1992 Ford Explorer recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Mar 22, 2015 · 444,980 miles · fireFuel system, gasoline
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 444,980. UPDATED 5/18/15*CN THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. UPDATED 06/02/15*JB
• Oct 19, 2013 · fireElectrical system
  MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE AT PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED STARTING IT UP AFTER MY GIRLS AND I GOT BACK IN CAR AFTER BEING AT MALL FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS FLAMES COMING OUT FROM BOTTOM AND TOP OF ENGINE AND FRONT DASH. THANK GOD WE GOT OUT IN TIME. MY CARS ELECTRICAL WIRES FOR EVERYTHING IS MELTED AND IM UNSURE HOW MUCH MORE IS DAMAGED SINCE IM NOT A MECHANIC. *TR
• Jan 15, 2013 · 250,000 milesSeat belts
  DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH (FEMALE PIECE) DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. LATCH WILL NO LONGER STAY ENGAGED WITH THE MALE PART OF THE SEAT BELT IN A RELIABLE MANNER. *TR
• Jul 13, 2012 · 102,000 milesEngine
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT SLAMMED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC IN THE HOSE THAT RAN FROM AIR FILTER TO THE AIR INTAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RUBBER RING UNDER THE C-CLAMP- THAT THE PLASTIC HOSE IS ATTACHED TO THE AIR-INTAKE WITH WAS THE REASON…
• Jan 10, 2012 · 145,000 milesStructure › Body
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS CRACKS NEAR THE REAR WINDSHIELD, NEXT TO THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM.THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
• Apr 10, 2012 · 126,135 milesWheels
  I WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OUT AND GOT JAMMED UNDER THE EXPLORER. LUCKILY I SOME HOW WAS ABLE TO GET PULLED OVER BEFORE THEIR WAS AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THAT HAD HAPPEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE CABLES DUE TO THEM BREAKING. *TR
• Jan 22, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, WHEN TURNING THE HEATER ON SHE COULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE AND ALSO NOTICED A LEAK. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE HEATER COIL AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
• May 15, 2011 · 170,000 milesSeat belts
  DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SOCKET NO LONGER LATCHES. FORD DEALER ADVISES REPLACEMENT IS DISCONTINUED. AFTER MARKET ALTERNATIVES NOT AVAILABLE. WITH "CLICKET OR TICKET" PROGRAMS IN PLACE VEHICLE BECOMES INOPERATIVE. *TR

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

• EA00012 · opened Apr 14, 2000 · closed Oct 20, 2000SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
  There is no summary currently available
• PE99072 · opened Nov 30, 1999 · closed Apr 14, 2000SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
  FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 1991 MODEL YEAR PRODUCTION UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 1994 MODEL YEAR PRODUCTION, FORD USED A GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE TO LIFT AND HOLD IN STORED POSITION, THE EXPLORER SPARE TIRE.ON MAY 19, 1994, BASED ON THE RESULTS OF FORD DURABILITY TESTING , FORD CHANGED TO A 4.00MM STAINLESS STEEL CABLE.THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE FAILED ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO DROP FROM ITS REAR STORAGE WELL.ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS CAUSED A FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND ON SIX OTHER OCCASIONS THE WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH FOLLOWING VEHICLES, RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE.
• RQ99016 · opened Jul 29, 1999 · open · led to recall 99V310001LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET FAILURE
  SUMMARY:ON AUGUST 22, 1995, FORD CONDUCTED SAFETY RECALL, 95V-164, ON 1992 AND 1993 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER DUE TO LIFTGATE FAILURES.THE REAR LIFTGATE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER BRACKET CAN BECOME UNATTACHED ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO SUDDENLY DROP.THE RECALL REMEDY WAS TO INSTALL REINFORCEMENTS ON THE BRACKETS.FORD ALSO INITIATED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER 1995, FOR 1991-1995 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER VEHICLES WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, TO INSTALL REINFORCEMENTS ON THOSE BRACKET THAT WERE FOUND TO BE LOOSE OR DETACHED.THIS CAMPAIGN ENDED IN OCTOBER 1996. SINCE NOVEMBER 1996, ODI HAS RECEIVED 51 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LIFTGATE FAILURES CAUSED BY THE BRACKET SEPARATION, OF WHICH 19 REPORTED THE LIFTGATE STRUCK THE OCCUPANT CAUSING 12 INJURIES.ONE COMPLAINT WAS ON 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE, THREE COMPLAINTS WERE ON 1993 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES, AND 47 COMPLAINTS WERE ON 1994 MODEL…
• EA99004 · opened Jan 15, 1999 · closed Apr 18, 2000BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES
  BASED ON THE RELATIVELY LOW FAILURE FREQUENCY MEASURED OVER AN EXTENDED EXPOSURE TIME AND THE FACT THAT THE GREAT MAJOITY OF INCIDENTS ARE CONFINED WITHIN THE BLOWER HOUSING, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
• DP98008 · opened Sep 4, 1998 · closed Sep 11, 1998HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRE
  There is no summary currently available
• PE98048 · opened Sep 4, 1998 · closed Jan 15, 1999BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES
  There is no summary currently available
• DP98001 · opened Jan 6, 1998 · closed Feb 4, 1998HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION
  NHTSA WAS PETITIONED TO COMMENCE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ON JANUARY 6, 1998.THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT EARLY MODEL FORD EXPLORER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES DEVELOP HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATIONS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH AND WHEN ENCOUNTERING BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS.THE PETITION FURTHER ALLEGES THAT THESE VIBRATIONS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE ANALYSIS OF THE PETITION IS PRESENTED IN THE ATTACHED NOTICE WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
• EA97011 · opened May 23, 1997 · closed Jan 20, 1998 · led to recall 97V235001SUNROOF SHATTERING AND SEPARATION
  There is no summary currently available
• PE96074 · opened Dec 17, 1996 · closed May 23, 1997SUNROOF (AIR ROOF) SHATTER
  THE SUNROOF SHATTERED OR WAS BLOWN OFF.IN ALL BUT ONE CASE THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING.
• EA95018 · opened Jun 19, 1995 · closed Apr 2, 1996 · led to recall 96V024001SEPARATION OF MASTER CYLINDER
  FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
• PE95001 · opened Jan 3, 1995 · closed Jun 19, 1995BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/BOOSTER SEPARATION
  There is no summary currently available
• PE94044 · opened Jun 10, 1994 · closed Aug 31, 1994ENGINE COOLING FAN CRACKS
  There is no summary currently available
• EA93004 · opened Jan 29, 1993 · closed Jul 29, 1994AUTO TRANS PRNDL MISALIGN
  There is no summary currently available
• PE92078 · opened Sep 9, 1992 · closed Jan 29, 1993AUTO TRANS.PRNDL MISALIGN
  There is no summary currently available