Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Mar 27, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 609 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 16 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.
Owner reports naming powertrain
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2005
1 injury reported
AFTER PURCHASING THIS FORD EXPLORER I CHECK ALL FLUIDS AND ADDED AND CHANGED AS NESSASARY ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED IT MY STEPSON AND MY WIFE AND LARGE DOG WENT ON A LITTLE TRIP TO CHECK OUT THIS THING, AFTER LETTING OUT THE WIFE AND DOG MY STEPSON AND MYSELF TRIED TO GO UP A SLIGHT HILL IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO SEE IF IT WORKED, AFTER IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT UP THE HILL WE BACKED IT DOWN AND HEADED BACK FOR MY WIFE WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSY FELL OFF DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE FAILING INSIDE AUTOMATIC HUBS CAUSING C CLIP TO FAIL, I HAD TO CALL MY BROTHER IN LAW TO GET MY TRUCK AND TRAILER TO GET THIS THING HOME WHERE BY SKINNING MY KNUCKLES ON ROCKS TRYING TO GET THIS ON A JACK, I LATER WENT TO FORD TO TRY TO BUY JUST DAMAGED PART THEY WANTED 385 DOLLARS FOR WHOLE KIT WHICH NOW HAS A LOCKING DEVISE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE NUT TO FREELY SPIN OFF, I BELIEVE THE NEW PIECE IS NO LONGER MADE OF PLASTIC EITHER, I WENT TO JUNK YARD AND GOT A USED PLASTIC PIECE AND MADE MY OWN PERMANT LOCKING DEVISE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. FAULTY DESIGN.
NHTSA ID
10114819
Incident
Jan 28, 2003
Mileage
75,200 mi
Body & structureInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+3 more
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. *TT
NHTSA ID
10020823
Incident
Dec 30, 2002
Mileage
158,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 2002
TRANSMISSION LEAKED OUT ALL OF ITS OIL WHILE IN HIGH GEAR (5TH) AT 65 MPH RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE MAIN DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. AFTER A $1200 REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE EXACT OCCURENCE HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME AT 70 MPH WITH ONLY ABOUT 3500 MILES ON THE, REBUILT TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER $1200 REPAIR WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT THIS TIME THE RUBBER PLUGS AT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE (WHICH WAS EXPLAINED AS THE POINT OF THE LEAK) WERE SEALED. I TRADED THE CAR ABOUT A YEAR LATER AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED A THIRD TIME DURING A TEST DRIVE BY A PERSPECTIVE BUYER.*AK
NHTSA ID
765761
Incident
Dec 12, 1999
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 2001
TRANSMISSION WAS NOISY AND CAUSING A VIBRATION DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT LOWER END SHAFT BEARINGS WENT, AND HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION FOR A TEMPORARY FIX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
892896
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 11, 2001
BEARINGS WERE LOOSE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL FRONT WHEELS BACK AND FOWARDS, CONSUMER FEARS THAT WHEELS MAY FALL OFF. *AK
NHTSA ID
878022
Incident
Jan 25, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 3, 2000
WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN COMING TO A GRAUDAL STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED REAR OF VEHICLE SHAKING. ALSO, A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TRAVELING AT 15 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER INDICATED THAT HORSE CLIP BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES, CAUSING AXLE TO SEPARATE. HORSE CLIP REPLACED. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHEN TRAVELING, THE SAME AXLE ONCE AGAIN DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
856129
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 5, 1998
WRONG MATERIAL USED IN AUTOMATIC HUBS, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
531951
Incident
Feb 20, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 11, 1998
4-WHEEL DRIVE IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE HUBS WILL NOT LOCK AND VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK. BECAUSE OF NO WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
819500
Incident
Feb 3, 1998
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 22, 1997
AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA ID
602472
Incident
Jan 3, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 25, 1996
AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUB FOR FOUR WHELL DRIVE MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
981150
Incident
Mar 1, 1995
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 6, 1995
HUBS ON 4 WHEEL DRIVE OVERHEAT AND LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING; NO WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ID
968291
Incident
May 15, 1995
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 1995
REPLACED CALIPERS/PADS/RIGHT SIDE ROTOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
968135
Incident
Jun 10, 1994
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 8, 1995
SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK IN COLD WEATHER. REGISTERS 20-30MPH FASTER THEN ACTUAL SPEED, WHEN WARM APPEARS TO REGISTER CORRECTLY. TT
NHTSA ID
961469
Incident
Oct 1, 1992
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 3, 1995
THE BOLT HOLDING THE CROSS SHAFT CAME OUT AND CAUSED MASS DESTRUCTION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO A SKID. TT
NHTSA ID
959551
Incident
Dec 6, 1994
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 1995
Fire reported
COWL DESIGN ALLOWED LEAVES TO ENTER VEHICLE ONTO HEATER COIL, CAUSING HEATER TO CATCH FIRE. *TW
NHTSA ID
480016
Incident
Dec 21, 1991
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own