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: 153 of 1,450 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 570 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
195 crash reports37 fire reports179 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,450 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
I PREVIOUSLY FILED THIS COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE MARKING NUMBERS AT THAT TIME. WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CA THE REAR TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED FOLLOWING THE TREAD SEPARAT…
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I PREVIOUSLY FILED THIS COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE MARKING NUMBERS AT THAT TIME. WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CA THE REAR TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED FOLLOWING THE TREAD SEPARATING. MY CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED, INCLUDING THE TIRES, APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. I SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK INJURIES DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA ODI #729401
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
#235/7016; WHILE HAVING TECHNICIAN LOOK OVER TIRES NOTICED TIRE HAD CRACKS. *AK THE CUSTOMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE TIRES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MECHANIC. *YH
NHTSA ODI #868908
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE ABOUT THIS FAILURE AND HAVE BEEN STONEWALLED AT EVERY TURN. I KEEP EXPLAINING THAT I REPLACED THE TIRES AT MY ONW COST OVER A 1 YEAR AGO AND THEY KEEP ASKING ME TO SEND IT TO ME. NEED SOME HELP TO GET THEM TO RESPOND CONSTRUCTIVELY.( DOT NUMBER: DON'T KNOW TIRE SIZE: ? )
NHTSA ODI #729346
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Unknown Or Other
I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT YES FIRESTONE TIRES CAUSED DEATHS BUT WHAT IF I BLOW A MICHELIN THE DESIGN OF THE EXPLORER CREATES THE DEADLY ROLLOVER NOT NECESSARILLY WHICH BRAND TIRE YOU HAVE I AM WORRIED ANY TIME WE DRIVE WHAT IF A TIRE BLOWS THERES A WHAT 50 % CHANCE WE DIE AND THAT IS MAKING ME WANT TO NEVER BUY THE FORD PRODUCT A…
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I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT YES FIRESTONE TIRES CAUSED DEATHS BUT WHAT IF I BLOW A MICHELIN THE DESIGN OF THE EXPLORER CREATES THE DEADLY ROLLOVER NOT NECESSARILLY WHICH BRAND TIRE YOU HAVE I AM WORRIED ANY TIME WE DRIVE WHAT IF A TIRE BLOWS THERES A WHAT 50 % CHANCE WE DIE AND THAT IS MAKING ME WANT TO NEVER BUY THE FORD PRODUCT AGAIN...AND EVERYONE IS FREAKING OUT IN THE NATION ABOUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRESTONE NAME MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO? WHY DOESNT ANYONE NOTICE THE PROBLEM IS FORDS NOT NECCESARILY FIRESTONES.
NHTSA ODI #729313
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15 RADIAL TIRES FAILURES PRIOR TO RECALL, THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES AND DAMAGES. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554104
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) TIRE TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. NLM
NHTSA ODI #554044
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
THE GOODYEAR RADIAL ATX TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554030
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 15, GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR. THE EXPLORER ROLLED 3 TIMES. MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT SERIUOSLY HURT. HER FRIEND NINA WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND HER ARM WAS BROKE. SHE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND THEY HAD TO PUT IN A PLATE. MY RIGHT LEG WAS BROKEN AND I CHUNK WAS REMOVED. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH…
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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 15, GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR. THE EXPLORER ROLLED 3 TIMES. MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT SERIUOSLY HURT. HER FRIEND NINA WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND HER ARM WAS BROKE. SHE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND THEY HAD TO PUT IN A PLATE. MY RIGHT LEG WAS BROKEN AND I CHUNK WAS REMOVED. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY LEG.( DOT NUMBER: )
NHTSA ODI #729305
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2000
Tires
WILLDERNESS AT 16" TIRE, THE TREAD SEPARATED. WE REPLACED AS SOON AS SEEN. NO INCIDENT. NOT COVERED BY RECALL. MADE IN CANADA. TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO REPLACE DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF THEM. CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE OF FIRESTONE'S PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PENDING RECALL. AS THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE SMALLER TIRES WE U…
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WILLDERNESS AT 16" TIRE, THE TREAD SEPARATED. WE REPLACED AS SOON AS SEEN. NO INCIDENT. NOT COVERED BY RECALL. MADE IN CANADA. TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO REPLACE DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF THEM. CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE OF FIRESTONE'S PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PENDING RECALL. AS THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE SMALLER TIRES WE URGE THE NHTSA TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THEM.( DOT NUMBER: VRBM061753 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
NHTSA ODI #729275
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Tires
OUTSIDE LAYER OF TIRE PEELED OFF IN A SECTION ACROSS WIDTH OF TIRE, ALMOST PUT ME IN DITCH. I COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER FATALITY STATISTIC. FORD AND FIRESTONE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.ONE( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX TIRE SIZE: 255/70R 16 )
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: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
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
3
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
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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