1994 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

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

THE SPARE TIRE IS SUPPORTED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BY A STEEL CABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM. I WAS TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AND HIT A BUMP. THE CABLE SUPPORTING THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. APPARENTLY THE CABLE HAD RUSTED AND BECAME WEAK. THE TIRE DROPPED ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS A NUMBER OF VEHICLES DIRECTELY BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. THE TIRE BOUNCED APPROXIMATELY 3 - 4 FEET IN THE AIR IN FRONT THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND MY VEHICLE. LUCKLY ALL OF THE OTHER VEHICLES MISSED THE TIRE. THE TIRE ROLLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. AFTER RETURNING TO THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE TIRE DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE, I SEARCHED THE ROAD AND DITCH, AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE SPARE TIRE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE VEHICLE DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURIES. AFTER REPORTING THE PROBLEM, AND ASKING ABOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS AT A LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. HOWEVER WHEN BUYING A NEW SPARE TIRE AND RIM FROM A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM OF FORD EXPLORERS AND PICKUP TRUCKS.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE, IT WILL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING OR DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO START VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE BRAKING PEDAL FELT SPONGY AND STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO LEFT, THEN LOCKED UP. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THE FRONT TIRES HAVE SLITS IN THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WE HAD TEST DROVE IT AND WHEN WE GOT IT ON THE HIGHWAY WE NOTICED A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. WE TOLD THE DEALER OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHECK INTO IT. THEY SAID THEY HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE TIRES LOOKED BRAND NEW WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. WE CONTINUED WITH THE PURCHASE AND LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT DONE THE SAME THING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE ONLY TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WAS WHEN YOU WERE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH OTHER THAN THAT IT DROVE FINE. THEN MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL I WOULD HAVE TO PUT AIR IN IT EVERY DAY. MY HUSBAND PUT SOME OTHER TIRES ON AND WHEN THE TIRES WERE REMOVED ONE OF THEM HAD 6 WEIGHTS ON IT. THE 2 FRONT TIRES BOTH HAD LARGE CRACKS. ONCE THE NEWER TIRES WERE PUT ON THE SHAKING ON THE HIGHWAY HAS STOPPED. I SEE SO MUCH ABOUT THE BAD TIRES ON THE FORD EXPLORER, THAT IT LEADS ME TO WONDER, IS IT THE TIRES OR IS IT THE EXPLORER? I DO NOT SEE HOW THERE COULD BE SO MANY DIFFERENT TIRES THAT WOULD HAVE DEFECTS. I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LIES WITH FORD AND NOT WITH FIRESTONE OR THE OTHER TIRE COMPANIES WHO HAVE PAID TO REPLACE THESE TIRES. THE TRED ON THE TIRES IS STILL GOOD BUT THEY ARE NOT USABLE BECAUSE OF THE CRACKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN . DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

BOTH REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT RETRACTORS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

TEXAS "SALVAGE TRUCK" HOW DID IT GET "RESOLD" IN ARIZONA!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

DUELER APT, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON A 1994 ,FORD, EXPLORER WITH 99000 MILES. TREAD SEPARATION ON REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE AT 75 MPH.*AK THE TREAD OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE, LOCKING THE REAR WHEELS AND CAUSED CONSUMERS VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE TIRES HAD BEEN CHECKED TWENTY MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR PROPER PRESSURE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TREADS WERE FINE. CONSUMER TRIED TALKING TO FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE DEALER. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO CONSUMER THAT THE PARTICULAR TIRE WAS MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEARS AND THEY COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT. *JG

STRUTS THAT HOLD TRUNK OPEN BROKE, AND HATCH DOOR CAN STAY OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK