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#BS-1992-FOREXP-33C81992 Ford Explorer
Based on reports from 848 owners and 7 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 848 complaints, 54 crashes, 84 fires, and 7 recalls. Complaint rate is 7.9x the class average.
Top reported problems
problems shifting
5 complaints β’ Severity 9.6/10
engine turns over but wont start
4 complaints β’ Severity 8.5/10
stuck in low gear
2 complaints β’ Severity 7/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
71 owners reported tires:tread/belt issues β failures commonly reported around 126K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 150K+ miles (12 reports) β’ Median: 126K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Tires:tread/belt (71 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1992 Ford Explorer: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Tires:tread/belt Issues
Tires:tread/belt complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1992 Ford Explorer, with 71 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 125,508 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 126K-mile mark.
Wheels & Tires Issues
Wheels & Tires complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1992 Ford Explorer, with 66 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1992 Ford Explorer, with 41 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1992 Ford Explorer, with 41 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1992 Ford Explorer. Recent trend: stable.



Don't negotiate blind β know what this car costs to own
Repair costs β’ Negotiation scripts β’ Mechanic checklist β’ Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (7 recalls)
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS OF THE REAR LIFTGATE GAS ASSIST CYLINDERS WHICH COULD PULL AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE LIFTGATE.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
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.
+ 2 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Ford Explorer is the 2006 β worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
1992 Ford Explorer vs. Class Average (Special Purpose Vehicles)
This vehicle
848
Class avg
107
7.9x the class average β significantly more complaints than typical special purpose vehicles vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume β popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 848 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 7 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Explorer Model Years
1992 Ford Explorer: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 1992 Ford Explorer Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 848 owner reports. Know before you buy.