FaultScore

1991 Ford Explorer wheel problems

13 of the 764 complaints about the 1991 Ford Explorer are about the wheels — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,048 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Wheels 6 46.2%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 6 46.2%
HUB 1 7.7%

Wheels across every Ford Explorer year

1991 13 2.6%
1992 10 2.0%
1994 15 3.0%
1996 16 3.2%
1997 12 2.4%
1998 19 3.8%
2000 13 2.6%
2001 10 2.0%
2002 78 15.6%
2003 59 11.8%
2004 42 8.4%
2005 15 3.0%
2007 10 2.0%
2013 20 4.0%
2014 27 5.4%
2015 16 3.2%
2016 50 10.0%
2017 60 12.0%
2020 15 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 74,096 miles LOS Angeles, CA

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE GAS STATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL IN IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE LOST ITS FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT NO LUGS; BOLTS WERE PUT BACK ON THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING ENGINE WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. WHY WOULD THEY TAKE THE WHEELS OFF TO SERVICE THE ENGINE, AND THEN NOT PUT THE BOLTS BACK ON. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS AN ACT OF VANDALISM. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10099632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Hayward, CA

WHEELS

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE. UPON PULLING OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND ITS ATTACHMENTS SEPARATED AND FELL OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10051880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ludlow, MA

WHEELS

THE FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10008921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ludlow, MA

WHEELS

THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF THE AXLE, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE SLIGHT CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10008750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hialeah, FL

WHEELS

CONSUMER COMPLAINIED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIRES. STATED THAT TWO BACK TIRES BLEWOUT. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 FROM FIRESTONE WHICH WERE REPLACEMENTS FROM THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED.MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10004674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING FRONT REAR LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #8015016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delta, PA

WHEELS:HUB

BLACK GOO OOZES OUT FROM AROUND THE LACING OF STEERING WHEEL. CONSTANTLY HAVE THE WIPE WHEEL & HANDS. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AND WENT BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. I ONLY WEIGHT 185 LBS. SO WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. THERE HAD BEEN NO REAR-END COLLISION EITHER. FRONT WHEEL HUBS FAILED DUE TO ENGINEERING DEFECT. DEALER TRIED TO MAKE ME PAY THE FIRST $55. I REFUSED AND WON. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A SHAFT THAT SNAPPED. VALVE GASKETS ARE INFERIOR MATERIAL. HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED, BUT STILL LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #752295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grosse ILE, MI

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WHEEL ON THE RIGHT REAR CAME OFF. ONLY WARNING WAS THAT VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THIS THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #891248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RYE, CO

WHEELS

JUST SEEMS A LITTLE ODD TO HAVE HAD TWO BROKEN FLY WHEELS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. A FRIEND WHO HAS OWNED A 1991 EXLPORER IN THE PAST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A MECHANIC WE KNOW SAYS THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, YET THE FORD DEALER WE CALLED WOULDN'T ADMIT TO EVER HEARING THE PROBLEM BEFORE. IS THIS AN EXPLORER PROBLEM IN GENERAL OR MAYBE JUST THE OLDER ONE'S. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW BEFORE I DECIDE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE.

NHTSA complaint #736571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Freindship, WI

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER WOBBLES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE WHEEL IS NOT REMOVEABLE BECAUSE THE LUGS: NUTS JUST SPIN ON THE STUDS. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #847683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, NJ

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE. LUGS: NUTS FALL OFF AND STUDS SHEAR USED BOTH FORD AND NAPA PARTS SAME RESULT.

NHTSA complaint #708264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, MA

WHEELS

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF. TT

NHTSA complaint #965023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

LEFT FRONT TORQUE ON THE WHEEL LUG SEPARATE, RESULTING IN WHEEL SEPARATION. TT

NHTSA complaint #961543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford Explorer problems

← Full 1991 Ford Explorer report