1991 Ford Explorer Equipment Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 5%of 609 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the equipment of the 1991 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 609 complaints for this model year. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have questions to why there are these failures in these 4 important areas of my vehicle, and would like some answers! Thank you, I. E. Stowell. No safety defec tlisted. (DOT number: lt1018-d5 tiresize: p235/75r15)”
NHTSA complaint #754538, filed 2001-11“Ea00012, spare tire winch cable; end of the cable, that is used to winch the spare tire to body, rusted, resultng in loss of spare tire. Owner did not know when the tire fell off. Dealer was contacted to see if there was a recall on the spare tire cable. Owner was in the process of having the winch replaced, as well as the spare tire and wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #863247, filed 2000-06“Spare tire assy missing lost on hiway. Cable broke due to rust or road salt . Was there the last time serviced truck in dec 98 dont when or where lost could be veary dangerous if fell off at high speed thin cable end rusted off Ford should have to pay for tire and rim and tire holder assy .I have been a Ford mechanic 20 years .this is a poor design”
NHTSA complaint #702312, filed 1999-01“Ea00012, spare tire winch cable: when owner went to change a flat tire, there was no sprare tire on the Explorer. Owner had no idea when or where the tire fell off. Cable that holds spare tire was snapped in half. Manufacturer was contacted about the problem. Problem has not been corrected. Please provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #866314, filed 2000-07“Air condition (A/C) works off and on. It will run for a while then it starts blowing hot air, push the A/C button and go to vent and 5-10 min. Later you can turn A/C back on again for awhile until you have to do it again. This was happening before I had it switched over from freon and it is still doing it. It has been to 2 different shops and both say the freon level is fine and that they cant find a problem with it.”
NHTSA complaint #10043260, filed 2003-10Equipment: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0% |
| 2012 | 7 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 1% |
| 2004 | 14 | 1% |
| 2003 | 14 | 1% |
| 2002 | 60 | 2% |
| 2001 | 11 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 1% |
| 1999 | 27 | 2% |
| 1998 | 37 | 2% |
| 1997 | 39 | 2% |
| 1996 | 16 | 1% |
| 1995 | 7 | 1% |
| 1994 | 32 | 3% |
| 1993 | 27 | 3% |
| 1992 | 23 | 4% |
| 1991 | 29 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1991 Ford Explorer
123 complaintsTires
102 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
69 complaintsElectrical system
52 complaintsEngine cooling
52 complaintsSuspension
33 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
32 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsFuel system
26 complaintsSeat belts
26 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1991 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology