RoadVitals

1992 Ford Explorer Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
46
Latest Jan 24, 2008
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.
7%
of 633 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.
16
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

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 46 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Jan 24, 2008

STARTED UP VEHICLE IN MORNING, REAR WIPER CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND COULD NOT SHUT IT OFF. HAD TO REMOVE WIPER AS IT COULD NOT BE STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215895
Incident
Mar 5, 2006
Visibility
Filed Jan 24, 2008

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM THE AIR VENTS. COULD FIND NO SOURCE FOR THE SMOKE. AFTERWARDS, ONLY FAN SPEED THAT WORKS IS HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215892
Incident
Aug 15, 2007
Visibility
Filed Aug 26, 2004
Fire reported

1992, FORD, EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE AT CONTROL PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD. DAMAGE TO CONTROL PANEL, AND INTERIOR DOOR PANEL (MELTED) POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE. FORD SHOWING ALL RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. CANNOT GET RESOLUTION WITH LOCAL DEALER OR FORD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088655
Incident
Aug 22, 2004
Mileage
125,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 28, 2004
Fire reported

THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON THE EXTERIOR OF MY 1992 FORD EXPLORER DON'T WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1992 FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SAME. THIS PROBLEM AND ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, MY PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. HOWEVER, FORD SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE, VIN [XXX] WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE TO ME. PLEASE ADVISE ME. THANK YOU. *JB UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10064048
Incident
Jan 1, 1993
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 2003
Fire reported

I HAVE A 1992 FORD EXPLORER, AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND ON FRIDAY AUGUST 1,2003 WHEN DRIVING ON A BYPASS SMOKE POURED OUT OF MY MIRROR ADJUSTING PANEL ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO IMMEDIATLEY PULLED OFF ROAD BECAUSE OF SMOKE AND FEAR OF CAR IGNITING. DOOR PANEL MELTED SLIGHTLY, AND REAR MIRROR MOTOR AND PANEL BURNED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030655
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
98,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 10, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER SUSPECTS FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY. TS

NHTSA ID
8024070
Incident
Nov 28, 2002
Visibility
Filed Dec 10, 2002

UPON ENTERING VEHICLE THERE WAS AN INTENSE BURNING SMELL, CONSUMER STATES' BOTH REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE INOPERATIVE AND COMPLETELY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, MIRRORS WERE POINTING TOWARDS SKY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR POWER MIRROR 97 V 083 000 BUT CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. CONSUMER FEELS SOME OF THE WIRES MUST HAVE MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8024067
Incident
Nov 27, 2002
Visibility
Filed May 20, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 3-4 HOURS WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE WAS CAUSED BY HEATER BOX. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010131
Incident
May 13, 2002
Visibility
Filed Aug 28, 2001

SUNROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING IN JUNE OF 2000, REPLACED BY CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 27 AUG 2000, SPEED UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
895306
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jul 13, 2001
Fire reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
748427
Incident
Jul 12, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 22, 2001

RECALL 97 V 235 001/SUNROOF LABEL: SUNROOF CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT REPLACING THE SUN ROOF COSTS $2500- 3000, AND THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *YH

NHTSA ID
883889
Incident
Feb 7, 2001
Visibility
Filed Feb 18, 2001
Fire reported

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, BLUE SMOKE WITH A SMELL OF BURNED WIRING POURED THROUGH INTERIOR DASH VENTS. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE; WE WERE IN A POOR PLACE TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE CAR; ALL I COULD DO WAS LOWER THE WINDOWS AND CONTINUE DRIVING ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY (AND BREATHABILITY) UNTIL WE COULD PULL OVER AND GET OUT. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT A HEATER FIRE SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPECTED OCCURRENCE IN A WELL-CARED-FOR VEHICLE WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER FORD EXPLORER HEATER FIRES. I THINK FORD SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $401.55 THAT I SPENT ON REPAIRS. CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO?

NHTSA ID
741090
Incident
Jan 11, 2001
SteeringVisibility
Filed Sep 12, 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
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2000

SUN ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND WHILE THE SUN ROOF WAS IN A CLOSED SECURE POSITION . *AK

NHTSA ID
866688
Visibility
Filed Jan 10, 2000
Fire reported

AIR CONDITIONER /HEATING UNIT - WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN IS TURNED ON THE RESISTOR STARTS LEAVES ON FIRE THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE RESISTOR. SMOKE THEN POURS OUT THROUGH THE VENTS. PAINT - THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS DEFECTED AND IS DISINTEGRATING.

NHTSA ID
717182
Incident
Jul 14, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jun 29, 1999

SUN ROOF BLEW OFF AT 45 MPH. WAS NOT TOUCHED IN PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. WEATHER WAS MILD IN 80'S. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 3 INCHES. FOOMP! IT WAS GONE!!! SMASHED ON STREET BEHIND ME, NARROWLY MISSING THE NEXT CAR. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "NO". *AK

NHTSA ID
708009
Incident
Jun 22, 1999
Visibility
Filed May 19, 1999

POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
545698
Incident
Oct 28, 1998
Visibility
Filed May 6, 1999
Fire reported

THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES, EA-99-004. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPOXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE WHICH POURED IN THROUGH THE VENTS, FLAMES WERE IN THE UNDERHOOD AREA. POLICE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXSTINGUISHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
837529
Incident
May 4, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 12, 1999
Fire reported

LEAVES GETTING INTO VENTILATION/HEATING SYSTEM RESULTING FIRES AND CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENTS.

NHTSA ID
544899
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
Visibility
Filed Mar 12, 1999
Fire reported

EA99004; THE LEAVES/PINES, ETC, ACCUMULATED IN THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING HEATER COIL TO HEAT UP AND RESULTING IN SMOKE AND A FIRE. HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DLR SAID CONSUMER NEEDED TO KEEP CLEANING OUT THE BLOWER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
835758
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Visibility
Filed Feb 24, 1999

AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE BUTTOM HEATER. DRIVER NEVER SAW ANY FLAMES, JUST SMOKE AND A SMELL OF BURNING LEAVES AND PINE STRAW. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID
835207
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Feb 23, 1999

EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES; WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE IN THE REAR. OWNER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO KEEP A FIRE FROM STARTING. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
835185
Incident
Jan 29, 1999
Visibility
Filed Feb 23, 1999

SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN 2 BLOCKS OF THE START OF A TRIP. THE ODOR WAS CLEARLY THAT OF BURING LEAVES OR WOOD. DRIVING WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE DEALER INITIALLY DISBELIEVED THAT SMOKE WAS AT FAULT, BUT RATHER ESCAPING COOLANT MUST BE THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND DEBRIS IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND CLEANED IT OUT, CHARGING ME $50. I WAS TOLD NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. HARDLY POSSIBLE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND SURELY NOT A DESIGN SPECIFICATION FOR AN SUV. A LETTER TO FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER PRODUCED ONLY A TELEPHONE CALL TELLING ME THAT "FORD STANDS BEHIND ITS DEALERS" AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION FROM FORD WOULD OCCUR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FOR MY OWN SURVIVAL I NOW PARK ONLY UNDER A ROOFED AREA AT HOME.

NHTSA ID
703632
Incident
Nov 29, 1994
Visibility
Filed Feb 8, 1999
Fire reported

THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY WITH THE BLOWER UNIT COMMON TO THE A/C AND HEATER. THE A/C WAS ON WHEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ROUGHLY $1,500. AS THE FIRE DESTROYED THE BLOWER AND OTHER A/C-HEATER COMPONENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
703060
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Visibility
Filed Nov 6, 1998
Fire reported

VENTILATION SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
830325
Incident
Nov 6, 1998

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .