1994 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

ACCELERATOR STUCK ON 1994 FORD EXPLORER. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED SAFELY. DATE OF INCIDENT IS 1/8/2003, NOT 2002

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000806 at NHTSA ↗

REFER TO RECALL #'S 96V024001, 951007000, AND 00T005000. SCC PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003784 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

REAR LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT TIGHTEN TO KEEP THE ADULT OR CHILD FROM MOVING FORWARD IN AN ACCIDENT OR DURING AN EMERGENCY SLAMMING ON OF BREAKS. ADDIDIONALLY THE REAR SEATBELT LOCKS DO NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING BUCKLED WITHOUT A LOT OF TUGGING AND JIGGLING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005820 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE PA STATE INSPECTION ON FRIDAY. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE, PERFORATED SIDEWALL, ON ONE OF THE TIRES. THERE IS A SEPARATION AROUND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR SIDEWALL, THE SHOP DOING THE WORK (A TIRE DEALER) TIPPED ME OFF BY SAYING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FIRESTONE, WHICH WERE GENERALLY OKAY, WITH A TIRE KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. A LITTLE WEB RESEARCH YIELDED THE FOLLOWING REPORT: HTTP://WWW.STRATEGICSAFETY.COM/LIBRARY/SI004.HTM MY 17 YEAR OLD SON DRIVES THIS CAR. I'…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008360 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ON FIRE. *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 93,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011804 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: 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: 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.