Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have experienced an under the hood fire on my 1995 Ford Explorer which I believe was caused by a faulty speed control deactivation switch. My vehicle had begun to exhibit symptoms which have been described in relation to recall campaign number 05V388000. Specifically, the cruise control had stopped functioning, brake fluid was leaking around the switch and my vehicle had started blowing fuses. On October 29th my fiance drove the vehicle to work. Shortly after having arrived at work, someone interrupted a meeting she was having with her supervisor to inform her that her vehicle was on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and the vehicle was not a total loss. In fact, the damage looks relatively minor to me. However the local Ford dealership has given me an estimate for repairs in the amount of $12860.02. …
I was driving a 95 Ford Explorer south bound on us 95 at approximately 70 MPH, when the vehicle began accelerating on it's own. When I took my foot off the accelerator the vehicle kept accelerating on it's own even with the cruise control off and my foot off the accelerator pedal. I then tried to apply the brakes but since the vehicle was accelerating the Explorer just shook. I also double checked the cruise control and it was in fact off and tried to pump the gas to see if the pedal was stuck but neither worked. When the vehicle reached approximately 85 MPH I attempted to shift into neutral when the vehicle skidded out of control. The skid mark was about 350 feet long and then the Explorer left the road and rolled a few times until it came to a stop on the driver's side with the engine still roaring. …
My Ford Explorer cruise control switch in my engine started on fire and luckily I was at the dealer when it happened it was there being fixed because it kept blowing a fuse when the fuse was fixed the cruise control switch started on fire. It looks to me this is a common problem on fords. I have a 1995 Ford Explorer. I would like to report this because if I did not have know what was wrong I could have been driving the car and burned up. All I want our the new cruise control wire and switch and have it installed at the dealer for free. Http://www.usautoinjurylaw.com/cases/fires/Ford-Explorer.htm http://www.switchfires.com/recall.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/ar2007080301845.html my car is not in the least but it should be.
Dt*: the contact stated while idling in the driveway for five minutes, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. The fire department determined the master cylinder switch on the front driver side started the fire. The dealer was not alerted.
Consumer states while coming into long driveway the accelerator pedal got stuck attempted to brake with pedal and emergency brake. Drove into brick wall.neither one of the air bags deflacted. Dealer notified.
I took my 95 Explorer in for a recall (09s09) for a speed control deactivation switch which May pose a risk of fire if it leaked. When I got my veh. Back I looked under the hood to check their work. (I am a mechanic my self by occupation) they had replaced the pigtail to the switch but not the switch itself. When I talked to the service manager about it he stated that the pigtail was the fire hazard and they only relocated the switch if it was leaking at the time of the recall. The letter talked about the switch and not a pigtail leaking brake fluid. The switch is mounted on the master cly.above the exhaust manifold area. Was your recall intent to have Ford replace the pigtail and switch or the pigtail and the switch but only if the switch was leaking. I will be waiting your reply thank you for your time.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact noticed an increase in engine rpms. The vehicle suddenly accelerated abnormally. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by depressing the brakes and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician inspected the vehicle and found that the throttle pedal was sticking to the hood release cable. The technicians repositioned the cable. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 01/04/12 the consumer stated the engine RPM red lined two or three times, before he regained control of the vehicle, by downshifting and turning off the ignition. He dealer found the throttle pedal sticking on the hood release cable. Updated 01/09/12
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on the highway, the accelerator pedal bracket suddenly fractured and the pedal went all the way to the floor. The vehicle started slowing down, the engine was still idling but the throttle did not have impact on the RPM. There were no warning signals prior to the incident. Updated 11/3/2006 - the brackets spot welds (3) broke causing the bracket, with the pedal still attached, to just dangle by the accelerator cable. The consumer repaired the vehicle by drilling 2 holes in the bracket and attaching the bracket to the firewall with bolts.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while driving at 70 MPH. When this occurred the accelerator pedal went to the floor, and didn't go back up until the truck was stopped and turned off. Cruise control wasn't engaged at the time of the incident. The emergency brake was engaged and service brakes were depressed to stop or slow down the vehicle. Dealership performed several tests, including a diagnostic test, but no problem was found. Vehicle is currently at the dealership.
Consumer states was driving with cruise control engaged. Attempted to pass another car when vehicle accelerated suddenly. Consumer put car in neutral and coasted to side of highway. Attempted to restart vehicle and engine revved up to 6000 rpms. On 10/12/02 while driving with cruise control engaged car accelerted w/o warning again. This time consumer lost control of vehicle and crashed sustaining injuries. Ts
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
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…
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…
Acceleration complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1995 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 81 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1995 Ford Explorer, 10% of the model year's 843 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Explorer acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-399 (vehicle speed control, Oct 13, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Explorer acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 137,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 5 fires and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.