Editing Ford Explorer (section)

==Criticism and controversies==

===Rollover and Firestone Tire controversy===
{{Main|Firestone vs Ford Motor Company controversy}}
240 deaths and 3,000 catastrophic injuries resulted from the combination of early-generation Explorers and [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] tires.<ref name="autosafety.org">{{cite web|url= http://www.autosafety.org/ford-explorer-firestone-tire |title=Ford Explorer-Firestone Tire |website=autosafety.org |date=August 27, 2012 }}</ref> The tire tread separated and the vehicle had an unusually high rate of [[Vehicle rollover|rollover]] crash as a result. Both companies' reputations were tarnished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/article_redirect.cfm?ID=5413|title=Public Citizen Auto Safety|work=citizen.org}}</ref> This event led to a disruption in the 90-year-old Ford/Firestone partnership.

Rollover risk is inherently higher in truck-based vehicles, like the Explorer, than in ordinary passenger cars, as a modification for bulky 4-wheel-drive hardware requires increases in height to avoid compromising ground clearance (raising the center of gravity), while a short wheelbase further reduces stability.<ref name="autosafety.org"/> The previous Bronco II had already been cited by ''[[Consumer Reports]]'' for rollover tendencies in turns.<ref name="autosafety.org"/>

The Explorer was cleared by the [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration|NHTSA]] as no more dangerous than any other truck when driven unsafely. It used the same tires as the Ford Ranger with a relatively low rating for high temperatures. Lowering tire pressure recommendations softened the ride further and improved emergency stability through increased traction, but increased the chances of overheating tires.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a9399/why-blowouts-happen-and-how-to-avoid-them-15832078/ |title=Why Blowouts Happen—and How to Avoid Them |first=Mac |last=Demere |work=Popular Mechanics|date=August 21, 2013 }}</ref> A 1995 redesign with a new suspension slightly raised the Explorer's center of gravity, but it was called inconsequential by a Ford spokesman. Memos by Ford engineers suggested lowering the engine height, but it would have increased the cost of the new design.

Explorer rollover rates, at the time of the controversy, were higher than any of its competitors. While Firestone turned out millions of sub-standard and potentially defective tires and was the initial cause of loss of control on many Ford Explorer Firestone tire tread separation rollovers, the blame shifted towards Ford for a defectively designed and unstable vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pat |last=McCarty |url= http://www.fordexplorerrollover.com |title=Ford Explorer Rollover |publisher=Ford Explorer Rollover |date=July 17, 2001 |access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

In May 2000, the US [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] (NHTSA) contacted Ford and [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] about a higher-than-normal incidence of tire failures on Ford Explorers, [[Mercury Mountaineer]]s, and [[#Mazda Navajo (1991-1994)|Mazda Navajo]]s fitted with Firestone tires (later including Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks). The failures all involved ''tread separation'', in which the outer tread carcass would [[delamination|delaminate]] and cause a rapid loss of tire pressure. Ford investigated and found that several models of {{cvt|15|in|mm|0}} Firestone tires (''ATX'', ''ATX II'', and ''Wilderness AT'') had higher failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's [[Decatur, Illinois]] plant.

Ford recommended tire inflation of only {{convert|26|psi|0}} likely contributing to the tread separation problem by causing the tires to operate at higher than normal temperatures.<ref name="autosafety.org"/>

Ford argued that Firestone was at fault, noting that the tires made by Firestone were very defective. Nevertheless, Ford subsequently recommended that front and rear tires should be inflated to {{convert|30|psi|0}} on all Explorer models and mailed a replacement tire pressure door sticker indicating the same to all registered owners.

Some have argued that poor driver reaction to tire blowouts was a contributing factor.<ref name="Wards">"Bad Drivers, Good Credibility – car makers face uphill struggle against public perception", ''Ward's Auto World'', April 2001</ref> When a tire blew, the vehicle would experience a sudden sharp jerk, and many drivers reacted by counter-steering in an attempt to regain control. This action would cause a shift of the vehicle's weight, resulting in a rollover especially at higher speeds (many reports of rollovers were of vehicles being driven at speeds of {{cvt|70|mi/h|km/h|0}} and above). In a test simulating dozens of tire blowouts, Larry Webster, a test-driver for ''[[Car and Driver]]'' magazine, was repeatedly able to bring a 1994 Explorer to a stop without incident from speeds of {{cvt|70|mi/h|km/h|0}}.<ref name="Wards"/><ref>Doron Levin, ''Detroit Free Press'', October 27, 2000</ref> According to ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine, car experts and NHTSA claim that the vast majority of crash accidents and deaths were caused not by the vehicle, but by the driver, by road conditions or some combination of the two.<ref>Dan Ackman, "Ford, Firestone Face Off", ''Forbes'', June 19, 2001</ref>

In response to Firestone's allegations of the Explorer's design defects, NHTSA undertook a preliminary investigation and reported that further action was not required. Its conclusion was that the Explorer was no more prone to rollover than other SUVs given their high [[center of gravity]].<ref>{{cite web |work=U.S. Department of Transportation News |url= http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa01102.htm |title=NHTSA Denies Firestone Request For Ford Explorer Investigation |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020613053037/http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa01102.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2002}}</ref> Congress would pass the [[Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act|TREAD Act]] and the NHTSA would subsequently implement [[FMVSS 138]]. The subsequent introduction and proliferation of [[Electronic stability control#Effectiveness|electronic stability control]] systems, along with lowering the vehicle, widening the track, and introducing independent rear suspension, have essentially addressed and mitigated this shortcoming.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kiley|first=David|url= http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/ford-explorer-rollover-settlement/|title=Behind Ford's Recent $131 Million Rollover Judgment|date=September 7, 2010|website=Autoblog|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In May 2001, Ford announced it would replace 13 million Firestone tires fitted to Explorer vehicles.<ref name="autosafety.org"/>

===U-Haul trailers===
On December 22, 2003, [[U-Haul]], the largest American equipment rental company, announced it would prohibit its outlets from renting trailers to persons planning to tow behind Ford Explorers due to liability concerns, with no published data to substantiate the claim.<ref name="Mayne">{{cite news|url= https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-01-08-uhaul-ford_x.htm |work=USA Today |title=U-Haul rejects Explorers |first=Eric |last=Mayne |date=January 14, 2004 |access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> Unofficial reports from employees indicated that it was due to the rear bumper separating from the vehicle, including the tow hook assembly. U-Haul did not alter its policies regarding the renting of trailers to persons planning to tow behind the [[Mercury Mountaineer]], [[Mazda Navajo]] or earlier versions of the [[Lincoln Aviator]], which are all mechanically identical to the Ford Explorer.<ref name="Mayne" /> In mid-2013, U-Haul began allowing Ford Explorers of model year 2011 and newer to tow their trailers. All other Ford Motor Company vehicles are allowed to tow U-Haul trailers.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.uhaul.com/trucks/faq.aspx#equipment |title=Frequently asked questions: Truck rentals |publisher=U-Haul |access-date=October 7, 2010}}</ref>

===Reliability===
====Timing chain====
The 4.0&nbsp;L SOHC V6 engine found on second, third, and fourth generation Explorers was notorious for the plastic [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] timing chain guides, cassettes, and tensioners breaking resulting in timing chain ticking, rattle or "death rattle". This problem can occur as early as 45,000&nbsp;mi (72,000&nbsp;km) in some vehicles. When the engine is running for an extended period of time with this issue, the engine can jump timing or cease running, damaging the heads and valves.

Timing chain rattle was mitigated in later years of the SOHC (in most vehicles, after 2002) with updated cassettes and tensioners.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.underhoodservice.com/exploring-service-needs-on-the-ford-4-0l-v6-engine/ |date=April 15, 2013 |title='Exploring' Service Needs On The Ford 4.0L V6 Engine|first=Larry |last=Carley |work=Underhood Service |access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>

====Transmission====
The 5R55 series transmissions found on second through fourth-generation Explorers were also notorious for premature failures. Common issues with this transmission include but are not limited to solenoid pack failure, harsh gear engagement, servo pin bore wear, premature transmission case wear, and excessive valve body wear.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thetransmissionshop.com/fords-four-versions-of-5r55/ |title=Ford "Four Versions of 5R55" |work=The Transmission Shop |date=May 15, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>

====Water pump====
Water pumps on 2011 through 2019 Ford Explorer and 2013 through 2019 Ford Police Interceptor Utility equipped with the 3.5&nbsp;L V6, 3.5&nbsp;L EcoBoost V6, and 3.7&nbsp;L V6 have a tendency to fail and potentially ruin the engine when they do. The water pumps on these engines are internally mounted and driven by the timing chain. As a result, when they fail, antifreeze is dumped directly into the crankcase; mixing with engine oil and potentially damaging the head gaskets and connecting rod bearings. Many of these water pump failures occur without warning and repairs often cost thousands of dollars as the engine needs to be disassembled or removed from the vehicle to access the water pump. In some cases, the engine will need to be replaced outright. A class-action lawsuit was started against Ford as a result of this issue.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fordauthority.com/2019/08/ford-lawsuit-over-duratec-v6-due-to-water-pump/ |title=Ford Lawsuit Over Duratec V6 Due To Water Pump |work=Ford Authority |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref> In 2020 the class-action lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice by a judge stating the plaintiffs failed to present any arguments that Ford knew or should have known the water pumps were defective.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fordauthority.com/2020/02/ford-duratec-water-pump-lawsuit-dismissed-by-judge/ |title=Ford Duratec Water Pump Lawsuit Dismissed by Judge |work=Ford Authority |date=February 17, 2020 |access-date=January 30, 2023}}</ref>

====4WD Transfer Case / Power Takeoff Unit (PTU)====
The 2011 through 2019 Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility models equipped with 4WD may experience severe issues with the four wheel drive system. Due to the transfer case/power takeoff unit's close proximity to other high-heat components such as the exhaust manifold and transmission, along well as its small fluid capacity (about 0.5 U.S. quarts), it may be subject to repeated overheating resulting in internal bearing wear and premature failure. Common symptoms of a failed PTU include grinding or whining noises coming from under the vehicle, a natural-gas or oil type odor emitting from the engine bay, fluid leaks, and in severe instances, the vehicle will not move. Ford has made several design revisions to the PTU over the years to combat failure, including the addition of a fluid drain plug, temperature sensor, an external oil cooler (on select models), and revisions to the internal idler bearing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whats New for the 2017 Police Interceptor Program |url=https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=634589&ver=html5&p=36 |website=www.qgdigitalpublishing.com |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Ford All-Wheel Drive Power Transfer Units Fail and What You Can do to Prevent it! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yLkr609bfI&t |website=www.youtube.com | date=April 14, 2020 |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=An In-Depth Analysis of Potential PTU Improvements [Step-By-Step Guide] |url=https://www.fortheworkshop.com/an-in-depth-analysis-of-potential-ptu-improvements/#INTRO |website=www.fortheworkshop.com |date=June 21, 2020 |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref>

===2024 recall===
In January 2024, Ford began the process of urging a recall of nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs between the 2011 and 2019 model years amid reports that trim pieces of vehicles could fly off.<ref name=2024recall>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/ford-explorer-recall-trim-piece-fly-off-483fa17b0b29703e86c9ee56466a4419|title=Ford to recall nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs to secure trim pieces that can fly off in traffic|publisher=Associated Press|date=January 24, 2024|accessdate=January 30, 2024}}</ref> The recalls warnings are set to be issued to owners of these vehicles starting March 13, 2024.<ref name=2024recall />