1991 Ford Explorer

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1996· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN IT SHOULD AND RELEASED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T PRIOR TO RECALL.

• 12/27/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE FAILURE, IN FOR REPAIR, REPLACED CALIPERS ON THE FRONT AND PADS/ROTORS, THE PADS ARE COMING UNATTCHED FROM THE CALIPERS, CAUSING THEM TO COME OUT OF ROUND AND BE DAMAGED. *AK

• 12/27/1996· SEATS

  WHEN MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE SEAT TRACK SOMETIMES SEAT DOESN'T LOCK, GOES ALWAYS BACK . *AK

• 12/25/1999· EQUIPMENT

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 12/23/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE.

• 12/22/2003· WHEELS

  WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE. UPON PULLING OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND ITS ATTACHMENTS SEPARATED AND FELL OFF. *AK

• 12/21/2003· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AFTER HEARING A STRANGE DRAGGING NOISE MY LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF AFTER RETREIVING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE ROTOR BRAKE CHAMBER WAS STILL BOLTED TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL SOME BEARINGS LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD FALLEN OUT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SNAPPED THE SUSPENTION AROUND THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BY MY TRIPLE AAA TOWING COMPANY RENTED A CAR AND USED THE INTERNET TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE THIS REPORT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE AN MANUFACTURES DEFAULT I ALSO TOOK PICTURES AND HAVE NOT WORKED ON THE VEHICLE I AM WAAITING YOUR RESPONSE SO I CAN GET AN ESTIMATE FROM AN CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS OF YET I HAVE NOT CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY. *AK

• 12/21/2000· TIRES

  SPARE TIRE DROPPED OFF VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY, CABLE BROKE. UNAWARE OF EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENED. AM NOT AWARE OF ANY INCIDENT CAUSED BY THE LOSS OF THE SPARE TIRE. MY EXPLORER HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT/RUST AS MUCH AS OTHERS I HAVE SEEN IN OUR AREA. POTENTIALLY, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF UNDERBODY MOUNTED SPARE TIRES POISED TO DROP OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. I LOST MY SPARE WHEEL/TIRE CAUSE I DID NOT KNOW IT DROPPED OFF.

• 12/21/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN THE "PARK" POSITION, TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND A CRASH. THERE WAS RECALL 91V189000 UNDER WHICH THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/21/1995· POWER TRAIN

  LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OWNER OF THE CAR WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TT

• 12/20/2021· SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  The component that malfunctioned was the abs sensor. It is not available for inspection. I was driving going around 45 in traffic and the drivers side rear brake locked up and spun me out of control and caused me to collide with another vehicle. I only lightly pressed the brakes and it happened suddenly and unexpectedly. It was not inspected before it was towed after the accident. There were no warning lamps.

• 12/20/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE PROPORTIONING VALVE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (SELF ADJUSTING MECHANISM) CAUSING POOR STOPPING ABILITY. *MJS

• 12/20/1999· POWER TRAIN

  ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SHIFTING ITSELF INTO FORWARD DRIVE OR LOW GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/20/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  GAS TANK LEAKS.

• 12/20/1996· SEATSCrash

  DRIVER'S SEATBACK COMPLETELY COLLAPSED WHEN VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING 25 MPH; SEATBACK WOULD NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK

• 12/19/1996· SEATSCrash

  OWNER STATES THAT THE LATCH IN THE MIDDLE OF REAR SEAT THAT HOLDS CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOES NOT STAY LATCHED, HE NOTES THAT VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT AND LATCH DID NOT HOLD. *AK

• 12/17/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND HEARD A JINGLE NOISE. HE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER, AND LOOKED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SWERVED/ HIT A TREE STUMP, AND ROLLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

• 12/17/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  WHILE RIDING ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC, OWNER STATES WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE USED DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

• 12/13/1995· STEERING

  WHEEL BROKE OFF AT SPINDLE WHILE DRIVING. TT

• 12/13/1995· STEERING

  WHEEL BROKE OFF AT SPINDLE WHILE DRIVING. TT

• 12/12/2003· AIR BAGS,SEATS

  LETTER REGARDING RECALL 03S04 SEAT RECLINER BOLT..*MR (NAR) *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS NEEDED. *JB

• 12/12/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMERS HOME GARAGE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTICED GASOLINE SMELL, CONSUMER WENT TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND IT EXPLODED, BURNING THE CONSUMER, VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE. *MJS

• 12/12/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT APPLYING GAS PEDAL, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED, PUT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND TURNED CAR OFF TO STOP IT. *AK

• 12/11/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 12/11/1997· STRUCTURE

  ARM REST SUPPORT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *AK

• 12/11/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FAN BLADE CRACKED.

• 12/10/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT

  I BOUGHT A 1991 FORD EXPLORER 1 1/2 YEARS AGO FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID HE WAS TIRED OF PUTTING BRAKES ON IT. SINCE HE HAD JUST DONE IT AGAIN, I DIDN'T EXPECT ANY TROUBLE FOR A WHILE. 17,000 MILES LATER, ALL BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS ETC., NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IT IS AVERAGING 20,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS MODEL WAS "BAD FOR PUSHING THE PADS OFF THE SHOES." WHILE PAYING MY BILL, I NOTICED ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE ON THE RACK GETTING THE SAME THING DONE. IS THIS AN EPIDEMIC OR AM I JUST UNLUCKY? I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS SUBJECT AND NOTHING IS WRONG. RIGHT! VIN IS [XXX] I CAN'T GET THIS TO SEND WITHOUT ENTERING SOMETHING ON THE EQUIPMENT PAGES WHICH DOES NOT APPLY. PLEASE IGNORE. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/10/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35MPH ON WET ROAD WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. STEERED VEHICLE TO LEFT TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE STARTED SKIDDING. HIT A TREE STUMP AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. OUT OF VEHICLE, AND NOTICED PADS HAD FALLEN OFF INTO ROTORS. PADS HAD GOUGES. DISC PADS WERE MISSING.*AK

• 12/10/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH BLEW SMOKE INTO THE CAB. THE DEALER SAID TREE LEAVES HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE AIR INTAKE DUCTS AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE DUCT, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE TO BE SUCKED INTO THE CAB. IN THE NOVEMBER 2, 1998 ISSUE OF AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, ON PAGE 15, THERE IS A REPORT OF A NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON 1992-1994 EXPLORERS FOR THIS VERY REASON! THE REPORT STATES THAT 14 COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED. MAKE THAT 15. MINE IS A 1991, HOWEVER. THE FIRE CAUSED ABOUT $300 IN DAMAGE TO THE DUCT SYSTEM. *MJS

• 12/10/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO LATCH PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIRS (92V-113). *AK

• 12/10/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE ENGINE FAN HAS SOME CRACKS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 12/09/1996· STRUCTURE

  THE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, TOOK TO DEALER, CAN'T FIND PROBLEM; THIS HAPPENED A YEAR AGO . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 12/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,WHEELS

  THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE GAS STATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL IN IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE LOST ITS FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT NO LUGS; BOLTS WERE PUT BACK ON THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING ENGINE WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. WHY WOULD THEY TAKE THE WHEELS OFF TO SERVICE THE ENGINE, AND THEN NOT PUT THE BOLTS BACK ON. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS AN ACT OF VANDALISM. *SC *JB

• 12/08/1998· VISIBILITY

  DESIGN FLAW OF THE VENTILLATION SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR LEAVES TO ENTER THE PLENUM CHAMBER CAUSING BURNING AND POTENTIAL FIRE, DAMAGE TO THE BLOWER MOTOR DUE TO BURNING,

• 12/07/2000· EQUIPMENT

  DUE TO CLIMAX OF WEATHER IN THIS STATE WIRE THAT USED TO SUPPORT SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE RUSTED, AND BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DROP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

• 12/07/1999· EQUIPMENT

  SINCE THE A/C CAN NOT RUN W/O THE HARNESS SPARKING, IT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. NO BRAKE LINE INTERFERENCE FOUND. *AK

• 12/07/1994· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTER FAILURE. *AW

• 12/06/2002· TIRES

  2 TIRES SHOW FEATHERING & 2 TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND. DT

• 12/06/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  WHILE COMING AROUND A CURVE ON A WET ROAD AND APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 12/05/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  GAS GAUGE FAILED BY REGISTERING MORE GAS THAN ACTUALLY EXISTED. *AK

• 12/03/1997· VISIBILITY

  EA97011, THE DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED UNNECESSARY INJURIES OR ACCIDENT. *AK

• 12/02/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY. *AK

• 12/01/1995· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END SHIMMIES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS A HARMONIC THAT DEVELOPS BETWEEN MOTOR MOUNTS AND TIRES, THERE IS A TECH SVC BULLETIN NO 95-22-16 REF TO PROBLEM.

• 11/30/2000· TIRES

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELLING 70 MPH OR MORE, THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ALIGNED, HOWEVER THE VIBRATION DID NOT GO AWAY, LATER A MECHANIC FOUND THE FIRESTONE ATX WILDERNESS TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

• 11/30/2000· EQUIPMENT

  CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL. CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE SPARE TIRE REPLACED.*AK UPON INSPECTION, THE CABLE WAS FOUND RUSTED THROUGH AND THE TIRE SUPPORT MECHANISM WAS MISSING. *SLC

• 11/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE GENTLY DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE NEVER WENT OFF ROAD WITH IT,CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500 MILES,LEASED ANOTHER CAR TO PRESERVE MY SUV,WHAT I HAVE NOW IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS LITERRLY FALLING APART,EVERYTHING FROM THE PAINT TO THE FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE INTERIOR TRIM ON IS FAILING.I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY SUV AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY.DO I SOUND MAD WELL WOULDN'T YOU BE? *AK

• 11/28/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 11/27/2006· STRUCTURE

  COPY OF LETTER TO FMC: I OWN A 1991 FORD EXPLORER 4WD XLT [XXX]. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 11/9/96, FROM CROWN DODGE, VENTURA, CALIFORNIA. THE SELLING DEALER ASSURED ME AT THE TIME THAT NO RECALLS WERE OUTSTANDING ON THIS VEHICLE. ON NOVEMBER 11/22/06, AS I CLOSED THE HATCH ON THIS VEHICLE, THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE RIGHT-SIDE LIFTGATE GAS ASSIST CYLINDER TO THE HATCH TORE AWAY FROM THE HATCH. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (NUMBER 95I007000) WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER 1995 TO REINFORCE THIS BRACKET. THE CAMPAIGN STATED THAT "IF A BRACKET AND GAS ASSIST CYLINDER WERE TO DETACH COMPLETELY FROM THE LIFTGATE AND NO LONGER BEAR AGAINST THE LIFTGATE AS INTENDED, THE REMAINING CYLINDER WOULD NOT HOLD THE LIFTGATE IN AN OPEN POSITION. PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR." THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS FOR FORD DEALERS TO REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED TODAY THEY COULD NOT HONOR THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. REBECCA (#6048) AT THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL CENTER TOLD ME THE CAMPAIGN HAD EXPIRED, AND COULDN'T OFFER ASSISTANCE. YOUR COMPANY'S RESPONSE TO DATE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE BRACKET WAS ATTACHED TO THE HATCH BY ONLY TWO SMALL SPOT WELDS, AS IS THE LEFT-SIDE BRACKET. THE FAILURE STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY, ESPECIALLY IF THE LEFT-SIDE BRACKET WERE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS APPARENTLY NOT REPAIRED UNDER THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CAMPAIGN NOR OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DEFECT REPAIRED. SINCE THE SAFETY HAZARD THAT THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN SOUGHT TO RESOLVE STILL EXISTS ON MY VEHICLE, I REQUEST THAT THE BROKEN BRACKET BE REPAIRED AND THE REMAINING BRACKET REINFORCED AT NO CHARGE TO ME, PER THE INTENT OF THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. [XXX] *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 11/27/1996· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING; TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WENT OUT . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 11/27/1996· POWER TRAIN

  4-WHEEL DRIVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOUD CLUNK WHEN ROTATING TIRES.