1992 Ford Explorer Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS CRACKS NEAR THE REAR WINDSHIELD, NEXT TO THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM.THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT HYDRAULIC LIFT BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE LIFT GATE FELL ON THE CONTACTS HEAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: SUPPORT DEVICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #95I007000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 255,000.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1992 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED ROOF RACK IS VERY UNSTABLE AND WOBBLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I SECURE MY PROPERTY TO THE RACK, THAT I RUN THE RISK OF LOSING IT ON THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE INSPECTED THE RACKS OF SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR INSIDE HANDLE BREAKS UPON OPENING DOOR. HAS TO USE WINDOW TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE TO EXIT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK
BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO LIFTGATE HAVE FRACTURED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN # 95 V 164 001.*AK
BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO LIFTGATE HAVE FRACTURED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK
THE SUPPORT BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS LIFTGATE BROKE. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
PAINT IS COMING OFF IN AREAS AND IT IS ONLY 8 Y/O, AND ALSO EVERY INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF IN THE SAME MANNER ATLEAST A YEAR OR TWO AGO, SO SAYS THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE OBVIOUS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY WELL CARE OF IT, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THE DOOR HANDLES WERE A BAD MAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE IT IS OBVIOUS THEY WOULD BREAK WITH TIME OR THE FIRST PULL OF THE HANDLE. THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE DOING WHAT IT IS DOING AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU MAY GIVE. SUZANNE BRANTLEY, CEPA
IHAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR INTERIOR DOOR PANELS FOR ABOUT 2 YRS.THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE PORTION OF THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GRAB THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT.ALL THE SALVAGE YARDS SAY THE SAME THING"IDONT HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP, I KNOW WE DONT HAVE ANY, THERE ALL BROKEN". MY CHILDREN HAVE SCRATCHED THEIR ARMS ON THE BROKEN PLASTIC THAT IS LEFT BEHIND AFTER THE DOOR PULL/ARMREST BREAKS OFF.SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCSSFUL IN TRING TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. IT MAKES SHUTTING THE FRONT DOORS DIFFICULT AS THERE IS NO PLACE TO GRAB THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT. THIS IS A REAL HASSLE WHEN PARKED ON A HILL OR IT IS WINDY, AS THE ONLY THING TO GRAB IS THE DOOR HANDLE HALF THE TIME THE DOOR DOSENT LATCH FULLY MAKING IN NESSESSARY TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND GRAB THE TOP OF THE WINDOW TO SHUT THE DOOR FULLY, CREATING A SECOND HAZARD BY OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITIES OF BREAKING THE WINDOW. MY CHILDREN AS I MENTIONED HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED BADLY ENOUGH TO DRAW BLOOD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS,AND MY WIFE HAS RUINED A COUPLE OF SWEATERS BY GETTING THEM SNAGGED ON THE JAGGED PLASTIC. FORD WANTS OVER 100.00 PER DOOR TO REPLACE THEM(I NEED ALL FOUR) AND FRANKLY ICANT AFFORD IT AND DONT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO. THANK YOU. *AK
BOTH OF THE BACKSIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE AS IF BOTH DOORS HAD THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON. BUT NEITHER DOOR HAD THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON. EFFECT CAN CAUSE CONSUMER AND PASSENGERS TO BE STUCK INSIDE VEHICLE FROM THE BACKSEATS. *AK
EVERY 1992 FOR EXPLORER THAT I HAVE SEEN HAS HAD BOTH REAR ROCKER PANELS RUSTED AWAY. ORIGONAL BODY RUST WAS GUARENTEED FOR 4 YEAR OR 60, 000 MI. MY RUST BEGAN MUCH PRIOR TO 60,000 MI. BUT I WAS TOLD AT MY FORD DEALER THAT THE RUST WOULD HAVE TO HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. MY WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND DID NOT RUST AS MUCH AS MOST. FORD DOES NOT EVEN OFFER OR MAKE ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THIS. ASK ANY DEALER IN A 4 SEASON STATE AND THEY CAN TELL YOU THIS IS TRUE. I FEEL THIS IS WAY TOO WIDESPREAD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD SOME TIME AGO. THEY SAID MY COMPLAINT WAS NOTED AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. THANK YOU.
FRAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AT WHERE RADUIS ARM AND BRACKET MEET ON TWO OCCASIONS, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC USED IN MANUFACTURING. YH
RIGHT STRUT/PISTON ON REAR TAILGATE BROKE. PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS BY FORD. IT EXPIRED IN JANUARY 1999. CONSUMER'S STRUT BROKE IN AUGUST 1999. FORD HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY RECALLED IT. CONSUMER TOOK THE MATTER TO FORD'S DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD, BUT THEY REFUSED, SAYING THIS DID NOT FULL UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION. *AK
RECALL 95I007000; RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE 4 YEARS AGO. BUT REPAIRS DONE FOR REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS ONLY APPLIED TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE CYLINDER, NOT THE TOP PART, WHICH IN THIS CASE BROKE OFF FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL AND ALMOST RESULTING IN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE ENTIRE REAR DOOR WAS RECALLED BACK IN 1993. THE DOOR WAS REPLACED BY FORD. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THE HYDRAULIC LIFT WHICH I JUST PURCHASED. IT FELL OFF DURING NORMAL USE. *AK
THE DOOR GRIP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE EXPLORER CRACKED OFF FIRST. ONE MONTH LATER THE DOOR GRIP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CRACKED OFF. THE DOOR GRIP IS THE ONLY WAY OF SECURELY CLOSING THE DOORS. THE GRIP CRACKED OFF AS IT IS ONE MOLDED PIECE. THE ONLY MEANS OF REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL AT A COST OF $415.00 PER DOOR PLUS LABOR. THIS GRIP HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM
HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR DOOR IS A SAFETY HAZARD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE HEAD TRYING TO CLOSE DOOR.
DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO,CENTER CONSOLE PADDED ARM RESTMOUNT FAILED.
TAILGATE BRACE BROKE DESPITE RECALL REPAIR.
LIFT GATE (REAR CARGO DOOR) SUPPORT BRACKET TORE
REAR DOOR OPENED DURING CRASH.
LIFT GATE BRACKETS CONNECTED TO CYLINDERS FAILED, REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES.
THE GAS ASSIST CYLINDERS FAILED. RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VEHICLE EXCEEDING MILEAGE LIMITATIONS.
MOUNTING BRACKET FOR LIFTGATE PISTON FAILED.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1992 Ford Explorer has 57 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.