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U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

647 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

121,585 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 96 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 101 of 647 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior8713.4%
Transmission and shifting589.0%
Steering behavior264.0%
Engine operation223.4%
Electrical and battery issues192.9%
Fuel system concerns50.8%

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
101
Tires
89
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
52
Vehicle Speed Control
37
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
32
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
24
Suspension
24
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
18
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Tires:Tread/Belt101
Tires89
Power Train:Automatic Transmission52
Vehicle Speed Control37
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip32
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly24
Suspension24
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline18

Tires:Tread/Belt: 101; Tires: 89; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 52; Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 32; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 24; Suspension: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
8
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
43
150,000 and above
25
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9998
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99943
150,000 and above25

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 43; 150,000 and above: 25

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 551 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
52
1996
37
2000
247
2001
116
2002
50
2003
38
2004
22
2005
21
2006
10
2007
6
2008
7
2009
8
2010
7
2011
6
2012
9
2013
2
2014
3
2015
3
2016
1
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199552
199637
2000247
2001116
200250
200338
200422
200521
200610
20076
20087
20098
20107
20116
20129
20132
20143
20153
20161
20181
20191

1995: 52; 1996: 37; 2000: 247; 2001: 116; 2002: 50; 2003: 38; 2004: 22; 2005: 21; 2006: 10; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 8; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 9; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 87 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000306 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000306 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000683 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

ON THE 1995 FORD EXPLORER, THERE EXISTS A PROBLEM WHEREAS AN INDIVIDUALS COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY, DUE TO THE LOCK MECHANISMS HIGH RATE OF FAILURE (POOR QUALITY MATERIAL) ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS. TO DATE, THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, DUE TO THE (APPARENT) LOCK LINKAGE BREAKING ON EACH DOOR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000683 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001786 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)

WHILE LEANING BACK TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT THE BACK OF THE SEAT COLLASPED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE EXTRA WHOLE WAS PUNCHED OUT BELOW THE BOLT WHOLE. *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004153 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)

THE ABS SYSTEM WAS PROBLEMATIC. TS SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 99,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004494 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH FUEL, FUEL LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER THE WHEEL WELLS PUDDLES. MANUFACTURE AND DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY TECHNICIAN AND NOTICE GAS NECK FILLER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004494 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004875 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN ROUTE FROM NC TO FL THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE BRAKING AND TRYING TO GET OVER TO SHOULDER. INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO FORD VIA THEIR WEB SITE ON 1/10/03, CASE ID 681115, NO RESPONSE TO DATE.

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004875 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005206 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)

FOR THE THIRD TIME, MY '95 FORD EXPLORER DURING NORMAL OPERATION HAS HAD THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND ACCELERATE TO THE POINT WHERE THE TRUCK WILL NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. EVEN WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV. I HAVE TO THROW THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND TURN THE TRUCK OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL SLOW DOWN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO- I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS BUILD-UP WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007579 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)

I HAVE 2 FORD VEHICLES FROM MID 1990'S. THE HEADLIGHTS ON EACH HAVE LONG SINCE BECOME THOROUGHLY OPACIFIED. MY GUESS IS THAT THIS OPACITY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 2 TO 4 YEARS. ACCORDING MY MECHANIC (WHO IS A "FORD MAN"), "THIS IS A VERY CHARACTERISTIC AND LONGSTANDING FLAW WITH THE FORD BRAND, YOU WOULD THINK FORD WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE LONG AGO, BUT FORD HAS NOT AND CONTINUES NOT TO DEAL WITH IT." THIS SAFETI ISSUE/PROBLEM NOT INEXPENSIVE TO REMEDY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007579 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

00V402000 · Suspension

Reported: 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
95V052000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Reported: 1995-03-15 (March 15, 1995)

IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, BRAKE TUBES WERE MISROUTED BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND RESULTS IN EXCEEDING THE ALLOWABLE STOPPING DISTANCES AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." IN ADDITION, SEALS WITHIN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD BE ABRADED BY THIS CONDITION OVER TIME RESULTING IN AN INTERNAL LEAK AND A FURTHER REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: STOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE LONGER THAN INTENDED RESULTING IN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE BRAKE TUBES.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
95V053000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly

Reported: 1995-03-15 (March 15, 1995)

THE INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN FRACTURE CAUSING SHAKING OR SHIMMY AT LOW SPEEDS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL ON THE SIDE WITH THE BROKEN TIE ROD TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD AND SLIDE RESULTING IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INNER TIE RODS AND REPLACE THE SUSPECT TIE RODS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V310001 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