Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#10178549January 10, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
RECALL WITH BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE **CC THE STATED HE HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE TIRES AT HIS EXPENSE. HE ATTEMPTED TO REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER HE WAS DENIED TWICE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176917December 26, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAD OPENED MY HOOD TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVELS AND THE TWO GAS SUPPORTS THAT HOLD IT UP FAILED AND THE HOOD ALMOST HIT ME IN THE HEAD. HAD I NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION IT WOULD HAVE CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174403November 27, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
VEHICLE IS AN SUV WITH A REAR LIFTGATE / HATCH THAT RAISES UPWARDS WHEN OPEN. ON THIS DAY I WAS LOADING SOME ITEM IS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIFTGATE SUDDENLY FELL AND STUCK ME ON THE HEAD. THE LIFTGATE IS NORMALLY SUPPORTED BY A GAS TYPE STRUT ON EACH SIDE. THERE ARE BALL TYPE PINS ATTACHED TO THE LIFTGATE AND THE BODY FOR THESE GAS STRUTS TO ATTACH TO. THE UPPER PIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIFT GATE SNAPPED OFF AND ALLOWED THE LIFTGATE TO FALL. IT APPEARS IT WAS RUSTING THROUGH, HOWEVER THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON ANY PORTION OF THE LIFTGATE. ONLY ONE GAS TYPE STRUT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TAILGATE. IN ONLY TWO DAYS I HAVE FOUND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH 1995 & 1996 EXPLORERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10173532November 14, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING. THE CLIP WOULD OFTEN BECOME STUCK AND WOULD NEED TO BE PRIED OUT WITH A SCREWDRIVER OR SIMILAR OBJECT OR IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY JUST NOT CLIP IN AT ALL. FINALLY IT BECAME COMPLETELY STUCK AND THE WHOLE CLIP MECHANISM HAD TO BE TORN OUT. I WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS A BODY SHOP TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON FIXING IT AND BOTH SAID THAT IT WOULD BE $250.00 IN PARTS AND WOULD BE AROUND $300.00 TOTAL. WHEN I WENT TO A JUNKYARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT, THEY SAID THAT THE '95 AND '96 EXPLORERS THEY HAD ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SO I HAD TO GET A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT FROM AN EARLIER MODEL AND THEN INSTALLED IT MYSELF. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WON'T WORK EITHER. IT WON'T CLIP IN AT ALL. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172657November 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
RUNNING TAILLIGHTS BECOME DIM THEN FAIL COMPLETELY WITH THE SMELL OF BURNT WIRING, COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VICINITY. ON BOARD COMPUTER SHOWS NO FAILURE AND FRONT RUNNING/MARKER LIGHTS STILL OPERABLE. NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168494September 18, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A NONE TO VERY LITTLE BAKING. 2ND TIME WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167545September 7, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 82 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE ROSE PAST 97 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS DISENGAGED, WHICH DID NOT CHANGE THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166237August 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 80 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE BY THE APPLIED BRAKES. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CONTACT PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH ASSISTED IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 4 OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON 07/22/06.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165857August 7, 2006
STRUCTURE
1996 FORD EXPLORER ROLLED OVER IN AND ACCIDENT. CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION ON RISKS FOR FORD EXPLORERS. *KB THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD EXPLORER'S ROOF STRENGTH AND UNSTABLE WHEEL BASE. *JB UPDATED *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164483August 4, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE: 1996 FORD EXPLORER FAILURE: THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SPRING FAILED, AND WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY, RESULTING IN RELEASE OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER VERY LIGHT PULL. CANNOT COMPLY WITH SEAT BELT USAGE LAWS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161846July 7, 2006
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:HARNESS:STRAP/WEBBING, CHILD SEAT:SHIELD ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS CLIP CRACKED, AND ALSO THE HARNESS BUCKLE WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, WHICH ALLOWS THE CHILD TO GET OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159948June 15, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE AIR CONDITIONING BLEND DOOR ON MY CAR IS STUCK AND WILL NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD EVEN ON COLD WINTER AND ICE DAYS, INCLUDING DURING ICE STORMS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET THE ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AND FIXED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR A LONG TIME NOW WITH NO RESULTS. NOW THAT ITS SUMMER, THE BLEND DOOR IS STUCK ON HOT AND ITS ONLY BLOWING COMPLETELY HOT AIR - THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN DESIGN AND MATERIAL DEFECT WITH THE BLEND DOOR AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS FOR ALL 1995 - 1999 FORD EXPLORERS AND STILL FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT AND TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO ITS CONSUMERS TO FIX IT. IN THE WINTERS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S INABILITY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158209May 24, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW: ON 4/19/2006, TEMP. NEVER REACHED OVER 80 DEGREES AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. SUMMER OF 2005, I HAVE 5 CO-WORKERS STATED THEIR REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AS WELL. THE COMPANY WHO REPLACED THE REAR WINDOW, STATED THEY (FORD EXP.) ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS OR FORD BE MADE TO PUT A HIGHER QUALITY WINDOW IN? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157680May 16, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 9, 2006, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION (THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY) ALL FOUR TIRE WERE MARKED ON THE TREAD DEPTH SCALE IN THE GREEN 7/32 OR GREATER BOX. LATER THAT SAME EVENING AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT I PROCEEDED ON A TRIP. I LEFT TUCSON, AZ AROUND 5:30 TO 6:00PM GOT NO FARTHER THAN YUMA AZ WHEN THE TREAD FROM MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TEARING THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER OFF, THE BUMPER AREA UNDERNEATH THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON THE GROUND AND BIG BLACK CIRCULAR MARKS WERE ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHERE THE TREAD HAD HIT DURING SEPARATION. THE EVENT ITSELF WAS HORRIBLY FRIGHTENING FOR US AS WELL AS MY 3 CHILDREN. THANK THE LORD WE DID NOT WRECK AND THERE WAS NO TURNOVER OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P225/70R15. I WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO HAD SAFETY CHECKED THE TIRE AND HE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE IS W2UU IPO .99. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE LAST 2 NUMBERS WOULD BE THE DATE THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED. MY QUESTIONS ARE IS THIS A COMMON THING FOR THESE TYPES OF TIRES AND WHAT IS THE LIFE SPAN OF THAT TIRE. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE TIRE WAS 7 YRS OLD OR DOES IT MATTER HOW OLD THE TIRE IS. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES (CERTAINLY NOT FIRESTONES) BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE AGE OF MY TIRE IF ITS SIMPLY CHECKING A MANUFACTURING DATE. THAT WAY I COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE IN JEOPARDY!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152292March 9, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL NOT STAY SECURED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THE CONTACT IS PLANNING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - THE BUCKLE SPRING BROKE DUE TO WEAR WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELT NOT LATCHING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150748February 21, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE, THE HOUSE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154050February 17, 2006
STEERING
1996 EXPLORER FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE THEN PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL STRIKING A GUARD RAIL. *TS THE STEERING ARM BROKE ON THE RIGHT WHEEL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10148496January 24, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY 96 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY, WHEN THE CAR RPMS SUDDENLY WENT UP TO 5500 WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY, I THEN REACHED DOWN TO CHECK IF SOMETHING WAS CONTACTING THE ACCELERATOR AND I ALSO PULLED THE FLOOR MAT BACK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST 80 MPH. PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO I PUSHED DOWN THE CLUTCH AND THE CAR SLOWED, HOWEVER, THE RPM STAYED AT 5500. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED IT AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE RPM WENT BACK UP TO 5500. I THEN STOPPED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE CAR WAS THEN RUNNING NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AS THERE WERE NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION CODES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE INCIDENT AND THE ACCELERATOR AND CRUISE CONTROL CABLES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE FLOOR MAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE BUT I'M SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE AS I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE HONEST AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147289January 9, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHING. IT WOULD UNLATCH WHILE IN USE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORCE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO COME UNLATCHED. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD. NOW, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *AK WHEN CONTACT'S HUSBAND BOUGHT THE NEW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY TO INSTALL IT THE SALES PERSON CLAIMED HE SOLD MULTIPLE OF THESE SETS, AND THEY WORKED WELL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10146617December 31, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY. ONE DAY LATER IT DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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