Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1992 Ford Explorer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires128
- Service brakes, hydraulic97
- Power train77
- Engine and engine cooling64
- Structure62
- Suspension60
- Visibility46
- Electrical system45
- Steering25
- Seat belts24
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 57 injuries and 4 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 1992 Explorer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1992 Ford Explorer failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1992 passenger car (1.22%). Median odometer at inspection: 78,172 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1992 Ford Explorer.
| 2001193 16 Jul 2001 | Other Certain vehicles, from Ontario to Newfoundland, could experience a corrosion related failure of the spare tire winch cable. If the cable breaks while the vehicl… |
| 1998016 28 Jan 1998 | Structure NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOFS WITH REMOVABLE GLASS PANELS. IF MISINSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR, THE SUNROOF'S REMOVABLE GLASS PANEL MAY S… |
| 1995155 30 Aug 1995 | Structure DEFECT: THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE BRACKET WELDS M… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL ASSEMBLY CAN SEPARATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DUE TO INCORRECT HINGE ENGAGEMENT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SUNROOF INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS PANEL.
A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION CAN OCCUR IN THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH 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 STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1992 Ford Explorer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635982 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND A 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE / VIBRATION, NO DRIVE, UNUSUAL NOISE DURING CRANKING OR A NO CRANK CONDITION. *TT |
| 628153 | OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM SUPPLEMENT 7 REVISED INFORMATION - REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *TT |
| 627752 | SOME 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. *TT |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 618532 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE INFLATION LABEL. *JB |
| 616531 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET MAY BECOME LOOSE OR SEPARATED FROM THE DASH PANEL. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY REPEATED EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, RESULTING IN CRACKING OF THE DASH PANEL SHEET METAL AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET. *TT |
| 613292 | INFORMATION ON SETTING THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE FOR 1991 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES IN THE PRE-DELIVERY PROCESS AND DURING MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. *TT |
| 613105 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE FOR ALL MODELS DURING PREDELIVERY PROCESS AND DURING MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. *MJS |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 610793 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT NEUTRAL GEAR ROLLOVER NOISE (A LIGHT METALLIC RATTLING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION) WHICH OCCURS AT IDLE WITH TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL CLUTCH ENGAGED (CLUTCH PEDAL UP). *TT |
| 610704 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AUDIBLE PINGING OR CREAKING NOISE THAT MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVELINE WHEN ENGINE TORQUE IS INITIALLY APPLIED TO THE DRIVELINE. *TT |
| 6091931 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / CONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 6089649 | CONCERNS WITH BURNING ODOR OR SMOKE, AND / OR RUSTLING NOISE WHILE BLOWER MOTOR IS ON. *TT |
| 608921 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / CONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK. *TT |
| 608435 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A BURNING ODOR OR SMOKE, AND / OR RUSTLING NOISE OCCURING WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING IF LEAVES OR FOREIGN MATERIAL ENTERS THE BLOWER CASE. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 607369 | CONCERNS WITH AXLE WIND-UP AND / OR CLUNKING, POPPING, RATCHETING TYPE NOISES WHEN MAKING CORNERING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 606945 | INFORMATION ON MAINTAINING TIRE PRESSURE. *TT |
| 606937 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AXLE WIND UP AND / OR CLUNKING, POPPING, RATCHETING TYPE NOISES WHEN MAKING CORNERING MANEUVERS ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HI OR LOW RANGE MODE. *TT |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 605577 | INFORMATION REGARDING COMPREHENSIVE PULL AND DRIFT DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST TECHNICIANS WITH VEHICLE SERVICE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE
LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET FAILURE
BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES
BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRES
HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY FIRE
HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION
SUNROOF SHATTERING AND SEPARATION
SUNROOF (AIR ROOF) SHATTER
SEPARATION OF MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/BOOSTER SEPARATION
ENGINE COOLING FAN CRACKS
AUTO TRANS PRNDL MISALIGN
AUTO TRANS.PRNDL MISALIGN
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation