1993 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

VEHICLE SHAKES AT 60 MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER STATED A KIT TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS NEEDED. *AK

I HAVE HAD 3 BLOWOUTS AT 60-70 MPH ALL ON THE RIGHT REAR, 2 WITH FIRESTONE AND 1 WITH GOODYEAR, ALSO PREMATURE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE THAT I FEEL HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY VIBRATION AT HIWAY SPEEDS. FORD HAS A TSB 96-04-16 THAT REPAIRS THIS VIBRATION AT A COST OF $1600. WITH THE EXPLORER THESE FAILURES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE MADE A SAFETY RECALL MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL 90-94 EXPLORER OWNERS AT NO COST . THANK YOU.*JB

ANTI-FREEZE IS LEAKING INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH MAKE IT HARD TO SEE WHEN ANTI-FREEZE IS NEEDED TO DEFOG WINDOW.

IN 1998 MY FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR NHTSB ID # 97V083000, COMPONENT: VISUAL SYSTEMS: MIRRORS. THE RECALL WAS TO CORRECT A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITH CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF A SEPARATED PART OF THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY BRIDGING THE SWITCH POSITIVE BATTERY PAD AND ADJACENT CHASSIS GROUND PAD. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. BUT, THE EXACT DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL OCURRED ON MY VEHICLE. EVIDENTLY THE INSTALLATION OF A 10 AMP INLINE FUSE WAS NOT A POSITIVE CORRECTION TO THIS DEFECT! I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE "SWITCH". I HAVE THE SWITCH IN MY POSSESSION IF NEEDED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE SWITCH. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMERS NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDOWS, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, HOWEVER BY THE TIME THE DOORS WERE OPENED FLAMES WERE SMOLDERING IN THE FRONT SEATS, FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC

THE ALUMINUM FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER UNIT UNDER THE HOOD HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND IT THE DUCTS FRESH AIR INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER BLOWER DUCTING. THIS SHROUD BECAME FULL OF LEAVES WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE , FILLING THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH DENSE SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL THE DUCT WORK UNDER THE HOOD APART AND BLOW OUT THE REMAINING ASH AND LEAVES TO ALLEVIATE ANY FUTURE FIRE SOURCE. FORD HAS A DEFECT IN THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTING WHICH ALLOWS LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS TO DRIFT DIRECTLY INTO THE BLOWER HOUSING SHROUDING WHICH BECOMES A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. I NOW HAVE TO COVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE UPPER HALF OF THE HOOD INCLUDING THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTS WITH FIBERGLASS WINDOW SCREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE TO ASSURE LEAVES DO NOT FILL THE DUCTING SYSTEM AGAIN CAUSING ANOTHER FIRE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND 2 OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS BLOWER HOUSING FIRES IN OTHER NHTSA INCIDENTS ON THIS SITE AS REFERENCED BY THIS :*AK

BOTH REAR ROCKER PANELS WERE RUSTED OUT. THE BODY HAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST RUST, BUT THE RUST WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL THE SIDE SKIRTS OVER THE ROCKER PANELS WERE KNOCKED OFF. WHEN I CALLED FORD, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUST WAS BAD ENOUGH , THAT IT HAD TO BE DEVELOPING WELL WITHIN THE 6 YEAR TIME FRAME.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURES IN THE FUTURE, CONSUMER WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO TIRES IN STOCK BUT TO KEEP CHECKING BACK, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF CHECKING CONSUMER DECIDED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE ACCEPTABLE REPLACEMENT TIRES FROM ANOTHER DEALER AND BRING THE RECEIPT AND DOT CODES FOR THE TIRES BACK TO THEM AND THEY WOULD PROCESS AND SUBMIT THE REFUND FOR REQUEST, AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM THE LOCAL DEALER FOR MORE THAN 10 WEEKS CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER SUBMITTED AND THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO CONTACT A FIRESTONE DEALER, CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS TOO LATE AND THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS AUGUST 29, 2001, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE OF THE MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE 3 WILDERNESS ATX TIRES, CONSUMER STATED PREVIOUSLY, TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DAMAGE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RADIAL ATX TIRES, P23575R15 M/S, CAMPAIGN 00T005. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SPARE TIRE DISENGAGED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WIRING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL AND CHANGE TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK