1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE STATIONARY AND PREPARING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE DOES NOT RETAIN THE SEAT BELT. IT MAY HOLD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT THEN RELEASES THE BELT RENDERING THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE AND UNSAFE.

WHILE DRIVING IN "D" IN FIRST TO SECOND IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING AND WILL REV HIGH RPMS AND SOMETIMES DO ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING WHEN DRYING TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS I DE ACCELERATE AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGINE THEN FINALLY IT WILL CATCH AND GO IN TO 2ND AND PROCEED TO 3RD AND THEN 4TH AND THEN 5TH ,4TH AND 5TH WHEN ACCELERATING SOUNDS VERY ROUGH WHEN ACCELERATING LIKE IT'S TRYING TO HARD TO DRIVE, LATELY IT JUST THE OTHER DAY I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT TO GO IN TO D TO 1ST 2ND 3RD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WAS NOT WANTING TO CATCH HAD T OK TRY 3-6 TIMES DE ACCELERATING AND ACCELERATING TO TRY TO GET IT TO GO FINALT IT CAUGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SO I STOPPED AT THE PARTS STORE HAD THEM DO A SCAN AND THE ONLY CODE THAT CAME UP WAS P1701 THEY LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH TROUBLE IN REVERSE WITCH IN REVERSE HAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT IT AND ALSO A LITTLE SCARED TO DRIVE IT WHEN THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND IF IT WON'T ENGAGE IN TO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING WHEN IN D THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ALSO THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK WAS TOLD IT WAS VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR SO I REPLACED IT STILL HAD ISSUE SO I REPLACED THE ODOMETER SPIRAL GEAR HOPEFULLY IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM ALSO THE BACK SEAT DOUBLE SIDE WOULD NOT GO DOWN FIXED IT AFTER PULLING IT APART AND DRILLING ANOTHER HOLE INTO THE SPRING LOADED CIRCLE THAT HAS A TENCHENER ON IT FIXED THAT ....AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEATS JUST STOPPED MOVING ABOUT HALF WAY SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO REACH THE PEDAL AND THE AUTOMATIC SIDE MIRRORS DON'T WORK EATHER ONE AND THE ALL FUSES ARE GOOD THEAS ARE ALL SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE ME CONCERNED SINCE IT'S ALL I HAVE SO ANYTHING OR ANYWHERE I CAN TAKE IT OR DO TO IT PLEASE CONTACT ME SO IT CAN GET FIXED ASAP FOR THE SHIFTING ISSUE. TY

ALL FOUR WINDOWS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. CANNOT GO UP OR DOWN. DOESNT HAVE A PREFERENCE AS TO WHEN, HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF OR ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT UNLATCH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. JIM HUDSON FORD (1201 W MAIN ST, LEXINGTON, SC) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 672,000.

SAFETY RECALL 09S09 - SCDS (SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH) ON FORD MODELS MADE AFTER 95 WITH A TEXAS MADE DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS MADE POORLY. I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION 4X4 TRUCK IN DECEMBER OF 2016, FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN NEVADA.THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED MAINLY SO I COULD DELIVER AS PART OF MY JOB DESCRIPTION AND NEEDED SOMETHING WITH 4X4 SINCE I LIVE IN SNOW. DID A TEST DRIVE, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK PROPERLY AND DRIVE NICELY, DROVE IT FROM RENO, NV TO PORTOLA, CA ABOUT 62 MILES, EVERYTHING STILL FINE. THE NEXT DAY I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, WAS HEADING TO THE GAS STATION WHEN I REALIZED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE ARM WENT TO 20MPH AND DROPPED TO 0 AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTED BAD FROM LOW TO HIGH GEARS ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE RPM WENT HIGH, LITTLE OVER 3RPH AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHES, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DID A CODE READER AND SAID MY SEED SENSOR WAS NO GOOD. REPLACED THE VSS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MILES, THEN SAME ISSUE.I DID A FULL TIME UP, NO CHANGE,DID ANOTHER READING, SAME CODE FOR SPEED SENSOR REPLACED AGAIN, SAME ISSUE. SEEN ONLINE I HAVE A RECALL ON THE SPEED SENSOR AND CRUISE CONTROL, MADE APPOINTMENT WITH FORD AFTER FLEXPLATE SHREDDED, FORD SENT ME TO A "FRIENDS" MECHANIC WHO REFUSED TO TOUCH MY TRUCK WHO THEN SENT ME TO ANOTHER MECHANIC UNTIL I CALLED FORD AGAIN WHO RESCHEDULED ME TO COME BACK A WEEK LATER. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN AND OUT OF STATE DUE TO THIS RECALL AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT GO WITH IT. I'D LIKE HELP ON WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS SITUATION AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIME I HAVEN'T DRIVEN MY VEHICLE OR BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AT WORK, AND THE MONEY I'VE SPENT FIXING THE ISSUE THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER AND MY TIRE ON THE DRIVER FRONTSIDE WENT OUT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND THEN MY VEHICLE HIT THE CURVE AND FLIPPED OVER 15 OR 16 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED I WAS FEELING ALL OVER THE ROAD I HAD MY SET BELT ON BUT MY AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND I WAS ONLY GOING 25 OR 30 AND I WAS ON A CITY STREET TURNING INTO THE NEXT LANE WHEN THE TIRE WENT OUT AND MY VEHICLE FLIPPED YES POLICE ACCOUNT REPORT #170042354 I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED I WAS IN SHOCK THAT IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE A LIVE MY FORD EXPLORER IS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

SEARCHING BY VIN: [XXX] NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 0 BUT SEARCHING BY MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR I FOUND THIS RECALL: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/OWNERS/SEARCHRESULTS;JSESSIONID=SJ1QWW1GVDDYCS6XGGCHZTLTY2TN4KJKBPXV1GCS9VG9XL8B1ZT5!857755995?PRODTYPE=V&SEARCHTYPE=PROD&TARGETCATEGORY=A&SEARCHCRITERIA.MODEL=EXPLORER&STATS=215181%2C11%2C3%2C1611%2C236%2CEXPLORER&MAKESTATS=&JSONBASEURL=%2FDOWNLOADS%2FFOLDERS%2F&SEARCHCRITERIA.MODEL_YR=1996&SEARCHCRITERIA.MAKE=FORD&SEARCHCRITERIA.PROD_IDS=215181 REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 13, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 COMPONENT(S): VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL THE DEALERSHIP SHOP AND WITH YOUR CHAT REPRESENTATIVE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT THE RECALLS ARE ONLY BY VIN EVEN TOUGH IN YOUR WEB-SITE IT SAYS: "BESIDES THE VIN SEARCH TOOL YOU JUST USED, NHTSA OFFERS ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION BASED ON A VEHICLE'S MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR AND NOT TIED TO ANY PARTICULAR VIN. A SEARCH BY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR GIVES YOU ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS, AND OWNER COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS SAFETY RECALLS ON AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT THAT IS OFTEN NOT LINKED TO A PARTICULAR VIN OR EVEN TO YOUR VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER. " WHERE IS THE TRUTH? DO I HAVE A RECALL 09V399000 FOR MY VEHICLE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED. I WILL BE DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEATBELT WILL RELEASE FOR NO REASON. IT DOES IT NO MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING, SITTING STILL OR WHATEVER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST MONTH AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.

SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION: ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, FROM YEARS 1998-2015. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN TOWN, 1998. I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE SURGING ACCELERATOR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. PERHAPS A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, THEY SAID. I REPLACED THE MATS WITH AN AFTER MARKET PAIR- SUV COMPATIBLE AND MUD RESISTANT WITH MANY, GRIPPERS ON THE UNDERSIDE. WITHIN A YEAR, I QUIT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE EXPLORER AS HIS DAILY DRIVER. HE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, I HAD HAD. I SOLD MY CAR AFTER RETIREMENT AND ON OCCASION NOW DRIVE THE 1996 FORD EXPLORER AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TWO MORE INCIDENTS OF SUA WITHIN 2014-2015 - BOTH ON THE INTERSTATE, BOTH WITH THE REPLACEMENT MATS. AT THE BEGINNING OF BOTH TRIPS, I ENSURED THAT THE MAT LOOKED A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE PEDALS. BUT-BOTH TIMES, THAT THE UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION HAPPENED, I REACHED DOWN AND GRABBED THE MAT BEHIND MY FEET AND PULLED IT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS DISENGAGED THE RUNAWAY SPEED. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY THE MANUFACTURING STRUCTURE OF THE MATS, BUT THE SIZE/SHAPE OF THE FORD PEDAL. THE PEDAL SIZE IS A PROBLEM FOR SHORT STATURE DRIVERS. I AM 5'1" AND I MUST PULL THE SEAT FAR ENOUGH FORWARD TO REACH THE PEDAL, BUT TRY TO STAY A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG. THIS LEAVES ME STRETCHING MY FOOT/TOES TO REACH THE PEDAL AND APPLYING PRESSURE IN AN AREA THAT CAUSES THE FLOOR MAT TO GET STUCK UNDER THE ACCEL. PEDAL. I DID REMOVE THE MAT, COMPLETELY!, NOW! ALL THREE INCIDENTS WERE UNEXPECTED AND PANIC ATTACKS TO MY CORE. I AM IMMENSELY FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD OWN MY FORD EXPLORER, AND NOT KNOW OF THIS HIDDEN DANGER. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 84,000 MILES ON IT.

