1993 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003622 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB PRIOR TO IMPACT THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS BODY WAS TOSSED TO THE LEFT ONTO THE DOOR AND THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012435 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. *JB JAMIE CONADAY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014959 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017675 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT OF THE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN EXCEEDING 65 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THE SHAPE AND DESIGN OF THE TIRES CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017885 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE FIRE. MR. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019629 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1994-09-07 (September 7, 1994)

THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.

Consequence: WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.

Remedy: A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 1999-11-03 (November 3, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence: WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDER BALL STUD TO DISENGAGE, UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FROM AN OPEN POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL LIFTGATE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS. DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION OF THE LIFTGATE SHEET METAL IN THE AREA OF THE BRACKET, DEALERS MAY ALSO INSTALL A LARGER REINFORCEMENT.