1994 Ford Explorer problems

What is wrong

Vehicle description: on certain sport utility vehicles, the hydraulic lift cylinder bracket welds could fracture.

Risk

With a broken bracket weld, there is a potential for the liftgate bracket to gradually bend inward allowing the lift cylinder ball stud to disengage, unexpectedly allowing the liftgate to fall from an open position.

Remedy

Dealers will install liftgate reinforcement brackets. Depending upon the condition of the liftgate sheet metal in the area of the bracket, dealers may also install a larger reinforcement.

Recall number 99V310001 · Recall details

What is wrong

A short circuit condition can occur in the remote power mirror control switch circuit board as a result of a separated part of the contact assembly bridging the switch positive battery pad and adjacent chassis ground pad.

Risk

The current can overheat the printed circuit board and other plastic and elastomeric components of the switch assembly resulting in smoke or fire.

Remedy

Dealers will install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the remote power mirror control switch assembly.

Recall number 97V083000 · Recall details

What is wrong

The studs which attach the brake master cylinder to the power brake vacuum booster assembly can develop stress corrosion cracking after being operated for an extended period of time in the southern california location.

Risk

If a crack occurs, it could result in one or both studs fracturing. The master cylinder could then separate from the vacuum booster, when the brakes are applied, preventing the service brakes from activating increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the power brake vacuum booster assembly.

Recall number 96V024001 · Recall details

What is wrong

The parking brake control self-adjust pawl does not line up properly with the self-adjust rachet causing the pawl to slip over one or more teeth in the rachet.

Risk

When the above occurs, it can result in parking brake system ineffectiveness. The parking brake will not hold the vehicle, causing the vehicle to roll freely, if the transmission is not left in gear.

Remedy

A wedge will be installed which will serve to lock the parking brake self-adjust mechanism pawl into engagement with the rachet. Also, owners will be advised to release and reapply the parking brake whenever tooth skip occurs and will be reminded to always turn off the engine and leave the vehicle in gear when the vehicle is parked.

Recall number 94V169001 · Recall details

There is no summary currently available

EA00012

From the beginning of the 1991 model year production until the middle of the 1994 model year production, ford used a galvanized steel cable to lift and hold in stored position, the explorer spare tire.on may 19, 1994, based on the results of ford durability testing , ford changed to a 4.00mm stainless steel cable.there have been over 100 incidents in which the original galvanized steel cable failed allowing the spare tire to drop from its rear storage well.one of these incidents caused a following vehicle to be involved in a collision and on six other occasions the wheel made contact with following vehicles, resulting in property damage.

PE99072

Summary:on august 22, 1995, ford conducted safety recall, 95v‑164, on 1992 and 1993 model year explorer due to liftgate failures.the rear liftgate hydraulic cylinder bracket can become unattached allowing the liftgate to suddenly drop.the recall remedy was to install reinforcements on the brackets.ford also initiated a safety improvement campaign in october 1995, for 1991-1995 model year explorer vehicles which were not included in the recall, to install reinforcements on those bracket that were found to be loose or detached.this campaign ended in october 1996. Since november 1996, odi has received 51 consumer complaints alleging liftgate failures caused by the bracket separation, of which 19 reported the liftgate struck the occupant causing 12 injuries.one complaint was on 1992 model year vehicle, three complaints were on 1993 model year vehicles, and 47 complaints were on 1994 model year vehicles. This rq is to determine the extent of the problem experience and the scope of safety recall 95v‑164.ford and mazda are conducting a safety recall campaign under recall number 99v‑310.001/.002.

RQ99016

Based on the relatively low failure frequency measured over an extended exposure time and the fact that the great majoity of incidents are confined within the blower housing, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of the agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.the agency reserves the right to take furthe action if warranted by the circumstances.

EA99004

There is no summary currently available

DP98008

There is no summary currently available

PE98048

The federal safety agency was petitioned to commence a defect investigation of the subject vehicles on january 6, 1998.the petition alleges that early model ford explorer sport utility vehicles develop heavy lateral vibrations at speeds above 55 MPH and when encountering bumps at low speeds.the petition further alleges that these vibrations could possibly cause loss of vehicle control.the analysis of the petition is presented in the attached notice which is published in the federal register.

DP98001

There is no summary currently available

EA97011

The contact assembly for the remote power mirror control switch may develop a short circuit between the switch positive pad and chassis ground pad as a result of water intrusion.excess current flow resulting from the short circuit condition may overheat the remote power mirror control switch circuit board and cause a fire in the driver's door.ford has indicated that current in excess of 15 amps can overheat the circuit board enough to cause a fire.circuit protection is provided by a 30 amp fuse.ford is recalling all 1993-94 4-door explorer vehicles equipped with the subject electronic option combination to install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the remote power mirror control switch assembly.no 2-door explorer vehicles were built with the subject components.according to ford, vehicles built prior to the recall production range were equipped with lower capacity circuit boards for the subject switch assembly that would fail from an open circuit if a similar short occurred.a new switch assembly with 10 amp fuse protection was introduced beginning with the 1995 model year explorer.mazda will conduct a parallel compaign (97v‑083.002) to remedy the subject condition in approximately 14,000 navajo vehicles.the navajo vehicles were available in only the 2-door version which, unlike the explorer vehicles, did use the subject option combination in that body style.

PE96066

There is no summary currently available

EA96017

Odi has received ond hundred seventy-three (173) consumer complaints of alleged failures or malfunctions in the braking system on certain 1993 and 1994 ford explorers.these alleged failures or malfunctions are reported to have caused thirty-six (36) accidents resulting from vehicle loss of directional control during braking or from the extended distance required to stop the vehicle during braking.the complainants report that the alleged failures or malfunctions occurred during braking mostly on wet or slippery roads, but also have occurred on dry roads.since odi opened this pe based on wheel lockup complaints, we have received numerous additional complaints ab out the extended distance required to stop the subject vehicles when braking under certain road and speed conditions.in response to odi's information request (ir) concerning wheel lockup complaints ont he subject vehicles, ford reported receiving 416 reports (field reports, owner complaints, and subrogation claims) of wheeel lockup on 1993 and 1994 ford explorers, with 24 alleged accidents.in addition, ford reported receiving 24,916 warranty claims that could relate to the alleged defect of wheel lockup during braking on the subject vehicles.an engineering analysis is warranted to determine the scope of these alleged braking system failures or malfunctions on 1993 and 1994 ford explorers.

PE96016

Ford continues to sudy the problem attempting to determine why stud fractures are not frequently occurring in other parts of the country.likewise, odi continues gathering information to ascertain whether the recall scope should include other geographical areas.if evidence indicates the scope should be expanded, odi will reopen the investigation as warranted.

EA95018

There is no summary currently available

PE95001