1993 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
REAR TAILGATE LIFT CLINDER MOUNTING BRACKET WELD FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE WELD THAT BROKE WAS FROM LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET TO TAILGATE. TAILGATE WILL NOW NO LONGER STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN.
APPLICABLE FORD RECALL LETTER #95M87 ISSUED OCTOBER 1995. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
THE DOOR HANDLES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BROKEN OFF OVER 20 TIMES, RESULTING IN MYSELF AND PASSENGERS FALLING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE. THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS PART OF THE INTERIOR DOOR AND WOULD COST OVER $300 EACH SIDE. FORD SAID THAT THIS ISN'T A DEFECT. THE HANDLES HAVE BEEN GLUED REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS! A DOOR HANDLE SHOULD NOT BREAK OFF WHEN YOU OPEN IT OR CLOSE IT FROM THE INTERIOR! THANKS! *AK
LIFTGATE WELDS BROKE. RECALLED BY FORD, HOWEVER ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JAN 1992 TO MAR 1993. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 5/26/93. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR. CLAIMING VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY DUE TO MANUFACTURE DATE.
BRACKET & CYLINDER TOTALLY BROKE/DETACHED FROM LIFTGATE. DEALER HAS FAILED TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE TO FIX @ NO CHARGE. I DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL LETTER UPON PURCHASE OF USED VEHICLE & WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECT UNTIL IT OCCURRED. REQUESTING WRITTEN NOTICE FROM NHTSA TO DIRECT DEALER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE @ NC UNDER RECALL PROGRAM. THANK YOU. RECALL 95V16401. *AK
THE WELD FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURE WITH NO LIMITATIONS TO MILEAGE OR YEARS ON THE ROAD.
YES, WHEN THIS CYLINDER EXPLODED. MY WIFE BECAME STARTLED AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. THEY NEEDED TO BE REINFORCED.LOOKING AT THE PART THIS WAS A DEFECT, IT JUST PULLED LOOSE. *AK
WHILE HATCH WAS OPEN THE WELD BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE HATCH SHEARED CAUSING IT TO FALL ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE DRIVER.
REAR LIFT GATE HINGE (WINDOW HINGE ONLY) FAILED. HINGE SNAPPED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT INDICATES CASTING WAS LIKELY BAD AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE OR THAT DESIGN IS FAULTY.
CENTER CONSOLE FOLDING ARM PLASTIC SUPPORT BROKE.
ON ABOUT 12/1/97 MY RIGHT FRONT INSIDE DOOR PANEL HANDLE TO MY EXPLORER GAVE WAY. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS EXITING MY VEHICLE. I NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE DOOR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP (PALMETTO FORD) WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1995. THE AUTO BODY SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME THIS WAS A REGULAR OCCURANCE WITH FORD EXPLORERS. HE SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALL FOR THE HANDLE AND THE PRICE TO REPLACE IT WAS ABOUT $600.00 I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU AND LEARNED THE SAME. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP ANY FURTHER. I ENDED UP PURCHASING ANOTHER PANEL FOR $200.00 FROM A USED PARTS DEALER. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 10/03/98 WITH THE LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ALL PERSONS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THIS VEHICLE (CUSTOMERS, DEALERS, AND REPAIR SPECIALISTS) THAT THIS IS A KNOWN HAZARD AND DEFECT. IN BOTH CASES THE HANDLE (WHICH IS FITTED INTO THE INTERIOR PANEL) BREAKS AWAY FROM THE PANEL WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS MAY CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO FALL DUE TO THE SUPRISE OF THE EVENT. ALSO, IF A MAJOR EVENT SHOULD OCCUR AND THE HANDLE DID BREAK DURING THIS INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER WOULD BE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE/SHE OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I AM CERTAIN ONCE YOU INVESTIGATE MY REPORT, YOU WILL FIND IT VERY ACCURATE AND WELL KNOWN TO THE FORD COMPANY, DEALERS, ETC. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO ALLOW THIS DEFICIENCY TO CONTINUE WITH DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC HARM TO IT'S CUSTOMERS.
HYDRAULIC HATCHBACK FAILED.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOESN'T LINE UP TOO CLOSE THE DOOR. HAVE TO PICK UP THE DOOR IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO CLOSE. TOOK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT MUST BE A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
VIBRATION DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE IS MISALIGNED. WHEN DOOR OPENS, IT MOVES A LOT OR HAS A LOT OF PLAY. DOOR NOT ABLE TO SHUT PROPERLY DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. HAVE TO PUSH OR LIFT DOOR UP ON HIGHES TO REALIGN IT. *AK
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF.
THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER CAME DETACHED. REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE TOP CYLINDER, NOW BOTTOM CYLINDER IS DETACHED. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *AK
REAR HATCH BACK ROD BROKE LANDING ON CONSUMER'S HEAD DUE TO WELD FAILURE.
THE DRIVERS'S SIDE DOOR WELDING IS COMING APART FROM THE TRUCK AND THE DOOR NO LONGER CLOSES RIGHT AND MAY NOT BE LATCHING RIGHT. *AK
HATCHBACK CYLINDER BROKE AND FELL ON OWNER'S WIFE . THE DOOR WAS HANGING OFF ON ONE SIDE. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALERAND MANUFACTURER. *AK
RECALL RELATED HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER FAILURE, 95V164-001, NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP; EXPIRED THE RECALL TIME FRAME, AND WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S NOTICE IN THE FALL OF 96, HE CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE; WHEN HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED, AND IF HE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *AK
THE BRACKETS ON THE LIFTGATE BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. DEALER WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THE CAR EXCEEDED MILEAGE. *AK
LIFTGATE BRACKET FAILED, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVING REPAIR WORK, NO NOTICE RECEIVED BY CONSUMER OF THE RECALL MALFUNCTION.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE ELECTRIC MIRROR ADJUSTER ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR , DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1993 Ford Explorer has 77 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.