This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I got in my car a battery less than 2 weeks old was almost dead nothing was plugged in or on I drove got on the freeway about 20 min on freeway car stops won't move makes rev noise eventually starts long enough to stop again at bottom of freeway exit starts again get in into gas station I sit in gas station for about 12 hours add 5 quarts of transmission fluid eventually car will let me drive about two blocks but come to find out I was driving well on fire race to get my dog and I out car catches completely on fire fire man says it electric under hood no previous problems other than the battery and the od off light coming on and off I had the car about a month police report number1702207 oakland ca police department
95 Ford Explorer parked in carport with engine shut off for 5 min while carried groceries up stairs - I had left dog in crate til finished unloading but when I came down noticed electrical smell, got out looked around car but did not notice any burning, got dog out and returned in three minutes to find key no longer unlocked door and could not see through windows - when door was opened smoke bellowed out, interior was covered with black soot, a hole bigger than a basketball was burnt out of seat and back of driver's seat was parched - had I not had the windows completely up it most likely would have to continued to burn.
The contact owns a 1995 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle could be restarted. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical system failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.
I was driving my car when it began to down shift around 35mph. Eventually, after adding more gas, it kicked into gear. My vehicle is an automatic. Once it down shifts, the od light begins flashing on and off. It has now been doing this consistently. The drive is not a smooth drive and when I am going approximately 50-60mph or more, the car begins to shake.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Vehicle was parked on a residential street and engine had been off for 30 minutes. Driver was sitting in vehicle making phone calls when he smelled smoke and saw flaming wire under driver's seat. Driver escaped unharmed and was able to remove some contents but vehicle was fully engulfed in flame within a few minutes, destroying vehicle entirely, melting pavement, burning nearby grass and trees, and melting bumper and paint on a nearby parked vehicle. Fire department arrived to extinguish vehicle.
My vehicle 3rd brake light is out all of a sudden don't drive it often and sorely surprise that it would just be completely out. It is expensive to replace and should be operable to the life of the vehicle. As it stands won't pass inspection and should be a recall on it. Thanks
1995 Ford Explorer eddie bauer. Headlights went out, found out through research that it is the lamp outage module located in the console of the car. Almost started a fire, completely melted module and affected other areas of the electrical system, very dangerous and no recall that I can find. Part is dealer only and $90.
After operating the heater a fire occurred under the hood. It burned the plastic case around the heater core area. I was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. I contacted the local Ford dealership and was told that no recalls had been issued on my vehicle (1995 Ford Explorer VIN# [xxx]). the service tech at the dealership said that the heater core could not have caused the fire and that perhaps a mouse had built a nest inside and that could have been the cause. He did not mention any service bulletins regarding electrical problems in the dash, A/C/,heater area that I later found on the internet. He suggested I bring the car in for repair. Needless to say I am not taking it to the dealership. I do have an appointment for Monday (1/24/05) at a repair shop. I will know more about costs to repair and the extent of the damage then. I fear driving the car knowing it could catch fire again and am using a loaner car from a friend at work. Updated 07/24/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have a 1995 Ford Explorer the windows work sometimes you mit drive a block than thay don'tand the 4/4 will the same thing. My son has 1995 Explorer it will do the same thing is there a recall if not ther shough be thank you.
Consumer states the third brake light on the rear does not work, he states when the service technician drove vehicle into bay to be serviced, the brake light flashed on for the first time in several months, which possibily meant there was a short in the light, also the head lights flicker badly, especially on rough pavement.
Electrical problems inlude doors unlocking spontaneously, windows rolling up and down without pressing buttons, gas light comes on when gas tank was just filled, oil light coming on when oil is full and check engine light comes on for no reason.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oakley, CA, USA