Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 75 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 75, 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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, DARK SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WHICH IMMEDIATELY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 175,000.
MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS AND I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT . I NEED ROCKER PANELS , 3 BALL JOINTS AND A NEW MUFFLER. *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
1994 EXPLORER 4.0 V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REBIULT 3 TIMES IN PAST YEAR .COUNTLESS TIMES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ACTING AS IF THE FUEL PUMP QUIT, FUEL PUMP REPLACED, COIL PACKS REPLACED, RELAYS REPLACED. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, ANOTHER TIME WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. USUALLY UPON START UP. AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH SHORTED OUT, SAW BURNED WIRES ON SWITCH UPON REPLACEMENT. ANTIFREEZE SPEWED OUT FROM SIDE OF MOTOR, ASSUMED TO BE AROUND HEADS BUT HAS NOT BEEN TO SHOP YET.*AK
I BOUGHT MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER (4WD) IN MAY OF 1999 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50900 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT NOW HAS 89000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME I COMPLETED BRAKE WORK WAS BECAUSE THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER OVERHEATED AND FAILED. I THEN REPLACED BOTH FRONT CALIPERS. THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM AT SPEEDS OF 55-67 MPH. I RECENTLY PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, HAD THEM BALANCED, HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED, AND REPLACED THE SHOCKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT STILL VIBRATES AT THE ABOVE MENTIONED SPEEDS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PCM (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I REPLACED THE PCM AS A LAST RESORT BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSING THE PROBLEM. REPLACING THE PCM CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN DURING INITIAL STARTING AND THEN GOES OUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-3 MILES. I ALSO HAVE A SOUND COMING FROM MY AIR VENTS WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. NOW FOR MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS READING HOTTER THAN NORMAL SO I OVERHAULED THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING: NEW THERMOSTAT, NEW COOLING FAN (OLD ONE WAS CRACKED ALL AROUND THE HUB), NEW FAN CLUTCH, NEW RADIATOR, NEW ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND NEW FLUID FLUSH AND REFILL. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL READS THE SAME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NOW. ANY RECALL INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD HELP. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR PARTS PURCHASED AND WORK PERFORMED.*AK
I HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER REPLACED BY PEP BOYS IN CRESTWOOD, ILLINOIS. TODAY I LEARNED THAT THEY HAD BOTCHED THE JOB TO THE POINT THAT GASOLINE WAS BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE MANIFOLD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE OR AND EXPLOSION. WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IS SERENDIPITY FOR ME. WHEN I CALLED PEP BOYS THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DON'T INSPECT THEIR WORK. NEITHER THE TECHNICIAN, THE SUPERVISOR, OR ANY KIND OF QUALITY CONTROL MECHANISM CHECKS FOR DEFECTIVE WORK. SUCH A LACK OF CONTROL, PARTICULARLY WHEN DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, REPRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO ANYONE WHO HAS WORK DONE AT PEP BOYS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE IN HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. A PASSER BY AND A SAFETY CREW ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER REMOVED PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT BECAME TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *PH *NM
ABS LIGHT ON. BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN STOP. USING EXCESSIVE COOLANT. PROBLEMS STARTING. *NLM
MY TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF BY THE PARKING TO MY HOME. I CAN'T AFFORD BUY $7,000.00 FOR REPAIR AUTO AT FIRESTONE BECAUSE THEY WANT SO MORE MONEY. THEY DID TOOK OFF BY ITSELF THEN MY TRUCK DIDN'T FINISH AND NEED TO WORK MORE FOR ENGINE MOTOR AND BRAKE. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL. IN DOING SO POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT, AND CONSUMER CAN NO LONGER CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN . DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GEAR SHIFT PROBLEMS. *YH
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE DIES AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AND FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM OVERFLOW RADIATOR CONTAINER DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. THE HEADS WERE CRACKED, YOU COULD SEE WHERE THE GASKET SEPARATED FROM THE HEAD. *JG *AK
4.0 L V6 ENGINE BLEW HEAD GASKET AND DUMPED ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE ENG. FORD REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED BY LISTED DEALER($4,000BILL) 32,000 MILES LATER THIS ENGINE DEVELOPED A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE RODS AND ROCKER ARMS($2,000BILL). *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TOWING A SMALL TRAILER AND USING THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF OVERDRIVE. VEHICLE MILEAGE AND DRIVEABILITY/PERFORMANCE SUFFER. O2 SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER WITH NEW YET PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
CAR STALLS CONTINUOUSLY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER, DEALER CANNOT DETECT PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE LIGHTS HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH IN GEAR AT IDLE, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ALSO SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE EGR PRESSURE SENSOR WHICH WAS STICKING, ALSO THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED.*JB
AT SPEEDS OF 55 TO 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND REAR AXLE-TO-FRAME LATERAL SHOCK ABSORBER.*AK
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAS FAILED 5 TIMES SINCE 1999. VEHICLES STALL AT LOW/IDLE SPEED AT INTERSECTION PUTTING DRIVER EXPOSED TO REAR AND SIDE IMPACTS. DAUGHTERS HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES THIS YEAR AS THEY WERE USING THE VEHICLE TO GO TO SUMMER SCHOOL IN PHOENIX. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOOSES POWER MOMENTATRILY AT HIGH SPEEDS. RPM DROPS BUT IT KICK BACKS UP AGAIN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND USUALL HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS HIGH IN PHOENIX, STARTED IN 1999 AND CHANGING SENSORS HAS NOT HELPED - HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER. THIS TIME I NOTICED THE AMMETER GAGE GO SOUTH WHEN IT INDICATED A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AFTER STALL WHEN YOU CRANK IT AGAIN
THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE DISTRUBUTION WIRING AT THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE FIREWALL RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT QUICKLY ENGULFED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE. INVESTIGATION REPORT PROVIDED IN THE INFORMATION REGARDING FIRE INCIDENT. NLM
HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM
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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