1996 Ford Explorer complaints

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V074000, 97V137000, 97V070000. FORD ISSUED A THROTTLE, LIFTGATE, AND DOOR ASSEMBLY RECALLS. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS ENTERING A RAMP WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN OFF VERY FAST. THE CONSUMER FELT THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD TAKEN OVER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER FOOT WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL . THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, VEERED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK WITH THE VEHICLE STILL MOVING, THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH ONLY SECONDS TO SPARE. *SC

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. THE SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED BY ITSELF WHILE FASTENED. THIS LEFT DRIVER UNRESTRAINED AND UNPROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY STOP OR CRASH. *AK THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT APPARATUS WAS REPLACED WITH A USED PART FROM A JUNKED VEHICLE. *TC

DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL ON INTERSTATE 20 MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. I REDUCED THE SPEED OF MY VEHICLE FROM ABOUT 68 MPH TO 60 MPH. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC, MISSING A TRACTOR TRAILER BY ABOUT ONE FOOT. I FINALLY HANDLED THE TRUCK AND PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I PROCEEDED TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO TRY TO CONTROL MY NERVES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I WALKED OVER TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MY TIRE WAS GONE. IT WAS STREWN ABOUT. THE TIRE OTHER THAN THE TREAD WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION. IT WAS THE FULL SIZE SPARE ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON FOR APROX. 6 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK AT THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND MY SIDESTEP WAS MISSING, AND MY CAR WAS DENTED UP. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE SCRATCHES START AT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX MY CAR. THE INCIDENT WAS NOT MY FAULT. MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THE FIRESTONE THAT WAS ON MY CAR IS MODEL, P235/75 R15 ATX. IT HAS THE BEGINNING DOT LETTERS VD FROM DECATUR, ILLINOIS. I HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER.

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT WITH MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I TESTED MY BRAKES AND THEY STILL FELT SPONGY. JUST AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AND I LOST ALL MY BRAKE FLUID ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. I MADE A APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT COST ME 368.69. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES AND I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. THIS TRUCK IS ONLY 8YEARS OLD AND I DO NOT BELIEVE A BRAKE LINE IS PART OF NORMAL MAINTENANCE. *AK

AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF SOME SMALL RUST ON MY PASSENGER DOORS I TOOK IT TO FORD TO BE FIXED. THEY ENDED UP DISCOVERING MY FRAME IS RUSTED ALONG THE BOTTOM OF MY DOORS. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS ONLY 97,000 WHICH FOR A SUV IS NOT MUCH.*AK

BOUGHT FORD EXPLORER IN 1996, NEW. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BBB REGARDING PROBLEMS. NOTHING WAS ACHIEVED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, NOR DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURIES TO MYSELF. BROKEN NECK (C-2, TBI TRAMIC BRAIN INJURY AND BROKEN BONES. I BELEIVE THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT, ROOF STABILITY AND AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION CAUSED MY INJURIES. THE DRIVER AND OTHER OCCUPANT RECEIVED NO SERIOUS INJURIES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE NUMEROUS LAW SUITS AGAINIST FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

THE BRACKET HOLDING THE FOOT ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILE. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO ADD FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATE OR HOLD SPEED. THE BRACKET APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN WELDED TO THE FIREWALL AS PART OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. ALL 3 WELDS BROKE. AT THE TIME I WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND HAD NOT PUT ANY ABNORMAL STRAIN OR PRESSURE ON THE FOOT FEED PEDAL OR THE BRACKET. THERE IS NO APPEARANCE OF CORROSION SO I SUSPECT THE WELDS FAILED FARILY RECENTLY. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURED AS I WAS PULLING INTO OR ACCROSS TRAFFIC A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED. *AK

ANTI-BRAKE SENSORS REPLACED TWICE SINCE OWNING CAR. *JB

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND TO ROLL OVER. CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED A TOTAL LOSS. *SC

FOUR TIRES CRACKED AT THE SIDEWALL. DEALER STATED THE CRACKS WERE CAUSE FROM DRY ROT. *AK

IN FEB 04 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SWAY BAR REPLACEMENT. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS BEEN RIDING WORSE AND MAKING RATTLING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEY SAID IT MOST LIKELY IS NOT THE SAME THING AND WILL CHARGE $35-$68 FEE TO INSPECT THE FRONT END. THE DID NOT DO A DIAGNOSIS THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN ACCORDING TO THEIR REP WALT. THEREFORE MY QUESTION IS, HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS A PENDING RECALL ON IT? *AK

THURSDAY JULY 29TH,2004 STARTED TO MAKE LEFT TURN STALLED ROLLED OUT OF WAY OF TO AVOID ACCIDENT.FEW SECONDS LATER WAS ABLE TO GO FORWARD DROVE APP.20 MILES NO PROBLEMS,NORMAL.PARKED IN DRIVE VEHICLE SAT OVER NIGHT APP.14HRS.JULY 30TH DROVE APP.5-6 MILES THEN BEGIN TO NOT FEEL GEARS SHIFTING,DROVE HOME.PARKED WAITED 3-4 HRS CHECKED TRANSMISSIOM FLUID DID NOT LOOK RIGHT.WAITED OVER NIGHT WAS TOLD LOOKED LIKE WATER IN FLUID,WAS TOLD TO CHECK RADIATOR,FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RADIATOR.HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.NO WARNING,NOTHING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH 10:30P.M., WITHOUT CAUSE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS HIGHWAY TO THE LEFT, ROLLED AND FLIPPED, AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE - VEHICLE LANDED ON ITS SIDE WITH ROOF IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL: ALL WINDOWS BROKEN AND WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. ROOF ACTUALLY CAVED IN ON TEENAGE DRIVER -FATALITY FROM MULTIPLE BRAIN INJURIES.*AK

I WAS DRIVING 75 ON I76 IN COLORADO. I HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULDN'T CANCEL SPEED CONTROL AND THE SPEED STARTED INCREASING. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO CANCEL IT - NO LUCK. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SLOWER SPEED MOVING STRAIGHT BEFORE TURNING THE KEY AND ENGINE OFF - I KNEW THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK, THAT'S WHY I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR OUT ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE I TURNED IT OFF.*AK

THE BUCKLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN. I AM UNABLE TO KEEP THE SEAT BELT FASTENED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK NOW.*AK

MY FAMILY DROVE TO A STORE (6/21/04) AND LEFT OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER IN THE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. WHEN WE RETURNED THE FRONT OF THE CAB WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. WE STARTED TRYING TO FIND WHAT SMELLED SO BAD, AND WHAT WAS SMOKING. MY HUSBAND REALIZED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT UP (ELECTRONIC) AND AFTER BURNING HIS FINGER HE WAS ABLE TO UNPLUG THE SIX WAY SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. WHEN WE CALLED FORD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT DID SAY THEY WOULD CHARGE US $72 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT IS EVIDENT THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND HAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SIDE OF IT. IF WE HAD NOT RETURNED TO OUR SUV WE WOULD NOW HAVE ASHES, AS THE ELECTRIC POWER IS A CONSTANT FEED. I CONTACTED FORD, IN MICHIGAN, WITH THIS MATTER. I WAS TOLD ON 6/24/04 THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC IN ORDER FOR FORD TO EVEN LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THEY STATED I COULD CALL MY INSURANCE AND GO THAT ROUTE. I EXPLAINED I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO ME WHAT I DID. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS I PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I STATED THAT IT WAS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT FORD'S AND SHE RESPONDED YES. IN FRUSTRATION I HUNG UP AND BEGAN THIS COMPLAINT. IF SOMEONE WERE TO LEAVE HIS OR HER CHILD IN THE CAR AND THIS HAPPENS THE CHILD WILL BE SEVERELY INJURED. IF I HAD BEEN ALONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO UNPLUG THE SEAT MOTOR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY HUSBAND STATED TH

PROBLEMS WITH 1996 FORD EXPLORER'S ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. *MR *SC *JB

I HAVE AN EXPLORER SPORT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS WILL TAKEN CARE OF EVEN IF IT HAS ALOT OF MILES ON IT. THE MANUAL SHIFT SHAKES CONSIDERABLY. IF THERE IS A ROUGH SURFACE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMS TO BE READY TO TAKE FLIGHT. AT 165,000 MILES I HAD THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, AND THROWOUT BEARINGS REPLACED. THE MACHINE AT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T TELL ME WHY IT HAPPENED BUT HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG. NOW AT 212,000 MILES THE BEARINGS AND CLUTCH ARE OUT AGAIN. WHILE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER EXPLORERS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT THE NEWWER EXPLORERS HAVE A VIBRATION DAMPER MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE. FORD WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT ONE ON MY CAR FOR $4,000. I AM VERY UPSET SINCE IT WAS THEIR DESIGN FLAW THAT IS CAUSING ALL MY PROBLEMS.I HAVE ALREADY SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THEIR DESIGN ERROR. *AK

EXPLORER SPORT (4X2),( MANUAL TRANSMISSION)(18,462 MILES) DODGING TRUCK TIRE RETREAD ON INTERSTATE WAS OVERSTEERED. THEN OVERSTEERED BACK WHEN LEFT REA HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF. THEN CAR FLIPED 6 TIMES. WHEN THE CAR LOST THE REA WHEEL, CONTROL WAS LOST.*AK

SUMMARY WAS UNREADIBLE, AND THEN DISAPPEARED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AT 120K MILES. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IS NOT RESTRAINED WHILE DRIVING. *PH *MR

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. DEALER FIXED IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $593.00. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2004, THE SEAT BROKE AGAIN. A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *JB

BOTHE REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE...SOMETIMES LEFT REAR DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE DUE TO CHILD SAFETY LATCH NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRUISE CONTROL. PROBLEM. AFTER CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL.*AK

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4X4, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE IS WHEN I AM EITHER STOPPING MODERATELY HARD/FAST OR MAKING SHARP RIGHT TURNS, THE ENGINE TENDS TO STALL. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL OR I HAVE THE CLUTCH IN. THE MAIN REASON THIS IS A PROBLEM IS BECAUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STALLED, THE POWER STEERING IS OFF. MOST OF MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON OFF RAMPS WHERE I'M TRAVELING REALITIVELY FAST AND A RIGHT TURN. TOWARDS THE END OF THE RAMP I START TO STRAIGTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND REALIZE I CAN'T MOVE IT. GENERALLY I AM FORCED TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING INTO SOMETHING OR IF I HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I WILL QUICKLY ATTEMPT TO START IT. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE. THIS DID NOT START TO HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER MY 30-DAY WARRANTY WAS UP AT FROM THE DEALER SO I HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING DONE TO ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT SEVERAL EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE BLAMED IT ON A VALVE. BELOW ARE LISTED WEBSITES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SUBMITTED TO FORUMS. THESE ARE PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS AS MYSELF. THANKS HTTP://WWW.CARCONSUMERS.COM/FORD_EXPLORER.HTML HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2001/04/13/NATIONAL/MAIN285613.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2000/10/10/NATIONAL/MAIN240067.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/GREMLINS/191.HTML HTTP://WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/CGI-BIN/DATACGI/DATABASE.CGI/FORUM/SUBTOPIC/TOPICID=0351/SUBTOPICID=0000857 7/FIRSTREC

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE AND ROLL ONCE. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

SUDDEN AND TOTAL RELEASE OF ALL AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT (R134A) AND COMPRESSOR OIL.*AK

MY 1996 EXPLORER IS A 5.0 LITRE AWD EDDIE BAUR PURCHSED USED. AFTER DRIVING USING THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT INCIDENT, I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. COASTING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SLOT APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE APPEARED TO INCREASE POWER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE MORE I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE MORE THE ENGINE POWER INCREASED PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING UNTIL COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT. WITH THE BRAKE STILL APPLIED, THE ENGINE RACED WHEN PUT IN NUETRAL UNTIL SWITCHING THE IGNITION OFF. THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER RESTARTING. DAMAGE RESULTED TO THE EXPLORER BUMPER. I DID NOT OBSERVE THE GAS PEDAL POSITION DURING THE INCIDENT BUT ASSUMED IT COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE UNDER UNCOMMANDED OPERATION AND SEVERED THE CRUISE CABLE BEFORE PROCEDING. A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAD OCCURED DURING A PRIOR STOP THE SAME TRIP BUT ABRUPTLY RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION POSSIBLY AFTER HAVING PUMPED THE BRAKES TO CHECK THEM. THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM WITH ENGINE POWER SURGE DURING BRAKING TO A STOP OCCURED ON PRIOR DAYS WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN USED AND MAY HAVE CORRECTED AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE. REVIEWING NHSTA COMPLAINT ODI ID 736277 AND SUBSEQUENT EXPERIMENT ON MY VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT FROM INADVERTANT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DURING BRAKING DUE TO PROXIMITY OF THE PEDALS BUT I CAN'T RULE OUT UNCOMMANDED CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION ACTIVATED BY A BRAKE SIGNAL. PLEASE ADVISE IF INVESTIGATI

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BLOWN OR LEAKING HEAD GASKETS ON THE 1996 FORD EXPLORER, AND THAT IS MY COMPLAINT IS.I HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 66,000 MILES IS GARARGED YEAR ROUND AND IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND IS ONLY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE LOCALY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK APPROXIMATLY 10-20 MILES A DAY I FEEL THAT THERE IS NO WAY I SHOULD HAVE BOTH HEAD GASKETS LEAKING COOLANT WITH REALITIVLY LOW MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR.THERE IS DEFINATLY A PROBLEM HERE AND FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BY FORD, I WAS ALSO SPEAKING WITH A GENTLEMAN AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE (WHERE I WORK PART TIME ) AND HE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT, BOTH ENGIES INVOLVED ARE THE 4.0 V6. I HOPE FORD WILL DO WHAT IS NESESARY TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHERS THAT WILL ULTIMATLY HIT THEM QUITE HARD IN THE POCKETBOOK FOR WORK DONE AT A SEVICE CENTER.I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTILL I FIND OUT WHAT CAN BE DONE BY FORD BUT HAVE TO IN ORDER TO GET MY WIFE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO SEAL THE PROBLEM WITHOUT TAKING THE HEADS OFF AND REPLACING THE GASKETS.I HAVE CHECKED INTO WHAT THE COST WOULD BE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD ANYWHERE FROM $1,200-$1,500 DOLLARS,A BILL I CANNOT AFFORD.IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE WE LOVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF FORD PRODUCTS BUT ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN ON ANOTHER BRAND OF VEHICLE.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH WHILE THE OCCUPANT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WENT TO DRIVE CAR AND THE DRIVER SEAT FLEW BACK AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN BOLT. *LA

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND BECAME UNFASTENED WHILE DRIVING. *JB

A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK UPRIGHT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FULLY RECLINE BACKWARDS IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS SEAT BOLT HAS FAILED. THE ORIGINAL FAILURE WAS IN JULY, 1999 (NHTSA REPORT #708738). *LA

SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT STOP.

RECALL 97V074000 CONCERNING THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHILE REVVING UP THE ENGINE IT WILL RACE VERY VIOLENTLY. ENGINE WOULD RACE TO THE POINT WHEN IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PRESS THE BRAKES REAL HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED TEN TIMES IN 2003 . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

1996 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - CD CHANGER, CD PLAYER FAULT. *AK

THE SEAT BELT FAILED DUE TO A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE BUCKLES SPRING. *AK *JB *NM

THE HEADS ON THE ENGINE CRACKED. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE SKIPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

RECALL 03V281000. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLT BROKE . *AK THE SEAT LAID ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SEAT WITH THE BOLT BROKE. *PH *JB

DRIVER SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWING A TRAILER. THE LEFT SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY. UPON INSPECTION ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE ALONG WITH THE TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL ON THE TRAILER. *PH *NLM

LOWER STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE CHANGED IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER IN AUG. 2000 (68250 MILES) AND OCTOBER 2003 (120000+ MILES). FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, I HAD ALMOST NO STEERING. THE RUBBER BOOT KEEPS TEARING AND RIPPING. I BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 1995. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRUCK WINCH CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, POPPED AND TIRE FELL ONTO THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *AK

I HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER THAT JUST HAD IT'S FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLY FAIL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300. I NOTICE THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE BUT IT WAS NOT FOR 1996 BUT 1998 - 01 YEAR EXPLORERS. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER THAT MADE THE REPAIR AND THEM STATED THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 1996 AND 1998 VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THEY POINTED ME BACK TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS LIMITING THIS RECALL TO SAVE MONEY. THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE 1996 MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER YEAR MODELS AS EVIDENT BY THE PROBLEM MY VEHICLE JUST EXPERIENCED. THE RECALL NOTICE IS BELOW FOR REFERENCE. THANK YOU. . MAKE : FORD MODEL : EXPLORER YEAR : 1998 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V281000 RECALL DATE : AUG 04, 2003 COMPONENT: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 1552880 *JB

WHILE VEHICLE IDLED ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MOVE WITH BRAKES APPLIED. *AK