Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
MY TENANT'S VEHICLE - A 1994 FORD EXPLORER - SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY PROPERTY'S GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE CAR ITSELF - LIKELY A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL VALVE ACCORDING TO THEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL CONDUCT ITS OWN INVESTIGATION. *TR
I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE NEXT EVENT I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND THE TRUCK ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, THE BRAKES WOULDN'T STOP IT, FINALLY I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND IT SHUT DOWN. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE THEN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT, I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE ALOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, THEY NAMED OFF SOME PARTS AND I REPLACED ALOT OF THEM AND AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY DID SAY THEY HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ALL FOR THE SAME REASONS. *TR
INVESTIGATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC COLLISION REVEALED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON 1994 FORD EXPLORER (UNKNOWN MILES) MAY BECOME STUCK IN THE "FULL OPEN THROTTLE" POSITION. CONDITION OCCURS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM WEARS A SLIT IN THE RUBBER SOUND/HEAT INSLUATION ON THE FLOOR BOARD. AFTER THAT OCCURS, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS FULLY DEPRESSED, THE ARM CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RUBBER. CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED DURING INVESTIGATION OF A FATAL CRASH. AFTER THE CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED, IT COULD BE EASILY AND REPEATEDLY REPLICATED. NOTE: FATALITY OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL IN MOTION AT UNKNOWN SPEED. DRIVER DIED UPON IMPACT WITH ROAD. VEHICLE CONTINUED OFF ROAD AND CAME TO REST, MOSTLY UNDAMAGED, IN A FIELD WELL OFF ROAD SURFACE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING I TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER AND IMMEDIATELY LIGHT SMOKE BEGAN OUT OF AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND THEN THE NEXT MOMENT THE SMOKE WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY OUT OF THE VENTS AND THEN VISIBLE FIRE UNDERNEATH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED, 10 MINUTES LATER IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *LN
THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL SPEED IN AN APARTMENT PARKING LOT, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE APARTMENT BUILDING AND CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE EXPLORER. IT IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THIS INCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY GAINED SPEED AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN MOMENTARILY, BUT DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 80 MPH AND THE REAR WHEELS BEGAN TO SMOKE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ACCELERATING. HE MANAGED TO TURN THE KEY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT THE RPM DIAL WAS IN THE RED ZONE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE PLATE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. HE REPAIRED THE FAILURE ON HIS OWN, WITHOUT THE DEALER'S ASSISTANCE. HE BELIEVES THAT HAD HE NOT BEEN KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE FAILURE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE SEVERE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 07/15/08
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED MINUTES LATER, BUT QUICKLY RESTARTED. SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.
MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE INTERSTATE. SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE CAR AND PULLED OFF. A FIRE FIGHTER HAPPENED TO BE BEHIND HER AND HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE TOP OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. HE CUT THE BATTERY CABLES AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS MINIMAL. THE ENGINE WIRING AND HOSES WERE EITHER COMPLETELY MELTED OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY. THE FIRE BURNED FROM CENTER ENGINE AND MOVE ACROSS TO THE LEFT REAR. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. SHE BELIEVES THIS WAS RELATED TO THE FORD RECALL 05V388000 CONCERNING THE SCDS. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-22-05. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED. SHE REPORTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT AND NOT WORK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. HAD NO ANYONE TO TELL HER THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. BUT, BECAUSE OF THE RECALLS A AND THE RECENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE FORD RECALLS OF SCDS WHICH CAUSED COMPARTMENT FIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER SHE WOULD NEED THE VIN NUMBER BEFORE THEY COULD TELL HER IF HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. SHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
I ALREADY SENT A LETTER ABOUT THIS TO FORD WITH A CC: TO YOU FOLKS. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE ACCELORATION CABLE ON MY FORD EXPLORER AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THE LETTER ON FILE FROM NOVEMBER 7TH. FORD DID RESPOND (A MONTH LATER) BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION ON IT.
1994 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCED RAPID ACCELERATION AND LOST OF BRAKING ABILITY. *MR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE MECHANIC PLACED A WIRE TIE ON IT TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. *SCC *JB
I HAVE A 1994 FORD EXPLORER XLT. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, I PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE. THE ENGINE, OR RPM'S, DOES NOT REV UP, BUT AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR RESUMES SPEED TO THE PREVIOUS SPEED SETTING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN, BUT COULD NEW CABLES HAVE BEEN PUT IN, WHICH WOULD BE RELATED TO THE RECALL NO. 03S03? THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM IS CONTINUING. I HAVE TO PRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL "OFF" BUTTON WHEN THERE IS A NEED TO BRAKE.*AK
WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY IN IDLE CONSUMER REVVED UP THE ENGINE, AND IN DOING SO, VEHICLE WITH A LOUD BANG ENGAGED ITSELF INTO DRIVE AND STARTED MOVING BEFORE RUNNING INTO A FOREIGN OBJECT WHICH STOPPED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TS
THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I5, ON THE GRAPEVINE IN CALIFORNIA AND IT TERRIFIED US. WE JUST MANAGED TO STOP . THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO TECHNICAL BULLETINS ON THIS, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES FOR US TO BELIEVE THIS. MY HUSBAND SHOWED THE DEALER THAT HE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN EVEN WHEN IT WAS IN PARK BY MAKING THE ACCELORATOR INCREASE. WE HAD A PART REPLACED ONLY AFTER TAKING IT BACK TWICE AND NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN!! THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT HE TOWED ANOTHER FOR (A TRUCK) THAT HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. WE HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND VALLEY FORD HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.*AK
THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER MOVED GEARSHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A DIRT BANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR BRUISES DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
THROTTLE STICKS IN UP POSITION, REQUIRING A HARD PRESS( STOMP) TO ACTIVATE. THIS LEAD TO A ACCIDENT IN WET WEATHER WHERE THE STOMP LED TO THE VEHICLE SPINNING OUT DURING A TURN. WAS TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP THAT THE BUTTERFLY WAS STICKING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED CONTROLL STAYING ON DESPITE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. (TIRESIZE: 235/175R15)
NOTICED THE PEDAL STICKING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HOWEVER I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO MY CAR AND IT WASN'T SO BAD THAT I NEEDED TO SPEND A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, A CO-WORKER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE COVERING 97-98 EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER CONTACTING THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE MY MODEL YEAR WASN'T LISTED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BER EXTENDED TO COVER MY AUTO ALSO. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 KM THE RPMS WILL GO UP IN RED, AND NOT GO BACK DOWN UNTIL CONSUMER SLOWS DOWN TO ABOUT 30 KM. THEN, SHE CAN FEEL TRANSMISSION KICK IN, AND RPMS GO DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES . MECHANIC STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND UPGRADED. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE PARKED. SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. FOOT WAS NOT ON BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. GAS PEDAL WAS TO FLOOR. WAS DEPRESSING BRAKES HARD TO STOP, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *AK
PROBLEM 1: ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL OCCASIONALLY WHEN TURN HEATER ON AND ONCE WHEN TURNED A/C ON. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FIRST TIME USING THE SYSTEM AND SMELLS LIKE WHEN ANOTHER CAR OF MINE HAD THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE STEERING WHEEL BURN AND SMOKE. PROBLEM 2: GAS PEDAL OCCASIONALLY FLOORS ITSELF AND I CANNOT BRAKE THE CAR EVEN WITH ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HANDLE IT BY POPPING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SITTING THERE WHILE THE ENGINE GUNS ITSELF. I ALSO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL DURING THIS TIME IN THE HOPES THAT IT HELPS. THIS IS THE SCARIEST OF ALL MY PROBLEMS AND I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO PEOPLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 2X A YEAR AND I CANNOT TIE ANY OF THE INCIDENS TOGETHER AS IT HAS OCCURRED ON RAINY DAYS, SUNNY DAYS.... PROBLEM 3: I NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR ABOVE 65MPH BECAUSE IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHERE AFTER MORE THAN 45 MINUTES OF HIGH SPEED DRIVING THE FUEL SYSTEM MESSES UP. MY MILEAGE DROPS TO ABOUT 8 MILES TO THE GALLON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I'VE HAD TO GET MY PURGE TANK EMPTIED OF FUEL AND OTHER PROBLEMS AFTER AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICABLE WHEN THE CAR IS COOL OR IN CITY DRIVING. OVERALL NOTE: I HAVE SOME OF THE DATES OF THE PROBLEMS WRITTEN DOWN BUT NOT ALL SO THE DATES AND MILEAGES ARE FICTIONAL IN MY NOTES TO YOU. *AK
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *MJS
MAJOR PROBLEM REGARDING IGNITION SYSTEM: FIRST PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 OR 10 MINUTES. REPEATED ATTEMPTS IN SUCCESSION FAIL TO START THE ENGINE BUT HAVE FOUND THAT IF I GIVE IT A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO CRANK IT UP AGAIN IT WILL USUALLY START. SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY AFTER SHORT TRIPS, LESS THAN 10-15 MILES. REPLACED THE FUEL CIRCUIT RELAY 2 MONTHS AGO, HAD ONLY ONE REOCCURRENCE A WEEK LATER. NOW FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS THERE IS A MUCH WORSE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY USUALLY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-70 MPH. NO SPUTTERS, NO BACKFIRES, NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF OTHER THAN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMS AND THE GAUGES STOP READING. THE ENGINE WON'T RESTART UNTIL AFTER A FEW MINUTES HAVE PASSED BEFORE TRYING TO CRANK IT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO ERROR CODES ARE REPORTING. FUEL PUMP: FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HOLE IN FLOAT PER DEALERSHIP, SO ENTIRE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT MY COST. FUEL GAUGE APPEARED TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY; HOWEVER, ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS ONCE THE TANK GOT DOWN TO 1/4 FULL THE GAUGE WOULD START OFF AT 1/4 BUT THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 OR 10 MINS. THE GAUGE WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO FULL. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF WORKING SPORADICALLY, IT IS NOW CONSISTENTLY GOING TO FULL EVERYTIME THE TANK GETS DOWN TO 1/4. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AS DEFECTIVE BUT WILL NOT COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ONLY BEEN 6 MOS. , IT IS APPROX. 2000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY LIMIT OF 12,000 MILES/12 MONTHS. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE SAME $340.00 PARTS & LABOR AS 6 MONTHS AGO. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR SO DECLINED THE WORK, NOW BEING CHARGED $67.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE! CRUISE CONTROL: THE CRUISE CONTROL WON'T ENGAGE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DUPLICATE.
CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP AFTER HITTING A LARGE DEVICE. *SLC
IF FOR ANY REASON THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE SHOULD BLOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS BY THE WAY. THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL INJURY AS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL MAKE THE CAR LUNGE FORWARD TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE CRUISE SPEED SETTING. YOU ALSO WILL LOOSE YOUR POWER BRAKES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEIR ANSWER WAS TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN YOU HAVE A TECHNICAL ISSUE. I HAVE DONE THAT AND THE DEALER'S ANSWER WAS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE WAY IT IS WIRED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE 1994 EXPLORER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS LIKE THAT ON ANY OTHER MODEL OR YEAR FORD. IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE FUSE PANEL IS. IF THE DRIVER WANTS THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE, THEN IT SHOULD DISENGAGE NO MATTER WHAT. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS FOR YOURSELF, OBTAIN A 1994 EXPLORER AND PULL THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. IT IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE FUSE PANEL. NOW TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A RIDE. WHEN YOU GET OVER 30 MPH ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTOL. NOW TAP THE BRAKE AND SEE IF IT DISENGAGES. IT WILL NOT. IN FACT IF YOU FIGHT IT THE POWER BRAKES WILL GO AWAY. SCAREY UH? WHEN YOU TRY THIS, THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO.
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
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