Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Suspension 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.
34
Latest Dec 21, 2003
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.
6%
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 34 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 suspension
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AFTER HEARING A STRANGE DRAGGING NOISE MY LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF AFTER RETREIVING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE ROTOR BRAKE CHAMBER WAS STILL BOLTED TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL SOME BEARINGS LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD FALLEN OUT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SNAPPED THE SUSPENTION AROUND THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BY MY TRIPLE AAA TOWING COMPANY RENTED A CAR AND USED THE INTERNET TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE THIS REPORT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE AN MANUFACTURES DEFAULT I ALSO TOOK PICTURES AND HAVE NOT WORKED ON THE VEHICLE I AM WAAITING YOUR RESPONSE SO I CAN GET AN ESTIMATE FROM AN CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS OF YET I HAVE NOT CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY. *AK
NHTSA ID
10050895
Incident
Dec 21, 2003
Body & structureInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+3 more
INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN 1991-1994 FORD 4X4 EXPLORER MODELS, WHEELS BEARINGS CAN COME LOOSE AND RESULT IN WHEEL FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS LOCKING NUT TO WORK LOOSE WHEN UNDER LOADS SUCH AS OFF-RAOD USE OR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES.*AK
NHTSA ID
764896
Incident
Jul 16, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jul 23, 2002
MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 94M85 REPAIRS FOR RADIUS ARM BUSHING ON RIGHT SIDE WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY 1995. RADIUS ARM BUSHING ON RIGHT SIDE FAILED AGAIN, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO HAVE POOR STABILITY AFTER ROLLING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENTS/BUMPS. MANUFACTURER WAS DENYING ANY RESPONSIBIBITY ON REPAIRING RECALL FAILURES A SECOND TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
8014509
Suspension
Filed Feb 21, 2002
WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP, AND REAR END LIFTED UP . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
8004377
Incident
Feb 21, 2002
Suspension
Filed Jan 14, 2002
FRAME HAS BROKEN AT RADIUS ARM. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
8002144
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Sep 21, 2001
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT THE SWAY BAR DID NOT COME BACK TO THE CENTER. *YH
NHTSA ID
563221
Suspension
Filed Jun 7, 2001
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIUS ARM BRACKETS TWICE ALREADY SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 3 YRS AND THE BUSHINGS ARE SQUEAKING AGAIN SO I AM SURE THE BRACKETS ARE CRACKED AGAIN. THIS IS GETTING REDICULOUS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THESE CRACK SO EASILY AND NEED REPLACED SO MUCH.*AK
NHTSA ID
746534
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Feb 28, 2001
STARTER FAILED. *SLC RADIUS ARM NEEDED REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED REPLACED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ID
559986
Suspension
Filed Jan 23, 2001
HAVE HAD 3 CERTIFIED MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS VECHICAL ALL WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION THE RADIAL ARM BUSHINGS HAVE PREMATURLY FAILED DUE TO A DEFFECT WHEN CAR WAS BUILT.*AK
NHTSA ID
739810
Incident
Jan 23, 2001
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Sep 28, 2000
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSAXLE. *SLC
NHTSA ID
555263
Incident
Jul 1, 1992
Suspension
Filed Sep 27, 2000
WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS VEHICLE MOVES SIDE TO SIDE WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
871627
Incident
Jan 1, 1991
Body & structureEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 18, 2000
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END, UPPER STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED TWICE, STABILIZER AND BUSHINGS REPLACED, AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT, DUE TO FRONT END PROBLEMS THE TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA ID
554720
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
EngineSuspension
Filed Feb 3, 1999
THERE IS A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65MPH AND 70MPH. VIBRATION WAS PRESENT WITH OLD TIRES AND DID NOT GO AWAY WITH A NEW SET ON RIMS AND TIRES. ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY FAN CLUTCH FROZE, CAUSING THE FAN ITSELF TO DEVELOP STRESS CRACKS. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UNITS. *AK
NHTSA ID
702912
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 22, 1998
BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING.
NHTSA ID
541570
BrakesSuspension
Filed Aug 14, 1998
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS FAILED. ALSO, REPLACED RADIUS ARM AND BUSHINGS.
NHTSA ID
539854
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Aug 10, 1998
VEHICLE VIBRATES CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA ID
539624
EngineSuspension
Filed Jul 29, 1998
VEHICLE VIBRATES DUE TO ENGINE MOUNTS AND LACK OF INSTALLATION OF THE REAR AXLE LATERAL SHOCK ABSORBER.
NHTSA ID
538512
BrakesHeating & air conditioningSuspension
Filed Jan 14, 1998
A/C SYSTEM PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ID
525538
Suspension
Filed Oct 20, 1997
WARPED BUSHING ON THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. NLM
NHTSA ID
605506
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 12, 1997
RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS. *AK
NHTSA ID
520272
Incident
May 1, 1996
Suspension
Filed Nov 12, 1996
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR MORE A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND HAVE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
804806
Suspension
Filed Nov 1, 1996
REAR SUSPENSION FAILED.
NHTSA ID
510927
Incident
Oct 25, 1996
Suspension
Filed Oct 17, 1996
METAL RADIUS ARM FRAME HANGER IS CRACKED AND METAL CRYSTALLIZED. *AK CONSUMER STTES THIS PART HOLDS THE AXLE IN PLACE.*JB
NHTSA ID
803677
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Suspension
Filed Aug 20, 1996
FRONT END VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ID
507689
Incident
Jul 15, 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