1992 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE . THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE DRIVER CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. WHENEVER THE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10282669

Incident

Sep 2, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

A BLACK TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215889

Incident

Feb 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHAKES AND A WHINING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS TO THE STEERING, BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10041881

ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 29, 2001, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO COLLISION ON ICY STREETS. DURING THIS COLLISION, MY SEAT BACK FAILED, ENDING UP NEARLY FLUSH WITH THE FLOOR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT, STILL STRAPPED INTO M

NHTSA ID

744107

Incident

Mar 29, 2001

TRANSMISSION QUIT, POWER STEERING QUIT, CLUTCH AND BEARINGS QUIT! *AK

NHTSA ID

735192

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY FREEZE UP, OR STOP OPERATING ALTOGETHER DURING A TURN. IT ACTS EXACTLY LIKE IT WOULD IF THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE OFF (NOT THE CASE). IF YOU FORCE A TURN, IT WILL ACT NORMALLY AGAIN.THIS IS VERY INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE (FOR OTHER REASONS), BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHILE SOMEONE WHO IS STRONG MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE A TURN WITHOUT THE USE OF THE POWER STEERING, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT MAY RESULT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX REPLACED YET, AS I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS 1ST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECORD OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

733922

Incident

Oct 8, 2000

VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL ON FOUR LANE HIGHWAY COULD NOT STEER IT, FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT THREE RAIDERARIORS HAVE BLOWN OUT ,HAVE REPORTED ALL THE THINGS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

731174

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH LEFT REAR WHEELS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP, RIGHT REAR WHEELS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

861318

THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS MELTING DUE TO A STICKY BLACK LIKE TAR SUBSTANCE FOUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PROLBEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *YC.ET.

NHTSA ID

844300

Incident

May 5, 1999

I FIRST NOTICED A SEVERE BRAKE PULL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PULL WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD COME OUT OF MY HANDS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS I NOTICED THE RADIUS STEERING ARM BUSHINGS HAD MELTED. BEING A PREVIOUS CERTIFIED GENERAL MECHANIC AND AN AUTOMOTIVE INSPECTOR FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I KNEW THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NORMAL. I MADE A COURTESY CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO INFORM THEM OF MY FINDINGS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THESE BUSHINGS. MR. ESH (CUSTOMER ID 2160 OF FORD MOTOR CO.) TOLD ME THEY HAD SENT OUT OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS ON 1992 EXPLORERS (94 M 85). I INFORMED HIM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD AN INCORRECT ADDRESS. THEY HAD AN OLD POST OFFICE BOX NUMBER INSTEAD OF MY STREET NAME AND NUMBER. MR. ESH SAID THE TIMEFRAME ON REPLACING THESE BUSHINGS HAD EXPIRED AND HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE BUSHINGS UNDER WARRANTY. I QUESTIONED HIM HOW COME THIS WAS NOT A CONTINUOUS SAFETY RECALL. I DISAGREE WITH FORD'S REFUSAL TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. AT ANY TIME THERE IS STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS BRAKING STABILITY AND STEERING CONTROL, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE BUSHING MATERIAL COMPONENT FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE NTSB DID NOT DEEM IT A SAFETY ITEM. THESE BUSHINGS ARE DISSOLVING LIKE A MARSHMALLOW OVER A FIRE!

NHTSA ID

704424

Incident

Mar 11, 1999

STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL UNDER THE FACTORY LEATHER WRAP MELTS FROM HEAT AND IS LEAKING OUT OF COVERING.

NHTSA ID

541019

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

PITMAN ARM SHAFT SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLL OVER.

NHTSA ID

534034

ARM REST PIVOT ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ID

521260

4-WHEEL DRIVE NOT WORKING, REPLACED FRONT HUBS.

NHTSA ID

519051

Incident

Jan 1, 1994

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, LOST COMPLETE STEERING POWER DUE TO THE FACT THAT T STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. STEERING GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

810129

Incident

May 5, 1996

DRIVING 35MPH ON NORTH SIDE, HEARD A LOUD NOISE , SLOWED DOWN AND VEHICLE STARTED SKIDDING. APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE.BEARING ON SPINDLE DISENGAGED AND CHEWED UP END OF SPINDLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

809072

Incident

Jan 20, 1997

TIE ROD REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

510309

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING GEAR BOX STARTS DEGRADING WHICH CAUSES THE TRUCK TO DRIFT AND WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR BOX, DEALER STATED THE GEAR BOX COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

800790

Incident

Jul 11, 1996

ARLARM SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE, DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION MADE BY CHEKMATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

984597

Incident

May 2, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENED BOLT FAILURE, WHEN GEAR BOX FELL OUT, DUE TO BREAKING OF BOLTS WHICH HELD BOX, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

983390

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS. *SD

NHTSA ID

490765

Incident

Nov 1, 1995

BRAKES GRIND/PULL. *SD

NHTSA ID

488113

Incident

Sep 10, 1994

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

489424

Incident

Apr 20, 1995

STEERING WHEEL CRACKED. *SKD

NHTSA ID

482594

Incident

Mar 27, 1995

STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED WHILE TRAVELING ESTIMATED SPEED 30 MPH, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ID

958525

Incident

Dec 31, 1994