1993 FORD EXPLORER Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED DARK SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT WHEN THE SMOKE CEASED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SMOKE REAPPEARED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE HEATER FUSE REMOVED, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM SMOKING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000. UPDATED 05/27/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AC ONLY WORKED ON HIGH AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT WORK. UPDATED

Mileage: 89,000

STARTED 1993 FORD EXPLORER AND HEATER FAN WAS ON SETTING 2. BURNING LEAF SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE DEFROST VENTS (HEATER SELECTOR WAS SET TO DEFROST). IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF IGNITION AND HAD TO DRIVE OTHER VEHICLE TO WORK. WILL HAVE TO REMOVE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR ASSEMBLY AND CLEAN OUT DEBRIS FROM BLOWER HOUSING. NOTICED BURNT LEAF SMELL BEFORE BUT NEVER SAW SMOKE UNTIL TODAY. *NM

Mileage: 146,000

FIRE IN HEATER BLOWER, 1993 FORD EXPLORER, HEAVY SMOKE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

ANTI-FREEZE IS LEAKING INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH MAKE IT HARD TO SEE WHEN ANTI-FREEZE IS NEEDED TO DEFOG WINDOW.

IN 1998 MY FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR NHTSB ID # 97V083000, COMPONENT: VISUAL SYSTEMS: MIRRORS. THE RECALL WAS TO CORRECT A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITH CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF A SEPARATED PART OF THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY BRIDGING THE SWITCH POSITIVE BATTERY PAD AND ADJACENT CHASSIS GROUND PAD. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. BUT, THE EXACT DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL OCURRED ON MY VEHICLE. EVIDENTLY THE INSTALLATION OF A 10 AMP INLINE FUSE WAS NOT A POSITIVE CORRECTION TO THIS DEFECT! I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE "SWITCH". I HAVE THE SWITCH IN MY POSSESSION IF NEEDED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE SWITCH. *AK

THE ALUMINUM FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER UNIT UNDER THE HOOD HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND IT THE DUCTS FRESH AIR INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER BLOWER DUCTING. THIS SHROUD BECAME FULL OF LEAVES WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE , FILLING THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH DENSE SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL THE DUCT WORK UNDER THE HOOD APART AND BLOW OUT THE REMAINING ASH AND LEAVES TO ALLEVIATE ANY FUTURE FIRE SOURCE. FORD HAS A DEFECT IN THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTING WHICH ALLOWS LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS TO DRIFT DIRECTLY INTO THE BLOWER HOUSING SHROUDING WHICH BECOMES A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. I NOW HAVE TO COVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE UPPER HALF OF THE HOOD INCLUDING THE FRESH AIR INTAKE DUCTS WITH FIBERGLASS WINDOW SCREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE TO ASSURE LEAVES DO NOT FILL THE DUCTING SYSTEM AGAIN CAUSING ANOTHER FIRE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND 2 OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS BLOWER HOUSING FIRES IN OTHER NHTSA INCIDENTS ON THIS SITE AS REFERENCED BY THIS :*AK

RECALL 97V235000/SUN ROOF: SUN ROOF MALFUNCTIONED WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

REAR VIEW MIRROR KEEPS FALLING OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT CONSUMER SHOULD TAKE IT TO A GLASS DEALER. *AK

CONSUMER CONTROL MIRROR SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON VEHICLE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER REMEMBERS RECEIVING RECALL 97V083OOO/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 97S70. WILL CONTACT THE DEALER FOR A COPY. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WHEN THE RECALL WAS RECEIVED. *AK

THE GLASS SHATTERED FOR NO REASON. REPORTED TO FORD BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE!. *AK

HELLO, I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY RECALL FOR MY 1993 EXPLORER ( [XXX]) - POWER MIRROR SWITCH. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO SPLINTERS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND I HAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OPEN. *AK

REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. YH

RIGHT SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW LEAKED ALSO. BOTH WINDOWS HAD ALL OF THE ATTATCHING NUTS LOOSE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK

I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS OPENING UP THE GLASS PORTION OF THE TAILGATE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED IN MY FACE. THE GLASS BROKE INTO A MILLION SMALL PIECES AND MANY LARGE JAGGED PIECES. I FOUND GLASS AS FAR AS 20 FEET AWAY, I ALSO FOUND SEVERAL PIECES IN MY FACE AND HAND. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON AND EVERY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A REAR DEFOGGER WILL HAVE THIS HAPPEN. USUALLY AS THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR SHUTTING ONE OF THE SIDE DOORS. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO A LOCAL GLASS REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AT ALL. I PLAN ON SENDING FORD A LETTER, IF I CAN EVER FIND AN ADDRESS TO THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, BUT I WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THANK YOU.

THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V083000. FORD MAINTAINS THAT MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEARS DESCRIBED AND I HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED. I PURCHASED A $32 REPLACEMENT SWITCH (IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL) AND I AWAIT THE NEXT FIRE.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE. DEALER CLAIMED THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO LEAVES BUILDING UP IN THE VENTS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

LEAVES WOULD ENTER THE HEATER SYSTEM FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WOULD START TO BURN WHILE DRIVING. *AK

BURNING SMELL AND A BIT OF SMOKE COMING FROM VENTILATION SYSTEM. HAPPENS ONLY OCCASIONALLY. SMELLS LIKE BURNING LEAVES SOMETIME. ONCE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE BUT CLEARED OUT QUICKLY WHEN WINDOWS OPEN. I HEARD THAT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE AND IS ATTRIBUTED TO A HOT ELEMENT IN THE BLOWER UNIT. IS THIS SOMETHING FORD DEALERS HAVE A READY REPAIR FOR?

HEATER SYSTEM SMELLS LIKE BURNING LEAVES EVERYTIME YOU OPERATE HEATER

WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED, LEAVES AND OTHER FOREIGN ITEMS WOULD ENTER HEATER/VENTILATION AREA. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF IGNITION SOURCE IS NEAR. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE VENTILATION CLEANED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

LEAVES IN THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSED SMOKE TO FILL THE CAB OF THE CAR.

WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON, THE THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT IS FILLED WITH SMOKE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

PE98048; BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES; WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. TRUCK CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND TH FIRE STARTED IN THE VENTS WHICH WAS CAUSED BY DEBRIS. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEAT ON, VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE DUE TO LEAVES GETTING INTO THE HEATER BOX. *AK

BATTERY/MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (MAP) SENSOR/RADIUS ARM BUSHING/HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS (REAR DOOR) AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR FAILED.

REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

DESIGN OF AUTO HEATER MOTOR SPEED CONTROL IS DEFECTIVE. SPEED IS CONTROLLED BY SWITCHING IN VARIOUS WIRE RESISTORS MOUNTED IN THE AIR PLENUM WITHOUT A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RESISTANCE WIRE ELEMENTS. RESISTORS GET HOT AT LOW MOTOR SPEEDS AND INCINERATE LEAVES OR PAPER IN THE AREA. THIS FIRE MELTS THE PLASTIC HEATER FAN HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE A/C EVAPORATOR. SITE OF ENTRY OF LEAVES IS UNKNOWN, BUT ONE DEALER REP SAID THERE IS A GAP IN THE FENDER WALL. TWO DEALERS' SERVICE WRITERS AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED SEVERAL SUCH FIRES IN EXPLORES AND F-150'S A PERFORATED METAL COVER OVER THE RESISTOR ELEMENTS IS MANDATORY.

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE SUN ROOF DISENGAGED AND SHATTERED ONTO THE HIGHWAY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN ROOF GLASS BLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE.

POWER WINDOW STICKS AND MAKES NOISE WHEN OPERATING.

EA97-011; WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE DEFECTIVE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH IS UNSAFE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT SUN ROOF WAS GOING TO SHATTER. THE WHOLE SUN ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE HINGE. THIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION EA-97 011. *AK

LEFT MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH SHORTED OUT , CAUSING ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DOOR TRIM PANEL.

SUN ROOF FELL OFF ONTO OCCUPANTS WHILE DRIVING, THE PLASTIC HOUSING HAD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES.

VEHICLES SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD OWNER THAT THEY WILL CONTACT DEALER, AND THAT THE DEALER WILL CALL CONSUMER ON AUG. 12,1997. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE DEALER THAT SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BECAUSE SHE HAD A HARD TIME WITH THEM IN THE PAST. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER HERSELF, SHE ALLOWED THE MANUFACTURER TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER WHICH NO ONE KNOWS IF THEY DID OR NOT. 97V-083000. *AK

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL . AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE OWNER NOTICED THAT THE POWER MIRROR DID NOT TURN, AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DID NOT LOCK AND WERE OFF CENTER. OWNER SAID THAT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTON WORSE DUE TO THE REPAIRS. 97V-083000. *AK

LEFT MIRROR BROKE.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97V083000). CALLED FOR APPOINTMENT, DEALER SAID WILL ORDER PARTS & TO CALL BACK IN 2 WEEKS. RETURNED CALL IN 2 WEEKS & INFORMED STILL NO PARTS. ON BACK ORDER. *AK CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE. *SLC

REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.

PLAIN CHEVROLET 97S70/97V083. DEALER REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH RECALL, REASON: TOO MUCH MILEAGE. *AK

RECALL # 97V083000, DEALER HAS NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PERFORM RECALL WORK. *AK

VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. *AK *SLC

REAR WINDSHIELD: PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE ON MAR.14, THE NEXT MORNING THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. WEATHER CONDITION NORMAL. CAUSE UNKNOWN, HAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, WAITING FOR ESTIMATE FROM DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, A SMELL LIKE LEAVES BURNING AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH AND THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE HEATER SYSTEM. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE; ALSO REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND REATTACHED REARVIEW MIRROR. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE SUN ROOF GLASS TOP JUST SHATTERED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE GLASS SUN ROOF TOP JUST SHATTERED.

THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUSTING PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH SELF-ADJUSTING RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP. TT INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED TO GLASS.*JB

THE FRONT END PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND WATER LEAKS FROM THE FRONT WINDOW. TT

REAR VIEW MIRROR REPAIRED FIVE TIMES.

SMALL CHIP IN WINDSHIELD SPREADS ACROSS WINDSHIELD, INTERFERING WITH VISION. *DSH

DRIVER SIDE, ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED EXPERIENCE FIRE IN THE DOOR CONTROL PANEL, WILL PROVIDE FIRE REPORT. TT

LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT/LEFT REAR POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY/MAKE NOISE.