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 16, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
DRIVING DOWN 435 FREEWAY GOING TO THE MOVIE DRIVE IN AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TIRE PEELED DOWN THE CENTER CAUSING ME TO SPIN AND LOSE CONTROL AND SPIN OUT, SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL, WRECKING THE FRONT LEFT CLIP AND BUMPER AND THE LEFT REAR SIDE, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER AND WINDOW AND HATCHBACK OF MY SUV . THE WHOLE QUATERLEFT…
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DRIVING DOWN 435 FREEWAY GOING TO THE MOVIE DRIVE IN AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TIRE PEELED DOWN THE CENTER CAUSING ME TO SPIN AND LOSE CONTROL AND SPIN OUT, SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL, WRECKING THE FRONT LEFT CLIP AND BUMPER AND THE LEFT REAR SIDE, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER AND WINDOW AND HATCHBACK OF MY SUV . THE WHOLE QUATERLEFT SIDE IS TOTALLY WRECKED. TIRE NEVER DEFLATED IT JUST SEPARATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )
NHTSA ODI #728059
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires
NOTICED BUMPY RIDE ON ROAD TRIPJ(LIKE RUNNING OVER BUMPS).
NHTSA ODI #9001801
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE DID NOT HEAR A NOISE, BUT IT FELT LIKE SHE RAN OVER A ROCK. THEN, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TREAD HAD SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE WERE NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #867875
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWUP. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. OWNER DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SITUATION AT THE TIME, AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRE HIMSELF. PLEAS…
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PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWUP. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. OWNER DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SITUATION AT THE TIME, AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRE HIMSELF. PLEASE LIST DOT #. *AK
NHTSA ODI #867822
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires
TIRE TREAD CAME OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH, CAR SHOOK AND THE TREAD DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE CAR.........I REPLACED ALL MY TIRES IN JANUARY WITH WILDERNESS AT,I FEEL ALL THE WILDERNESS TIRES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND NOT JUST A WAY TO CUT BACK ON THE RECALLS BY BLAMING IT ON THE DECATUR PLANT ..I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WI…
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TIRE TREAD CAME OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH, CAR SHOOK AND THE TREAD DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE CAR.........I REPLACED ALL MY TIRES IN JANUARY WITH WILDERNESS AT,I FEEL ALL THE WILDERNESS TIRES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND NOT JUST A WAY TO CUT BACK ON THE RECALLS BY BLAMING IT ON THE DECATUR PLANT ..I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES ON MY CAR, I HAD IT HAPPEN ONCE WITHOUT INJURIES AND DONT WANT TO WAIT TILL MORE PEOPLE DIE OR HAVE INJURIES.....( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )
NHTSA ODI #728040
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA ODI #728018
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
TiresCrash
HE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #867767
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
TiresCrash
FIRESTONE ATX TIRE P235/70R15 DOTVDHL1PM086 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED, IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #867673
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 EXPLORER AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLICK AND LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MY MECHANIC TOWED THE CAR AND UPON EXAMINING THE CAR FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. HE FELT THAT MY EXPLORER'S CRANKSHAFT HAS A DEFINIT…
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WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 EXPLORER AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLICK AND LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MY MECHANIC TOWED THE CAR AND UPON EXAMINING THE CAR FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. HE FELT THAT MY EXPLORER'S CRANKSHAFT HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE THE CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY 28000MILES. HE URGED ME TO CONTACT TOWER FORD WHERE I PURCHASED THE EXPLORER. TOWER FORD ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I AM FRUSTRATED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE INJURY ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 28000MILES WITH A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT -WITH NO HELP FROM FORD. I BELIEVE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY EXPLORER HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND FORD NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #727934
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Tires
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINS, WHICH INCLUDED THE TREAD BUT NO SIDE WALL, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO CUT, PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. I TOOK THE REMAINS TO THE FIRES…
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TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINS, WHICH INCLUDED THE TREAD BUT NO SIDE WALL, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO CUT, PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. I TOOK THE REMAINS TO THE FIRESTONE STORE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME THAT THE TIRE HAD FAILED AT THE SIDEWALL , AND INVOLVED AN APPARENT HIGH TEMPERATURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THAT TIRE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS ARE SHOWING, IN MY OPINION, A STRANGE PATTERN OF "WEAR" ON THE SIDEWALLS AND NEAR THE BEAD. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. 1999. THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE SIZE TIRES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECALL AS OF 8-14-00, BUT I BELIEVE THEM TO BE FAULTY. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 000 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
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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