1994 FORD EXPLORER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
1,531
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
5
Investigations
Overview of the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
The 1994 FORD EXPLORER has received a total of 1,531 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with TIRES:TREAD/BELT, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Tirestreadbelt (232 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (154 complaints), and Tires (135 complaints).
Recalls for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER, potentially affecting up to 30,453,753 vehicles.
Recall 01X001000 — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
| 13,000,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE...
Consequence: SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
View full details →Recall 00T005000 — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
| 14,400,000 vehicles affected
Defect: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
Consequence: IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
View full details →Recall 99V310001 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
| 470,582 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 97V083000 — VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
| 610,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 96V024001 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
| 108,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 95I007000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
| 1,029,380 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS OF THE REAR LIFTGATE GAS ASSIST CYLINDERS WHICH COULD PULL AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE LIFTGATE.
Consequence: IF A BRACKET AND GAS ASSIST CYLINDER WERE TO DETACH COMPLETELY FROM THE LIFTGATE AND NO LONGER BEAR AGAINST THE LIFTGATE AS INTENDED, THE REMAINING ASSIST CYLINDER WOULD NOT HOLD THE LIFTGATE IN AN OPEN POSITION. PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: FORD DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS.
View full details →Recall 94V169001 — PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
| 835,791 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
1,531 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I LOOKED UP MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS A RECALL AND I WANT IT FIXED. *TR
I LOOKED UP MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS A RECALL AND I WANT IT FIXED. *TR
PURCHASED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION OUT,CAME WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION,INSTALLED,LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR.KEPT BLOWING FRONT SEALS.ALWAYS HEATED UP GOING UPHILL.NEXT TRANSMISSION,SAME STORY.SERVICED REGULAR,WITH FILTER CHANGE.CURRENT TRANSMISSION IN TRANS. SHOP,BURNT UP,NEW CLUTCHES,BANDS,SEALS,YOU NAME IT.IT STILL WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTY DUE TO SERVO PISTON FAILURE,THAT ALSO NEEDS FIXED.A4LD TRANSMISSION IN TOO SMALL FOR THE EXPLORER VEHICLE.I LIKE THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL,EVEN INSTALLED MANUAL LOCKOUTS TO HELP THIS SIDUATION.THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD GOOD CARE,BUT TO NO AVAIL.I BELIEVE THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PRESENTING THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WITH SUCH BAD DRIVETRAIN SIDUATIION,THAT I AM SURE THAT THEY BOTH KNEW ABOUT,AND JUST DID NOT CARE.IT LEFT ME,A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN,ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY,MANY TIMES.EVEN ON MY WAY TO THE VA HOSPITAL.REGUARDS
HIGH BEAMS ACT AS LOW BEAMS ALL THE TIME, UNLESS YOU PULL THE BRIGHTS TOWARDS YOU AND HOLD WHICH IS ALSO A FATALITY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN ODOR OF GASOLINE FUMES EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRONCHIAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS A RESULT FROM INHALING THE FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Safety Rating for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1994 FORD EXPLORER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
Ford Motor Company has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
0011 — PARKING BRAKE
VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WHICH GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH MINIMAL EFFORT- BRONCO AND F-SERIES BUILT THROUGH 4/22/1994 AND EXPLORER/RANGER BUILT THROUGH 5/13/94.
0013 — PARKING BRAKE
PROCEDURE FOR SERVICING PARKING BRAKE- SERVICE TIP- BRONCO AND F-SERIES BUILT THROUGH 4/22/1994 AND EXPLORER/RANGER BUILT THROUGH 5/13/1994. *MJS
95218 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A VIBRATION/SHAKE MAY BE FELT IN THE SEAT AND/OR FLOOR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH (80 KM/H) AND PEAKING NEAR 65 MPH (105 KM/H) ON SOME VEHICLES. AN 'AFTER SHAKE' CONDITION MAY ALSO EXIST WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 45 MPH (72 KM/H). INSTALL NEW DESIGN...
951514 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING-LACK OF COOLING - ORFICE TUBE BLOCKING EVAPORATOR CORE VEHICLES BUILT FROM 10/1/94 THROUGH 12/31/94. AIR CONDITIONING-ORIFICE TUBE MISSING/OUT OF POSITION - VEHICLES BUILT 10/1/94 THROUGH 12/31/94.*SD
SFA/94L05 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
UNKNOWN
NHTSA Investigations for the 1994 FORD EXPLORER
NHTSA has opened 5 investigations into potential safety defects in the 1994 FORD EXPLORER.
Investigation DP98008 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM Closed
Opened:
HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRE
Investigation PE98048 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM Closed
Opened:
BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES
Investigation PE96016 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP Closed
Opened:
WHEEL LOCKUP WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
Other Model Years of the FORD EXPLORER
- 1989 FORD EXPLORER — 1 complaint
- 1990 FORD EXPLORER — 12 complaints
- 1991 FORD EXPLORER — 764 complaints
- 1992 FORD EXPLORER — 848 complaints
- 1993 FORD EXPLORER — 1,151 complaints
- 1994 FORD EXPLORER (current)
- 1995 FORD EXPLORER — 1,048 complaints
- 1996 FORD EXPLORER — 1,818 complaints
- 1997 FORD EXPLORER — 2,150 complaints
- 1998 FORD EXPLORER — 2,374 complaints
- 1999 FORD EXPLORER — 1,737 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints
- FORD MUSTANG — 11,551 total complaints