Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
THE TWO DOORS IN REAR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. SEEMS THE CHILD LOCKS ARE ON, WHEN THE CHILD LOCKS ARE IN THE CORRECT POSITION, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ENGINE STALLS CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK, POWER BRAKES TO FAIL AND LOSS OF CONTROL.
FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED.
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD A SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURS WITHIN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH WENT TO APPLY FOR THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. CONSUMER HIT A TREE. PULLING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TREE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE FIXED. AFTER IT WAS PICKED UP. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE WINDOW IS STILL DEFECTIVE AND I AM FINDING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER PARTS AS WELL.
ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER SAYS EXHAUST HEADER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ACCELERATOR WOULD STICK. THE BRAKES FAILS TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CAN HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. PROBLEM SINCE RETURNED. *AK
BOTH FRONT ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSORS FAILED. * ET
SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION.
TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO GARAGE.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE
OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT AXLE SEAL UNTO THE POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING IT TO SLIP RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH NOTICED LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE EXPLODED AND LEFT THE NOTHING, BUT TREAD ON THE RIMS. CONSUMER LOST SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLETO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
4-WHEEL DRIVE LOCKING HUBS FAILED, CAUSING FRONT END NOISE.
INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE IS INOPERATIVE.
THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM AXLE AND SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD DURIN AN EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT WHICH TIME THE ASSEMBLY FAILED.
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS OIL.
WHILE PULLING VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK
REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN . ONE HANDLE HAS BEEN SPRUNG AND THE OTHER BROKE OFF. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED.
BOTH INSIDE REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN WHEN HANDLES ARE USED. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH HANDLES AND CONDITION REOCCURS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY CANNOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
IN 1996 FORD IMPLEMENTED NEW SEALED HUB ASSEMBLIES TO REPLACE STANDARD WHEEL BEARINGS. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES A CONSTANT SQUEAKING DEVELOPED IN MY FRONT WHEELS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS WAS BRAKE NOISE ANNOYING BUT HARMLESS. AT 40,000 MILES THE SQUEAK TURNED SUDDENLY INTO THE SOUND OF GRAVEL IN THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE LOST STABILITY IN HANDLING AND I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT INTO THE CLOSEST GARAGE. THEY REPORTED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE BAD AND FURTHER DIAGNOSIS THEY DISCOVERED THE EXISTENCE OF THE SEALED HUB ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE BAD. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FORD HAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THE PARTS DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WILL NOT DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH AND HAS SENT ME DIRECTLY TO FORD. (I ASSUME THAT THIS IS DUE TO THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THE PROBLEM AND INABILITY TO ASSIST.) FORD REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AS I AM CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY CAN NOT EVEN TELL ME WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. I HAVE NO COURSE OF ACTION.
THE ASSEMLBY OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS WAS BAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS TO SQUEAK AND FINALLY LOOSE STABILITY IN HANDLING.
BOLT ON THE STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION.
SPRINGS AND SHOCKS FAILED.
SPRINGS AND SHOCKS FAILED.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, DAY-TIME, SUNNY, DRY, WITHOUT CAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY - ABOUT 50 YARDS, THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE AND ONE HALF TIMES, SLID DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, ON ITS TOP. VEHICLE END ON ITS SIDE WITH ROOF IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL, ALL WINDOWS BROKEN, AND WINDSHIELD SHATTERED.
VEHICLE TRAVELS TOO FAR AFTER THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND VIBRATES DURING BRAKING.
ONE OF THE FIRESTONE FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT DUE TO TREAD PORTION SEPARATING FROM BOTH SIDEWALLS.
ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE INTERIOR SYSTEMS CONSOLE.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, SPEED LIMIT 45MPH, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT HEAD-ON. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS STRUCK AND DAMAGED, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY COLLISION REPAIR COMPANY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, SLOWED DOWN TURNED THEN ACCELERATED WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL KEPT TURNING . *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OWNER MOVED STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A ROCKING MOTION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TURN ON ITS SIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN FILLED WITH GAS OR WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKOWN. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS ERRATIC, DEALER REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT WORK, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE ERRATIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE OR THE INACCURATE GAS GAUGE. *SLC
STEERING COLUMN SPUN WITH NO RESISTANCE AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHICH RAN OVER THE CURB. BRAKES WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE CHOKE WAS ON WHEN DRIVER BACKED UP AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND THE CAR GAINED SPEED AND TIRE HIT THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SOLD. *AK
EVAPORATION SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING GAS FUMES TO COME INTO VEHICLE AND OVERFLOW GAS FROM TOP OF TANK. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON.
SEAT BELTS LOCK INTO PLACE, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM LEANING FOWARD.
BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS DURING A REAREND COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE AND ACCEWLERATOR CABLE FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. OWNER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ABS SYSTEM FAILED TWICE, ONC ERESULTING IN A COLLISION.
WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WENT BAD, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
ENGINE FAILURE.
WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND ALLOWING COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.
ELECTRICAL FIRE BROKE OUT IN CENTER CONSOLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →