1991 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CLAIMED TO REPAIR IT, BUT ACTUALLY DID NOT. THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE POSSESSION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE GREATER THAN 100,000. UPDATED 03/11/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10219189

Incident

Aug 16, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

I FOUND SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. IT IS AN OLD VEHICLE, BUT I ONLY BOUGHT IT IN 2003. I KNOW SOME OF THEM EXPIRED, AND IT SAYS TO CONTACT FOD. I DID VIA WEB SITE. THEY DO NOT SHOW ANY RECALLS. BUT, YOU SHOWED ME OVER 5 RECALLS? CAN I STILL GET THEM FIXED? MY TIRES I GUESS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THEY DID NIT REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. I STILL HAVE THE RECALLED SPARE TIRE?? WHAT DO I DO NOW? CAN I DO ANYTHING? BUT, I STILL HAVE BAD TIRES, THE 2001 TIRE RECALL DOES NOT SAY WHAT BRAND? I HAVE ATX AND APT FIRESTONE TIRES. CAMPAIN #92V113000,91V189000,00T005000 AND ANOTHER TIRE RECALL, I DID NOT GET THE #, BUT IT WAS IN 2001. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116768

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRASMISSION SLIPPED AND I WOUDNT GO FORWARD TEN SMOKED POURED OUT AND PEOPLE IN THE STREETS STARTED YELLING SAYING "THERE'S FIRE COMING OUT THE HOOD!!" I PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT AND THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES!!! VEHICLE TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108395

Incident

Jan 31, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10106282

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010411

Incident

Dec 23, 2001

Mileage

154,233 mi

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND, AND BOTTOM OF VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013133

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

BLACK GOO OOZES OUT FROM AROUND THE LACING OF STEERING WHEEL. CONSTANTLY HAVE THE WIPE WHEEL & HANDS. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AND WENT BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. I ONLY WEIGHT 185 LBS. SO WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. THERE HAD BEEN NO REAR-END COLLISION EITHER. FRONT WHEEL HUBS FAILED DUE TO ENGINEERING DEFECT. DEALER TRIED TO MAKE ME PAY THE FIRST $55. I REFUSED AND WON. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A SHAFT THAT SNAPPED. VALVE GASKETS ARE INFERIOR MATERIAL. HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED, BUT STILL LEAK.*AK

NHTSA ID

752295

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

STARTER FAILED. *SLC RADIUS ARM NEEDED REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED REPLACED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

559986

PERIODICALLY, WHEN BEGINNING TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND IF THE EXPLORER OPERATOR'S LEFT FOOT IS TOO HIGH, THE TOP OF THE FOOT WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUSE BOX LEVER (BETWEEN THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER) UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WILL DISENGAGE THE FUSE BOX FROM ITS SECURE POSITION AND LOWER THE FUSE BOX. ON THE NEXT ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL, THE FOOT WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUSE BOX, HINDERING AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO CONTACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND EFFECTIVELY OPERATE THE CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

738822

TRANSFER CASE LOCK UP LOW SPEED, 0-7MPH MAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

725253

Incident

Jul 7, 2000

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...

NHTSA ID

724839

Incident

Jul 14, 1999

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN THE "PARK" POSITION, TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND A CRASH. THERE WAS RECALL 91V189000 UNDER WHICH THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

854219

Incident

Dec 11, 1999

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SHIFTING ITSELF INTO FORWARD DRIVE OR LOW GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

854194

Incident

Jan 15, 1996

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A RESPECTABLE DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY IN OCT. 1995. THE CLUTCH FAILED ME IN MAY 1997. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR APPROX. 600.00. IT THEN FAILED ME AGAIN IN AUG. 1998. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT COSTED ME 1200.00. I WAS AMAZED THE PRICE DOUBLED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED IT SAID THE OTHER COMPANY FAILED TO DO IT THE CORRECT WAY. NOW ONCE AGAIN IT HAS FAILED ME ON SEPT. 1999. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS. I CANNOT TAKE MY TRUCK BACK TO THE PREVIOUS COMPANY BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED BY MIDAS. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

NHTSA ID

711369

Incident

Sep 13, 1999

APPARENTLY THE MAZDA STD 5 SPD SOLD IN THESE TRUCKS IS DESTINED TO FAIL. IT HAS SO I'M TOLD (RECENTLY SAW WHEN I WAS FORCED TO GET REBUILT DO TO DEALER REFUSING TO ACT ON MY COMPLAINT)THREE RUBBER PLUGS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL. WHY THEY ARE THERE IS BEYOND ME. AFTER A TIME THEY START TO SEEP AND CAUSE TRANSMISSION FLIUD TO SLOWLY LEAK OUT ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING IE IN GEAR. AS THE FLUID DRIPS OUT MOVING DOWN ROAD YOU DON'T NOTICE IT. ONCE IT GETS LOW ENOUGH IT CAUSES TRANNY TO OVERHEAT. I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME THIS TELL TALE SIGN OF NO CLUTCH OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT DEALER SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TEST DROVE VEHICLE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. OF COURSE WHEN I GOT THERE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE IT HAD COOLED DOWN, BOTH OUTSIDE TEMP & VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PARKED WHILE IN LAWYERS OFFICE. I POINTED OUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMETHING & THEY SHRUGGED IT OFF AS PROBALY AN OIL LEAK. SINCE THEY WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRING IN @ A LATER DATE I TOOK IT TO MEAN, SINCE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WELL APPARENTLY I DID BECAUSE AFTER ABOUT A MONTH THE INPUT SHAFT WAS SEVERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DRIVING BESIDE A 18 WHEELER. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED TO VEHICLE BUT WOODY ANDERSON PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER UNNECESSARILY BY IGNORING MY PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT LATER THE SERVICE MGR WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM W/ THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT NEGLECTED TO TRAIN HIS STAFF ON IT. THEIR GENERAL MGR KI. HARRIS SAID TO ME ON 12/15 THAT HE WAS IN BUSINESS TO SERVICE VEHICLES & HE WOULD DO WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. WELL NOW IT'S ME AGAINST THE BIG DEALERSHIP, FOR HE HAS GONE ACK ON HIS WORD. I NEED ADDITIONAL DATA TO SUPPORT MY POSITION FROM YOUR DATA BANKS TO SHOW THIS IS ONE A POOR DESIGH & TWO A KNOWN PROBLEM WAS NOT CONVEYED TO CUSTOMER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY IF I LOST POWER PASSING ON A ONE LANE ROAD OR SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE I COULD NOT AVOID AN ACCIDENT .

NHTSA ID

703800

Incident

Oct 2, 1998

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED 1/97, APPROX. 60000 MILES. REBUILT BY TRANSMISSION SHOP. TOOK BACK 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY CONSIDERED CORRECT. STILL NOT RIGHT. CLUNKED WHEN SLOWING.. 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILED 12/98. DRIVING 65 MPH...JUST QUIT...RPM'S STARTED REVVING...BARELY GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD...HAVE BEEN TOLD BY EVERY TRANSMISSION SHOP I'M DEALING WITH THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THESE EXPLORERS ARE VERY POOR QUALITY, PLUS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REBUILD CORRECTLY...ALL TRANSMISSION SHOPS, INCLUDING FORD ONLY GIVE 12,000/12 MONTH GUARENTEE...THAT'S RIDICULOUS...YOU ASSUME A TRANNY SHOULD OUTLAST THE CAR...THEY ALL SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS UNRELIABLE TO MATCH TO ORIGINAL FORD TRANNY PUT IN...I AM NOW OUT $1875 FOR FIRST TRANSMISSION AND ONE YEAR LATER AM LOOKING AT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR ($1400-1600)...I FEEL FORD SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCTS AND AT LEAST OFFER A REBUILT TRANNY IN THEIR OWN SHOPS THAT IS GUARENTEED FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS....THIS IS WHAT GIVES OUR AMERICAN CARS A VERY BAD REPUTATION....

NHTSA ID

701796

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

JUMPS OUT OF OVER DRIVE ON COLD DAYS WHILE MOVING, WILL NOT ENGAGE PART TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

541501

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

541187

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

821801

Incident

Mar 2, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

605687

Incident

May 30, 1996

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

525474

Incident

Jul 10, 1997

OVERDRIVE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604288

Incident

Jul 12, 1997

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH THE INPUT SHAFT ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE . THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

816692