Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#861510May 5, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH COULD FEEL VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE OUTSIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#552069May 4, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPUTER RUINED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENTS. NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721634April 18, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG BANG, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE THE BOLT BROKE HOLDING THE ARM TO CONTROL THE FRONT END. IT WAS JUST HANGING ON BY A THREAD WAITING TO POP OUT AND ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE, KILLED. THEY FOUND THIS OUT A WEEK LATER WHEN I RETURNED TO HAVE THE OTHER WORK COMPLETED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 16,000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE. WHEN THEY WENT TO CHECK THE FRONT END AGAIN THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT IS WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE. IF IT WENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME IS, THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY. I AM STILL COUNTING MY BLESSINGS TO THIS DAY. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM OR WHY IT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM AND FINANCIALLY THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED!! TO ME THIS IS SHODDY WORKMANSHIP ON FORD'S PART. THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE VEHICLES IS OUTRAGEOUS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE DEATH TRAPS. I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN! I JUST WANT BUYERS TO BEWARE!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721479April 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WAS LOOKING FOR NEW TIRES FOR EXPLORER, WHEN CAME UPON DESCRIBTION OF TROUBLES WITH FIRESTONE ATX'S. WE HAVE HAD THREE FAIL, AND THIS ONE TODAY WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A PIECE OF THE TREAD CAME OFF, LEAVING A BARE TUBE(?). MANAGED TO GET HOME, AT THAT POINT, TIRE WENT FLAT. ?THESE ARE DANGEROUS TIRES!( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551820April 11, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE ATX TIRE FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND DEATH. (LIMITED INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM CONSUMER) NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#721297April 11, 2000
SUSPENSION:REAR
MY WIFE COMMENTED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING HER FORD EXPLORER ON 4/8/00. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND AGREED THAT IT SEEMED TO "SWAY" FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A PART WAS MISSING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL/AXLE ASSEMBLY. I LATER FOUND THE PART IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS A "SWAY LINK ASSEMBLY" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I HAD DEALER REPLACE LF AS WELL AS RF AS I FEEL THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. IT SIMPLY SNAPPED IN HALF. THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, NOT BREAK AFTER 5 YEARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721341April 11, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG THUMP, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN THE MEANTIME MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON (SECOND TIME WITHIN 16000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. I WENT IN A WEEK LATER AND THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT'S WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT HOLDING MY FRONT END TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE FOR THEM TO FIX IT. IF IT WENT OUT ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BE KILLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEEING HOW THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY . IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED , I WOULDN' T HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM. $500 PLUS LATER I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE MY FAMILY OWNING FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP??? THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A NICE LAW SUIT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. I JUST WANT THE BUYERS TO BEWARE!!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721193April 8, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BODY AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH). *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721026April 4, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
KEEPS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. IT DOES HAVE 4-WHEEL SWITCH ON DASHBOARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720906April 2, 2000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON THE SAME DAY BOTH MY REAR DOOR LATCHES BROKE.YOU CAN'T OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE.THIS IS NOT DUE TO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY PASSENGERS COULDN'T GET OUT IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551559March 28, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE TIRES ATX P23575R15
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9000135March 24, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BEGAN TO DESINTEGRATE AND THROW TREAD, DAMAGING VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSING A ROLL OVER. COMPLETELY THROWN THE TREAD BUT REMAINED FULL OF AIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#858927March 21, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE ARE FALLING APART. SEAT BELT MATERIAL IS ROTTING AWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE BELTS WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720416March 21, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PARTS UNDER 40,000MILES, IS THIS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858798March 20, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTICED GAS WAS BEING SPLATTERED ON THE WHEEL WELLS, AND ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. CALLED FORD, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858874March 20, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSON. AFTER SHIFTING INTO FOUR- WHEEL DRIVE. TRANSMISSION LOST LOW GEARS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720200March 16, 2000
TIRES
THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 96 EXPLORER HAVE OBVIOUS DEFCT. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH A RIGHT REAR TIRE THAT DEVELOPED A "BUMP" THAT CREATED EXCESSIVE WEAR IN ONE SPOT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THAT TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHCLE WAS IN NORMAL SERVICE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT. AT 3/10/00 THERE WAS A TIRE FAILURE REGARDING THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND AND ACCIDENT RESULTED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY CLOSE TO A SERIOUS ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT AS IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON TWO WHEELS TILL IT COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POST AND STOPPED. THE FAILING TIRES AND ROLL-OVER TENDENCIES OF THE EXPLORER PROVED TO BE A DISASTEROUS COMBINATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R7515 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858390March 13, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM STARTED AT 23115 MILES. WHILE GOING AT 25 OR 60 MPH VEHICLE WILL DROP OUT OF GEAR. THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES, VEHICLE WILL JUST DROP OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN ABOARD. ALSO, WHEN CHANGING LANES THERE IS JUST NO CONTROL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720062March 13, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THIS LOSS IS SIMILIAR TO ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THIS LOSS IS VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE LOSSES IN THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND CAN NOT VERIFY THIS, THIS SAME PART IS USED IN THIS VEHICLE, THE BRONCO AND THE EXPEDITION. PLEASE CONTACT JOHN REUTTER FOR FURTHER DETAILS WHEN NEEDED. 727-848-3923
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720021March 12, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE TREAD CAME OFF FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. DAMAGE THAT OCCURED: LEFT FRONT FENDER, LEFT COWL, LEFT ROCKER MOLDINGS, LEFT FRONT BLINKER, LEFT FRONT MOLDINGS AROUND THE FOG LIGHT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PM TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15M )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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