'T RESPONDED. NEXT, I SENT THEM A E-MAIL STATING THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO RESPONSE. ON THE TIRES, WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE MYSELF, EXCEPT FOR THE SPARE WHICH IS A FIRESTONE, SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED STATING THAT SINCE THEY WERE ONLY THEY WERE ONLY THE STATESIDE RECEIVING DEALERSHIP THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE TIRES BLEW OUT LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH FORD. ACCORDING TO THE DISTANCE OF TRAVEL I HAVE RESORTED TO RENTING SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I CAN REPLACE A VEHICLE BUT NOT A LIFE. HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING WHICH WAS ALREADY THERE TO BEGIN WITH. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *AK
THE REAR SEAT FRAME LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO WORK. NEED TO USE A TOOL TO RELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM TO REMOVE OR FOLD SEAT DOWN. MANUFACTURER GAVE OKAY TO REPAIR SEAT. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR, EVEN UNDER WARRANTY.
RADIO FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FIRESTONE ATX, 235/75R15 .*AK THE TREAD SEPARATION DAMAGED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND BODY PANEL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED THE CUSTOMER FOR THE DAMAGES. *YH
COURTESY LIGHT BULB SHORTED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASH WHICH CAUGHT FIRE.
WITH PARKING BRAKE SET, THE REAR DISC PADS FROZE TO THE ROTOR. UPON STARTING VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE MOTION OF THE WHEEL RIPPED THE BRAKE CALIPER FROM ITS MOUNTING (SEPARATING THE PADS FROM THE ROTOR.) THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE WAS SEVERED RESULTING IN LOSS OF BREAK FLUID AND ULTIMATELY LOSS BRAKING. EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS BROKEN PROVIDING NO MECHANICAL BACKUP BRAKING SYSTEM.
PARKING BRAKE SHOES WERE FROZEN TO ROTOR AND RIPPED THE CALIPER AND DRUM ASSEMBLY LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED MOVING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERED RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LOSS AND LOSS OF BRAKING FUNCTION.
ON THE 1995 FORD EXPLORER, THERE EXISTS A PROBLEM WHEREAS AN INDIVIDUALS COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY, DUE TO THE LOCK MECHANISMS HIGH RATE OF FAILURE (POOR QUALITY MATERIAL) ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS. TO DATE, THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, DUE TO THE (APPARENT) LOCK LINKAGE BREAKING ON EACH DOOR.
VEHICLE FELT AS IF SOMEONE/SOMETHING PICK UP THE REAR END AND STARTED GUIDING IT TOWARD THE RIGHT HAND LANE. AFTER AN UNCONTROLLABLE RIDE, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE LEFT LANE AND THE SUV ROLLED OVER AND SLID 50 TO 60 FEET UP SIDE DOWN, VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP UP SID DOWN. I ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVER WINDOW TO GET OUT, THE PASSENAGER WINDOW BLEW OUT. DUE TO A TIRE BLOWOUT AND PEELED LIKE A BANANA, SUV TOTALLED.
THE SPARE TIRE IS 15 INCHES, BUT TRUCK WAS ORDERED FROM FORD WITH THE 16 INCH TIRE AND WHEEL PACKAGE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED (PARKING PAWL) WHILE IN PARKED GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH FENCE.
CLUTCH HYDRAULIC SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED 3 TIMES, BUT VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR HARSHLY. MOST MILEAGE HAS BEEN HIGH SPEED USE OVER INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS FROM HERE TO FLORIDA OR NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA, WITHOUT EXCESSIVE SHIFTING. FIRST FAILURE, 12/31/97, I WAS TOLD SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AFTER A REPORTED PROLONGED PERIOD OF SQUEALING. THE SQUEALING OCCURRED AS CLUTCH PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. DEALER REPAIRED IT, SHARING THE COST, SINCE IT WAS ONLY AFTER 2/12 YEARS OLD. SECOND FAILURE, 03/04/98 AFTER SQUEALING NOISE AGAIN DEVELOPED. CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REBUILT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AT EACH SERVICE VISIT, I REPORTED THE RETURN OF THE SQUEALING THAT PRECEDED OTHER HYDRAULIC FAILURE. 01/21/99 SLAVE CYL. FAILED AGAIN. I LEARNED FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAD A NHTSA TECH. SERVICE BULLETIN, BC2301970501, IN HIS POSSESSION SINCE NOV. OF 1997, PRECEEDING THE FIRST CLUTCH FAILURE. THIS TSB ADVISED REPLACING THE SLAVE CYLINDER LIP SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THE DEALER DID NOT DO THIS THE TWO TIMES HE REPLACED THE SLAVE CYLINDER, NOW IT'S FAILED AGAIN, AND LEAKS. WHO KNOWS IF IT WILL FAIL AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE. *AK
CENTER CONSOLE CAUGHT FIRE.
GOING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & HIT TELEPHONE POLE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT BUT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE LEFT HAND STABILIZER BAR LINKAGE BROKE. THIS THREW THE VEHICLE INTO THE LEFT LANE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM. *AK
LINKAGE TO THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING.
#3 PISTON HAD A HOLE BURNT THROUGH IT.
VEHICLE SHAKING WITH UNWANTED ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LACK OF CONTROL.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES (P255/R16), CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SKIDDING AND TREAD. *SLC
THE DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH REAR SIDES IS INOPERATIVE. FEELS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS BENT IN THE MECHANISM SYSTEM OF THE INSIDE DOOR. ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS ARE BY OUTSIDE. DEALER REPLACED NEW HANDLE ONE YEAR AGO, DEFECT IS STILL REOCCURRING. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. *AK
SERVICE BULLETIN: VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO 6/20/95. PREMATURE FAILURE; FLASHING OF TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE OFF LAND. RESULT: STALLING. CONSEQUENCE: NEEDING REPLACEMENT. *AK *SLC
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH , ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. USING BOTH FEET, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A STOP. TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE NEXT DAY DRIVING ON SAME HIGHWAY THE SAME THING OCCURRED, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *AK
ANTI-SWAY BAR DETACHED FROM SUSPENSION AT LOW SPEED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, PULLING INTO A INTERSECTION, THE STEERING LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL DUE TO A BROKEN STEERING COUPLER. THE STEERING COUPLER WAS REPLACED ON 9/24/97 BY DEALERSHIP. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, TRYING TO STOP, THE ACCELERATOR SPED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO A TREE . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, RIPPING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON BOTH OCCASIONS. *SLC
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P255 70 R16) EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION AND A BLOWOUT. *SLC
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE DAMAGE AND BODILY INJURY (FIRESTONE ATX 15"). NLM
TIRE BLOW-OUT ON 2 YR OLD CAR WITH 32,000 MILES WITH NO APPARENT REASON. IMMEDIATELY REPLACED TIRES, WITH MICHELINS AT COST OF $500. STILL HAVE PAPERWORK. WITH ALL THE ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TIRES, HAS THERE BEEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST FORD AND FIRESTONE? IF NOT, WHAT IS MY RECOURSE FOR RECOVERY OF MONEY SPENT NOW THAT PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN SURFACED BY OTHER MOTORISTS. THANKS, R. VAUGHAN.....P.S. PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS TO GENERAL WYKLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BOTH REAR DOORS HANDLES BROKE OFF FROM INSIDE. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR ULESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
I HAVE HAD 3 TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER. I BOUGHT IT NEW. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WAS REBUILT. THE NEXT FAILURE OCCURRED JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST REBUILD. I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THE THIRD FAILURE IS JUST BEGINNING WITH THE OD LIGHT FLASHING AND A HARD CLUNK WHEN THE AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR.*AK
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY IN ORDER TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE ACCELRATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT MOVING THE FEET WHATSOEVER, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP IT. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE CABLE. *AK
VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND SHUTS DOWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP.
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW, FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE CAME DOWN SO HARD, CRUSHED CHROME RIM AND BENT FRAME (TIRE MAKE NOT PROVIDED, TIRE SIZE P25570R16). CJ