MYRModel Year Report

1994 Ford Explorer

◆ Worse than typical
1994 Ford Explorer
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

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.

How is this computed?

Complaints
1,231
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 1994

Investigations
13

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Tires

27% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1987: 3 complaints 1988: 4 complaints 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1993: 944 complaints 1994: 1,231 complaints 1994 1,231 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1999: 1,348 complaints 2000: 952 complaints 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2005: 497 complaints 2006: 630 complaints 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2011: 1,197 complaints 2012: 826 complaints 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2017: 1,690 complaints 2018: 727 complaints 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2023: 110 complaints 2024: 21 complaints 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1987: 3 complaints 1987 1988: 4 complaints 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1990 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1993: 944 complaints 1994: 1,231 complaints 1994 1,231 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1999: 1,348 complaints 1999 2000: 952 complaints 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2005: 497 complaints 2005 2006: 630 complaints 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2011: 1,197 complaints 2011 2012: 826 complaints 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2017: 1,690 complaints 2017 2018: 727 complaints 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2023: 110 complaints 2023 2024: 21 complaints 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1986 1987: 3 complaints 1988: 4 complaints 1988 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1990 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1992 1993: 944 complaints 1994: 1,231 complaints 1994 1,231 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1996 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1998 1999: 1,348 complaints 2000: 952 complaints 2000 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2004 2005: 497 complaints 2006: 630 complaints 2006 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2010 2011: 1,197 complaints 2012: 826 complaints 2012 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2016 2017: 1,690 complaints 2018: 727 complaints 2018 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2022 2023: 110 complaints 2024: 21 complaints 2024 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints

1994: 1,231 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19841
19851
19863
19873
19884
19891
199012
1991616
1992640
1993944
19941,231
1995843
19961,450
19971,731
19981,959
19991,348
2000952
2001375
20023,295
20031,131
20041,304
2005497
2006630
2007208
2008148
200933
2010115
20111,197
2012826
20132,233
20141,679
20151,786
20162,455
20171,690
2018727
2019296
20201,224
2021432
2022267
2023110
202421
2025100
202639
20270

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Tires

27% · 334 reports

Most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

April, 1996 I, my ex wife, and my daughter were coming back from palmdale, la county, traveling east on 138 highway back to ontario, san bernardino county, where I used to reside.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-11-10

Service brakes

23% · 286 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Structure

13% · 159 reports

Most commonly citing support device/strut and hinge and attachments.

FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I looked up my vehicle and it has a recall and I want it fixed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-07-02

Power train

7% · 91 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Purchased vehicle transmission out,came with rebuilt transmission,installed,lasted about 1 year.kept blowing front seals.always heated up going uphill.next transmission,same story.serviced regular,with filter change.current transmission in trans.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-07-01

Engine and engine cooling

7% · 87 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIRE

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 13 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1994Complaint volume 1,231 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1994-12-16Parking brake94V169001 The parking brake control self-adjust pawl does not line up properly with the self-adjust rachet causing the pawl to slip over one or more teeth in the rachet.

    Remedy: A wedge will be installed which will serve to lock the parking brake self-adjust mechanism pawl into engagement with the rachet. Also, owners will be advised to release and reapply the parking brake…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    1995-01-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 1995-06-19 Brake master cylinder/booster separation
  4. I
    1995-06-19Engineering analysisClosed 1996-04-02 Separation of master cylinder
  5. R
    1995-10-25Structure95I007000 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.…

    Remedy: Ford dealers will reinforce the bracket attachments.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    1996-02-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 1996-07-24 Wheel lockup with antilock brake system
  7. R
    1996-03-22Service brakes, hydraulic96V024001 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the power brake vacuum booster assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    1996-07-24Engineering analysisClosed 1999-10-29 Brake system malfunction
  9. I
    1996-11-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 1997-05-15 Driver door electrical fire
  10. I
    1997-05-23Engineering analysisClosed 1998-01-20 Sunroof shattering and separation
  11. R
    1997-06-04Visibility97V083000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the remote power mirror control switch assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. I
    1998-01-06Defect petitionClosed 1998-02-04 Heavy lateral vibration
  13. I
    1998-09-04Defect petitionClosed 1998-09-11 Heater blower assembly fire
  14. I
    1998-09-04Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-01-15 Blower assembly fires
  15. I
    1999-01-15Engineering analysisClosed 2000-04-18 Blower assembly fires
  16. I
    1999-07-29Recall queryOpen Liftgate support bracket failure
  17. I
    1999-11-30Preliminary evaluationClosed 2000-04-14 Spare tire winch cable
  18. R
    2000-01-03Structure99V310001 Vehicle description: on certain sport utility vehicles, the hydraulic lift cylinder bracket welds could fracture.

    Remedy: Dealers will install liftgate reinforcement brackets. Depending upon the condition of the liftgate sheet metal in the area of the bracket, dealers may also install a larger reinforcement.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. I
    2000-04-14Engineering analysisClosed 2000-10-20 Spare tire winch cable
  20. R
    2000-08-26Tires00T005000 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…

    Remedy: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on August 29, 2001. However, customers should contact firestone customer service at 1-800-465-1904 for possible assistance.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  21. R
    2001-06-04Tires01X001000 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…

    Remedy: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on March 31, 2002. However, customers can contact Ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.com for possible assistance.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Ford Explorer — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Tires: 334 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 286 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 159 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 94V169001 · Parking brake
  • Recall 95I007000 · Structure
  • Recall 96V024001 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 97V083000 · Visibility
  • Recall 99V310001 · Structure
  • Recall 00T005000 · Tires
  • Recall 01X001000 · Tires
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Ford Explorer is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Ford Explorer?
The most-reported component is tires, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 Ford Explorer have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.