Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#10207178October 24, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1996 FORD EXPLORER WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE MECHANICAL ISSUES. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCENE. *KB THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE WHEEL BEARING AREA WAS DRY AND RUSTY, WHICH UNDER NORAML CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE LUBRICATED WITH OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206344October 19, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SUPPORT GATE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE GLASS. ALSO, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V137000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:SUPPORT DEVICE) OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V070000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205812October 16, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET SNAPPED AT THE WELDING POINT, WHICH CAUSED THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING. AS OF OCTOBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V137000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: SUPPORT DEVICE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205799October 15, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
MY FORD EXPLORER '96 SUV CABIN CLIMATE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 2 YRS AGO AT 70K MILES. IT ONLY BLOWS BURNING HOT AIR OR FREEZING COLD AIR. DEALER WANTS $900 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR. FORD WILL NOT FIX THIS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPENSIVE & THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT RUINS THE UTILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IN WINTER, WINDOWS FROST IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. THIS IS THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE EDDIE BAUER EDITION...FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205057October 4, 2007
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT MY 1996 EXPLORER NEW ON 01/19/1996 FROM WADE FORD SMYRNA GA. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER MAILING ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE WHERE I LIVED AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND I STILL LIVE THERE TODAY. FORD DID NOT SEND ME A NOTICE OF NHTSA ID # 00V402000. CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE FORD SEND A NOTICE THAT I CAN TAKE TO A FORD DEALER FOR THE SPECIFIED REPAIRS? I LEARNED OF THE RECALL 10/3/07. THANK YOU. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200716August 24, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
GAS PEDAL CAME OFF FROM ITS MOUNTING TO FLOOR BOARD DRIVING WHILE VEHICLE. MOUNTING PLATE SEEMS TO HAVE ONLY ONE BOLT SECURING IT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THEIR ARE THREE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PEDDLE BACKING PLATE AND THREE HOLES THROUGH FLOOR BOARD. TOP HOLE HAD STRESSED METAL INDICATIVE OF WHAT EVER WAS USED TO HOLD GAS PEDDLE BACKING PLATE. LUCKY US FOR JUST GETTING OFF THE EXPRESS WAY. SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN TO ME AND MY WIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199913August 17, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. HE NOTICED THE ON/OFF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BECAME TACKY AND HIS THUMB PRINT WAS LEFT ON THE SWITCH. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #97V074000), HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193521June 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF THE 1996 FORD EXPLORER AT MILE NUMBER 163400 ON MARCH 30, 2007. IT WAS LEAKING AT #1 CYLINDER. THERE WAS A 'ECRET WARRANTY' IN EFFECT. I BELEIVED FOR EXPLORER'S 10 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER. MINE WAS JUST OVER THE 10 YEAR MARK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192625June 6, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1996 FORD EXPLORER SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED 10-15 TIMES PER DAY, DRIVER SIDE ONLY AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.....THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192165May 31, 2007
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 53 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE MICHELIN TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. SHE BROKE HER BACK IN FOUR PLACES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND HER RIGHT ARM IS CURRENTLY IN A SPLINT. THE CONTACT WAS PREGNANT AND LOST HER BABY. SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL. A BABY WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVED SEVERAL SCRATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 285,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10191550May 23, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE, DEALER REPAIRED IT, (CHARGED ME FOR REPAIR, BUT SOON AFTER, THE OTHER FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. THERE WAS RECALL 00V402000, BUT THIS Y CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191340May 21, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
SPEED CONTROL SWITCH, ALSO KNOWN AS BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE 1996 FORD EXPLORER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE THIN MEMBRANE OF THE SWITCH WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE FLUID. AS THE SWITCH WAS POWERED ALL THE TIME , HOT, EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS OFF. THIS WAS A FIRE/SAFETY HAZARD. FORD HAS ALREADY RECALLED MILLIONS OF VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND I MUST PAY TO HAVE THE RETRO FITTED SWITCH INSTALLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190945May 16, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 14, 2007, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HOOD RELEASE ALSO FAILED AND THE TOW DRIVER COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 163,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189435May 1, 2007
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
(1) MY ORIGINAL/NEVER USED SPARE TIRE & RIM ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER 2 DOOR 4WD SPORT IS THE INCORRECT ONE FOR THE VEHICLE FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FACTORY. VEHICLE WAS ORDERED WITH 16 INCH TIRES/RIMS FROM FORD MOTOR CO, AND 15 INCH TIRE & RIM WAS PRESENT ON THE SPARE. (2)REPAIR SHOP NOTIFIED ME OF WRONG TIRE SIZE ISSUE WHEN I HAD THE OTHER TIRES CHANGED ON THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCES ARE A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND PASSENGERS IF I HAVE FLAT TIRE AND NEED TO USE THE SPARE TIRE. ALSO, HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WRONG SIZE SPARE WILL BURN UP MY TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND ASKED TO REPLACE THE RIM & TIRE, AND THEY REFUSED AND SAID DEALERSHIP (SOUTHGATE FORD) WAS RESPONSIBLE. VOICE MAIL LEFT TO MANAGER AT SOUTHGATE FORD ON THIS ISSUE WAS NOT RETURNED BY THEM. (3) I NEED A 16 INCH TIRE & 16 INCH RIM FROM FORD MOTOR CO IN ORDER FOR THE CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND TO AVOID A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND PASSENGERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187873April 15, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I CAN'T LATCH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE RED BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON DOESN'T SPRING"WHEN INSERTING THE BUCKLE NOR WHEN I PUSH IT AS I WOULD TO RELEASE A BUCKLE. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS SUDDEN, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF POSSIBLE FAILURE. UNTIL I CAN REPLACE (OR REPAIR) THE FAILED EQUIPMENT, I NEED TO LATCH THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER BELT LATCH. THIS ACTION OF PULLING MY SEAT BELT TO THE PASSENGER BELT LATCH RESULTS IN MY NECK BEING RUBBED BY MY UPPER CHEST BELT, WHICH IS AGGRAVATING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187262April 8, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS TOLD FROM EMPLOYEES AT AMERCAN TIRE COMPANY . THAT THE DOMINATOR TIRES HAD DEFECTS. NOW WILL NOT REPLACE ANOTHER BAD TIRE . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183104February 20, 2007
STEERING
WAS DRIVING A 1996 FORD EXPLORER ON DRY CONCRETE ON A 2 YEAR OLD (I.E., IN GREAT CONDITION) INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH. WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, NOT CHANGING LANES, NOTHING. SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY, THE VEHICLE SWERVED FIRST TO THE LEFT, THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN ICE HUMP ON THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WENT AIRBORNE, AND SLID TO A STOP IN THE DITCH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SEAT BELT BRUISES, SO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE RUNOUT WAS CLEAR AND SMOOTH. THE 2 DRIVER-SIDE TIRES WERE FLAT AND NO LONGER MOUNTED ON THE RIMS. BOTH DRIVER-SIDE RIMS WERE BENT, BOTH DRIVER SIDE HUBS WERE BENT, REAR AXLE WAS BENT. ITEM OF NOTE -- THE TIRES WERE FINE, AND ARE STILL IN-USE ON THE VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. NO PATCHES WERE NECESSARY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT THIS WAS A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION, NOT CAUSED BY DRIVER ERROR OR ROAD CONDITIONS. 2 REPAIR SHOPS (FORD DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT SHOP) COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR THE SWERVING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182399February 12, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK AND THE SUPPORTS FAILED. THE HOOD ALMOST CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181535February 4, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER UNEXPECTEDLY WENT UP IN FLAMES BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 AM - 4 AM ON 12/27/2006. I WAS LATER INFORMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180887January 27, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE DURING WET/RAINING WEATHER. THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT, IE MOST WET CONDITIONS CAUSE THIS 'LOCK-UP' CONDITION. TURNING IGNITION OFF-AND-ON AGAIN IN ATTEMPT TO RESET FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. IN ADDITION THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, REAR WIPER, ALL POWER WINDOWS, AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE FUNCTIONS FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP ENDED UP REPLACING THE, YOU GUESSED IT, GEM MODULE - THE SAME ONE CITED IN THE RECALL FOR OTHER YEAR VEHICLES. THERE IS A RECALL (NUMBER 00V072000) FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL BUT FOR YEARS 1999 AND 2000. THIS IS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND HAS EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, ONLY RECENTLY WAS THE DEALERSHIP ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS THE APPARENT CULPRIT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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