1990 Ford Explorer
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Explorer › 1990
These records cover every 1990 Ford Explorer. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
12 complaints2 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling
While coming to a stop at 20 mph vehicle stalled/ lost power. Consumer pulled over and managed to gain control of the vehicle. *Ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Fuel gauge no longer works,. Consumer cannot tell the amount of fuel left in tank.*ak
- Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
While driving 58 mph opened sun roof, it disconnected and fell off.*ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Pulling into driveway & applied brakes, pedal locked in one spot. Vehicle was free rolling & hit a garage door. Towed vehicle to dealer & mechanic ran a diagnostic test for brakes & found nothing. problem happened again since having engine work done. problem was intermittent. *ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
I had three tires lose the entire center tread on my previous vehicle (90 ford explorer) while traveling aroung 70mph. All three were within a month of each other. The first tire that went caused damage to my vehicle body that was reported to my insurance.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
- Tires › Tread/belt
Firestone radial atx tires p23575r15 original equipment on a 90 explorer. While driving 70mph the driver heard a loud noise and noticed that rear driver's side tread had separated ,through rear view mirror, causing damage to vehicle. *ak dot#w2hl 1PM. *slc
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Connecting pipes on the gas tank are formed from seamed steal pipe, and the seam IS sealed due to bad manufacturing. The seam bends over and eventually rusts away, and allows gas to leak to ground. Dealer contacted and cannot duplicate the problem. *ak
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Engine fire.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
In wet weather the ABS anti-lock brakes lock up . *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission has failed six times. would not shift. tt
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission has failed, transmission IS not large enough to pull the vehicle weight. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front seat track failure
There is no summary currently available
- Whl separation/torque loss
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6091931Some vehicles may exhibit an engine noise which may be perceived by the customer as a piston / connecting rod bearing knock.
- 627752Some vehicles equipped with the 4.0L ohv engine may exhibit an engine noise which may be perceived by the customer as a piston / onnecting rod bearing knock.
- 608921Some vehicles may exhibit an engine noise which may be perceived by the customer as a piston / connecting rod bearing knock.
- 50500Vehicles may experience a vibration during wide open throttle acceleration or while cruising at highway speeds. Revised front driveshaft.
- 45934Temperature gauge - fluctuating and /or inaccurate high readings.
- 45756High altitude transmission available.
Every Ford Explorer model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.