1991 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

ALL FOUR TIRES SHAKE AND WOBBLE VERY HARD. TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE THE FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15 M/S. TIRES ARE THE EXACT SAME TIRES AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VEHICLE IS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE ON THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SHAKES AND ALSO THE STEERING IS OVER SENSITIVE. *SLC

THE EXTERIOR PAINT HAS NOT WORN OFF IN A NORMAL FASHION. IT HAS FALLEN OFF IN LARGE (AVERAGE 3-INCH DIAMETER) CHUNKS, LEAVING BEHIND UNSIGHTLY SPOTS OF EXPOSED (AND THEREFORE RUSTED) METAL FRAME. THIS EXTREME AND STRANGE WEATHERING PROCESS WAS NOT CAUSED BY SOME EXTREME CLIMATIC CONDITIONS BUT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A POOR PAINT JOB OR LOW QUALITY PAINT. NOSAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

1ST INCIDENT: STEEL BELT BROKE AND BEGAN FLAPPING AGAINST REAR LEFT FENDER WITH TERRIFIC NOISE, CAR SHAKING, UNTIL BROKE OFF AND COULD STOP. WAS TRAVELING AT 74 M/P/H. COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF FAULTY TIRE HAD BEEN ON FRONT WHEEL.-2ND TIME CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLING AT 20M/P/H, SUSPECTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON A TIRE. AT A LATER OPPORTUNITY, WHILE PUMPING GAS, DISCOVERED R/FRONT TIRE'S STEEL BELT SHOWING THRU OUTER TIRE (AGAIN STEEL BELT BREAKING). LUCKILY DISCOVERED JUST IN TIME.= 3RD TIME, CAR SHAKING AT 65M/P/H. THIS TIME WENT TO GOOD YEAR. THEY FOUND THE 3RD FIRESTONE TIRE SEPARATING. THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW. IHAD ALL 4 FIRESTONE TIRES REPLACED WITH GOOD YEAR , WANTED FIRESTONE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR FROM THE 1ST INCIDENT. TO DO SO, THEY INSISTED ON MY SENDING THEM THE DAMAGED TIRE, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE (LEFT WITH FIRESTONE STORE WHEN REPLACING BAD TIRE). I CONSIDER FIRESTONE TIRES AS VERY HAZZARDOUS, REQUIRING CONSTANT VIGILANCE. WOULD NOT WANT THEM EVER AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF HER FIRESTONE TIRES, ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE (CAR WAS SHAKING AT 65 M/P/H). SAME THING HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY RELATIVES. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU URGE THAT FORD CHANGES ITS BRAND OF TIRES ON ITC CARS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

1991 FORD EXPLORER COOLING SYSTEM WAS INADEQUATE TO COOL THE 4.0L V-6 ENGINE ADAPTED FROM THE FORD F100 SERIES TRUCK. I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE COOKS THERMOSTATS ABOUT EVERY 2 YEARS OR 30000 MILES. A AM A MARINE AND WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS FOR 6 MONTHS, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING SIGNIFICANTLY. SHE REPORTED THIS TO SANDERS FORD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE TEMP GAUGE HAD NEVER MOVED BEFORE BUT THEY INSISTED THAT IT NORMALLY FLUCTUATES. ABOUT 2 WKS LATER, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOOSING COOLANT CONSTANTLY. SHE TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO SANDER FORD, IN JACKSONVILLE, NC AND AFTER FORFEITING $1478.32 AND 2 DAYS LOSS OF THE VEHICLE, HER SUSPICION WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD WARPED. THIS COMMON PROBLEM TO THE EARLY MODEL FORD EXPLORERS HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED BY FORD. MORE ALARMING IS THE PROPENSITY OF FORD DEALERSHIPS TO BE DISHONEST AND MONOPOLIZING IN OVERPRICING PARTS AND SERVICE. WE HAVE OBSERVED THIS IN CA, VA, NC, AND HI. FORD MOTOR CO APPEARS UNABLE TO CONTROL QUALITY OF SERVICE IN ITS FRANCHISE DEALERSHIPS.*AK

WHILE HARD BRAKING JUMPED A CURB TO AVOID A CAR, REAR PASSENGER HIT FRONT SEAT. THE SEAT BELT BROKE FREE FROM THE BUCKLE. THE BUCKLE WAS MESSED UP WITH RED PLASTIC PARTS ALL OVER THE REAR SEATS. THE PASSENGER WAS AN ADULT ~ 150LBS. WE ALL WERE SEAT BLETS FOR SAFETY BUT THE BUCKLE IN THE EXPLORER BURSTED APART-- THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. IF THERE HAD BEEN A COLISION THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER COULD HAS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SYSTEM NEED LOOKING INTO. I STILL HAVE THE PLASTIC PARTS IF ONE WANT TO SEE THEM. TERRY WADE. *AK

CONFIRMATION INFO...COLUMES DOESN'T MY INFO....BUT TO ADD TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE, WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS REPAINTED BY AAA, BRAKES WENT OUT, REPLACED CABLE WIRES TO BATTRERY- WIRED COAT HANGER PIECES IN WITH CABLE WIRES...

EA00012, SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE; END OF THE CABLE, THAT IS USED TO WINCH THE SPARE TIRE TO BODY, RUSTED, RESULTNG IN LOSS OF SPARE TIRE. OWNER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPARE TIRE CABLE. OWNER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE WINCH REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL. *AK *ML

THE QUESTIONNAIRE DOES NOT FIT MY COMPLAINT. THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE FRONT LEFT AND REAR RIGHT HAVE BROKEN. THIS MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOORS TIGHTLY. I HAVE LOOKED INTO SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME INSIDE DOOR PANELS AND THEY ALSO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THE HANDLES BROKEN. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN SINCE IT SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO ONE LIKE MINE YET AND NOT FOUND AT LEAST ONE HANDLE BROKEN. I E-MAILED TO FORD INQUIRING INTO RATHER THERE HAD BEEN AN RECALL ON THE INSIDE DOOR PANELS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLY. ALSO THE FRONT RIGHT PANNEL HAS A CRACK IN IT. *AK

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

I ALREADY ENTERED A COMPLAINT (#722389) THEN I READ THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND REALIZED THAT 2 THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE NORMAL MIGHT NOT BE. THE FRIST ONE BEING THAT A I HEARD THE SQUISHY NOISE COMING FROM MY MASTER CYLINDER/ VACUUM BOOSTER THE PEDAL WAS ALWAYS SOFT BUT I NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANY DIFFICULY STOPPING THAT I CAN REMEMBER. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT AFTER MY EXPLORER ROLLED AND CAME TO REST, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS COMPLETELY LAID BACK. *AK