FaultScore

1991 Ford Explorer suspension problems

36 of the 764 complaints about the 1991 Ford Explorer are about the suspension — 5% of everything reported for this model year.

B

36

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 11 30.6%
Front 10 27.8%
Wheel Bearing 4 11.1%
Shock Absorber 2 5.6%
Torsion BAR 2 5.6%
Control ARM 1 2.8%
Rear 1 2.8%
Multiple Axle 1 2.8%
Stabilizer BAR 1 2.8%
Leaf Spring Assembly 1 2.8%

Suspension across every Ford Explorer year

1991 36 1.8%
1992 63 3.2%
1993 67 3.4%
1994 73 3.7%
1995 99 5.0%
1996 112 5.6%
1997 112 5.6%
1998 116 5.8%
1999 71 3.6%
2000 69 3.5%
2001 45 2.3%
2002 460 23.1%
2003 69 3.5%
2004 40 2.0%
2005 15 0.8%
2011 24 1.2%
2012 22 1.1%
2013 79 4.0%
2014 102 5.1%
2015 82 4.1%
2016 74 3.7%
2017 57 2.9%
2018 22 1.1%
2019 11 0.6%
2020 35 1.8%
2021 15 0.8%
2022 11 0.6%
2023 13 0.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hayward, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AFTER HEARING A STRANGE DRAGGING NOISE MY LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF AFTER RETREIVING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE ROTOR BRAKE CHAMBER WAS STILL BOLTED TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL SOME BEARINGS LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD FALLEN OUT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SNAPPED THE SUSPENTION AROUND THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BY MY TRIPLE AAA TOWING COMPANY RENTED A CAR AND USED THE INTERNET TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE THIS REPORT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE AN MANUFACTURES DEFAULT I ALSO TOOK PICTURES AND HAVE NOT WORKED ON THE VEHICLE I AM WAAITING YOUR RESPONSE SO I CAN GET AN ESTIMATE FROM AN CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS OF YET I HAVE NOT CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY.

NHTSA complaint #10050895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA Crash 2 injured

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

MVA, DAMAGE TO REAREND & DRIVETRAIN; DRIVERSEAT & SEATBELT POSS. COMPROMISED.

NHTSA complaint #10033059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA Crash 2 injured

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

MVA, DAMAGE TO REAREND & DRIVETRAIN; DRIVERSEAT & SEATBELT POSS. COMPROMISED.

NHTSA complaint #10033059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN 1991-1994 FORD 4X4 EXPLORER MODELS, WHEELS BEARINGS CAN COME LOOSE AND RESULT IN WHEEL FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS LOCKING NUT TO WORK LOOSE WHEN UNDER LOADS SUCH AS OFF-RAOD USE OR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #764896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

SUSPENSION

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 94M85 REPAIRS FOR RADIUS ARM BUSHING ON RIGHT SIDE WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY 1995. RADIUS ARM BUSHING ON RIGHT SIDE FAILED AGAIN, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO HAVE POOR STABILITY AFTER ROLLING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENTS/BUMPS. MANUFACTURER WAS DENYING ANY RESPONSIBIBITY ON REPAIRING RECALL FAILURES A SECOND TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8014509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vernon, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT THE SWAY BAR DID NOT COME BACK TO THE CENTER.

NHTSA complaint #563221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royersford, PA

SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP, AND REAR END LIFTED UP . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8004377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vernon, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT THE SWAY BAR DID NOT COME BACK TO THE CENTER.

NHTSA complaint #563221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brandonburg, KY

SUSPENSION

FRAME HAS BROKEN AT RADIUS ARM. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8002144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELK, WA

SUSPENSION

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIUS ARM BRACKETS TWICE ALREADY SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 3 YRS AND THE BUSHINGS ARE SQUEAKING AGAIN SO I AM SURE THE BRACKETS ARE CRACKED AGAIN. THIS IS GETTING REDICULOUS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THESE CRACK SO EASILY AND NEED REPLACED SO MUCH.

NHTSA complaint #746534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gadsden, AL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSAXLE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ronkonkoma, NY

SUSPENSION

STARTER FAILED. *SLC RADIUS ARM NEEDED REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED REPLACED. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #559986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

SUSPENSION

HAVE HAD 3 CERTIFIED MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS VECHICAL ALL WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION THE RADIAL ARM BUSHINGS HAVE PREMATURLY FAILED DUE TO A DEFFECT WHEN CAR WAS BUILT.

NHTSA complaint #739810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Russellville, AR

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS VEHICLE MOVES SIDE TO SIDE WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #871627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brentwood, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

WARPED BUSHING ON THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #605506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke, VA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE VIBRATES CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA complaint #539624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodland, CA

SUSPENSION

THERE IS A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65MPH AND 70MPH. VIBRATION WAS PRESENT WITH OLD TIRES AND DID NOT GO AWAY WITH A NEW SET ON RIMS AND TIRES. ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY FAN CLUTCH FROZE, CAUSING THE FAN ITSELF TO DEVELOP STRESS CRACKS. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UNITS.

NHTSA complaint #702912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suwanee, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA complaint #525538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burlington, WY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING.

NHTSA complaint #541570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerqu, NM

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

VEHICLE VIBRATES DUE TO ENGINE MOUNTS AND LACK OF INSTALLATION OF THE REAR AXLE LATERAL SHOCK ABSORBER.

NHTSA complaint #538512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelley, ID

SUSPENSION

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS FAILED. ALSO, REPLACED RADIUS ARM AND BUSHINGS.

NHTSA complaint #539854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, CA

SUSPENSION

RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS.

NHTSA complaint #520272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen Rose, TX

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR SUSPENSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #510927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR MORE A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND HAVE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #804806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Billings, MO

SUSPENSION

METAL RADIUS ARM FRAME HANGER IS CRACKED AND METAL CRYSTALLIZED. *AK CONSUMER STTES THIS PART HOLDS THE AXLE IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #803677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #507689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poughquag, NY

SUSPENSION

RADIUS ARM, BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED NOISE WHEN TURNIING THE WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #800382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poughquag, NY

SUSPENSION

RADIUS ARM IS LOOSE AND CAUSING THE DRIVER TO STEER HARD.

NHTSA complaint #800384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reading, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

POOR DESIGN OF HUBS PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM SWITCHING TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING UPHILL.

NHTSA complaint #502445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VIBRATES ABOVE SPEED 55-60 MPH-NO INJURIES BUT AFRAID OF AUTO ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #980286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford Explorer problems

← Full 1991 Ford Explorer report