U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

855 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

99,041 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 196 of 855 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	186	21.8%
Transmission and shifting	27	3.2%
Electrical and battery issues	26	3.0%
Steering behavior	25	2.9%
Engine operation	17	2.0%
Fuel system concerns	16	1.9%

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.

Tires:Tread/Belt

196

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

116

Tires

115

Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Tires:Tread/Belt	196
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	116
Tires	115
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut	30
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	23
Vehicle Speed Control	23
Electrical System	19
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	18

Tires:Tread/Belt: 196; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 116; Tires: 115; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 30; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Electrical System: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 17

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 787 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.

1995

112

1996

104

2000

365

2001

120

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2018

2020

1995: 112; 1996: 104; 2000: 365; 2001: 120; 2002: 43; 2003: 37; 2004: 23; 2005: 13; 2006: 9; 2007: 7; 2008: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 186 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 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 10005049 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID DUE TO LIINE RUBBING AGAINST CHASSIS OF 1994 EXPLORER, LEFT REAR AREA, LINE REPAIRED AND FIXED SO NO RUBBING WOULD OCCUR. ALL FLUID WAS LOST DROVE HOME NO BRAKES, REPAIRED NEXT DAY.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005049 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019112 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)

MY TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF BY THE PARKING TO MY HOME. I CAN'T AFFORD BUY $7,000.00 FOR REPAIR AUTO AT FIRESTONE BECAUSE THEY WANT SO MORE MONEY. THEY DID TOOK OFF BY ITSELF THEN MY TRUCK DIDN'T FINISH AND NEED TO WORK MORE FOR ENGINE MOTOR AND BRAKE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 99 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019112 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052417 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)

DOOR HANDLES ON PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR BROKEN. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079441 · 2004-06-17 (June 17, 2004)

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IT POPPED INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND CAUSED THIS MISHAP. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED, AND CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000081 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)

WHILE RETURNING FROM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING I DISARMED MY CAR ALARM. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED, SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE POWER MIRROR SWITCH. USING A SCREWDRIVER, I REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONSOLE AND SWUNG THE SCREWDRIVER AT THE FLAMING SWITCH ASSEMBLY UNTIL IT RELEASED. FALLING TO THE GROUND I QUICKLY SMOTHERED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY UNTIL ALL SMOKE CLEARED.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000081 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005822 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER FROM HOOD. WIREING HARNESS THAT FEEDS INTO THE DISTRIBUTION BOX. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EGR SYSTEM, IDLEING, VEHICLE BLINKERS LAG, RADIO, HEAT, AC, WILL WORK THEN SOMETIMES THEY WONT. WILL NOT CONSISTANTLY START AFTER BEING PARKED. EXPLORER CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TRACED THE PROBLEMS TO THE DISTRIBUTION BOX. THE PROBLEMS CAN SOMETIMES BE TEMPERALILY REMADIED BY PUSHING DOWN OR JIGGLING OF THE BREAKERS. HAVE HAD THE BREAKERS EXAMINED AND THEY HAVE WHAT APPEARS TO BE HEAT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005822 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10136448 · 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)

I BOUGHT THIS 1994 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER SUV FROM A DEALER. THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALARM SO THE DEALER REMOVED IT. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. A WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STOPS, CAR COMES TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND THE STEERING LOCKS. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK. IT STARTS BACK ON AFTER FEW MINUTES. IT DOES NOT START IF HAZARDS, HEADLIGHTS OR ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ON. AFTER THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS ONCE AT NIGHT 12''O CLOCK. IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 129,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10206124 · 2007-10-17 (October 17, 2007)

I WAS BROWSING FOR A USED CAR AND CAME ON AN ADD SELLING CARS I HAD NO VEHICLE I ASKED IF THEY CAN PICK ME UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CLINTON FERRY. THEY SAID YES THEY WILL PICK ME UP. SO CHECKED OUT THEIR INVENTORY. I PICKED A 1994 FORD EXPLORER LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE BODY, TIRES NEEDED CHANGING, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS DAMAGE, AND REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS GONE. I ACCEPTED THESE AND ASKED FOR A TEST RIDE PROCEEDED OFF THE LOT THERE WAS NO GAS MAKING A TEST DRIVE SHORT. IT WAS AS IF THEY RUSHED ME THROUGH THE DEAL NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 99,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206124 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028632 · 2003-07-19 (July 19, 2003)

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY EXPLORER HAS STALLED AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE, IT WOULD RESTART AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE.S THERE A RECALL? THE CASE IS HOWARD VS. FORD 763785-2. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096436 · 2004-10-26 (October 26, 2004)

1994 EXPLORER 4.0 V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REBIULT 3 TIMES IN PAST YEAR .COUNTLESS TIMES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ACTING AS IF THE FUEL PUMP QUIT, FUEL PUMP REPLACED, COIL PACKS REPLACED, RELAYS REPLACED. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, ANOTHER TIME WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. USUALLY UPON START UP. AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH SHORTED OUT, SAW BURNED WIRES ON SWITCH UPON REPLACEMENT. ANTIFREEZE SPEWED OUT FROM SIDE OF MOTOR, ASSUMED TO BE AROUND HEADS BUT HAS NOT BEEN TO SHOP YET.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096436 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023178 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)

TRUCK HAS BEEN DYING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. EITHER WHEN IT GET TO HOT OUT SIDE OR IT JUST NEEDS TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK. THEN WANT START UNTIL IT FEELS LIKE IT SHOULD. WHETHER ITS RUNNING OR WHEN I START IT UP. CHECKED THE FUEL PUMP, CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS,WIRES, BATTERY CABLES, EVERYTHING BUT, IGNITION MODULE. WHICH I'M DOING TOMORROW. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056288 · 2004-02-01 (February 1, 2004)

1994 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4 WD THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE FUEL LEAK,,,NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, WAS A RECALL DONE ON THESE ? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056288 at NHTSA ↗