Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD EXP · model year
1994 FORD EXP
6 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994FORDEXP carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 EXP is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 1 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring (1) and power train:automatic transmission (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1994 EXP, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150121FireENGINE
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
Mileage: 77,000
20051103CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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 CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON HOOD LATCHES????*JB
20050923CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PETAL STUCK WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE.
Mileage: 165,989
20050620FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 CAUSE MUST HAVE BEEN A FLUID LEAK SOMEWHERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICAL SAID THAT THE EXPLORER HAD BURNED SO COMPLETELY THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. SINCE READING SO MANY ARTICLES SINCE JUNE 8 ABOUT FORD EXPLORERS BURNING I CAN NOT HELP BUT WONDER IF MAYBE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SOME FAULTY PART PUT ON THIS EXPLORER WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. THIS WAS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER XLT. IT ALSO MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE CRUSE CONTROL. AT TI MES WH
Mileage: 90,000
19990521FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
19980424ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICE VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, ANTI-VIBRATION KIT INSTALLED.
Compare 1994FORDEXP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 FORD EXP have?▼
The 1994 FORD EXP has 6 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 FORD EXP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 FORD EXP is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1994 FORD EXP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.