1992 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
437 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
115,565 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 437 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 68 | 15.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 6.2% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.1% |
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 | 64 |
| Tires | 50 |
| Suspension:Front | 24 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 19 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 15 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 64; Tires: 50; Suspension:Front: 24; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 19; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 17; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 403 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 | 119 |
| 1996 | 55 |
| 2000 | 141 |
| 2001 | 43 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 119; 1996: 55; 2000: 141; 2001: 43; 2002: 21; 2003: 11; 2004: 7; 2005: 10; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 68 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 27 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000265 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
THE SPARE TIRE CABLE OF MY 1992 FORD EXPLORER THAT HOLDS UP THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED OUT DROPPING THE SPARE TIRE TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. IF THE TIRE FELL WHEN MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, THE CONSEQUENCES MAY HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FORD TO USE A CABLE MATERIAL THAT CAN CORRODE AND DROP THE TIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001807 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RECLINING HANDLE SNAP WHEN RECLINING THE DRIVER SEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003117 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1992 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED ROOF RACK IS VERY UNSTABLE AND WOBBLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I SECURE MY PROPERTY TO THE RACK, THAT I RUN THE RISK OF LOSING IT ON THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE INSPECTED THE RACKS OF SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004530 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT TIRES HAVE TREAD SEPERATION AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DEALER NOTIFIED SIZE# P23575R15 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT#. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015726 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES DID NOT LOCK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030655 · 2003-08-02 (August 2, 2003)
I HAVE A 1992 FORD EXPLORER, AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND ON FRIDAY AUGUST 1,2003 WHEN DRIVING ON A BYPASS SMOKE POURED OUT OF MY MIRROR ADJUSTING PANEL ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO IMMEDIATLEY PULLED OFF ROAD BECAUSE OF SMOKE AND FEAR OF CAR IGNITING. DOOR PANEL MELTED SLIGHTLY, AND REAR MIRROR MOTOR AND PANEL BURNED UP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037120 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT HOLD IN LATCH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038381 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
WHILE REVERSING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038381 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V164001 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
Reported: 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)
THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence: WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDERBALL STUD TO DISENGAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic
Reported: 1996-02-05 (February 5, 1996)
THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V083000 · Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Reported: 1997-05-05 (May 5, 1997)
A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION CAN OCCUR IN THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF A SEPARATED PART OF THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY BRIDGING THE SWITCH POSITIVE BATTERY PAD AND ADJACENT CHASSIS GROUND PAD.
Consequence: THE CURRENT CAN OVERHEAT THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND OTHER PLASTIC AND ELASTOMERIC COMPONENTS OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN SMOKE OR FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IN-LINE 10 AMP FUSE IN THE POSITIVE BATTERY FEED TO THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V235001 · Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
Reported: 1997-12-18 (December 18, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL ASSEMBLY CAN SEPARATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DUE TO INCORRECT HINGE ENGAGEMENT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SUNROOF INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS PANEL.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED SEPARATION OF THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL COULD POSSIBLY DISTRACT THE DRIVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN INSTRUCTION BOOKLET WHICH THOROUGHLY OUTLINES, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR THE REMOVAL, STORAGE, AND REINSTALLATION OF THE SUNROOF'S GLASS PANEL. A WARNING LABEL FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SUNROOF'S LATCH KNOB WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE OWNERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