38 of the
1,151 complaints about the 1993 Ford Explorer are about the
throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
130,000 miles.
F
38
Complaints
9
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
2565.8%
Accelerator Pedal
410.5%
Cruise Control
37.9%
Linkages
37.9%
Cables
25.3%
Springs
12.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Explorer year
ALMOST HOME, WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IT THEN BEGAN TO SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE AND OUT WHILE PULLING INTO YARD. GOT OUT AND THEN NOTICED FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND SMOKE EXITING FROM HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 TO REPORT FIRE, AS THE FIRE UNIT WAS ON ITS WAY THE VEHICLE HAD A EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALED. THE ATTENDING FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FIRE BEFORE WITH FORD F150'S AND OTHER FORD SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY THE SPEED OR CRUISE CONTROL THAT STARTED THE FIRE, AND TO LOOK. PLEASE RESPOND SO THAT I KNOW WHICH STEPS TO TAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10302948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 milesDelmar, MDFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL INSIDE HIS HOME. HE GOT HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE HOME AND THE HOME ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. WHEN THEY EXITED THE HOUSE, THEY DISCOVERED THE GARAGE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE HOME WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE AND THE HOUSE WERE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE WERE CHARGED WITH ARSON; HOWEVER, THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL, THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED, THE FIRE IS STILL LISTED AS SUSPICIOUS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V062001 AND 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WERE REFERENCED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THERE IS NO VEHICLE LEFT TO EXAMINE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA complaint #10208438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesBrooklyn, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: CONTACT STATED ACCELERATOR STUCK ONCE IN MARCH 2005, AND HE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIRMAN SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. HE DID NOT RECALL THE PART THAT MECHANIC CLEANED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NOTICED THIS HAPPENING A LOT IN FORD EXPLORERS. CONSUMER HAD NOT NOTICED IT HAPPENING SINCE THEN. HE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF 25 MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM. HE STOMPED THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO MAKE IT DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO CRASH. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10128722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 210,000 milesSAN Antonio, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE MODEL IS 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE OWNER HAS JUST SEEN THIS ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER SAYS, YES, HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, HIS HOUSE MAY BURN DOWN. THIS IS COMING FROM WHAT THE CONSUMER HAS SEEN ON THE NEWS. THE OWNER HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND INVESTIGATIONS. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS CHECKED YET, BUT THE OWNER HAS ALREADY CONTACTED FORD WITH NO COOPERATION AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO COOPERATION WITH THE 2 DEALERSHIPS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO. CONSUMER FEELS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BECAUSE OF SAFETY. ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10125594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL:1993 FORD EXPLORER- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON. AS I APPROACHED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE, AND I HAD TO PUSH THE "OFF" BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GAIN CONTROL. THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. ALSO WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES BAD, IT IS APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, AS THEY DON'T WORK WHEN IT GOES OUT. ON ALL OCCASIONS WHEN THIS SWITCH GOES OUT, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER(ROSS FORD- PIEDMONT, MO.) TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, SO IT SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #10043088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 164,000 milesDerwood, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1993 FORD EXPLORER THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10039637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camden, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OWNER'S WIFE JUST TOUCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ENGINE SUDDEN ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A TREE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THROTTLE VALVE WAS OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #887873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington Beach, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS DRIVING 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WAS EXITING FREEWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN 2 MORE TIMES. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER 4 OR 5 TIMES. EACH TIME WAS DIAGNOSED AS THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS & HAD IT REPLACED. HAPPENED MOSTLY WHEN IT WAS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #873014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. BRAKES WERE SLIGHTLY APPLIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP BRAKING TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE, THINKING IT WOULD ELIMINATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AGAIN, BUT DEALER WAS NEVER CONTACCTED.*AK THE ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES STICKS WHEN PRESSED HARD AND THE VEHICLE GOES FAST UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AGAIN POSSIBLY DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL OR ACCELERATOR OR BOTH MALFUNCTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #872872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frisco, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE WHILE TRAVELING, CAUSESING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF DEACELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR TEMPORY REPAIRS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cape Coral, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY FORD EXPLORER HAS ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES. THE LAST TIME, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING USED AND AFTERWORDS, IT STOPPED WORKING. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN SLOWS DOWN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL ENGINE RPM FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT SLOWED DOWN. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD BUT THE DEALER SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. HAVE YOU HAD REPORTS OF THIS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR WHAT REPAIR IS NECESSARY. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO, I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX IT FREE BUT THEY DON'T EVEN ADMIT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IS IT?
NHTSA complaint #726389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simpsonville, SCCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE, ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, CONSUMER FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #861013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottsdale, AZCrash10 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PUT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND TRUCK ACCELERATED AND PUSH BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET TRUCK DID NOT STOP. TILL IT HIT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SAME THING HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #711216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH , THE SPRING FOR THE THROTTLE GAUGE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO FULL THROTTLE. IN ORDER FOR CONSUMER TO STOP VEHICLE HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. *AK.ET.
NHTSA complaint #858583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPRING TO THE TROTTLE GAUGE STUCK, CAUSING CAR TO ACCELERATE AT FULL THROTTLE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK BECAUSE AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN A PANIC BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH MY BRAKES, I THREW IT INTO PARK KNOWING THE VEHICLE MUST SLOW DOWN. I WAS GOING 55 MPH AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AT ALL WITH THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE NOT COVERED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE TO CAR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I DIDNT DECIDE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE MANNER I CHOSE.
NHTSA complaint #719946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Ynez, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ACCELERATOR COLLAPSED AND ENTERED INTO FULL ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #712601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leesport, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHILE IN PARK. CONSUMER HAD THE SPEED CONTROL DISENGAGED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #845734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Oswego, OR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE GOT STUCK IN WIDE OPEN POSITION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #836233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL, THERE IS A PROBLEM DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL SURGING BACK AND FORTH, AND SPEED DOESN'T INCREASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #834746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union City, TN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
AFTER TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND PLACING VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #820140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chapel Fields, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 5 MPH AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE OR DID NOT ACCELERATE, LEAVING VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER AND ON POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #824467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNK, UN1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #535823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonvil, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IAC
NHTSA complaint #534439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAS PEDAL OPERATES WITHOUT BEING DEPRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #522351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kirtland Hills, OHCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING VAN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE THE VAN ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY. WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE THE VAN WENT INTO FULL POWER. THERE WAS SO MUCH TORQUE IN THE REAR WHEEL, THE VAN WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT A DITCH. VAN WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP CLEANED BALL JOINT ON ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH WAS ACCUMULATED WITH RUST BUILD UP BELIEVED TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #817003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL FELL OFF DUE TO BOLT THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL FALLING OFF. WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE PEDAL FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #813676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED ITS SPEED AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #813321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tewksbury, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
THROTTLE RETURN SPRING STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #506857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clinton, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER ENGAGING IN DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERTED INTO THE HOUSE, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #983465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST Cloud, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THROTTLE CABLE FAILED WHILE IN MOTION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #981124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.