1996 Ford Explorer complaints

CHECK AIR RIDE LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF FIREWALL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. *AK

LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THIS IS IN RE: TO A VIBRATION ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE BEFORE MY VEHICLE REACHED 11,000 MILES. I HAVE GIVEN NO LESS THAN 25 OPPORTUNITIES TO 2 FORD DEALERS, AND THIER REPRESENTATIVES, AND HAVE GOTTEN NO MORE THAN A "NO PROBLEM FOUND" OR "THIS IS A TIRE ISSUE" (OR THE 2 TECHNICIANS WHO STATED THE OBVIOUS "I HAVE NO IDEA..." ONE STATED, " IF YOU FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, LET US KNOW, ALL RIGHT?". I HAVE SINCE THE LAST DEALER VISIT, AND SUBSEQUENT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER CALLS, TAKEN MY TRUCK TO 3 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. 3 OF 3 SAID IT WAS DRIVE TRAIN RELATED. 2 OF 3 SAID IT WAS THE DRIVESHAFT OR ATTACHED COMPONENTRY. PATTERSON DRIVESHAFTS IN INDIANAPOLIS REBALANCED AND TRUED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND 50% OF THE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WERE IMMEDIATELY DONE AWAY WITH, (THIS WAS IN ONE DAY, FIRST VISIT). ONE FORD DEALER SERVICE SHOP ASSERTED THEY HAD REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT ON ONE OF THE SERVICE CALLS. BUT THIS IS ONLY SOMETHING WRITTEN ON A RECEIPT TO ME, SINCE THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE CALL SEEMED TO DO LITTLE, IF ANYTHING FOR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD C.S.D. TO ASK HOW THIS CAN BE THAT AN "OUTSIDE" SERVICE COMPANY COULD FIND THIS PROBLEM CAUSE WITH SEEMINGLY LITTLE EFFORT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FMC REP. THAT WE(FORD)DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE 'OPINION' OF OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, RELATIVE TO REPAIRS". (I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT PATTERSON DRIVESHAFT IS ONE OF FORD'S MOST USED DRIVESHAFT CONTRACTOR/TECHNICIANS), THEY KNOW FROM WHENCE THEY SPEAK. THEN RECENTLY, I HEARD FROM

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION... I HAVE VERY STRONG EVIDENCE THAT, FORD IS NOT ONLY NEGLIGENT IN NOT ADMITTING WRONG DOING AND, OR JUST DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO FIX MY VEHICLE. I CAN SEE NOW, WITH YOUR WEBSITE INFO AND INFORMATION RECENTLY GIVEN TO ME, THAT THERE IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE IN OTHER SERVICE ISSUES AND A "BUYBACK" (RECENTLY LEARNED PROCEDURE) WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER BOUGHT FROM SHARP FORD WHICH HAD VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THEN, FURTHER INSULT TO INJURY, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "DISAPPEARING TRADE-IN" (ANOTHER RECENTLY LEARNED TERM) ON THAT 1995 EXPLORER. PLEASE TRY TO CONTACT ME OR HAVE ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES DO SO TO TRY AND STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A CAR SEAT THAT FITS THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT. MY CHILD IS 8 MONTHS OF AGE AND NEEDS TO BE REAR FACING. FOR SOME REASON THE LARGER CAR SEATS DO SEEM TO FIT SECURLY, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO IT'S VERY LOOSE. IS THERE A LISTING OF APPROVED CAR SEATS FOR OUR VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *AK

REAR DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH SIDES HAVE FAILED. PLEASE CONTACT IF A RECALL IS PENDING.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION, INJURIES. (POLICE REPORT ATTACHED). MJS

BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AT VAROIUS TIMES, CAUSING THEM TO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THE DEALER WILL FIX BUT ONLY IF I PAY. *AK

IE98-038. LINKAGE BETWEEN THROTTLE CABLE AND THROTTLE BODY BROKEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

HEADLIGHTS INITIALLY FAILED TO COME ON, THEN CAME ON WHEN DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, THEN FAILED WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMPS ON ROAD, THEN AGAIN WHEN TURN SIGNALS WERE USED.

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS THE ABS SYSTEM WILL KICK IN. A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF , GIVING THE DRIVER NO INDICATION. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE TWICE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT LESS THAN 5MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL, AND PUSHED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF IT OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

TWO PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE - ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING, THUS CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED THE TRUCK UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. HE NOTICED SMOKE CMMING FROM UNDER NEATH THE HOOD. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AFTER DRIVER REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL AND THER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.

ON ICY SURFACE WITH TEMPERATURE OF 30F, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND VEERED INTO A GUARD RAIL ON MEDIAN, BOUNCED OFF AND HIT GUARDRAIL ON SIDE OF ROAD HEAD_ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DRPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY. *AK

NO SUMMARY GIVEN BY CONSUMER. *MJS

I FILED THIS FORM MONTHS AGO, IF I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS CAR, RATHER THAN JUST PARKING IT, I COULD BE DEAD BY NOW. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. DATELINE DID A WHOLE SHOW ON THIS, WHATS THE HOLD UP. WHY ARENT YOU MAKING SURE FORD IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK. I CANT EVEN SELL THIS CAR, AND THE DEALER DOESNT WANT IT BACK. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. IT CANT WAIT FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEURACRACY CRAP. PLEASE HELP. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE OUTSIDE STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE CONSUMER WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THERE WA S A PROBLEM WITH THE OVERDRIVE. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO REPAIR SHOP 20 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE DEVELOPED ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE WHICH RESULTS FROM POOR PERFORMANCE. *YC

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL VENT TUBE SPRAYS OUT LUBRICANT BEACAUSE THE VENT MECHAMISM IS DEFFECTIVE. YH

ENGINE FAILED. YH

PHIL CALDWELL FROM THE AUTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FORD PUT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL (LEAK) PROBLEM. TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS, THE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAD IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO RECALL. IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. AS A CONSUMER, I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIRS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO HITTING A DEER. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS TOP. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

ACCORDING TO NHTSA MY CAR HAS HAD RECALLS BUT DELEAR SAYS THEIR AREN'T ANY I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME HELP,THANK YOU

THE DESIGN OF THE WIPERS ALLOWS ICE TO BUILD UP ON WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.

BECAUSE OF SUCH A HIGH IDLE COULD CAUSE A MAJOR WRECK

MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS RECENTLY DESCRIBED ON DATELINE (ONE WEEK LATER). LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP BY PUTTING IT IN PARK AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. I WON'T DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. WE WERE ALMOST KILLED AND ALMOST KILLED SOME PEDESTRIANS. FORD IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGIN THE PROBLEM, BUT RATHER DENYING IT. WOULD APPRECIATE SOME FOLLOW UP. REGARDLESS, I AM GETTING RID OF THE CAR BEFORE IT KILLS US. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULDNT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US AND OTHERS. IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR FORD TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF A RECALL. THEY DID IT WITH THE PINTOS AND NOW WITH THE EXPLORERS. DON'T ALLOW THIS, ITS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. I HAD MY THREE YEAR OLD BOY WITH ME AND I COULD HAVE LOST HIM. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. SLOWS DOWN WHEN USING BRAKES, BUT ACCELERATION WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED TO OPERATE AT 44,000 MAIL OF WEAR; DEALER/MFR NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE/REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 45 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF.DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE IN SHOP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH OUR ABS (ANNOYING PEDAL FEEDBACK DURING NORMAL BRAKING AS WELL AS DURING BACK-UP), THE FRONT BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY SHOT AT 17,000 MILES (WE DO NOT HAVE A TOW PACKAGE) THE ROTOR'S HAD TO BE MILLED, AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE DEALERSHIP ( AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY ME) FOUND OUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM BECOMING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS THIS SITUATION PERSISTS. I BOUGHT A FORD BECAUSE THEY HAD A BETTER SAFETY RATING AT THE TIME THEN OTHER SIMILAR MAKES

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICAL ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEEDS AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.

