1991 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 5 P.M. ON 4/28/2000. I CONTINUED WITH MY DAILY ACTIVITIES AND MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT. AT APPROX. 6P.M. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 45 MPH WHEN A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE WENT IMMEDIATELY INTO A 90+ DEGREE SLIDE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED 1 FULL TIME AND LANDED UPRIGHT FACING THE LANE I WAS JUST IN. I'VE DRIVEN 3 CARS WITHOUT ABS AND I'VE NEVER HAD THE REAR TIRES LOCK UP SO EASILY. *AK

THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR ROCKER PANELS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMOUNGST FORD EXPLORER'S (1991-1994). MANY AUTO BODY SHOPS HAVE CONFIMED THAT THIS CRONIC PROBLEM IS A A RESULT OF POOR DESIGN OF NOT ADDING DRAIN HOLES IN THE REAR PROPORTION OF THE ROCKER PANELS. THOUGH THIS MATTER IS NOT A SAFTEY FACTOR IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARK POSITION BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL WHEEL OFF TO RETURN TO NORMAL WHILE TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE WHERE THE FUEL SMELL AT TIMES WAS COMING FROM THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE . GAS WAS LEAKING OUT RAPIDLY FROM TOP OF GAS TANK. UPON INSPECTION THE FUEL SENDING UNIT CORRODED OUT AT THE TUBES THAT PROTRUDE FRON SENDING UNIT COVER. THE COVER AND THE RETAINER ARE ALSO VERY ROTTED ALONG WITH THE TABS THAT THE RETAINER(LOCK RING) SLIDES UNDER TO HOLD THE SENDING UNIT IN THE TANK. WHILE I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTO BUSINESS MANY YEARS I HAVE MADE SOME CALLS AND HAVE TALKED TO SOME OTHER MECHANICS ,AND CUSTOMERS, THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPLORERS TOO. I FEEL THAT A PART THAT IS TRANSPORTING GAS UNDER PRESSURE, SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE MADE OF BETTER MATERIAL SO AS NOT TO RUST AWAY AT ALL. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. *AK.ET.

CONSUMER SHUT ENGINE OFF AND WENT INSIDE A BUSINESS FOR A SHORT PERIOD. THEN WAS NOTIFIED THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM WINDOW. GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. BUT, BY THIS TIME THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED VEHICLE SHAKING. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND TIRE A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN COMING TO A GRAUDAL STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED REAR OF VEHICLE SHAKING. ALSO, A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TRAVELING AT 15 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER INDICATED THAT HORSE CLIP BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES, CAUSING AXLE TO SEPARATE. HORSE CLIP REPLACED. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHEN TRAVELING, THE SAME AXLE ONCE AGAIN DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 50MPH SPARE TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE, AN D HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

MY INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO USE. THESE HAVE FAILED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND MY INQUIRIES TO THE MANUFACTURER HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED, REPORTEDLY BECAUSE MY REPORTS AND THOSE OF OTHERS HAVE FAILED TO RESULT IN EITHER A RECALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THRESHOLD. I HAVE VOLENTARILY REPLACED BOTH REAR DOOR PANELS AT MY COST. THE PASSENGER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY PASSENGERS HANDS A FEW WEEKS AGO, SO I MAILED IT BACK TO FORD WITH A DETAILED LETTER. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE YOU THAT LETTER IF YOU REQUEST IT. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER (NON-ELECTRONIC) DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED: ONE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY AND ONE CAN NOT BE LOCKED. I ALSO FEEL THESE CONDITIONS ARE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. *AK