SUV SUSPENSION SWAYS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO FLIP. THE DRIVER MUST SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN STABILITY. THIS OCCURS ALWAYS WHEN INCREASING SPEED WHILE IN PASSING LANE OR DURING RAPID ACCELERATION! I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE A WREAK IN THE FUTURE! *TR

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY FORD EXPLORER BY TURNING THE KEY IT WOULDN'T START IT WOULD MAKE A SLIGHT BUZZ BUT THAT WAS IT, SO I GOT ONE OF THE MECHANIC TO ASSIST ME AT MY JOB. HE TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS GOOD, BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WAS WORKING. SO HE STARTED THE SUV BY PUTTING THE KEY IN THE START POSITION AND PLACING A SCREWDRIVER ACROSS THIS ONE PART MOUNTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. WHEN MY HUSBAND RETURNED FROM OUT TOWN I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE EXPLORER AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED, SO HE STARTED IT THE SAME WAY THAT THE MECHANIC DID. HOWEVER; THIS TIME HE WASN'T ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THE KEY JUST TURNS A FULL 360 DEGREE IN THE CHAMBER AND MAKES NO CONNECTION WITH ANYTHING. HE END UP DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE EXPLORER. THIS IS AN 1996 EDDIE BAUER EDITION. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF SO HOW DID YOU FIX IT AND THE COST? PLEASE REPORT THE SITUATION TO NHTSA. *TR

15 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND GETTING OFF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ONFIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRE EXPANDED QUICKLY CAUGHT DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE AND MOVED ON TO THE ENTIRE MOTOR BEFORE THE FIREFIGHTERS CAME AND STOPPED THE FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

I OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 4X4, 4.0 LITER V6 WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MOTOR MADE IN GERMANY AND THE TRUCK, IN THE LOUISVILLE, KY. FORD PLANT. RODENTS TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN THE HEATING SYSTEM, AND FILLED THE HEATER BLOWER ASSEMBLY AND DUCTING WITH SCAVENGED MATERIALS, WHICH TOOK UP APPROX. 1 CUBIC FOOT OF SPACE, ONCE EXTRACTED. MUCH TO MY BENEFIT, THE MATERIAL JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE FIRE RESISTANT STUFFING FROM MY ARCHERY TARGET, STORED IN THE SAME BUILDING. I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY UPON TURNING ON THE HEATER, I HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE WHICH ENDED ABRUPTLY. MY HEATER STOPPED WHEN THE NOISE STOPPED. IN AN EFFORT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THEN NOTICED A BURNT SMELL, BUT SAW NO SMOKE. UPON REPLACING MY BLOWER MOTOR I INSPECTED THE OLD ONE, WHICH HAS CHARRED REMNANTS OF THE FOREIGN MATERIAL INSIDE AND WRAPPED AROUND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE ONLY OPENING TO THE INNER COMPONENTS OF THE BLOWER MOTOR IS ABOUT 1" IN DIAMETER AND HAS A RUBBER TUBE PLUGGED INTO IT. IT APPEARED UNDISTURBED AND WAS CONNECTED WHEN I FIRST SERVICED IT. I ALSO DISCOVERED AN OPENING ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THE BLOWER FAN HOUSING, NEAR THE FIREWALL. THIS UNOBSTRUCTED OPENING FACILITATED THE RODENTS' ENTRY TO THE HEATING SYSTEM. IT IS OF MY OPINION THIS IS UNSAFE, AND HAD THE FOREIGN MATERIAL NOT BEEN FLAME RESISTANT, I'M CONVINCED MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURNED. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER INTO FORD'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE, AND WAS RETURNED ZERO RESULTS FOR RECALLS OF ANY SORT. I DID NOT FIND ANY RECALLS RELATED TO HEATER BLOWERS FOR SIMILAR MODELS EITHER. I HAVE REPAIRED THE HEATING SYSTEM BUT AM AT A LOSS FOR HOW TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE, AS THIS OPENING STILL EXISTS AND I'M UNAWARE OF ANY SANCTIONED REMEDIES. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. *TR

THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING DURING TAKEOFF, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO EXPERIENCE HIGH RPM'S BUT VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO NOT FALL INTO 1ST GEAR, WHEN YOU SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS THEN LURCH HEAVILY, THE VEHICLE ALSO DOES THIS AT EVERY STOP, AFTER YOU MAKE A COMPLETE STOP AND PRECEDE TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WILL RPM AS YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR BUT WON'T MOVE FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS, AFTER THE 4 SECONDS THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD HEAVILY AND SPINS BOTH REAR TIRES. *TR

VEHICLE IS HIGHLY SUSPECTED OF HAVE THE ODOMETER TAMPERED WITH BY DEALER. MECHANICS HAVE CLAIMED ACTUAL MILEAGE AT TIME OF SALE WAS PROBABLY 172,428 INSTEAD OF 72,428. *TR

