1994 Ford EXP: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2005: 3; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10125977 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
ON JUNE 8, 2005 MY HUSBAND, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ON VACATION. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A ONE WAY, ONE LANE ROAD IN GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE EXPLORER MADE A STRANGE NOISE AND WHEN MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP THE EXPLORER FILLED UP WITH SMOKE ON THE INSIDE. WE GOT OUT AND THEN SAW THAT THE EXPLORER WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AND SHOOTING OUT THE GRILL. IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE SUV WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE. WE ASSUMED AT THE TIME THAT THE CAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137436 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
GAS PETAL STUCK WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 165,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141614 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
WELL I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF AND RUINED THE HOOD ALONG WITH IT IT PULLED THE BUMPER. NO ONE HAD BEEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR WELL OVER 2 WEEKS AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT ALL OVER AND AS WELL ON THE INTERSTATE SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THAT IT FLEW OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS A FAULTLY HOOD LATCH, I WAS TOLD THAT BY COLLISION CONNECTIONS IN SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS. I ALSO HAVE THE PAPERS HE GAVE ME THAT STATED THAT, BUT I CH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10677070 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, HEAVY SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES BECMAE PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/19/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10677070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 533553 · 1998-04-03 (April 3, 1998)
VEHICE VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, ANTI-VIBRATION KIT INSTALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 533553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 838330 · 1999-05-21 (May 21, 1999)
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN AUTOMOBILE DIED. SHE GOT OUT TO CALL HUSBAND, AND WHEN SHE RETURNED AUTOMOBILE WAS IN FLAMES. WAS TOLD BY FIREMEN THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 838330 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1994 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 983150IGNITION SWITCH WILL SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN AND WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF. *AK | 266.7%ODI 515145CONSUMER HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED UNDER RECALL, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR THERE WERE SEVERAL FAILURES THAT WERE NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THE POWER STEERING/HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE BATTERY WAS DOWN AND THE INSIDE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10223474 · 115,000 mi1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 BLEW OUT SPARK PLUG #2 ON WIFE'S CAR. RAW FUEL WAS PUMPED OUT ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH TOWING AND REPAIR $5,000.00 FOR THIS VERY COMMON KNOWN FORD DEFECT. DOCUMENTATION THIS ON YOU-TUBE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT RECALL THESE ENGINE TYPES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. SPARK PLUGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEREFORE RULING OUT IMPROPER TORQUE. *TR | 116.7%ODI 533553VEHICE VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, ANTI-VIBRATION KIT INSTALLED. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 838330CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN AUTOMOBILE DIED. SHE GOT OUT TO CALL HUSBAND, AND WHEN SHE RETURNED AUTOMOBILE WAS IN FLAMES. WAS TOLD BY FIREMEN THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK |
| Engine | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10677070 · 77,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, HEAVY SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES BECMAE PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/19/2017*CN |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10223474 · 115,000 mi1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 BLEW OUT SPARK PLUG #2 ON WIFE'S CAR. RAW FUEL WAS PUMPED OUT ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH TOWING AND REPAIR $5,000.00 FOR THIS VERY COMMON KNOWN FORD DEFECT. DOCUMENTATION THIS ON YOU-TUBE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT RECALL THESE ENGINE TYPES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. SPARK PLUGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEREFORE RULING OUT IMPROPER TORQUE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10141614WELL I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF AND RUINED THE HOOD ALONG WITH IT IT PULLED THE BUMPER. NO ONE HAD BEEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR WELL OVER 2 WEEKS AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT ALL OVER AND AS WELL ON THE INTERSTATE SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THAT IT FLEW OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS A FAULTLY HOOD LATCH, I WAS TOLD THAT BY COLLISION CONNECTIONS IN SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS. I ALSO HAVE THE PAPERS HE GAVE ME THAT STATED THAT, BUT I CH… |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10125977 · 90,000 miON JUNE 8, 2005 MY HUSBAND, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ON VACATION. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A ONE WAY, ONE LANE ROAD IN GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE EXPLORER MADE A STRANGE NOISE AND WHEN MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP THE EXPLORER FILLED UP WITH SMOKE ON THE INSIDE. WE GOT OUT AND THEN SAW THAT THE EXPLORER WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AND SHOOTING OUT THE GRILL. IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE SUV WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE. WE ASSUMED AT THE TIME THAT THE CAUS… |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Caliper | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 537073THE BRAKES FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS, EVEN AFTER REPLACING PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND METERING VALVE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 77,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10677070 · 77,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, HEAVY SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES BECMAE PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/19/2017*CN |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Too few reports for a range | 90,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10125977 · 90,000 miON JUNE 8, 2005 MY HUSBAND, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ON VACATION. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A ONE WAY, ONE LANE ROAD IN GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE EXPLORER MADE A STRANGE NOISE AND WHEN MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP THE EXPLORER FILLED UP WITH SMOKE ON THE INSIDE. WE GOT OUT AND THEN SAW THAT THE EXPLORER WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AND SHOOTING OUT THE GRILL. IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES THE ENTIRE SUV WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE. WE ASSUMED AT THE TIME THAT THE CAUS… |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | Too few reports for a range | 165,989 mi | 1 (sparse) |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1989: 0 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System:Wiring | Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.