Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 124 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 124, in the owner's own words
The component that malfunctioned was the abs sensor. It is not available for inspection. I was driving going around 45 in traffic and the drivers side rear brake locked up and spun me out of control and caused me to collide with another vehicle. I only lightly pressed the brakes and it happened suddenly and unexpectedly. It was not inspected before it was towed after the accident. There were no warning lamps.
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 1991 FORD EXPLORER CANNOT BE MADE TO WORK CONSISTENTLY. THIS PRESENTS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVERS FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES THEY CAN'T TELL. I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE ALREADY, AND I AM TIRED OF IT. BUT FORTUNATELY THE REAR BUMPER IS VERY STRONG, AND ONLY IS BENT IN A LITTLE SO FAR, SINCE THE VEHICLE BEHIND HITS THE TOW HITCH, WHICH IS CAPABLE OF TOWING 3,500 POUNDS. RACEWAY FORD IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE SWITCH AT LEAST TWICE SINCE 1997. I HAVE NOT YET GONE THROUGH THE PAPER WORK BEFORE 1997 TO SEE HOW MANY ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN DEFECT. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AGAIN, AND STILL CANNOT GET THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY.*AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THEN THE FRONT MAIN SEAL. IT HASN'T BEEN TWO MONTHS AND THEN MY HEATER CORE WENT OUT AND AT THE SAME TIME MY HEATER FAN. ALSO, BEFORE THE FRONT MAIN SEAL WENT OUT THE ROTORS WENT BAD AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A YEARS TIME. I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED AND BROKE. I PRAISED FORD BEFORE THIS, NOW I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND FORD TO ANYONE I KNOW. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND NOW I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO FIX THIS TRUCK. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT MAIN SEAL, WATER PUMP, STARTER, ROTORS, ALTERNATOR, AND THE LOW WHEEL DRIVE ON MY TRUCK BUT NOW ITS THE HEATER CORE AND I HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER 600-800 TO FIX THIS! THAT IS IF I CAN FIND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO IT WHICH BY THE WAY NO ONE DOES. WHAT DO I DO NOW? *NM
VEHICLE IS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER XLT EDDIE BAUER EDITION, 4X4 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSAXLE, 4.0L V6. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH REAR-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. BOTH REAR WHEELS PERFORM UNCOMMANDED FULL LOCKUP AFTER MEDIUM APPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL. CONDITION PERSISTS EVEN WHEN PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS REMOVED. VEHICLE SKIDS TO A STOP. FULL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS IS REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE DRUMS AND RESTORE NORMAL CONTROL TO THE DRIVER. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. SYMPTOMS PRESENT REGARDLESS OF WEATHER/ROAD CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPEED, OR MANEUVER TYPE.*AK
I BOUGHT A 1991 FORD EXPLORER 1 1/2 YEARS AGO FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID HE WAS TIRED OF PUTTING BRAKES ON IT. SINCE HE HAD JUST DONE IT AGAIN, I DIDN'T EXPECT ANY TROUBLE FOR A WHILE. 17,000 MILES LATER, ALL BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS ETC., NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IT IS AVERAGING 20,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS MODEL WAS "BAD FOR PUSHING THE PADS OFF THE SHOES." WHILE PAYING MY BILL, I NOTICED ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE ON THE RACK GETTING THE SAME THING DONE. IS THIS AN EPIDEMIC OR AM I JUST UNLUCKY? I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS SUBJECT AND NOTHING IS WRONG. RIGHT! VIN IS [XXX] I CAN'T GET THIS TO SEND WITHOUT ENTERING SOMETHING ON THE EQUIPMENT PAGES WHICH DOES NOT APPLY. PLEASE IGNORE. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING 55MPH BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD, AND HAD EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING FRONT PAD CAME OFF, AND FELL UNDER THE TRUCK, CAUSING MAJOR DAMGE TO VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WOULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP OR TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ON TIME, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND HEARD A JINGLE NOISE. HE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER, AND LOOKED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SWERVED/ HIT A TREE STUMP, AND ROLLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
REAR BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION LATER CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO FAIL. *AK
I HAVE QUESTIONS TO WHY THERE ARE THESE FAILURES IN THESE 4 IMPORTANT AREAS OF MY VEHICLE, AND WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS! THANK YOU, I. E. STOWELL. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: LT1018-D5 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
BRAKES ARE GRINDING LOUDLY, PEDAL FEELS SPONGY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR PADS/ CALIPERS/ DRUMS, AND ROTORS. WHEN MAKING TURNS GRINDING BECAME WORSE. BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT FAR SOONER THAN NORMAL.*AK
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SLOT. WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. FAILURE OF BRAKE PIPE, DUE TO CORROSION, JUST FORWARD OF REAR AXLE. THE TWO PIPES FROM THE JUNCTION BLOCK AT THE DIFFERENTIAL ALSO BADLY CORRODED BUT NOT LEAKING. CHANGED THESE ALSO AS A PRECAUTION. TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WAS UNEXPECTED SINCE I BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A DIAGONAL BRAKE SYSTEN OR OTHER BACKUP. IN ATTEMPTING TO PUMP THE BRAKE ONCE I STOPED ALL I SUCCESSED IN DOING WAS PUMPING BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. THIS HAD THE PONTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAULING A TRAILER IN A FEW DATS ON A LONG TRIP.*AK
STARTER FAILED. *SLC RADIUS ARM NEEDED REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED REPLACED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC
THE PROPORTIONING VALVE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (SELF ADJUSTING MECHANISM) CAUSING POOR STOPPING ABILITY. *MJS
WHILE COMING AROUND A CURVE ON A WET ROAD AND APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE, ABOUT 4 OR 5 HOUSES DOWN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 49-3238-941. *SLC
ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 28TH, 1999 IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY VEHICLE HITTING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME (I WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 35-45 MPH AND REACHED AN INTERSECTION WHERE TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT I ENDED UP REAR-ENDING A TRUCK (AT THE POINT OF IMPACT THE CAR WAS PROBABLY TRAVELLING 5-10 MPH)). ANYHOW WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR FROM THE REPAIR SHOP IT RODE EXTREMELY ROUGHLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY TREAD HAD 'SEPARATED' AND TOLD ME THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO BUY NEW TIRES. THIS IS ALL VERY CIRCUMSTANCIAL EVIDENCE (I REALIZE), BUT AFTER READING ABOUT OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS REGARDING THE SAME EQUIPMENT, I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS ACCIDENT AS WELL IN CASE THE TIRE TOO WERE RESPONSIBLE. THE FAULTY TIRES (2 OF 4) HAVE SINCE BEEN DISCARDED. I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING WHETHER THE TIRE SEPARATION COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT AS I KNOW THINK IT MAY HAVE (THE TIRE'S TREAD WAS NOT SEPARATED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE OTHER TIRES WHICH HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME ARE STILL ROADWORTHY). *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
CONFIRMATION INFO...COLUMES DOESN'T MY INFO....BUT TO ADD TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE, WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS REPAINTED BY AAA, BRAKES WENT OUT, REPLACED CABLE WIRES TO BATTRERY- WIRED COAT HANGER PIECES IN WITH CABLE WIRES...
I ALREADY ENTERED A COMPLAINT (#722389) THEN I READ THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND REALIZED THAT 2 THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE NORMAL MIGHT NOT BE. THE FRIST ONE BEING THAT A I HEARD THE SQUISHY NOISE COMING FROM MY MASTER CYLINDER/ VACUUM BOOSTER THE PEDAL WAS ALWAYS SOFT BUT I NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANY DIFFICULY STOPPING THAT I CAN REMEMBER. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT AFTER MY EXPLORER ROLLED AND CAME TO REST, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS COMPLETELY LAID BACK. *AK
MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 5 P.M. ON 4/28/2000. I CONTINUED WITH MY DAILY ACTIVITIES AND MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT. AT APPROX. 6P.M. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 45 MPH WHEN A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE WENT IMMEDIATELY INTO A 90+ DEGREE SLIDE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED 1 FULL TIME AND LANDED UPRIGHT FACING THE LANE I WAS JUST IN. I'VE DRIVEN 3 CARS WITHOUT ABS AND I'VE NEVER HAD THE REAR TIRES LOCK UP SO EASILY. *AK
WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARK POSITION BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL WHEEL OFF TO RETURN TO NORMAL WHILE TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I HAVE GENTLY DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE NEVER WENT OFF ROAD WITH IT,CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2500 MILES,LEASED ANOTHER CAR TO PRESERVE MY SUV,WHAT I HAVE NOW IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS LITERRLY FALLING APART,EVERYTHING FROM THE PAINT TO THE FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE INTERIOR TRIM ON IS FAILING.I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY SUV AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY.DO I SOUND MAD WELL WOULDN'T YOU BE? *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, AND THEN STAYED ON. *AK
THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN SLOWLY BEING APPLIED. HAD TO TURN WHEEL TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO LOCKED BRAKES. HIT A FLAT WALL & WAS FLIPPED OVER AFTER GOING UP A WALL, INSTEAD. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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