1991 Ford Explorer Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 5%of 609 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1991 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 609 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On dec 23, 2004, my 1991 Ford Explorer caught fire while I was driving it. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle had 208,000 miles on it. It had been professionaly serviced a week prior to the fire. While I was driving, I noticed a burning smell. I looked in the rear-view mirror & saw some white smoke behind me. Within seconds the engine died. By the time I got it pulled onto the shoulder, smoke was streaming out from under the hood. The fire burned through the firewall and caught the interior on fire very quickly.”
NHTSA complaint #10114537, filed 2005-03, 208,000 miles“I was going home and I noticed the speed of the vehicle was accelerating. From 10 MPH to 45, 50, 60 and I could not stop the vehicle the only thing that I could do at the time was to place the gear on neutral.”
NHTSA complaint #10008467, filed 2003-03“The contact owns a 1991 Ford Explorer. The contact experienced automatic transmission failure. He took the vehicle to a mechanic and they claimed to repair it, but actually did not. The vehicle failed and was towed to a Ford dealer and they replaced the cruise control switch. The automatic transmission was not repaired. The vehicle is currently in the possession of another mechanic. The current and failure mileages were greater than 100,000. Updated 03/11/08.”
NHTSA complaint #10219189, filed 2008-02, 100,000 miles“Consumer states accelerator sticks to the floor causing sudden acceleration, the only way to stop the vehicle is to slip the gear into neutral and pull over to the side of the road, dealer has not been able to find a remedy.”
NHTSA complaint #785282, filed 2001-02“Driving at any speed the cruise control stopped working after the consumer was pressing down on the brakes very hard because the ABS brakes locked up. The consumer noticed loud noise coming from the tires, and the consumer parked the vehicle and got out, the vehicle was rolling down the street. Consumer had to jump into the vehicle and pull up the emerency parking brake,and the the rear brakes locked up. They are'nt suppose to lock up.”
NHTSA complaint #830652, filed 1998-11Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 7 | 7% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 3% |
| 2021 | 15 | 3% |
| 2020 | 29 | 2% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 10 | 1% |
| 2017 | 21 | 1% |
| 2016 | 76 | 3% |
| 2015 | 16 | 1% |
| 2014 | 29 | 2% |
| 2013 | 38 | 2% |
| 2012 | 17 | 2% |
| 2011 | 18 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 12% |
| 2009 | 5 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 6% |
| 2006 | 28 | 4% |
| 2005 | 44 | 9% |
| 2004 | 76 | 6% |
| 2003 | 37 | 3% |
| 2002 | 152 | 5% |
| 2001 | 36 | 10% |
| 2000 | 113 | 12% |
| 1999 | 148 | 11% |
| 1998 | 281 | 14% |
| 1997 | 202 | 12% |
| 1996 | 148 | 10% |
| 1995 | 81 | 10% |
| 1994 | 51 | 4% |
| 1993 | 38 | 4% |
| 1992 | 14 | 2% |
| 1991 | 30 | 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 complaintsEquipment
29 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