DRIVING TRUCK DOWN WISCONSIN AVENUE IN APPLETON WHEN TRUCK REFUSED TO SHIFT. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TRUCK INTO TO WISCONSIN MOTORS SALES AND SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED IN TRUCK. TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN PURCHASED TEN DAYS EARLIER. *TR

WHEN EVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR A DIP IN THE ROAD. SOMETHING (SWAY BAR) SEEMS AS IF IT SOMETHING IS CRACKED AND THE TIRE AXES IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO STOP THEY OFTEN STICK. I THEN EASY OFF A LITTLE AND PRESS HARD, PUSHING THROUGH THE STICKING. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AFTER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS NOTICED PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE BACK SEATS OF THE CAR COULD NOT OPEN THEIR DOORS. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE LOOKED AT AND RESET, BUT DOORS STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUR SAFELY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AFTER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM DEALER, IT WAS NOTED THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, NONE OF THE WINDOWS IN THE TRUCK WOULD OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN WINDOWS IF NEEDED FOR ESCAPE (DOORS IN PASSENGER SECTION OF TRUCK DID NOT WORK EITHER. SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT). *TR

I REPLACED THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES IN DECEMBER 2011 WITH PARTS PURCHASED FROM AUTOPARTSMIDWEST.COM. ON DECEMBER 18, 2012, THE LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BALL BEARING RACE CAME OFF THE SPLINED HUB. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY, CALIPER BRACKET AND SOME OTHER BRAKE PARTS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR PARTS NOT INCLUDING LABOR IS ABOUT $500. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY. IT SHOULD BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT A CRITICAL PART LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO LAST MORE THAN ABOUT 6000 MILES. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART TWO MINUTES OR A HALF MILE EARLIER, I MIGHT NOT BE FILING THIS REPORT. I HAVE ASKED AUTOPARTSMIDWEST TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE DEFECTUVE HUB ASSEMBLIES AS WELL AS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE SALE OF DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS BY AUTOPARTSMIDWEST AND OTHER ON LINE SELLER MUST STOP. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT SOMETHING LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO VERIFY ITS QUALITY. BUYERS MUST DEPEND ON THE SELLER AND MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE SAFE CAR PARTS. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LOCKS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING. *TR

NOTICED THAT THE RECLINER HANDLE WAS BENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO RECLINE THE SEAT THE HANDLE BROKE OFF AT THE RIVET POINT. COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE PART CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT FROM FORD AND THE COST IS $100. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR A LATER YEAR EXPLORER. DEALER SAID THE NEW PART IS MORE HEAVY DUTY AND MADE TO REPLACE THE STOCK VERSION THAT WAS LIGHT DUTY. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED AND THEY HAVE STOPPED MAKING THE PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CLASP COULD NOT BE SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN

DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED. DOOR LOCKS BROKEN (WILL NOT LOCK), AND LOCK KEY WORKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, DRIVER-SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RECENTLY (1/15/2114) WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED FROM THE FIREWALL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,321.

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER DOES NOT CLASP SEAT BELT. WE ARE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP TO REPLACE THE RECEIVER AT $100 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. A SEAT BELT RECEIVER SHOULD BE BUILT TO LAST NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED IN THE RECLINE POSITION ON 8/24/2011, FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE RECLINE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK, AND THE SEAT DOES NOT STAY UPRIGHT. THESE TWO ITEMS ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

I HAD A ACCIDENT ON SEPT 10 2011. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHEN I CRASHED BUT IT DIDN'T CATCH AND ACTUALLY CAME UNDONE. THE DEPUTY INVESTIGATING ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SEA TBELT WOULD NOT EVEN CATCH INTO THE RECEIVING PART OF THE SEAT BELT ANYMORE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY MATTER. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAD TBC CORPORATION, STAMPEDE SIGMA TIRES, SIZE P255/70/R16 WITH DOT#UPCUTX61707. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLL OVER 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WENT AIRBORNE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED ON SITE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STRAPS TO THE GAS TANK RUSTED AND BROKE CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO DROP TANK DROPPED ONTO DRIVESHAFT CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 194,000. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SUDDENLY BECAME UNLATCHED WITHOUT FORCE OR ASSISTANCE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RELATCH THE BELT. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LATCH ASSMEBLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS FAILED. THE FEMALE PART OF THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH TO THE MALE SECTION. THE INTERNAL SPRING HAS BROKE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE. *TR

THE SEAT BELT JUST STARTED POPPING OUT OF THE RECEIVER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT. AND I HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO FIX IT.. I GUESS IM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART. IT CAUSES ME TO SWERVE ON THE ROAD WHEN IT CAME OFF DURING DRIVING.. VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT TRIED TO FASTEN HIS SEAT BELT AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

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

1996 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0629-91)8JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

DRIVER SEAT BELT BROKEN; DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. *TR

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

1996 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES.