1996 Ford Explorer complaints

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY. SOMETIMES WILL GO OFF BY ITS SELF,SOMETIMES BATTERY HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED.WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY.WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES TO BE PUT ON A SCOPE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESULTS AT ALL.I FEEL IT IS SOME KIND OF A SENSOR PROBLEM.PLEASE HELP!! *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STARTED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. I GOT PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS BURING TOO HOT FOR ME TO GET CLOSE, THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS TOO LATE, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AND HAD NO WORK DONE TO IT AT ALL AND IT JUST BLEW UP ON ME. I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME BEFORE BEING SEVERELY BURNED MYSELF. I DID PURCHASE A 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE SELLING DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHIHC WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, HENSE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I NOW FIND MYSELF WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURY, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KILLED ME AND THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *AK

THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. YH

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

THE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX,RE-DESIGN THE HANDLE. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE 1996 EXPLORER. I'M A SAFETY EXPERT FOR DOL-OSHA AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO FIX "ASAP" THE PLASTIC DESIGN OF THE HANDLE. IF YOU CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE DURING A POTENTIAL CRASH THIS COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 70MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN. WENT FROM THE WESTSIDE ACROSS THE TWO LANES AND ACROSS THE MEDIAN AND WOUND UP IN THE DITCH ON THE EAST BOUND SIDE. CONTACTED A TOWING COMPANY TO CHANGE THE TIRE. DROVE HOME. FIRESTONE SOLD CONSUMER FOUR NEW WILDERNESS TIRES AT HALF PRICE. THE ORGINAL TIRES WERE ATX. *AK THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE SPIN WAS CAUSED BY THE TREAD HITING THE VEHICLE. *YH

TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR THIS AND STILL NOT FIXED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR DUE TO INABILITY TO ALIGN FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF VEHICLE TO TOE, CANTOR, AND CURB. FORD SAYS ITS A DESIGN FLAW AND ALL FUTURE MODELS, INCLUDING THE YEAR 2000 MODEL OF THE EXPLORER AND EXPEDITION ARE USING THE SAME DESIGN. OUR VEHICLE LEAPED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY CAUSING US TO GO AIRBORN AND LEAVE THE INTERSTATE. THIS WOULD HAVE MOST DEFINITELY CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT MULTIPLE FATALITIES. FORD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THIS DEFECT, YET, MILLIONS OF FOLKS BUY THESE SUV'S EACH YEAR. PLEASE HELP AFFECT THE CHANGE. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R15 )

FIRE STONE TIRES KEEP SHREDDING. *AK

ORIGINAL TIRE ON VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BOUGHT A SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE HAD DEFECTIVE TREAD. *AK

AAA CAME TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. TURNED THE CABLE FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN. TIRE WAS LOWERED FROM STORAGE AREA, REACHED UP, AND THE CABLE BROKE. MOVEMENT OR THE POSITION OF THE CABLE COULD BE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

O/D AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR

BOTH REAR DOOR CHILD SAFETY LOCKS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. YH

CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED WHILE PUTTING OUT THE FIRE, THE AXLE HAD BROKEN AND MELTED, BUT NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *SLC

DRIVER'S SIDE/REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLES WOULD NOT UNLATCH, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDALS STICKS ON OCCASION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS A CAR OR ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED, WHEN THE OCCURS THE CONSUMER HAS TO KICK THE PEDAL, PULL IT LOOSE WITH FOOT OR HIT THE BRAKE TO DISLODGE THE PEDAL. *ET

TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT. DROVE TO DEALER 5 MILES AWAY. DIGNOSIS: BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY

ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED.*ET

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYVEHICLE WAS GOING UP A HILL WHEN IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND SUDDENLY CUT OFF DUE TO A BROKEN TRANSMISSION PART.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IT FEELS LIKE "DRIVING ON ICE" WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

THIS IS A LEASED VEHICLE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE DOOR LOCKS AND TAIL GATE LOCK HAVE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THE LOCKS TO GO UP AND DOWN AND THE MOTOR TO STAY ON INSIDE THE DOORS CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT AND CREATE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS. THE FUSE HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO SHUT THE LOCK MECHANISHMS OFF, THE FORD COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX THIS DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE.

WOULD YOU LIKE ORIGINAL PART??

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND RUN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE STOPPING. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *AK

ABS BRAKES LOCKED AT 40 MPH BECAUSE BOLT BROKE, CRASH NARROWLY AVERTED

RADIATOR FAILED. *ET

BOTH REAR INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES FAIL TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. FIRST THE RIGHT REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THEN THE LEFT REAR ALSO FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT "TRAPS" THE REAR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS IS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR.

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED CAUSING NOISE. MJS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH, FORWARD DRUM BROKE ON THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE KEPT TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WOULD WORK FINE IN REVERSE, BUT NOT IN FORWARD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SETTING, UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD IT DISCONNECTED. MJS

TRAVELLING AT 45MPH IN CENTER LANE OF 6 LANE HIGHWAY WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC IN A MODERATE RAIN STORM. ROAD WAS STRAIGHT. DID NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. DID NOT APPLY BRAKES. VEHICLE STARTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON TO SPIN BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. AT THIS MOMENT, BRAKES WERE APPLIED HARD AND STEADY. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED TO SPIN TURNING BACKWARDS REGARDLESS OF FRANTIC TURNING OF STEERING WHEEL INTO TURN INTO THE SKID. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL BACKWARDS AND SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE SLOWED SOMEWHAT, BUT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE REMAINING LANES OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHOULDER HITTING THE GUARDRAIL WITH THE LEFT REAR CORNER FIRST, THEN BOUNCING UNTIL THE RIGHT FRONT HIT THE GUARDRAIL AND FINALLY STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS NOW FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. ABS DASH LIGHT WAS BURNING INDICATING A FAILURE. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MOST OF THE AIR OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WHICH CONTINUED TO HOLD AIR PERFECTLY ONCE REINFLATED. MY PASSENGER WAS SLIGHTLY HURT ON THE SCALP AND CHEEK. SEATBELTS WERE BEING WORN. THIS FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. THE REPAIRS WILL REACH ABOUT $8000.00. I HAVE REQUESTED TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO PROVIDE ME AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE ABS LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND IF IT COULD HAVE GONE ON CAUSING THE START OF THE VEHICLE ROTATION. THIS IS THE 3RD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE DRIVING THESE TYPE SUV'S IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER. SOMETHING HAD TO CAUSE THIS AC

WIND BLEW VEHICLE SIDEWAYS. HIT MEDIAN BARRIER ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. DRIVER WAS NOT NEGLIGENT ACCORDING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE AND MASS. DEPT. OF MOTOR VEHICLES. HOW DO YOU PROTECT AGAINST WIND CAUSING ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW? PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME, WIND BLEW IT, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT IT BLEW THE EXPLORER. I SUFFERED HORRENDOUS INJURIES AND STILL CANNOT WALK PROPERLY OR BE WITHOUT PAIN.

WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE, VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AS BRAKE PEDAL IS LOWER THAN THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED TO TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF ABOVE EXPLORER, AND TO A WITNESS OF TODAYS ACCIDENT IN HIS OWN EXPLORER

THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM POINTS DOWN AT THE WHEEL WELL, CAUSING IT TO INJEST WATER DURING STREAM CROSSINGS. I CROSSED 3 STREAMS AT SHALLOW DEPTH (LESS THAN HUB HIGH), AND JUST ENOUGH SPEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH. ON THE THIRD STREAM CROSSING, THE ENGINE DIED. AT THE DEALER'S, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM, AND IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO SEIZE UP, & NEED TO BE REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECETEDLY IN WHICH THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE OCCUPANT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE.. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERMOSTAT LOCKED UP AND CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT OF RESEVROIR. *ET

THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOY EVEN WITH THE TOTAL LOST OF THE EXPLORER IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLITION WITH ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 35MPH PLEASE INVESTIGATE SO OTHER PEOPLE DOES NOT GET INJURED THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION TO THIS MATTER

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, AND CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, RANCHED DOWN AND PULLED PEDAL WITH HER HANDS, STOPPING ACCELERATION , AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.

HEAT FROM HEADLAMP BURNS TOP PORTION OF ASSEMBLY CAUSING A CRACK WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO SEEP IN AND BURN OUT BULB. HEAT SHIELD DOES NOT APPEAR TO ADEQUATELY COVER THE AFFECTED AREA.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND USING CRUISE CONTROL, CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BY HITTING THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED. SO CONSUMER TAPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND CAR ACCELERATED ALL TO 90MPH. CONSUMER THEN PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT CAR OFF. TURNED CAR BACK ON, AND RPMS WENT UP TO 5, AND SOUNDED AS THOUGH CAR WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AT FULL SPEED IF FOOT HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF THE BRAKES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND PEDAL WAS HARD. VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD/ SLOWED DOWN, AND CAME TO A STOP. *AK

REAR LIFTGATE BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNNOT OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS SENT A RECALL 97V074000, CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL.DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL'S APPLICATION TO COLD CLIMATE AREAS ONLY. *AK THE CAR MAY NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP AS PROMPTLY AS EXPECTED, AND THE THROTTLE PLATE MAY STAY IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION. THIS COULD MEAN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. 'JN

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL LETTER 97V074000 CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGE AND CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FALSE ABS ACTIVATION WHILE LIGHT BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THAT IS

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTED OR GAVE OUT & IT RELEASED THE REARFACING CSS. CHILD & SEAT TOPPLED OVER TO LEFT. DRIVER TRIED TO RESECURE SEAT BELT, BUT RETRACTOR FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC RETRACTOR WAS BROKEN. *AK

I NOTICED BOUNCING OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING OVER DIPS IN THE ROAD. I WOULD IMAGINE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDE SPREAD BUT IS NOT NOTICEABLE TO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE THE OF THE "FIRMNESS" OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION. SUCH AS THE TORSION BARS. I HAD FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED AFTER PRESSURING THE DITSCHMAN FORD(FLEMINGTON, NJ) DEALERSHIP PRETTY HARD. I NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IMMEDIATELY. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO REAPPEAR AGAIN AFTER ONLY 4,000 ADDITIONAL MILES.THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE TRUE OF THE REAR SHOCKS ALSO. THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN BOUNCING AND DIVING OF THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE DURING HARD BRAKING. I WOULD IMAGINE IN EMERGENCY(SEVERE)HANDLING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PERFORM AS EXPECTED. I AM NOW CONSIDERING AN AFTERMARKET SET OF SHOCKS.