Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1995 Ford Explorer: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1995 Ford Explorer, most recently filed October 2009. Owners have filed 843 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (5)

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1995 Ford Explorer. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1995 Ford Explorer. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 09V399000 Filed Oct 13, 2009

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS

Vehicle speed control
Official NHTSA text
Summary
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Repair progress not yet reported4,500,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 09V399000
Listed for 1995 Ford Explorer. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 00V402000 Filed Nov 28, 2000

FORD/SWAY BAR

Suspension
Official NHTSA text
Summary
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence
VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
Repair progress not yet reported810,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V402000
Listed for 1995 Ford Explorer. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 99V310001 Filed Nov 3, 1999

FORD/HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS

Structure · body · hatchback/liftgate · support device/strut
Official NHTSA text
Summary
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.
Consequence
WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDER BALL STUD TO DISENGAGE, UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FROM AN OPEN POSITION.
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.
Repair progress not yet reported470,582 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 99V310001
Listed for 1995 Ford Explorer. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V052000 Filed Mar 15, 1995

BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:METALLIC

Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
Summary
IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, BRAKE TUBES WERE MISROUTED BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND RESULTS IN EXCEEDING THE ALLOWABLE STOPPING DISTANCES AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." IN ADDITION, SEALS WITHIN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD BE ABRADED BY THIS CONDITION OVER TIME RESULTING IN AN INTERNAL LEAK AND A FURTHER REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: STOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE LONGER THAN INTENDED RESULTING IN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE BRAKE TUBES.
Repair progress not yet reported8,100 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V052000
Listed for 1995 Ford Explorer. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V053000 Filed Mar 15, 1995

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD:INNER

Steering · linkages · tie rod assembly
Official NHTSA text
Summary
THE INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN FRACTURE CAUSING SHAKING OR SHIMMY AT LOW SPEEDS.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL ON THE SIDE WITH THE BROKEN TIE ROD TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD AND SLIDE RESULTING IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INNER TIE RODS AND REPLACE THE SUSPECT TIE RODS.
Repair progress not yet reported49,300 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V053000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (843)

843 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The tires is mentioned most often.

86involved a crash
32involved a fire
110injuries reported
8deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Ford Explorer, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 843.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1995 compares with other Explorer years

Best and worst Explorer years →
1991199219931994199519961997199819992000
This year (1995)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 18 mpg combined

18
mpg combined
16
city
21
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,700
CO₂ tailpipe
494 g/mi
EPA class
Special Purpose Vehicles

What it costs you to run

$3,628per year
$302per month
833gallons a year

Miles ÷ 18 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1995 Ford Explorer configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive16 / 21 / 18$3,700494
4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive15 / 20 / 17$3,950523
4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive14 / 19 / 16$4,200555
4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive14 / 18 / 15$4,450593

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1995 Explorer for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Explorer years

Where to next

1995 Ford Explorer FAQ

How many recalls does the 1995 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control), 00V402000 (suspension), 99V310001 (structure), 95V052000 (brake), 95V053000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1995 Ford Explorer problems?

Owners filed 843 complaints with NHTSA. Tires (205), Power train (119), Suspension (93) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1995 Ford Explorer get?

EPA rates the 4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 16 city, 21 highway and 18 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1995 Explorer compare with other years?

Among the 1991–2000 Ford Explorer model years at least five years old, the 1991 drew the fewest complaints (609) and the 1998 the most (1,959). The 1995 drew 843. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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