Ford Explorer 1994 - Structure - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Ford Explorer 1994

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
95I007000	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	from 02/01/1990 to 02/01/1995	I	1029380	10/25/1995	ODI	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	01/31/1996	02/09/1996
Defect Summary	Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. this is not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation 573. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. the campaign will reinforce the bracket attachments of the rear liftgate gas assist cylinders which could pull away from the inside of the liftgate.
Consequence Summary	If a bracket and gas assist cylinder were to detach completely from the liftgate and no longer bear against the liftgate as intended, the remaining assist cylinder would not hold the liftgate in an open position. personal injury could occur.
Corrective Summary	Ford dealers will reinforce the bracket attachments.
Notes	Ford has decided to conduct a safety improvement service campaign to reinforce the bracket attachments without charge. owners can contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
99V310001	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	from 04/01/1993 to 02/17/1995	V (Vehicle)	470582	01/03/2000	ODI	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	11/03/1999	11/08/1999
Defect Summary	Vehicle description: on certain sport utility vehicles, the hydraulic lift cylinder bracket welds could fracture.
Consequence Summary	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.
Corrective Summary	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.
Notes	Ford recall no. 99s34.owner notification is expected to begin during january 2000.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Item no.	Summary	Added
STRUCTURE
9747	02/17/1997	51689	Frame- rivet replacement with bolts- service tips. *jd	06/27/1997
STRUCTURE - BODY
95161	08/01/1995	45947	Sheet metal-roof panel and drip rail replacement- seam sealer application procedure.*sd	04/25/1996
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
94229	10/01/1994	37751	Inside door handle breaks when opening. *tw	01/06/1995

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
STRUCTURE
PE99072	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	11/30/1999	04/14/2000	SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
	Odi received 18 complaint alleging that the winch cable, that lifts and retains the spare tire under the rear of the vehicle, fails while the vehicle is underway.this results in the spare wheel dropping onto the roadway.
RQ99016	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	07/29/1999		LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET FAILURE	99V310002
	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.
EA00012	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	04/14/2000	10/20/2000	SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
	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 failedallowing 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.
EA97011	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	05/23/1997	01/20/1998	SUNROOF SHATTERING AND SEPARATION	97V235001
	Sunroof (air roof) shattering and separation
EA97011	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	05/23/1997	01/20/1998	SUNROOF SHATTERING AND SEPARATION	97V235000
	Sunroof (air roof) shattering and separation
DP98001	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	01/06/1998	02/04/1998	HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION
	The petition alleges that early model ford explores 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.
RQ99016	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	07/29/1999		LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET FAILURE	99V310001
	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.
EA97011	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	05/23/1997	01/20/1998	SUNROOF SHATTERING AND SEPARATION	97V235002
	Sunroof (air roof) shattering and separation

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
STRUCTURE - BODY
01/26/2011	286000
	While driving i turned on air conditioner and immediately light smoke began out of air conditioning vents and then the next moment the smoke was extremely heavy out of the vents and then visible fire underneath front passenger side dashboard. i immediately pulled the vehicle off the side of the road and exited, 10 minutes later it was fully engulfed in flames.
02/28/2009	170000
	Tl*the contact owns a 1994 ford explorer. the contact stated that the liftgate brackets fractured and the glass fell out and struck her on the head. the dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 99v310001 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device), although the failures were identical. the contact would have to pay $200 for the repair. currently, the window can no longer be opened. the failure and current mileages were 170,000.

	The roof rack on the vehicle came loose, and flew off the vehicle while driving. dealer has not seen vehicle. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
09/20/2000		1
	Handle separated from door when pulling door closed. door fell open into traffic lane. handle design does not incorporate any structural attachment to door. handle is retained solely by plastic trim panel subject to age deterioration. *ak
04/01/2000		2	06/01/1994
	Both interior door handles broke off while being used due to design flaw. yh
02/15/2000			03/02/1999
	Wife was in the back seat behind the driver's side. went to close the door, and handle broke off. the other inside door handles are also weak and break off easily. *ak
02/21/1998		1	02/21/1998
	Driver's door does not close all the way unless driver slams it, using excessive force with an upward movement. also unable to open door by using key from the outside.

	Design error, defect in support mechanism in rear door, the bracket ripped from door, stress will cause failur. door will come crashing down. dealer is aware of defect. has a new designed replacement bracket to install. *ak
		1
	Screws that hold the interior door panels together began loosening and popping out.

	The driver's and passenger's inside door handles broke when trying to open the door. cause unknown. please describe details. *ak
08/05/1996		0
	Adjusting the driver's side mirrors with power switch which started to smoke, causing a fire. then the door panel melted.*ak
03/07/1997
	The vehicle had an electrical fire on the driver's side door and caused extensive interior damage.there is a preliminary elvaulation on this now. *ak
			12/16/1996
	Left rear door handle malfunctioned. *ak
			12/16/1996
	Left rear door handle broken at purcase.
04/01/1995		1	04/10/1994
	Rear passenger door handle broken.
			12/16/1996
	Left rear door handle broken.
		1	12/01/1995
	Driver's door panel/door reflectors/door handle fell off.
07/05/1996		1	10/01/1994
	While parked, an electrical short in the driver's side door, caused the vehicle to catch fire. akjb
07/14/1996		1	12/01/1995
	Handle on driver's door cracked.

	While driving smelled strange odor inside driver door panel, then noticed door glowing, saw sparks and flames, door caught fire and promptly extinquished. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
01/05/2004	88000	2	10/08/1998
	Door handles on passenger side interior broken. transmission slipping. *ak
09/01/2002		1
	Consumer states that the drivers side door would not close. took to dealer and they stated that the hinges weren't strong enough for door and over time they weaken and fail. consumer feels unsafe driving under these conditions. nlm
12/15/1999		1	08/01/1997
	The bushings around the hinge pins were weak, causing the door to sag, which in turn made the door difficult to close. eventually the latch mechanism has been weakened and the interior panel/door handle pulled off. i have called all area wrecking yards (in western washington and oregon) and was told that these components are sold off the explorers as soon as they arrive. the fellow at the parts-desk at the courtesy ford dealer in poulsbo says he has had to order many hinges and latch replacements for explorers. this would lead me to believe that this is a wide-spread problem between explorer owners.
10/01/1999		1
	The bracket holding the rear door and vacuum piece broke off. yh
07/19/1998		1
	Right strut assembly failed allowing the rear door to fall onto my back.
07/06/1998		1	01/07/1994
	Rear liftgate hinge tore off the vehicle causing the door to fall on an adult's back.
03/04/1998			01/01/1994
	While lifting up the tailgate, the weld broke free from the vehicle. the manufacturer has been notified. owner did not received a recall notice (95i-007). *ak

	Hydraulic lift support which supports the door hinge fell off. this is the second incident. dealer's comments: not welded properly. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
12/12/1999		1
	Hatch came apart. *mjs
10/29/2000
	Vehicle was parked in driveway and welds on bracket tore away from sheet metal, allowing hatchback to fall. dealership was aware.*ak

	#pe95-032 the rear hatch latch door frame broke . tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
		1
	Bolts are separating from hinge of liftgate which has caused problems with door properly opening and closing. ak consumer states the hinges are separating, breaking away from the body. slc
10/24/1999		0	07/01/1995
	Right side cargo door hinge ripped metal and came out, and door fell. called dealer-said he was unaware of problem in explorers. yet safety hotline listed exact problem as a safety campaign. consumer calle d ford motor company as instructed. they stated that there had been problems with this year explorer, and they would fix it if vehicle was under 60, 000 miles. *ak

	Rear hatchback hinges bracket is breaking from the weld, causing it to fall on top of consumer. *ak
05/21/1999			07/01/1994
	Vehicle hatchback bracket torn from attached body; campaign issue , nhtsa recall 95 i 007 000/ repair was never made, and dealer refused to repair . informed consumer that recall campaign was void after 60,0000 miles or 6 years. seeking information from nhtsa in this matter. *ak
06/01/1998			02/04/1998
	While opening rear hatch door hinges tore away from door cylinder, causing door to hit consumer in the head. dealer notified, and informed consumer that the vehicle under a recall and repairs would be charged to consumer. seeking help in nhtsa this matter. *ak

	Brackets on the hatchback have broken away from the welding, causing the door not toremain secur e in the upright position. please give any further details. *ak
09/17/1998			10/14/1994
	Rear door liftgate bracket failed.
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
04/02/2002
	Struts that hold trunk open broke, and hatch door can stay open. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *ak
03/29/2001		1
	Received recall notice 95i00700. took to dealership. repairs were made. noticed one side incomplete. informed service manager, who refused to do repairs. problem still exists after 10 months. contacted manufacturer, and was referred to dealership. not willing to get involved, stating their repair was adequate.ak firestone tire experienced wall failure, nos ize or kind of tire is given by consumer. after recall 99534, the gap between the liftgate and the main body on the left hand side is excessive, prior to the repair, the gap was about 1/8 inches as is the present gap at the right hand side, now the left hand side is 3/8 inch, when the lift gate is closed with normal force the bottom latch at the left hand side does not engage. slc
		1
	Recall repair 99v-310 was scheduled to take 7 hours, the consumer requested a rental but was told he would hae to pay for it, the consumer believes a rental should be free of charge while the repair is being made. nlm
12/01/1997		1
	Hydraulic cylinder failed prior to recall campaign 95i-007, recall campaign not honored, lift cylinder removed and hatch bracket spot-welded at owner's expense. *cj

	Liftgate was replaced prior to recall notice, consumer requested refund but only recieved partial refund and wants the remaining unrefunded balance. nlm
08/12/2000		0
	Hydraulic liftgate weld cynlinder hatch unexpectedly came down on consumer's head. *ak
02/01/1999		1
	Vehicle experienced failure of the recall component prior to recall notification, owner completed repair due to dealership estimation of the complete repair being excessive, consumer is being denied reimbursement due to repair circumstances (99v-310). *mjs
07/14/2000		1	02/01/1999
	Consumer was inside of a school parking lot and she went to lift the liftgate window/door and she heard a popping noise. hydraulic lift cylinders came loose, and the bracket that attached the hydraulic lift, the whole assembly part detached. ak prior to recall the liftgate failed ( 95i-007). vehicle took to dealer and it would take 2 weeks to fix and no looner car would provide. yh
09/05/1997		1
	Recalled liftgate bracket failed, however vehicle is not included due to vin. #. nk

	Nhtsa recall 99v310001 and manufacturer's recall 99s34. there was a missing bracket. was told by the dealer that the bracket was part of the liftgate, and that they needed it in order to repair vehicle. *ak
		1
	The left and right side brackets connecting the hydraulic lift cylinders failed prior to recall notice (99v-310). nlm
04/05/2000
	Received recall 99v31001 & contacted dealership for an appointment. was informed parts needed to be ordered before work could be done. took vehicle in & no parts were available. mechanic had no answer to questions of parts for hydraulic lift cylinders. owner's only transportation. *ak
		1
	The left and right side brackets connecting the hydraulic lift cylinders failed prior to recall notice (99v-310). nlm
03/14/2000		1
	Consumer received recall notification, problem with dealership in scheduling appointment, consumer had to go to another dealership further away to receive repair of the bracket. *yh
09/18/1997		2
	While having the rear wiper motor replaced the liftgage bracket broke, other bracket broke later, both were prior to recall notification (99v-310) *mjs
04/28/1998		1
	The liftgate shock on drivers side door broke completely off the door prior to recall notice causing it to fall down on consumer. nlm
08/15/1999		1	04/01/1999
	Passenger side tailgate bracket supporting gas assist cylinder totally detached after tailgate was fully opened. tailgate dropped, striking my son on head and shoulders, knocking him to the ground. although tailgate will close, it unlatches (opens) on rough roads/speed bumps. ford customer service (1-800-392-3673) contacted 9/9/99 and advised that mfg campaign #95m87 was no longer in effect. i contacted the selling dealership and neil sandler & ted russell ford dealerships regarding the problem. they advised repair would be at my expense.
03/26/2000		0
	Hatchback hydraulic cylinders broke off the from top right hand corner of the door. also, back door won't stay up because hydraulic cylinders broke off.
03/21/2000
	Recall 99v310.001/hatchback hydraulic cylinder brekage. dealer refused to perform recall repairs because vehicle was not purchased there. *ak
01/28/2000
	Recall 99v310.001/hydraulic liftgate cylinders: prior to receiving recall notice, liftgate broke off the weld and bent the hydraulic cylinder. dealer did the necessary recall repairs, but attached the same bent cylinder. however, dealer informed consumer that future replacement would be at consumer's cost. *ak

	Recall number 99v31001, two hydraulic lift cylinders installed by the dealer as part of the recall remedy collapsed. please give any further details. *ak
09/01/1997		2
	On two occasions the brackets connecting the hydraulic lift cylinders to the liftgate ripped off. *mjs
02/25/2000
	Received recall 99v310001/ liftgate cylinders. dealer wants the consumer to pay for repairs. *ak

	The hydraulic lift cylinder broke off and fell out. manufacturer has been notified. *ak
			01/01/1994
	Consumer was looking on the internet and saw her vehicle on recall. she notified the dealership that liftgate rod bracket on the passenger's side broke. this was second recall. *ak
12/16/1996		2
	Bracket that holds the gas cylinder broke off twice, causing the liftgate to fall down unexpectedly, and may result in injuries. this vehicle is not included in the recall due to vin. *ak
12/01/1999		1	04/01/1997
	Nhtsa campaign id numbers: 94v16900 and 99v310001. dealer refused to fix problem. *ak
11/25/1999		0	11/01/1999
	Left driver's side support rod popped off of the hatchback, causing the hatchback to fall down on consumer's head. *ak
12/01/1999		1	07/01/1996
	The bracket and gas assist cylinder on my vehicle has broken as stated in id #'s 95i007000 and 99v310001. i contacted ford to repair and they stated that the vehicle had greater than 60,000 miles and they were not responsoble for repairing. two points. i purchased the vehicle used and did not receive the owner notification regarding the defect. had i, maybe the problem would have been identified and corrected. point 2, you have 2 id numbers of the same problem. ford did not mention the latest recall, id# 99v310001, that has a 1999 year of recall. i only spoke with ford last week, 12/08/99. why didin't they refer to this id#. thirdly, i do n ot beleive this defect is a function of time or mileage. it is a function of the number of times the hatch is opened and represents a serious personal injury exposure. my wife had just returned from the grocery store and told me the rear hatch was making a popping sound. i opened the hatch twice to identify the problem and the bracket broke the second time. the hatch dropped down immediatley and i had to catch it. had this happened to my wife, or worse yet, while holding our 2 yr old, there is no way she way she could have restrained the door. i am sure there would have been injury. ford stated to me that even if i had received a owner notification, they would not have repaired the problem if it showed no sign of failure. i have a perfect example of why this should be considered a safety defect and corrected. the defect that they admit to has been identified with a result of personal injury with 1.5 million vehicles with the defect. this defect willl not always manifest itself within 6 years or 60,000 miles. it is a function of usage and therefore the case should be reopened and proper notification and remedy provided. lastly, the defect also causes a pproblem with the rear hatch properly securing after the bracket has broken. the weight of the door causes the hatch to mis align and will not securley latch.

	Rear hydraulic cylinders gave out and collapsed on owner. dealer said it was not part of recall. *ak
05/25/1998
	Vehicle experiencing problem with pine needles collected into outside heater duct and catching on fire. also, rear hydraulic cylinder deatched from vehicle body. dealer notified of both incidents, and consumer was informed that the vehicle was under no recalls. seeking help from nhtsa inthis matter. *ak
01/01/1999
	The hydraulic cylinder that supports the rear liftgate has pulled away fom frame on the passenger's side. manufacturer was notified about this problem. the truck was also taken to the dealership. dealer could not correct problem free of charge. truck no longer under warranty. truck was not included in recall # 95i007000 ford/structure: hatchback. *ak
09/06/1999
	While getting some items out of the hatchback the bracket broke, causing the hatchnback to fail. *ak
07/08/1999
	The hydraulic cylinder support rod fell from the vehicle, causing the hatch to fall injuring the owner . the dealer and manufacturer have been notified. *ak
10/01/1998		2
	Rear liftgate hydraulic cylinders broke away from the truck, which makes it impossible to hold up door. *yc
07/05/1999
	Passenger's side hatchback support rod separated from hatchback. dealer has been contacted. *ak
07/09/1999
	Passenger's side hatchback support rod separated from hatchback, causing it to collapse. dealer has been contacted. *ak
05/01/1999		1	03/01/1995
	Rear liftgate gas assist cylinder attachment bracket pulled away from the inside of the liftgate, causing failure. *yc
07/12/1999		1	07/01/1995
	The lift arm support bracket on the tailgate ripped out, causing the tailgate to fall causing an injury. although the manufacturer acknowledged there has been a problem with these and they are aware of it and have been reinforcing these, they would not repair it due to mileage over 60,000. *ak

	Hatchback hydraulic cylinder snapped, resulting in minor injuries. a recall has been issued on the vehicle make and model, however this vehicle was not included due to vin. dealer and manufacturer have been notified. recall 95i-007. *ak
06/25/1999
	Consumer contacted dealer in reference nhtsa recall 95i007/manufacturer's recall 95s21, hatchback hydraulic cylinder failure. manufacturer stated that recall has expired, and dealer refused to take care of recall repairs. *ak
		1	04/01/1997
	Rear hatchback cylinder weld snapped. mjs

	One of the hydraulic cylinder supports on the hatchback rear door. separated from the vehicle, causing the door to slam down on owner's child. dealer has fixed vehicle. *ak
05/28/1999
	Rear hatch hydraulic cylinder snapped off the weld bracket ,injuring owner . a safety improvement has been issued on make and model. vehicle has exceeded the mileage. manufacturer has been notified.
04/28/1999
	Hydraulic lift support bracket on right side of the rear hatchback door broke, causing door to drop down suddenly. no one was injured. dealer/manufacturer are aware of the problem. problem has not been corrected. *ak
04/03/1998
	Rear hatchback support rod disconnected. *ak
03/12/1999		2	05/01/1994
	The gas cylinder attachment brackets pulled away from the top of the liftgate. neither dealer(hub city ford, crestview, florida or ford motor customer assistance center, will fix the problem. i never received a recall on this problem.
		1
	A bracket attaching a gas assist cylinder to the liftgate ripped away from the liftgate, recall notice not recieved due to vin.
01/01/1998
	Recall 95i007; the rear liftgate cylinders broke off and fell on the occupant, causing injuries to occupant. dealer stated this vehicle is not included in the recall, but has the exact same problem as stated in the recall. *ak
02/01/1999
	Welds that secure hatchback trunk cylinders broke, causing the door not to remain in the upright position. *ak.et.

	Hydraulic arms on the hatchback broke, causing the door not to remain in the upright position. please give any further details. *ak
10/19/1998			09/01/1997
	The bracket that holds the gas cylinder on right side of the liftgate has pulled away from the metal. the remaining bracket will not support the rear door. safety campaign 95i007000. contacted local dealer and ford customer service, both saying that problem is only covered if vehicle has less than 6 years/60,000 miles. it is noticeble that the weld on the bracket was not done improperly at the manufacturer. this problem should be covered for longer period of time. by visual inspection one of the three spot welds is not making full contact. also the safety campaign that ford put out asked if the hinge was noticeably loose. not apparent until failure. this door is very heavy and if propped up and the bracket fails the door could come down with considerable force. *ak
01/05/1999		1	05/01/1995
	Rear liftgate bracket has pulled away from the inside of the liftgate. ford recognizes this malfunction as defectict, and extended the warranty, however, the liftgate on this vehicle broke after the extended warranty. owner wants reimbursement for cost of repair. ak ml
09/07/1997			04/01/1997
	Rear hatch pneumatic lift bracket broke loose, causing door to slam down. *ak
10/01/1998		1
	3 spot welds that are welded to the vehicle and attached to hydraulic lifters have broken, almost falling on top of consumer, could have caused injuries. ford did not provide any help with cost of repair. *ak
07/06/1998		1	01/01/1994
	Rear liftgate cylinder bracket ripped off vehicle hitting consumer, recall on component however vehicle denied due to time.
11/15/1998
	Hydraulic cylinder broke from the weld area; causing the hatchback door to fall upon the head of consumer. dealer notified and informed consumer that the vehicle was over the 60,000/ 6 years warranty. *ak
09/20/1998
	The hydraulic cylinder separated from the rear door just as the owner was lifting the door overhead. the door came down quickly on her back, causing some pain and injury.
05/01/1998		1	10/01/1993
	Door slammed, wedging cylinder between door/body, bending door assembly. qcaw
		1	09/01/1994
	Piston that supports the tailgate detached from bodywork.
07/07/1998		1	03/24/1998
	Upper bracket that supports the rear lilftgate strut broke off, recall repairs refused due to vin. (qcaw)

	The bracket that holds the gas cylinder on right side of the liftgate is pulling away from the metal. the dealer will not correct free of charge. safety campaign subject influnced by odi. *ak
08/11/1998
	Recall 95i-007.000. structure hatchback hydraulic cylinder; while lifting the door to open almost up, the support cylinder snapped and broke. the dealer cannot duplicate the problem because the vin# does not comply to recall. *ak
06/12/1998
	Opened the hatchback of the truck and the shock absorber broke and the hatchback fell down. please provide details. *ak
03/15/1998
	The upper support bracket for the right hand gas strut ripped out of tailgate frame, tore the metal. when dealer was contacted, vehicle was not under warranty. consumer paid for repair, other individuals experiencing same problem quoted a ford representative. *ak
12/01/1993		1	12/01/1993
	Brackets that hold the lift gate open broke, recall on components however consumer was never notified.
10/05/1997			12/08/1993
	Hatchback hydraulic cylinder failed prior to recall (95i-007.000). *ak
03/29/1998
	When openning the hatch door ,the piston on the right side separated from the weld. manufacturer has been contacted. the prolbem has not been corrected.
11/25/1997		1	05/11/1996
	The bracket along with the hydraulic cylinder broke.(a part of the liftgate)
07/21/1997		1	12/02/1993
	The bracket that supports the gas assist cylinder failed.
07/21/1997		1	12/02/1993
	The bracket that supports the gas assist cylinder, left side, inside the rear liftgate failed.
10/23/1997
	Had received recall notice (95i007000). had called the dealer to set up an appointment. was informed by dealership that they refused the recall notice from the manufacturer. *ak
11/23/1997
	While unloading from the rear of the vehicle the hatch fell on the owner's head . the owner received a recall notice to inspect the hatchback for defects. at the time of notice there was no indication that the cylinder was weak and or defective. the owner contacted the dealer and the manufacturer about the incident. *ak
10/14/1997
	Recall 95i007000, dealer refuses to fix recall because vehicle has too much mileage. *ak
08/09/1997
	The hydraulic cylinder on the hatchback broke. the manufacturer has a safety improvement campaign out on these vheicles. *ak
08/21/1997		1
	Opened up the liftgate and the hatchback support rod broke loose, leaving a 5-inch round hole where the hackback support rod was connected. ak slc

	The rear hatch latch support broke off, took to dealer and he said that it was not included in service recall #95i007000. *ak
07/07/1996		1
	Hatchback hydraulic cylinder failed, no one was injured. *ak
08/01/1995
	Pe95-032 active, rear hatch lift gate failed, when opening would not stay up. tt

	#pe95-032 the hatch door support bracket is cracked. tt
08/26/1995
	Pe95-032 active, liftgate support bracket failed, causing injuries to the head. *ak
03/20/1995
	Rear lift gate released and fell on owners head. tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD
11/12/2002		1	04/01/2098
	The hood latch failed and the hood opened @ 60mph. the hood is still attached to the car but there is damage to the car. dt
03/26/2000		1	12/01/1993
	Consumer was traveling at 65mph and the hood flew up. dealer will repair hood at consumers cost. ak tt
07/29/1999		1	02/01/1994
	The hood latch on this vehicle became released and the safty catch got stuck in the released position. the hood blew open while driving at 30 miles per hour causing extensive damage to the vehicle. i will document this release failure with the auto body shop and i will keep the old latch for proof. the latch safty does not return to the latched position after closing the hood. the dealer was not the least bit concerned nor did he care or offer any compansation in this matter. he said the vehicle is not part of the recall and it is out of warrantee and it is not something that could be dealt with at the dealer level. he never even asked if anyboby was injured. i also called ford motor co. and they said there was nothing they could do. they diden't even want to examine the latch. i asked the adjuster if the hood latch was the same one that is in the 1997 and 1998 vehicles because the week before i heard on the news that there was a recall because the hood could blow open. he said they appear to be the same latch except for one number is diferent.i seriously believe that if someone pulls the release thinking it was the parking break and drives off the safty latch may fail as mine did. thank you

	The hood flew open. please describe. tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE
		1	09/01/1996
	My teenage son drives the ford explorer, i do not feel that this sports utility is safe.
06/11/2000			03/01/1995
	No summary listed for that vehicle. *ak
04/03/2000
	Sheet metal ripped , causing rear liftgate to completly detach from hydraulic lifts. basically, the door will open and shut. *ak
08/29/1999		4	05/01/1994
	The cylinders/dampers that are used to help raise and hold the lift gate have ripped out of the vehicle body on three seperate occasions. after the third failure the entire lift gate was replaced under factory program 95-m-87. because the failure occurred during the 37th or 38th month after purchase and because the dealer had repaired the failure twice before under warranty, they decided to honor the factory warranty and replace the entire lift gate. sometime this summer, 1999, i noticed the lift gate was making noise when opened and closed. i believed that it was probably rust in the hinge. in august i noticed that the lift gate was significantly out of alignment and wasn't opening and closing properly. when i took the vehicle back to the dealer i was told that the warranty no applied. this was because the lift gate had failed more than 12 months after installation/replacement. they claim that a pin that attaches the lift gate to the hinge has pulled out of the bracket in the lift gate. a vehicle with 46,050 miles that has had the lift gate fail four times now seems to have a pretty significant design flaw. a review of the nhtsa database indicates that lift gate failures is fairly common occurance with ford explorers although they seem to focus on the cylinder/damper pulling out of the body. i thought i had reported this to nhtsa over three weeks ago but a review of the database today showed that there was no record in the system.
09/01/1999			03/01/1997
	No summary
06/15/1999		1	01/01/1995
	While closing the hatchback lid, the right hydraulic cylinder bracket completely detached from the lift gate. i contacted ford at their hot line and was told that recall #95m87 had elapsed and their was nothing ford could do about the failure. i asked ford about safety recall #95s21 and they said that was for previous ford explorers. this is the same problem as 1994 explorers, which they replaced the entire liftgate ($2000) without a mileage or date condition and with the new recall they now will not do anything? i have contacted 25 other explorer owners with identical problems. they too can not get ford to react. this is a safety problem, as i can not open the door without the thing falling down. i can even sell the car now. please advise what can be done. thank you, tom spalding (ktspald@ihot.com)
02/01/1999		1	01/01/1999
	Purchased used vehicle 01/99 from ford dealership. within weeks of purchase, heard rattling from rear hatch. upon inspection, discovered lift bracket pulling away from liftgate. researched and found safety campaign #95i007000, however, ford apparently only covered repairs through 60k miles. (the vehicle had more than 60k miles when i bought it.) this is a potentially serious safety hazard, and i find it very disturbing that the ford dealership did not check into this safety issue and repair it prior to re-selling the vehicle, nor did they make mention of the potential issue when they sold me the vehicle. this might have developed into a very dangerous situation with personal injury had i not noticed the defect myself. additionally, the cost to make this repair is estimated around $200. ford should be required to disclose this type of information upon re-sale of a vehicle if they decline responsibility for correcting the problem after 60k miles. what significance does 60k miles have in a situation like this? is ford saying that if the bracket fails after 60k miles, that would be normal wear & tear and not a mfg. defect? if this is the message they are sending where customers' personal safety is at stake, and they consider 60,000 miles an appropriate time to consider a safety defect the vehicle owner's responsibility - i doubt that i will purchase another ford product.
01/15/1999		1
	Defective weld failed on left hydrolic prop that holds up tailgate & fell off car. right side is loose. door will not shut securely until fixed, could have been severely injured if rt side had failed simultaneously. dealer claimed to have re-welded about
10/15/1996		1	12/01/1993
	No summary provider by consumer.
06/30/1998			05/20/1994
	Received a letter from ford in reference to a potential failure of the bracket that retains the rear left gate piston mechanism. ford informed me that my vehicle was beyond the mileage limit for this repair.
04/15/1998
	The welds which hold the liftgate brackets together are coming apart, causing the liftgate to come down very rapidly. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
09/01/2001		2	10/01/1994
	Due to failure of the liftgate brackets, which are covered by a recall, caused metal fatigue on hinges resulting on them tearing away from body of the vehicle.it is my opinion ford should make repairs to my vehicle because the recalled componet caused the damage. *ak
05/28/1998
	While husband, wife and child were sitting in the back of the explorer with the liftgate up, the liftgate came crushing down. husband and wife were able to catch the liftgate before anyone was injured. the liftgate has not been repaired. *ak
07/15/1998		1	08/15/1994
	When raising the hatchback the tailgate lifter broke while the consumer was putting a suitcase in the vehicle and the bracket broke. the spot weld on the left bracket had broken loose and the lift strut was jamming against the top of the gate. consumer contacted the dealer and found that there had been a recall for the liftgate, but they are refusing to service the vehicle because it has over 60,000 miles. ak ml
10/01/1998		1
	Rear lift gate spring anchor bracket fails to close lift gate and falls the gate falls on persons loading or unloading the vehicle. owner notification program to repair broken brackets was conducted by ford, but owners bracket was not broken during the replacement period.
09/09/1998
	Bracket that supports the liftgate broke away from the frame on the right side. dealer was notified about the problem. the problem has not been corrected. please describe details. *ak
06/14/1998
	Liftgate cylinder separated. welds that hold the door open failed/broke. no injuries.*ak

	Liftgate bracket came completely off, causing the the liftgate to crash on top of consumer, resulting in injuries. *ak
12/30/1997		1	09/29/1994
	Lift gate bracket broke off.
01/01/1997		2	12/01/1994
	The fitting that holds the liftgate of the vehicle had fell in on both sides left and right. vehicle was taken to shop. the consumer had the same vehicle 1992, and the dealer is fixing it *ak
08/08/1997
	When lifting up the tailgate, the hydraulic pistons attachment pulled away from the vehicle. the problem has been corrected.
02/16/1996		1	03/01/1994
	Liftgate strut brackets replaced.
03/01/1994
	The vehicle has had several electrical problems. the fuses went out, the radio went out, and the anti-theft system malfunctioned. the rear hatch mount broke off and away from the vehicle.
07/15/1996		1	06/01/1994
	Rear hatch door support failure, the door hinge hatch support broke pe95-32c. ak jb
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
		1	09/01/1996
	My teenage son drives the ford explorer, i do not feel that this sports utility is safe.
11/25/1999		1	11/01/1999
	While opening rear hatchback, left rear support rod/hydraulic cylinder & assembly detatched from vehicle causing door to come down & hit myself on head. injury was minor & did not require medical attention.
09/15/1999		1	08/01/1994
	Hatchback assembly failure, near injury ; common problem says dealer
10/01/1999		1	01/01/1994
	While loading car with tailgate raised, support bracket broke off and crashed down narrowly missing us and almost crushed the dog. ford now adds a safety bracket over the existing weld to prevent this from happening. this is a serious safety defec
09/01/1999		1	08/01/1996
	Dealer knew of the problem at time of purchase but failed to disclose.
09/14/1999		1	04/01/1994
	The hydraulic cylinder support bracket on the rear trunk lid of the explorer separated from the vehicle causing the trunk lid to fall on my wife. we contacted the dealer and manufacturer notifying them of the issue and the safety bulletin that was issued (95i007000). they stated the truck was 3,000 miles out of the safety mileage coverage and would not be covered. this was a ford defect and now it has resulted in an extreme safety hazard for our family as well as a potential $1,400 repair bill.
02/24/1999			03/01/1994
	The dealership said it was leaves in the blower. they would have to take apart the dash and charge me. do i have any recourse against the dealer and manufacturer for this safety hazard. i fear the vehicle will ignite because the smoke is very heavy and billowing out from the interior vents and exterior in front of the windshield.
04/02/1998		2	06/01/1997
	The shocks that hold the tailgate up have failed and broken away from there welds. i have contacted ford and they informed us of a recall that had started and ended in 96. i cant believe how ford is handeling this. i have read other complaints of the same nature on this web site and it is obvious that this is a design flaw. ford cant issue a recall on something that has to broke when the recall is issued knowing that at some point it is going to break but we arent going to fix it. this is offensive to me becouse the explorer has multiple mechanical problems but i write those off to wear and tear. the tailgate should not fail. ford should be obligated to fix this problem on whatever year the vehicle may be. i am goin to continue investigating and find some way to get them to fix it. i would just like to know if maybe you have already solved the negotiating problem. in my manual there is a warranty that says its against any sheetmetal deterioration for 6 yrs or 100,000 miles i wonder if this applies in my situation. i sure hope that you all can help me out or let me know what is happening with this problem. thanx
02/01/1997			01/07/1994
	The hydraulic that opens the trunk broke off after manufacturer's recall, recall repairs refused due to age of vehicle. *ak
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
			01/01/1994
	Front frame crossmember/subbrace is exhibiting severe rust-through on well-maintained vehicle. problem was discovered during routine maintenance; it has not failed yet, but degree of corrosion is to where failure is imminent if stressed. *ak
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
01/18/1996		2	04/30/1994
	Heat shields have separated from all exhaust components causing vibration.