Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#10370063December 6, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1996 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0629-91)8JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367349November 24, 2010
SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SEATS, EQUIPMENT
MY WIFE AND I ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR 96 EXPLORER ONCE WE LEARNED OF ALL THE RECALLS ( REAR SIDE GLASS, BAD SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS.) JUST TO NAME A FEW I KNOW OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361573October 21, 2010
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE RELEASED SEATBELT DUE TO FAILURE OF LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS WAS ENTIRELY SPONTANEOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY IF IT OCCURRED DURING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR IS STILL PENDING DUE TO COSTS AND DELAYS AS WELL AS RESPONSE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359059October 4, 2010
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT RATHER SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I THINK THE SPRING IS BROKEN AND I AM USING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352174August 26, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON I-84 NEAR MIDDLETON, ID, OUR GAS PEDAL (THROTTLE PEDAL) UN-WELDED (FELL OFF) COMPLETELY. WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (IT SLOWED DOWN--WASN'T "STUCK" AT ANY SPEED) AND DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WE WERE TOWED TO CALDWELL, ID, WHERE A MECHANIC REPAIRED IT. I THINK HE PUT IN 3 NUTS/BOLTS TO KEEP THE PEDAL AFFIXED. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. (DID ON 8/16/10), BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS COULD'VE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. WE GOT LUCKY. I WONDER IF OTHER FORDS HAVE HAD WELDED PARTS FALL OFF/UN-WELD WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347211August 4, 2010
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT DETECTED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT REMAIN COMPLETELY SECURE IN A LOCKED POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345978July 28, 2010
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
ON JULY 28, AT APPROX 4PM EST WE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE THAT CAUSED OUR FORD EXPLORER TO TEMPORARILY LOSS CONTROL. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY FORD FOR A RECALL REPLACEMENT ABOUT 8 OR 9 YEARS AGO. THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT TIRE SEPARATED ON RT I95 NEAR THE SHARON, MA EXIT. LOUD SOUNDS CAME FROM ENGINE AREA OF CAR AND TREAD HIT SIDE OF CAR AND FP WINDOW. CAR BEGAN TO LOSS CONTROL, BUT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE AND PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE TRAVELING FROM PA TO MA (WE LEFT CONSHOHCKEN, PA AT 9:45 AM) AND I WAS AVERAGING 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, BUT WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN TREAD SEPARATED. I WAS MOVING FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT LANE, EXIT WAS ABOUT 1 TO 2 MILES AHEAD OF US. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL PLASTIC COVERING, SOME AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT, AND THE RADIO ANTENNA ALL HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THERE IS SOME PAINT DAMAGE ON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR AND THE AND RUNNING BOARD SEEMS TO HAVE SOME DAMAGE AS WELL. A ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PERSON CAME TO HELP US REMOVE THE TIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A SPARE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO A FIRESTONE DEALER IN BROCKTEN, MA AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRESTORE WOULD LIKELY FIX THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THERE WERE FOUR OF US IN THE CAR, WE WERE ALL SHAKEN UP, AND BUMPED AROUND, NO ONE WAS CUT. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PERSON, BUT NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10340410June 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,309.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331933May 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPAIRS FOR RECALL 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN APRIL 2010. HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SEPARATE FROM THE RECALL PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,155.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328640May 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1996 EXPLORER, HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. STARTED LOOSING POWER AND SHIFTING DOWN AND STRANGE TIMES. THEN THE O/D FAIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324582April 8, 2010
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SEAT BELT BROKEN; DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316850March 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE TOO DIM. THE GAS CAP WAS NOT SECURE ON THE TANK AND DID SHE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE GAS CAP ON TIGHT. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT ADDED TO THE POLLUTION. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 09V399000,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTEAD OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 157,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313192February 23, 2010
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1996 FORD EXPLORER ACCIDENT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. CW ACCORDING TO AN EYE WITNESS STATEMENT, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CROSSED SEVERAL LANES, STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON IT'S ROOF. THE WITNESS STATED TWO PEOPLE WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY DIED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS) *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
6
Deaths:
1
#10313333February 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR 96 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, SPEEDS, AND INCLINES. ONLY HAVE HAD A BACK BUMPER "BUMPED" WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR SOME DEPT OR ENTITY TO REFER US TO A TRULY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SHOP OR OTHER HELPFUL SOURCE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312693February 22, 2010
EQUIPMENT
I DID NOT RECEIVE A REMEDY OR NOTIFICATION LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT MY SAFETY DEFECTS ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHAT DO I DO NOW, IS THERE STILL TIME TO FIX THESE DEFECTS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304185February 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302342January 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILS, RESULTING IN TURN SIGNAL STAYING IN THE ON POSITION AND RESULTS IN WIRE SHORTAGE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD I NOT MANUALLY PUSHED THE SWITCH OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRE WITHIN SECONDS. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, IN 2006. THAT SWITCH ALSO FAILED, BUT I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12/12, SO I CANNOT HAVE IT REPLACED FOR FREE. SINCE IT IS FAULTY, (NOT CAUSED BY THE DRIVER) AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND GET THIS HANDLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292116November 13, 2009
VISIBILITY
96' FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION CLIMATE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. IT ONLY BLOWS COOL AIR. SHOP WANTS $900 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T DRIVE DURING WINTER IF THE WINDOWS FROST OR FREEZING RAIN. IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290791November 3, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTROLS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME DISLODGED AND HE COULD NOT PUT THEM BACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PART DESCRIBED UNDER THE RECALL THAT WOULD CAUSE THE FIRE BUT NOT REPAIR THE CONTROLS. THE CONTROLS SHOULD ALSO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE WITHOUT THERE FUNCTIONING, THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283021September 6, 2009
TIRES, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 8 AUG 09, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE GOING NORTH ON I95 AT EXIT 132 NEAR ROCKY MOUNT, NC. MY SUV FLIPPED OVER A FEW TIMES AND MY DAUGHTER AND I ENDED UP UPSIDE DOWN LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC. I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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