IllustrationTHESE 4 TIRES GAVE ME HORRIBLE HANDLING & VIBRATIONS WHICH I TRIED TO HAVE FIXED BUT COULDN`T AT HIBDON TIRES OF ENID,OK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2357515 )
1995 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 97 of 843 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 205 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
84 crash reports32 fire reports69 injury reports
Tires complaints
205 reportsI CANNOT READ THE DOT NUMBER, BUT THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. THE FAILURE THAT OCCURED WAS AS FOLLOWS: LEFT FRONT TIRE COMPLETELY DEFLATED AFTER DRIVING ~150 MILES AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 81 IN VA. NO PUNCTURE WAS FOUND, HOWEVER AIR WAS LEAKING FROM LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED AT THE TREAD LINE. SIMILAR CRACKS WERE …
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I CANNOT READ THE DOT NUMBER, BUT THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. THE FAILURE THAT OCCURED WAS AS FOLLOWS: LEFT FRONT TIRE COMPLETELY DEFLATED AFTER DRIVING ~150 MILES AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 81 IN VA. NO PUNCTURE WAS FOUND, HOWEVER AIR WAS LEAKING FROM LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED AT THE TREAD LINE. SIMILAR CRACKS WERE OBSERVED ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT DEFLATE. BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME FIRESTONE TIRES ON 6/1/2000. THE REAR TIRES ARE NOW DEVELOPING CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATIONS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )
ON 9/18/99, MY FATHER, HUSBAND, SON AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON I-10 BECAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY FATHER WAS TAKEN BY HELICOPTER TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED 2 DAYS LATER AS A RESULT OF HIS INJURIES. MY SON WAS NOT HARMED, MY HUSBAND SUFFERED MINO…
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ON 9/18/99, MY FATHER, HUSBAND, SON AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON I-10 BECAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY FATHER WAS TAKEN BY HELICOPTER TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED 2 DAYS LATER AS A RESULT OF HIS INJURIES. MY SON WAS NOT HARMED, MY HUSBAND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE SAME LOCAL HOSPITAL, AND I HAD VERY MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES.( DOT NUMBER: )
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE -- ONCE ON THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX TIRES AND THEN AGAIN ON THE REPLACEMENT ATX TIRES I BOUGHT TO REPLACE THE ORIGINALS. BOTH TIMES A BLOWOUT OF THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL. I NO LONGER OWN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP 3 TIMES. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VEHICLE WAS A 1995 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER. PLEASE ADD ADDTIONAL TIRE INFO.RMATION, ODI# 6141. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/70/R15 *MW
CONSUMER DISCOVERED A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF THE TIRES (FIRESTON ATX RADIALS) UPON INSPECTION OF ALL THE TIRES NOTICED THEY ARE CRACKING ALONG THE OUTSIDE ALTHOUGH THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS LOW. NLM
FLUID WHICH WAS LATER CONFIRMED TO BE OIL FROM OVERFLOW TANK SPILLED OUT ON BRAKES ON PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD TO DRIVE 2 HOURS BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IN GALAX, VA CLOSED AT NOON ON SATURDAYS. IF I WAS BY MYSELF IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY BUT I HAD MY CHILD WITH ME. TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD CONFIRMED THE S…
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FLUID WHICH WAS LATER CONFIRMED TO BE OIL FROM OVERFLOW TANK SPILLED OUT ON BRAKES ON PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD TO DRIVE 2 HOURS BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IN GALAX, VA CLOSED AT NOON ON SATURDAYS. IF I WAS BY MYSELF IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY BUT I HAD MY CHILD WITH ME. TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD CONFIRMED THE SITUATION AND STATED THAT FORD HAD SENT OUT A MEMO SAYING IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN WARRANTEE THE COULD PUT THE COVER ON TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM BUT DUE TO MY MILEAGE I HAD TO PAY $375.OO NOT INCLUDING PARTS TO HAVE THIS TAKING CARE OF. MY QUESTION IS IF THEY PUT THIS DEVICE ON AND KNEW THIS COULD HAPPEN WHY NOT WARN THE CONSUMER INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT THIS WAY AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHICH WAS NOT OF MY MAKING. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; GOT A CLAIMS NUMBER AND THAT WAS IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID CALL TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD WHICH THE REGIONAL REP STILL HASN'T RESPONDED. NEXT, I SENT THEM A E-MAIL STATING THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO RESPONSE. ON THE TIRES, WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE MYSELF, EXCEPT FOR THE SPARE WHICH IS A FIRESTONE, SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED STATING THAT SINCE THEY WERE ONLY THEY WERE ONLY THE STATESIDE RECEIVING DEALERSHIP THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE TIRES BLEW OUT LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH FORD. ACCORDING TO THE DISTANCE OF TRAVEL I HAVE RESORTED TO RENTING SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I CAN REPLACE A VEHICLE BUT NOT A LIFE. HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING WHICH WAS ALREADY THERE TO BEGIN WITH. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *AK
I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT 35 MPH WHEN TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED WHEN TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF A SPLIT IN THE SIDEWALL THAT RAN INTO THE TREAD WAS FOUND( DOT NUMBER: VDHL AWR TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )
PE 00-020; ORIGINAL TIRES ON FORD EXPLORER 1995 P23575R15. COSNUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH WHEN REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THEN BLEW OUT. *AK THE TIRE WAS USED FOR ONLY 7300 MILES. FIRESTONE CLAIMED IT ROAD HAZARD. *YH
REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT 65-70MPH, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. TIRE SIZE P235 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *AK PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005) CONSUMER REPLACED TWO FIRESTONE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF TWO TIRES REPLACED BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED NOISE WHEN…
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REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT 65-70MPH, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. TIRE SIZE P235 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *AK PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005) CONSUMER REPLACED TWO FIRESTONE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF TWO TIRES REPLACED BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED NOISE WHEN BRAKING DUE TO PRMATURE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS AND BAD ROTORS WHICH REPLACED. *YH
Official recalls
509V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
00V402000 · Suspension
Nov 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
99V310001 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Nov 3, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
95V052000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 15, 1995
IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, BRAKE TUBES WERE MISROUTED BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND RESULTS IN EXCEEDING THE ALLOWABLE STOPPING DISTANCES AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." IN ADDITION, SEALS WITHIN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD BE ABRADED BY THIS CONDITION OVER TIME RESULTING IN AN INTERNAL LEAK AND A FURTHER REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: STOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE LONGER THAN INTENDED RESULTING IN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE BRAKE TUBES.
95V053000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Mar 15, 1995
THE INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN FRACTURE CAUSING SHAKING OR SHIMMY AT LOW SPEEDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL ON THE SIDE WITH THE BROKEN TIE ROD TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD AND SLIDE RESULTING IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INNER TIE RODS AND REPLACE THE SUSPECT TIE RODS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA02011 · Safety Belt Assembly Failure
Opened Jul 2, 2002 · Closed May 21, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
ODI RECEIVED 18 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FORD IDENTIFIED ANOTHER FOUR REPORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATE INABILITY TO LATCH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAUSED BY A BROKEN LATCH RELEASE SPRING.NONE OF THESE 22 REPORTS RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES OR CRASHES.NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.FORD CONDUCTED LIFE-CYCLE TESTING ON 6 FIELD SAMPLE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.THE RESULTS OF THAT TESTING DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TESTED BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES COULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE PROPERLY BEYOND THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.BASED ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, AND A DECLINING COMPLAINT TREND, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PE02007 · Safety Belt Assembly
Opened Jan 23, 2002 · Closed Jul 2, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
No summary supplied.
PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
RQ99016 · Liftgate Support Bracket Failure
Opened Jul 29, 1999 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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.FORD AND MAZDA ARE CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99V-310.001/.002.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
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.FORD AND MAZDA ARE CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99V-310.001/.002.
Structure
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.FORD AND MAZDA ARE CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99V-310.001/.002.
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.