48 of the 848 complaints about the 1992 Ford Explorer are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 111,500 miles.
48
Complaints
1
Crashes
15
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM THE AIR VENTS. COULD FIND NO SOURCE FOR THE SMOKE. AFTERWARDS, ONLY FAN SPEED THAT WORKS IS HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #10215892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
STARTED UP VEHICLE IN MORNING, REAR WIPER CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND COULD NOT SHUT IT OFF. HAD TO REMOVE WIPER AS IT COULD NOT BE STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10215895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
1992, FORD, EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE AT CONTROL PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD. DAMAGE TO CONTROL PANEL, AND INTERIOR DOOR PANEL (MELTED) POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE. FORD SHOWING ALL RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. CANNOT GET RESOLUTION WITH LOCAL DEALER OR FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10088655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON THE EXTERIOR OF MY 1992 FORD EXPLORER DON'T WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1992 FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SAME. THIS PROBLEM AND ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, MY PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. HOWEVER, FORD SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE, VIN [XXX] WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE TO ME. PLEASE ADVISE ME. THANK YOU. *JB UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10064048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
I HAVE A 1992 FORD EXPLORER, AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND ON FRIDAY AUGUST 1,2003 WHEN DRIVING ON A BYPASS SMOKE POURED OUT OF MY MIRROR ADJUSTING PANEL ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO IMMEDIATLEY PULLED OFF ROAD BECAUSE OF SMOKE AND FEAR OF CAR IGNITING. DOOR PANEL MELTED SLIGHTLY, AND REAR MIRROR MOTOR AND PANEL BURNED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10030655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
UPON ENTERING VEHICLE THERE WAS AN INTENSE BURNING SMELL, CONSUMER STATES' BOTH REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE INOPERATIVE AND COMPLETELY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, MIRRORS WERE POINTING TOWARDS SKY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR POWER MIRROR 97 V 083 000 BUT CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. CONSUMER FEELS SOME OF THE WIRES MUST HAVE MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER SUSPECTS FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 3-4 HOURS WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE WAS CAUSED BY HEATER BOX. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #8010131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING IN JUNE OF 2000, REPLACED BY CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 27 AUG 2000, SPEED UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #895306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #748427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
RECALL 97 V 235 001/SUNROOF LABEL: SUNROOF CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT REPLACING THE SUN ROOF COSTS $2500- 3000, AND THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #883889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, BLUE SMOKE WITH A SMELL OF BURNED WIRING POURED THROUGH INTERIOR DASH VENTS. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE; WE WERE IN A POOR PLACE TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE CAR; ALL I COULD DO WAS LOWER THE WINDOWS AND CONTINUE DRIVING ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY (AND BREATHABILITY) UNTIL WE COULD PULL OVER AND GET OUT. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT A HEATER FIRE SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPECTED OCCURRENCE IN A WELL-CARED-FOR VEHICLE WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER FORD EXPLORER HEATER FIRES. I THINK FORD SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $401.55 THAT I SPENT ON REPAIRS. CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO?
NHTSA complaint #741090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL ON FOUR LANE HIGHWAY COULD NOT STEER IT, FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT THREE RAIDERARIORS HAVE BLOWN OUT ,HAVE REPORTED ALL THE THINGS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #731174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND WHILE THE SUN ROOF WAS IN A CLOSED SECURE POSITION .
NHTSA complaint #866688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
AIR CONDITIONER /HEATING UNIT - WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN IS TURNED ON THE RESISTOR STARTS LEAVES ON FIRE THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE RESISTOR. SMOKE THEN POURS OUT THROUGH THE VENTS. PAINT - THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS DEFECTED AND IS DISINTEGRATING.
NHTSA complaint #717182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF BLEW OFF AT 45 MPH. WAS NOT TOUCHED IN PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. WEATHER WAS MILD IN 80'S. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 3 INCHES. FOOMP! IT WAS GONE!!! SMASHED ON STREET BEHIND ME, NARROWLY MISSING THE NEXT CAR. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "NO".
NHTSA complaint #708009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SUN ROOF BLEW OFF AT 45 MPH. WAS NOT TOUCHED IN PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. WEATHER WAS MILD IN 80'S. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 3 INCHES. FOOMP! IT WAS GONE!!! SMASHED ON STREET BEHIND ME, NARROWLY MISSING THE NEXT CAR. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "NO".
NHTSA complaint #708009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES, EA-99-004. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPOXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE WHICH POURED IN THROUGH THE VENTS, FLAMES WERE IN THE UNDERHOOD AREA. POLICE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXSTINGUISHER.
NHTSA complaint #837529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
LEAVES GETTING INTO VENTILATION/HEATING SYSTEM RESULTING FIRES AND CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENTS.
NHTSA complaint #544899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
EA99004; THE LEAVES/PINES, ETC, ACCUMULATED IN THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING HEATER COIL TO HEAT UP AND RESULTING IN SMOKE AND A FIRE. HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DLR SAID CONSUMER NEEDED TO KEEP CLEANING OUT THE BLOWER. *AK
NHTSA complaint #835758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE BUTTOM HEATER. DRIVER NEVER SAW ANY FLAMES, JUST SMOKE AND A SMELL OF BURNING LEAVES AND PINE STRAW. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES.
NHTSA complaint #835207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
EA99004, BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES; WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE IN THE REAR. OWNER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO KEEP A FIRE FROM STARTING. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #835185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN 2 BLOCKS OF THE START OF A TRIP. THE ODOR WAS CLEARLY THAT OF BURING LEAVES OR WOOD. DRIVING WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE DEALER INITIALLY DISBELIEVED THAT SMOKE WAS AT FAULT, BUT RATHER ESCAPING COOLANT MUST BE THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND DEBRIS IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND CLEANED IT OUT, CHARGING ME $50. I WAS TOLD NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. HARDLY POSSIBLE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND SURELY NOT A DESIGN SPECIFICATION FOR AN SUV. A LETTER TO FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER PRODUCED ONLY A TELEPHONE CALL TELLING ME THAT "FORD STANDS BEHIND ITS DEALERS" AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION FROM FORD WOULD OCCUR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FOR MY OWN SURVIVAL I NOW PARK ONLY UNDER A ROOFED AREA AT HOME.
NHTSA complaint #703632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY WITH THE BLOWER UNIT COMMON TO THE A/C AND HEATER. THE A/C WAS ON WHEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ROUGHLY $1,500. AS THE FIRE DESTROYED THE BLOWER AND OTHER A/C-HEATER COMPONENTS.
NHTSA complaint #703060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VENTILATION SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #830325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLEY 55 MPH SUN ROOF WHICH WAS IN A CLOSED POSITION, DISCONNECTED BY ITSELF/FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #827914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
GLASS PANEL TO SUN ROOF FLEW OFF.
NHTSA complaint #525735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
PE96-074; WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE SUN ROOF BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #821713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF BLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #527018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.