1994 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1994 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 1,207 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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4 safety recalls for the 1994 Ford Explorer
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Support device/strut (structure)
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.
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Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install an in-line 10 amp fuse in the positive battery feed to the remote power mirror control switch assembly.
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Hydraulic (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power brake vacuum booster assembly.
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Conventional (parking brake)
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 whenever tooth skip…
1,207 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1994 Ford Explorer have filed 1,207 complaints with NHTSA; 109 describe a crash and 82 describe a fire. Reports cite 154 injuries and 20 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 108,204 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 365 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I looked up my vehicle and it has a recall and i want it fixed. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 2, 2020 · Structure
“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,wit”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 1, 2018 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1994 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–16 / 18–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1994 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 1994 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1994 Ford Explorer; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 94V169001).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.