Model year record
1990 Ford Explorer recalls & problems
The 1990 Ford Explorer has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 12 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (2 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1990 Ford Explorer.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly | 2 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine and engine cooling
WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER WORKS,. CONSUMER CANNOT TELL THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT IN TANK.*AK
- Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH OPENED SUN ROOF, IT DISCONNECTED AND FELL OFF.*AK
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipCrash
PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY & APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL LOCKED IN ONE SPOT. VEHICLE WAS FREE ROLLING & HIT A GARAGE DOOR. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR BRAKES & FOUND NOTHING. PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE HAVING ENGINE WORK DONE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *AK
- Tires › Tread/beltCrash
I HAD THREE TIRES LOSE THE ENTIRE CENTER TREAD ON MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE (90 FORD EXPLORER) WHILE TRAVELING AROUNG 70MPH. ALL THREE WERE WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST TIRE THAT WENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE BODY THAT WAS REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
- Tires › Tread/belt
FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES P23575R15 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 90 EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD HAD SEPARATED ,THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRROR, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK DOT#W2HL 1PM. *SLC
- Unknown or other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
CONNECTING PIPES ON THE GAS TANK ARE FORMED FROM SEAMED STEAL PIPE, AND THE SEAM IS SEALED DUE TO BAD MANUFACTURING. THE SEAM BENDS OVER AND EVENTUALLY RUSTS AWAY, AND ALLOWS GAS TO LEAK TO GROUND. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- FRONT SEAT TRACK FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
- WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSSClosed
There is no summary currently available