Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 939 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Ford Explorer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 939 · page 1 of 38
IGNITION SWITCH TURNS WITHOUT A KEY AND THEN IT IS HARD TO INSERT THE KEY. ENGINE STALLED POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE SWITCH WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN.
THE ABS MODULE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 20 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. *BF *AS
MICHELIN LTX M/S XL P235/75R-15 ON 93 EXPLORER XL. TIRES ARE 5 YRS OLD WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES. SERIES OF SIDEWALL CRACKS ABOUT 8" LONG APPEARED IN FRONT RIGHT TIRE, APPROX 5/8" FROM RIM, WITH THE LONGEST CRACK ABOUT 4" LONG AND 0.11" DEEP. NO FAILURE YET, AND THE AMERICAS TIRE DEALER SAYS THE CRACKS ARE NOT A PROBLEM, BUT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF SIDEWALL CRACKING AND BLOWOUTS IN MICHELIN TIRES CONCERNS US. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE ATX, AND LINE SIZE P235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND FOUR PASSENGERS HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE TIRES WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
ALMOST HOME, WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IT THEN BEGAN TO SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE AND OUT WHILE PULLING INTO YARD. GOT OUT AND THEN NOTICED FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND SMOKE EXITING FROM HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 TO REPORT FIRE, AS THE FIRE UNIT WAS ON ITS WAY THE VEHICLE HAD A EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALED. THE ATTENDING FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FIRE BEFORE WITH FORD F150'S AND OTHER FORD SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY THE SPEED OR CRUISE CONTROL THAT STARTED THE FIRE, AND TO LOOK. PLEASE RESPOND SO THAT I KNOW WHICH STEPS TO TAKE. *TW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. . AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS OF ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MISFIRED. A BYSTANDER NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER EYES, HAIR, AND UPPER PORTION OF HER BODY. SHE HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE A LITTLE OVER 200,000.
FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS LEAK SO IT DID NOT PASS SMOG, NONE AT USED CAR LOTS, REPAIR SHOP STATES HE HAS SEEN THIS ALOT. *TR
SUN ROOF FLEW OFF THE EXPLORER ONTO THE ROAD AND SHATTERED IN A MILLION PIECES ALMOST HITTING A BIKER. *TR
THE WHOLE '!@#$% FRONT END OF MY 93 EXPLORER KEEPS FALLING APART AFTER FIXING IT TWICE AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. I CANT KEEP TIRES ON IT AT ALL. *TR
WHILE MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING IN THE CAR, WITH TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, THE TWO YEAR OLD STARTED CRYING AND TOLD US THE BABY'S CAR SEAT WAS BROKEN. WE LOOKED BACK AND THE CAR SEAT WAS SIDEWAYS- THE SEAT BUCKLE THAT HELD IT IN PLACE HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT! WE WERE DRIVING AND I HAD TO LEAN BACK FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND RIGHT THE BABY SEAT WHILE WE PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO REBUCKLE THE BABY'S SEAT INTO THE MIDDLE. THE SEATS DO NOT ACTUALLY FIT THAT WAY FOR EVERYDAY USE AND OUR CAR HAS BEEN UNUSABLE TO US EVER SINCE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND NO OTHER WAY TO ARRANGE THEM IN THE CAR. WE CALLED ABOUT A PART TO REPLACE THAT SEAT BUCKLE AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN- TO HAVE A SEAT BUCKLE GIVE OUT - WHILE DRIVING - WITH A BABY IN IT! WE HAVE TRADED CARS WITH OUR PARENTS IN THE MEANTIME AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PART TO FIX IT. (THIS IS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE.) *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED DARK SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT WHEN THE SMOKE CEASED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SMOKE REAPPEARED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE HEATER FUSE REMOVED, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM SMOKING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000. UPDATED 05/27/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AC ONLY WORKED ON HIGH AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT WORK. UPDATED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL INSIDE HIS HOME. HE GOT HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE HOME AND THE HOME ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. WHEN THEY EXITED THE HOUSE, THEY DISCOVERED THE GARAGE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE HOME WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE AND THE HOUSE WERE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE WERE CHARGED WITH ARSON; HOWEVER, THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL, THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED, THE FIRE IS STILL LISTED AS SUSPICIOUS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V062001 AND 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WERE REFERENCED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THERE IS NO VEHICLE LEFT TO EXAMINE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
STARTED 1993 FORD EXPLORER AND HEATER FAN WAS ON SETTING 2. BURNING LEAF SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE DEFROST VENTS (HEATER SELECTOR WAS SET TO DEFROST). IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF IGNITION AND HAD TO DRIVE OTHER VEHICLE TO WORK. WILL HAVE TO REMOVE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR ASSEMBLY AND CLEAN OUT DEBRIS FROM BLOWER HOUSING. NOTICED BURNT LEAF SMELL BEFORE BUT NEVER SAW SMOKE UNTIL TODAY. *NM
DURING NORMAL OPERATION LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE CRACKED, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID, MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE ON IN MEDIAN, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AFTER LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED MECHANIC WAS BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM, DURING THE PROCESS THE MAIN BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKE LINES CRACKED AND DEVELOPED A LEAK, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID AGAIN!FORTUNATELY THIS TIME IT HAPPENED AT SHOP, HAD ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED, ADVISED SHOP TO HOLD ON TO OLD (ORIGINAL) BRAKE LINES. *JB
1993 FORD EXPLORER SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED IN DRIVEWAY, DAMAGE ORIGINATED IN THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. NO RECALL FOUND FOR YEAR/MODEL, BUT COUNTLESS FIRES REPORTED FOR BASE FORDS OF ALL MODELS AND YEARS. *NM
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALER AND HAVE THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME A TEMPORARY TAG UNLESS I WENT TO HIS MECHANIC FOR A INSPECTION ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY LEAKING OIL SINCE THE 2ND DAY I PURCHASED. *JB
I OWNED A FORD 1992 EXPLORER AND ONE MORNING IT JUST CACTH FIRE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. WE LET IT RUN BEFORE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AS WE DO EVERY COLD MORNING AND IF A LITTLE GIRL HAD BEEN WALKING TO THE BUS STOP AND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURN UP IN THE HOUSE SO LUCKLY SHE SAW AND LET US NO BEFORE IT GOT TO THE PORCH WE CALL THE FIRE DEPT. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT CAME UNLATCHED. THE SAFETY BELT NO LONGER WORKED. THE BUTTON ON THE BUCKLE WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY IN AND LOOSE TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK BROKE AND THERE ARE LOOSE PARTS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE LOCK. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING BRAKE STAYING IN PLACE. THE PARKING BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT HOLD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 01/23/06. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING LIKE IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING AND COOLING VENTS. AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SMOKED STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT BUT WERE NOT SURE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED FROM. THIS HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 1, 2004. *AK
DT: CONTACT STATED ACCELERATOR STUCK ONCE IN MARCH 2005, AND HE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIRMAN SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. HE DID NOT RECALL THE PART THAT MECHANIC CLEANED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NOTICED THIS HAPPENING A LOT IN FORD EXPLORERS. CONSUMER HAD NOT NOTICED IT HAPPENING SINCE THEN. HE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF 25 MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM. HE STOMPED THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO MAKE IT DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO CRASH. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK *JB
DT: DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE MODEL IS 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE OWNER HAS JUST SEEN THIS ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER SAYS, YES, HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, HIS HOUSE MAY BURN DOWN. THIS IS COMING FROM WHAT THE CONSUMER HAS SEEN ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND INVESTIGATIONS. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS CHECKED YET, BUT THE OWNER HAS ALREADY CONTACTED FORD WITH NO COOPERATION AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO COOPERATION WITH THE 2 DEALERSHIPS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO. CONSUMER FEELS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BECAUSE OF SAFETY. ISSUES.*AK
1993 FORD EXPLORER NEEDS HUBS FOR THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE.*MR *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .