1993 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
668 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
117,494 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 150 of 668 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 174 | 26.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 1.9% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 150 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 98 |
| Tires | 77 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 24 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 17 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 150; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 98; Tires: 77; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 24; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 628 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 132 |
| 1996 | 113 |
| 2000 | 271 |
| 2001 | 65 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
1995: 132; 1996: 113; 2000: 271; 2001: 65; 2002: 20; 2003: 23; 2004: 16; 2005: 10; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2020: 3
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 174 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000525 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED ( NOV 2002) FOUR (4) BRAND NEW YKS RADIAL A/T LT235/75R15 TIRES. ON JAN 02,2003 AT APPROX. 1515 HRS- INTERSTATE 40, ASHEVILLE, NC. I WAS GOING EAST AT APPROX. 65-70 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT, CAUSING MY 1993 FORD EXPLORER TO QUICK TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD NEARLY MISSING OTHER CARS IN THE LANE. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES OR TRY TO CONTROL THE TRUCK,BUT LET IT MOVE THE WAY IT WANTED. IF I HAD TIED TO CONTROL THE TRUCK, I FEEL THAT I WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE TRUCK. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK STOPPED, I WAS SURPR…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,897 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041865 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING DUE TO OVER HEATING. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WEAR OUT ONCE A MONTH, THE BRAKES HAD BEEN RESURFACED, ADJUSTED AND REPLACED 5 TIMES. *AK *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003622 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076026 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. *MR THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS UNTIL ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BAD BATTERY CABLE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043088 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
CRUISE CONTROL:1993 FORD EXPLORER- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON. AS I APPROACHED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE, AND I HAD TO PUSH THE "OFF" BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GAIN CONTROL. THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. ALSO WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES BAD, IT IS APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, AS THEY DON'T WORK WHEN IT GOES OUT. ON ALL OCCASIONS WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044965 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN INCIDENT OR ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK REPAIR COMPLETED 9/18/03. CONSUMER NOTED HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND WITH 27K MILES ON IT, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE IN ONE YEAR. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004253 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE SERVICE GAS STATION FOR SERVICE. TWO DAYS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A FAULTY SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112328 · 2005-03-01 (March 1, 2005)
INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE STALLING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785259 · 2001-02-07 (February 7, 2001)
GAS TANK FILL PIPE ASSEMBLY FAILED BY THE HOSE CLAMPING AT THE END CLOSEST TO THE TANK. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958543 · 1995-01-11 (January 11, 1995)
FUEL FUMES ENTER VEHICLE FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958543 at NHTSA ↗