Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#733806October 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THEN SPIN THEN ROLL 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY REQUIRING HOSPITAL CARE. FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. BACK SEAT PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A FRACTURED L2 VERTEBRAE. (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#733824October 9, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN 99-8-8 ADMITS TO DEFECTIVE AIR PLENUM. CONSUMER COST TO REPLACE IS $700-$1000. HAS BECOME A DEALER STOCK ITEM. WHEN THE AIR DOOR BRAKES THERE IS NO AIR FLOW HOT/COLD/DEF CONTROL. CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH FOGGED WINDOWS. FORD REVISED THE PLENUM OUT OF NYLON (#F87Z-18471-DA) CLAIMING IT WOULD NOT BREAK LIKE THE PLASTIC WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1000 FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. CRASHES WILL OCCUR WITHOUT DEFROSTERS. THEY ADMIT IT IN THE MENTIONED SERVICE BULLETIN BUT REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733702October 8, 2000
TIRES
TRAVELLING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON A VERY HOT DAY AT APPX 70 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CASING BLEW OFF THE TIRE. THE INSIDE TIRE STAYED INVLATED. I DROVE OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE . THEY DID NOT TELLME THIS WAS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE. THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE COWLING AROUND THE WHEEL WELL WAS DAMAGED. I PAID TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. I ALSO HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY BUT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE ON THAT OCCASION.THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE. (TIRESIZE: 25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733757October 8, 2000
TIRES
I AM SENDING YOU A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION I MAILED FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE CALL ME AS I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT SUFFERED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BLOWOUT AND I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY BARRIER. (TIRESIZE: ?)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#556126October 6, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *ET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733592October 6, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
THE SWAY BAR LINKAGE WAS ENTIRELY MISSING. AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PROGRESSIVELY HARDER, UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPRLIED. I INSTALLED THE NEW PARTS TO REPLACE THOSE MISSING AND THE CAR NOW DRIVE PREFECTLY NORMALLY. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVER IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE SIDE-TO-SIDE OSCILLATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733593October 6, 2000
TIRES
I HAVE HAD THREE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR - ONE DEFINITELY DUE TO A SEPARATED TREAD - I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872362October 5, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WAS DRIVING 65MPH WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID, ROLLED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND HIT MEDIAN. TIRES WERE STILL INFLATED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT WITH 43,000 MILES. P235/75R15.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733452October 4, 2000
TIRES
TIRES HAVE CRACKS ON AND ABOUT SHOULDER AREA, DRY ROT. THESE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND INSPECTED BY SEARS PERSONNEL. FIRESTONE PERSONNEL REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES; DID NOT INSPECT. I HAVE RETAINED ALL 5 TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: W2UU1MX295 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872205October 4, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
FRONT TORSION BAR SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE . DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872229October 4, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF AIR PLENUM DOOR WHICH WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT CAUSED A LOSS OF ABILITY TO CONTROL DEFROSTER/ HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING. FORD HAS SENT A TSB (99-8-8) FOR DEFECT. A NEW REDESIGNED PLENUM WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON (F87Z18401DA). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872206October 4, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, EXPLORER, P255/70R16 SIZE, DOT#VNCV1PL275. TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES HAS STARTED TO CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE TIRE.*AK THE CUSTOMER HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 16 WHICH WAS NOT ON RECALL AND HAD NO PROBLEM THAT OTHERS EXPERIENCED BUT GOT IT REPLACED BE ON SAFE SIDE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555810October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE TREAD WAS PULLING APART FROM THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND THE RADIAL COULD BE SEEN ALL AROUND THE TIRE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555518October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(P235 75 15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN COLLISION AND DAMAGING VEHICLE, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSMENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555829October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555825October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SEPARATE, MAKE NOISE AND EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD TO TURN IN THE TIRE TO GET THE REFUND OR ADJUSTMENT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555789October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733287October 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON THE ABOVE DATE I WAS RETURNING FROM JACKSONVILLE ON I-95 SOUTHBOUND WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARCAS ON MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD TOOK OUT PART OF THE LOWER LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL WHEN IT CAME OFF. I FISHTAILED BUT MANAGED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP, AND NO FURTHER DAMAGE ENSUED. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY SUV WHEN I BOUGHT IT. ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND WERE ROTATED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECS BY A LOCAL TIRE KINGDOM ON 12/03/1999. THEY FELT OUT-OF-ROUND ON THE TRIP BACK. I HAD THE FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES ON 04/25/2000. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE IN MY EFFORTS TO BE REIMBURSED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733314October 3, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CALIPER BOLT LOOSENED AND EVENTUALLY CAME OFF OF THE BRAKES. THE FORD SERVICE PART USED TO REPLACE THE BOLD IS N606046-S60, BOLT, AB-20-DA. WHEN PURCHASING THIS PART FOR THE SECOND TIME ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 AT MIKE DAVIDSON FORD FROM LEM JOHNSON HE STATED TAHT SEAVERAL FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN IN WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH THE FIRST OCCASION BEING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733272October 2, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I PURCHASED MY 96 FORD EXPLORER IN NOV. 95 AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE SHUDDER PROBLEM THAT BECOMES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TIRES ARE INFLATED BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26PSI. FORD HAVE NOW RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES OF 30PSI, WHICH I CANNOT DO WITHOUT RISKING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL SITUATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT ABSOLUTELY SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME, TO PUT IT POLITELY! I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE MISSION VALLEY FORD AFTER SOME BRAKE WORK. I TOOK THE TRUCK UP TO FREEWAY SPEED AND WHILE TRAVELING OVER SOME ROUGH FREEWAY SURFACE THE TRUCK ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE FAILURE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE ONLY ISSUE THE SERVICE ENGINEER IDENTIFIED AS ABNORMAL WAS THEY HAD SET THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 30PSI(ALL TIRES). RESETTING THE TIRES BACK TO 26PSI ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM.THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED TWICE MORE SINCE AND RESETTING THE TIRES TO 26PSI CORRECTED THE LACK OF CONTROL PROBLEM. THE SHUDDER I NORMALLY FEEL APPEARED TO EXTEND INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHEN I TRAVELED OVER A ROUGH PATCH IN THE SURFACE OF A FREEWAY. EMERGENCY BRAKING BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK UNDER CONTROL. I NO LONGER ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE EXPLORER. IM FAMILIAR WITH STEERING WHEEL SHUDDER AS A RESULT OF POOR WHEELING BALANCING, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUDDERS, NOT THE STEERING WHEEL, AT CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE, AND IS PARTICULARLY OBVIOUS ON LONG JOURNEYS. THIS WAS IDENTIFIED TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPT., WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE TRACKING AND/OR THE TIRES MAY BE AT FAULT. TRACKING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NEW TIRES PURCHASED, BUT NEITHER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE SERVICE DEPT OF THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER. SEE ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS DATED 6/12/97 AND 12/1/98 FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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