1990 Ford Explorer
Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 3 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1991 | 616 |
| 1992 | 640 |
| 1993 | 944 |
| 1994 | 1231 |
| 1995 | 843 |
| 1996 | 1450 |
| 1997 | 1731 |
| 1998 | 1959 |
| 1999 | 1348 |
| 2000 | 952 |
| 2001 | 375 |
| 2002 | 3295 |
| 2003 | 1131 |
| 2004 | 1304 |
| 2005 | 497 |
| 2006 | 630 |
| 2007 | 208 |
| 2008 | 148 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 115 |
| 2011 | 1197 |
| 2012 | 825 |
| 2013 | 2230 |
| 2014 | 1675 |
| 2015 | 1774 |
| 2016 | 2447 |
| 2017 | 1683 |
| 2018 | 725 |
| 2019 | 292 |
| 2020 | 1207 |
| 2021 | 417 |
| 2022 | 262 |
| 2023 | 107 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 95 |
| 2026 | 34 |
| 2027 | 0 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Only 12 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
2 of 12 total reports mention: tires, most commonly citing tread/belt.
CRASHShow complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 20000824
2 of 12 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.
CRASH2 of 12 total reports mention: power train, most commonly citing automatic transmission.
2 of 12 total reports mention: fuel system, gasoline, most commonly citing tank assembly.
2 of 12 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling, most commonly citing gasoline.
FIREShow complaint excerpts
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI report, 19980302
WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 20031203
SAFETY TIMELINE
No recalls on file for this model year.
WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS
FRONT SEAT TRACK FAILURE
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1990 Ford Explorer — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for tires issues (2 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (2 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for power train issues (2 reports on file for this year).
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1990 Ford Explorer reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Ford Explorer?
The most-reported component is tires, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1990 Ford Explorer have?
No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.