1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. INVOLVED INTO AUTO CRASH 7/1/1998 SERIOUS INJURIES, MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, RIGHT HIP REPLACED....ETC. EX HUSBAND DRIVING FORD EXPLORER, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VE HICLE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS BLOWN ON VECHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE PICTURE. THIS ACCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE, AND NOW I'M PERMANENTLY HANDICAPPED. I WAS UNAWARE I HAD AN AVENUE TO REPORT THIS TO. THANKS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLIC. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED. VECHICLE APPRANENTLY SPINNED DOWN THE I-10 ROTATING AT 180 DEGREES, AND THE ROLLED RIGHT ACCORDING TO PHOENIX POLICE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD OFFER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.( DOT NUMBER: )

DELAYED IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND VIBRATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PADS AND FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES WITHIN A YEAR, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING;. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHICH WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED OVER FROM END TO END WITH THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR CORNERS SUSTAINING MOST OF THE IMPACT, DURING THE ROLLOVER BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WERE EJECTED, ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT THREE OTHERS WERE INJURED (ARIZONA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, LEFT REAR). NLM

UNCONTROLLED RAPID ACCELERATION. ONLY STOP BY SET TRONSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND/OR PUNCH DOWN ON GAS PEDAL. HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO DATE. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX,P235/75R15, FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO BLOW OUTS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*YD

THE TIRE THAT IS MENTIONED IN THIS COMPLAINT, CAME APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER TO GO OFF-ROAD AND SUMMER-SAULT SEVERAL TIMES...LANDING UPRIGHT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD AN ENGINEER INSPECT THE TIRE AND IT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM FIRESTONE, FORD AND THE NHTSA. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TIRE SIZE IS NOT THE ONE BEING RE-CALLED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY TIRE THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY OTHERS.....WHY CAN'T SOMEONE RESPOND BACK TO ME ? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30950R15 )

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING FELT SOME VIBRATION AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, THEN AUTOMIBILE BEGAN TO SWAY- LATER, FOUND OUT FROM THE POLICE OFFICER THAT FIRESTONE TIRE THAT WAS ON AND TREAD HAD BEGAN TO PEEL OFF. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *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.

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 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.

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

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS OIL.

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

WOULD YOU LIKE ORIGINAL PART??

NOTICED GAS WAS BEING SPLATTERED ON THE WHEEL WELLS, AND ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. CALLED FORD, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. *AK

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, A REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION THAT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. AFTER THE SECOND ONE, I REMOVED THE REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACED ALL FOUR WITH MICHELINS.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: ? )

I KNOW THESE TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON THIS FIRESTONE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN OUT, BUT I REPLACED ALL OF THEM. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE IN STORAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R15 )

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.

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

INJURED PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR PERM. INJURIES DUE TO TIRE FAILURE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER TWICE, ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED NON-INCAPACITATING (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM016, RIGHT REAR). NLM

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

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE CRACKS DEVELOPED AT THE SIDEWALL WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL, THE TIRES THAT ARE PRESENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME CRACKS AS PREVIOUS FAULTY TIRES. NLM

SEAT BELT FAILED.

ON 1 MAY 1998, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER WHEN A TIRE BLEW. THE TREAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65-70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT WAS 70). THIS HAPPENED IN THE AFTERNOON ON AN OVERPASS. SHE KEPT HER COOL AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS SHAKEN UP . A PASSERBY STOPPED AND CHANGED THE TIRE. I COULDN'T BELIVE THE LOOKS OF THE TIRE. I HAD TO GO BUY NEW ONES (2EA) ON 2 MAY 1998. I WENT TO GOODYEAR. ON 11 MAY1998 I WENT AND REPLACED THE BACK TWO FIRESTONES. MY SPARE TIRE IS A TIRE IS A FIRESTONE THAT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE CAR WHEN TIRES WERE REPLACED. I WAS UNAWARE THAT YOU COULD CONTACT ANYONE OF THIS ISSUE, UNTIL AT THIS TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND FIRESTONE OF THIS MISHAP AND FORD WROTE ME BACK WAS GLAD MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT AND TO CONTACT FIRESTONE. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANY FIRESTONE AND PICK UP AN APP;ICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT. BUT WHAT I AM HEARING AND READ THEY WILL ONLY HONOR FROM 1 JAN 2000-16 AUG 2000. THAT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. THOSE TIRES THAT WERE ON MYVEHICLE WERE ORIGINALS LIKE ALL THE OTHERS ON THE ROAD. LIKE I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW A COMPLAINT COULD BE LODGED FOR TIRES THAT WERE TWO YEARS OLD. I AM A WIDOW ON A FIXED INCOME AND IT WAS HARD TO COME UP WITH MEANS TO REPLACE 4 NEW TIRES. I BELIEV E I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED SOME. I ALSO HAVE MY ORIGINAL RECEIPTS FROM THE NEW TIRES. I THANKYOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY, DONNA L. MILLER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ABS SYSTEM FAILED TWICE, ONC ERESULTING IN A COLLISION.

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND ROLL. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER DOOR CAME OPEN AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER DIED INSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY.(SISTER ON BEHALF OF DECEASED BROTHER) *YH

THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WENT BAD, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

ELECTRICAL FIRE BROKE OUT IN CENTER CONSOLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.

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

VEHICLE TRAVELS TOO FAR AFTER THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND VIBRATES DURING BRAKING.

ABS BRAKE FAILURE

THE ASSEMLBY OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS WAS BAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS TO SQUEAK AND FINALLY LOOSE STABILITY IN HANDLING.

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 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.

WHEN TRAVELING 55 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANNED/ WENT OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES WITH PASSENGER BEING THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

EXPLORERS EQUIPPED WITH MESSAGE CENTERS HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE WHENN USING THE TOWING HARNESS.

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

SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS IS NOT ADEQUATE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP SHORT OF A DITCH, THE DRIVER'S FOOT HIT THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR AND RAN INTO THE DITCH.

WHILE DRIVING 68MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED IN SPEED. HAD PUMPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BUT RPMS WERE VERY HIGH. SHIFTED OUT OF NEUTRAL & PLACED FEET ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. BRAKES STARTED SMOKING. CALLED DEALER TO RELAY PROBLEM.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE OOT-005, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

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

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND ALLOWING COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIVER TURNED ON THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, INDICATING A PROBLEM AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT KICK IN. THE AUTO SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

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

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW FORD EXPLORER IN 09/1996. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERY ORIGINAL TIRE, INCLUDING THE SPARE, BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPERATION. THIS DID NOT OCCUR ALL AT ONCE, BUT OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SOME OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SOME OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT FIRESTONE DEALERSHIPS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, THE CAUSE GIVEN FOR THE BAD TIRES WAS CONSISTENTLY THE "BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPERATION". UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM NATIONALLY, BECAUSE HAD WE KNOWN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH THE SAME MODEL/MAKE OF TIRES. I DO NOT READILY HAVE AVAILABLE THE DATES, THE VEHICLE MILEAGE OF WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED NOR WHICH TIRES WERE REPLACED (E.G. FRONT RIGHT OR REAR LEFT) AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT, BUT I WILL SEARCH FOR THOSE RECORDS. I ALWAYS CAREFULLY MONITOR ANY SUBTLE CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLES, WHICH IS WHY I WAS ABLE TO DETECT EARLY, THE SEPERATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE TIRES. THE SYMPTOM I DETECTED WAS A NOTICABLY ROUGHER RIDE BEGINNING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH. CONTACT ME, SHOULD YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )