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
What owners actually said
843 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2000
Tires
FORD DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE DAMAGE TO THE FORD ADVISED ME THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPERATED AND BLOWN THE TIRE APART. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE THREE REMAING TIRES HAD A CRACK AROUND THE TIES WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE BODY, AND SUGESSTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT AS THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FIRESTONE MG…
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FORD DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE DAMAGE TO THE FORD ADVISED ME THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPERATED AND BLOWN THE TIRE APART. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE THREE REMAING TIRES HAD A CRACK AROUND THE TIES WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE BODY, AND SUGESSTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT AS THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FIRESTONE MGR EXAMINED MY TIRES AND AGREED THAT ALL FOUR SHOULD B REPLACED. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THEM AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE CAME IN. THE TIRES CAME IN AND WERE INSTALLED JUNE 28 1999. FIRESTONE DID NOT REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE AT NO CHARGE BUT GAVE ME AN ADJUSTED PRICE CHARGING ME 59.99 FOR EACH OF 4 TIRES PLUS BALANCE,NEW VALVE STEMS,TIRE DISPOSAL FEE,ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY,PLS SHOP SUPPLYS. TOTAL ADJUSTED PRICE 359.49 I WAS UNAWARE AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM FIRESTONE WAS HAVING OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AGREEABLE TO THAT DEAL. I HAVE COPY OF TIRE INVOICES, WORK PERFORMED BYJOHNSON BROTHERS FORD AND ROAD SERVICE TO PLACE SPARE ON AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION PLEASE LET ME KNOW.( DOT NUMBER: NA TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )
NHTSA ODI #728577
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2000
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. SEAT BELT BUTTON HAS LOST ITS SPRING LOCKING ACTION.
NHTSA ODI #728424
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Tires
I HAD JUST COME OFF THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE THREW ITS TREAD OFF, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHANGED IT TO THE SPARE TIRE. LATER ON I HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )
NHTSA ODI #728384
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Tires
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FIRESTONE ATX, 235/75R15 .*AK THE TREAD SEPARATION DAMAGED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND BODY PANEL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED THE CUSTOMER FOR THE DAMAGES. *YH
THESE 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 )
NHTSA ODI #728131
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Tires
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 …
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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 )
NHTSA ODI #728115
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
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: )
NHTSA ODI #728050
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Tires
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: )
NHTSA ODI #728047
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
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
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.
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.
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.
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
6
EA02011 · 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.
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