WHENEVER CHILD SAFETYLOCK IS ACTIVATED, THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE WITH A LITTLE PRESSURE, CAN CAUSE THE DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THIS IS A NON-RECALL FOR ABS. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT/SOME ICE, VEHICLE FISHTAILED ON BLACK ICE, DRIVER CORRECTED THE SLIDE. HOWEVER, ABS LOCKED UP, SENDING VEHICLE IN SPIN, RESULTING IN ROLLOVER. ONCOMING 2ND VEHICLE (SAME MODEL) TRYING TO GO AROUND, CAUSED HEAD-ON COLLISION. 2ND VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE 1ST VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOTALLED. VEHICLE TOWED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50MPH,ON DRY PAVEMENT, VEHICLE HIT LARGE TREE, FRONTAL IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON OCTOBER 21, 1998 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBLE ACCIDENT. A FORD TAURUS PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT (FROM A COMPLETE STOP) DIRECTLY INTO MY PATH. I WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I SLID DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVERS DOOR. RAIN HAD BEEN FALLING ALL DAY(THE FIRST RAIN OF THE YEAR). THEREFORE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY EXPLORER SLOWED AT ALL, MY TOTAL SKID WAS BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN FEET IN LENGTH. MY QUESTION/COMPLAINT IS WHY DID MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY? I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, BUT I STILL HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THE SPEED A VEHICLE HAS TO BE TRAVELING IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAG TO ACTIVATE. THE NATIONAL INSURANCE INSTITUTE WEB PAGE SAID THE AVERAGE SPEED SHOULD BE BETWEEN 12-16 MPH. MY EXPLORER HAS MANY PROBLEMS (IT'S A LEMON). THIS, HOWEVER, WORRIES ME. WOULD MY AIRBAG ACTIVATE AT A HIGHER SPEED? SHOULD I BE AFRAID TO PUT MY FAMILY INSIDE AND GO FOR A RIDE? THIS ALL MAY BE IN VANE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE MY INSURANCE COMPANY MAY CONSIDER IT TOTALED. MY OTHER MAIN CONCERN WAS THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO THE TAURUS. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT OTHER THAN GLASS IN HIS FACE, BUT ALL I COULD SEE WAS MY GRILL AND HOOD GOING DIRECTLY INTO HIS WINDOW. I HAVE READ YOUR

THE ABS HAS EXPERIENCED TWO DIFFERANT TYPES OF FAILURE. THE MOST FREQUENT (HAVING OCCURRED IN EXCESS OF 24 TIMES) HAPPENS ON DRY/CLEAR PAVEMENT UNDER MODERATELY HEAVY BRAKING. WITH OUT NEEDING TO THE ABS "KICKS" IN, WHICH GREATLY INCREASES THE BRAKING NEEDED TO STOP. THE FIRST FEW TIMES, ACCIDENTS WERE ONLY AVOIDED BY THE DEFENSIVE DRIVING ABILITY OF THE DRIVER. AFTER THE DEFECT CONTINUED AND FORD COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT WHEN THE ABS "KICKS IN" IN AN UNNEEDED SITUATION, IF I GREATLY INCREASE THE BRAKING PRESSURE, NORMAL BRAKING IS REGAINED. THE SECOND FAULTY OPERATION OF THE ABS HAS ONLY BEEN EXPERIENCED TWICE. BOTH TIMES WERE ON DRY/CLEAR PAVEMENT WHEN EXTREMELY HEAVY BRAKING WAS REQUIRED ON A DOWNSLOPE TO AVOID COLLISION. BOTH TIMES ALL FOUR WHEELS "LOCKED" UP, SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO A SKID. THANKS TO MY DADDY HAVING TAUGHT ME HOW TO HANDLE A SKIDDING VEHICLE, BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE AVOIDED. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THIS INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF THE ABS STILL SURFACES NOW AND THEN. THE LAST CONTACT I HAVE HAD WITH FORD WAS MY RESPONSE TO A LETTER FROM DAVE ROACH - SERVICE MANAGER FOR TOM WOOD. THE PAST TWO TIMES I HAD MY VEHICLE AT TOM WOOD, THEFT OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS HAD OCCURRED. THEREFORE I HAD REFUSED TO BRING MY VEHICLE BACK TO THEM. IN MY RESPONSE TO MR. ROACH, I HAD ASKED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE (SUCH AS AN AREA SERVICE REP) OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONTACT ME BY PHONE EITHER AT HOME OR WORK. WE ARE NOW

I HAVE A CONSTANT CHIRPING & GRINDING COMING FROM THE BRAKES EVEN AFTER REPAIR, FORD CANN'T SEEM TO LOCATE THE SOURCE MUCH LESS MAKE PROPER REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THEM 5 TIMES NOW WITH OUT THEM LOCATING THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKES ALSO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLIED FIRMLY.

SEAT BELT FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS BREAKING OFF. NO INJURIES. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF CUPPING, IT WAS TAKEN TO NTW FOR SERVICE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS REQUIRE A CAMBER KIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALER, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. SO THIS COST US 129.00 FOR A PROBLEM FORD KNOWS ABOUT DESIGNS INTO THE VEHICLES AND THEN WILL NOT FIX. I BELEIVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES, OR MAYBE THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE MONEY

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION.

INSIDE HANDLES ARE BREAKING, CAUSING THE BACK DOORS TO BECOME STUCK. WILL NOT OPEN, RESULTING IN CONSUMER BEING TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. *AK *ML

VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY FRONT WHEEL BEARING DID NOT RECTIFY REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF CASTER/CAMBER KIT TO ALLIGN PROPERLY DUE TO DESIGN OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM.