Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure 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.
86
Latest Apr 24, 2013
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.
9%
of 939 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
16
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 86 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 body or structure
The 25 most recent of 86, in the owner's own words
I WAS PULLING INTO MY CONDO'S PARKING GARAGE WHEN DRIVER IN CAR BEHIND ME ALERTED ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND MY FEET GOT REALLY HOT. EXITED VEHICLE AND NOTICED FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 TO REPORT FIRE, AS THE FIRE UNIT WAS ON ITS WAY THE VEHICLE HAD TWO OR THREE EXPLOSIONS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HORN CAME ON. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE 22 STORY CONDOMINIUM FIRE ALARMS WENT OFF, ALL THE ELEVATORS STOPPED WORKING AND THE FIRE MARSHALL EVACUATED THE ENTIRE BUILDING. THE PARKING GARAGE WAS FULL OF SOOTH AND DENSE BLACK SMOKE. THE MAIN LOBBY AND ELEVATOR LOBBY WAS FULL OF SMOKE. THE ER DIAGNOSED ME WITH SMOKE INHALATION AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. SUBSEQUENT LUNG TEST SHOWS 30% DECREASED LUNG CAPACITY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10509464
Incident
Nov 26, 2012
Mileage
76,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 28, 2008
SUN ROOF FLEW OFF THE EXPLORER ONTO THE ROAD AND SHATTERED IN A MILLION PIECES ALMOST HITTING A BIKER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10246938
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 15, 2004
CONSUMER STATED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL #95V164001 FAILED. THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS WERE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT WERE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY DID ALL THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. *JB
NHTSA ID
10082024
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Mar 9, 2004
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS AT DIFFERENT TIMES GETTING THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS LOCKED. THE HINGES BROKE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10061693
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Dec 24, 2003
MANUFACTURER CLOSED THE RECALL CASE AND WILL NOT PERFORM REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *LA THE SERVICE DEALER HAD INSPECTED THE REAR LIFT GATE AND SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS SUBJECT OF A RECALL THAT FORD ISSUED. RECALL#95V164001 *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE PAPER WORK STATED THE REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED WHEN IT HAD NOT BEEN, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10053579
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2002
BOTH REAR ROCKER PANELS WERE RUSTED OUT. THE BODY HAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST RUST, BUT THE RUST WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL THE SIDE SKIRTS OVER THE ROCKER PANELS WERE KNOCKED OFF. WHEN I CALLED FORD, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUST WAS BAD ENOUGH , THAT IT HAD TO BE DEVELOPING WELL WITHIN THE 6 YEAR TIME FRAME.*AK
NHTSA ID
758553
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2001
DOOR HINGES WOULD CAUSE DOORS TO BE UNEVEN. DRIVER'S DOOR FAILS TO CLOSE PROPERLY DUE TO THE HINGES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED HINGES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER ADDED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR HANDLES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SHUT DOOR. *TT
NHTSA ID
897111
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jul 30, 2001
RUSTING, REAR QUATER PANEL, AROUND GAS CAP(INSIDE AND OUT.)FILLER TUBE COULD COME LOSE. KNOW OF 30 VECHICALS 1993-1994 WITH THIS PROBLEM. COULD BECOME A GAS FILLING PROBLEM. CLARKE FORD IN HUDSON, OHIO " THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD, WE DONT CARE." CALLED FORD SERVICE 1-800-392-FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. ALSO FORD SAID IF I REPAIR IT, SAVE ALL RECIEPTS INCASE OF RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
749448
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Body & structureEngine
Filed May 22, 2001
INSIDE LEFT DOOR HANDLE COMES COMPLETLY OFF IN HAND WHEN CLOSING DOOR. BOTTOM HINGE ON LEFT DOOR BROKE. CATALATIC CONVERTER RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. *AK
NHTSA ID
745663
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed May 21, 2001
THERE WAS A RECALL 95V164001/ HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. . WENT BACK TO DEALER FOR A WATER LEAK COMING FROM DOOR, DEALER READJUSTED DOOR, BUT IT WAS STILL LEAKING. DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
888780
Incident
May 15, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2000
THE INSULATION BLANKET UNDER VEHICLE'S HOOD DETERIORATED AND FELL DOWN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN PEALING AWAY THE HANGING DOWN MATERIAL PERIODICALLY, HOWEVER MY CONCERN IS THAT MATERIAL MAY FALL APART, FALLING UPON THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE.*AK
NHTSA ID
735658
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Oct 5, 2000
THE BRACKETS ATTACHING THE HATCH DOOR STAY UP WHEN OPENING TRUNK EVEN THOUGH RECALL 95V164001 WAS COMPLETE, DEALER TWEEKED UPPER BACK REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN DOING RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA ID
555439
Body & structure
Filed Sep 10, 2000
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS SAGGING DOOR DOES NOT SEAL, ARE THERE ANY KNOWN RECALLS ?
NHTSA ID
730914
Body & structure
Filed May 24, 2000
NHTSA RECALL 99V310001 AND MANUFACTURE'S RECALL 99S34/ HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS BROKE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
862486
Body & structure
Filed Apr 14, 2000
WHEN CLOSING DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE DETACHED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ID
860365
Incident
Apr 8, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Apr 14, 2000
LIFTGATE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (95V-164). YH
NHTSA ID
551873
Body & structure
Filed Mar 30, 2000
RECALL REPAIR FOR LIFT CYLINDER BRACKETS (99V310001) WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. NLM
NHTSA ID
551666
Incident
Mar 8, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2000
RECALL OF THE BREACKET ON THE LIFTGATE 99V-310 CANNOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM
NHTSA ID
551575
Body & structure
Filed Mar 23, 2000
RECALL 99V310000/ HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS. PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
859074
Incident
Feb 16, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 15, 2000
THE LIFTGATE CYLINDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V310001. NLM
NHTSA ID
551398
Incident
Feb 4, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Mar 13, 2000
RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEM, CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR REPAIR (99V-310). *MJS
NHTSA ID
551303
Body & structure
Filed Feb 28, 2000
THE HANDLE FOR FRONT LEFT SIDE DOOR IS LOOSE. YH
NHTSA ID
551097
Body & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2000
THE BUILT IN HANDLE USED TO CLOSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE BROUGHT THE FORD EXPLORER TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE DOOR PANEL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT INADEQUATE MATERIALS WERE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DOOR PANEL AND HANDLE UNIT. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A FORD EXPLOERE, LIMITED EDITION THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *AK
NHTSA ID
719143
Incident
Feb 23, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Dec 8, 1999
APPLICABLE FORD RECALL LETTER #95M87 ISSUED OCTOBER 1995. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ID
715812
Incident
Nov 12, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Dec 5, 1999
THE WELD FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURE WITH NO LIMITATIONS TO MILEAGE OR YEARS ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA ID
715643
Incident
Nov 30, 1999
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