1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE PULLING VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK

4-WHEEL DRIVE LOCKING HUBS FAILED, CAUSING FRONT END NOISE.

ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER SAYS EXHAUST HEADER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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

FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED.

ENGINE STALLS CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK, POWER BRAKES TO FAIL AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

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 APPROACHING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MR. ROACH'S LETTER (2/6/98), AND I HAVE YET TO BE CONTACTED BY ANYONE FROM FORD THAT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGEROUS OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE ON THIS REGARD, BUT I FOUND YOUR SITE, SO I THOUGHT I'D SEND THIS IN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TYPED THIS, AS THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO CONFIRM THE INFORMATION, IT SHOWED THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG LISTED AS HAVING DEPLOYED, AND THEY HAVE NOT.

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

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

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

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

TWO PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE 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 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

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

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

CHECK AIR RIDE LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

THE FRONT TIRES HAVE"CUPPED" WITHIN 2000 MILES OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND TO GOODYEAR OVER THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT BRAKING TAKES LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN WEAR PATTERN THAT HAS DEVELOPED. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRES AT 46,000 MLES(AS COMPARED WITH 70,000 MILES ON A 1992 EXPLORER THAT I OWNED THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES). GOODYEAR HAS TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO ROTATE MY TIRES EVERY3,000 MILES TO PREVENT THIS WEAR PATTERN. I BELIEVE THIS IS EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE AND COST TO THE CONSUMER. GOODYEAR HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT ENGINEERED FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT FORD EQUPIPED THESE VEHICLES WITH THESE TIRES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN 1996. I'VE NOTICED THAT SINCE1997, FORD HAS GONE BACK TO FIRESTONE TIRES FOR EXPLORERS. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER HOT LINE. I SPOKE WITH THE PERSON ANSWERING THE CALLS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HEAR FROM A FORD REP, BUT AFTER A YEAR I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. GOODYEAR HAS LOOKED AT ALL MECHANICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BUSHING AND ALIGNMENT THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE INHERENT TO FORD PUTTING TIRES ON THIS AUTMOBILE THAT ARE NOT MATCHED TO THE VEHICAL SUSPENSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE REAR RIGHT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

EGR VALVE AND SENSOR FAILED.NLM

DUE TO ONE DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AT 70 MPH. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE SPLIT, BUT THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, CAUSING THE TREAD TO GET WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR AXLE. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE OFF INSIDE DOOR, MAKIN G IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO GET OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WITH BOTH DOORS. *AK

THE VEHICLE IS A 2 DOOR, FORD EXPLORER SPORT. EACH OF THE TWO REAR PASSENGER SEATS HAVE A SEAT BELT. THE LEFT SEAT (LOOKING IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION ) HAS THE SEAT BELT CONNECTOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE RIGHT SEAT HAS THE SEAT BELT FASTENER ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TWO FASTENERS ALMOST TOUCH AND IF SOMEONE HAS TO PUSH THE BUTTOM ON EITHER ONE TO UNFASTEN IT, IT IS VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE FASTENERS TO PUSH THE BUTTON. *AK

VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER FOOT RELEASED FROM PEDAL. MJS

I HAVE A MAJOR SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IF THE DOOR IS SHUT IT WILL NOT IDLE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WILL JUST DIE. (LEAVING YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION) CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEMMON.

HEAD LAMPS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD THE ENGINE REVS UP TO 4000 TO 5000RPM. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE IT. *AK

TREAD ON STANDARD TIRE THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE HAS PEELED OFF WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY BOTH BY MISTAKE. DEALER REPLACED GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THE ENTIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE TIRE, DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. ALSO THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. DEALER SAYS IT WAS A TIRE DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL LETTER 97V074000 CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGE AND CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS SENT A RECALL 97V074000, CONCERNING THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL.DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL'S APPLICATION TO COLD CLIMATE AREAS ONLY. *AK THE CAR MAY NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP AS PROMPTLY AS EXPECTED, AND THE THROTTLE PLATE MAY STAY IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION. THIS COULD MEAN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. 'JN

ACCELERATOR PEDALS STICKS ON OCCASION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS A CAR OR ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED, WHEN THE OCCURS THE CONSUMER HAS TO KICK THE PEDAL, PULL IT LOOSE WITH FOOT OR HIT THE BRAKE TO DISLODGE THE PEDAL. *ET

DRIVER'S SIDE/REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLES WOULD NOT UNLATCH, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. YH

WAS LOOKING FOR NEW TIRES FOR EXPLORER, WHEN CAME UPON DESCRIBTION OF TROUBLES WITH FIRESTONE ATX'S. WE HAVE HAD THREE FAIL, AND THIS ONE TODAY WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A PIECE OF THE TREAD CAME OFF, LEAVING A BARE TUBE(?). MANAGED TO GET HOME, AT THAT POINT, TIRE WENT FLAT. ?THESE ARE DANGEROUS TIRES!( DOT NUMBER: )

THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPUTER RUINED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENTS. NM

FRONT AND REAR DOOR HANDLES FAIL - UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

TIRES ARE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALL, I'M AFRAID TO GETUP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. THEY SAY "MADE IN CANADA" I COULD NOT FIND THE DOT #.( DOT NUMBER: NONE TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE FORCING THE CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD SO AS NOT TO COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES, THIS CONDITIONS HAS ALSO CAUSED A ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER, SHE SUSTAINED CUTS TO HER FACE AND OTHER INJURIES. NLM

A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SWAY BAR BRACKET TO THE WHEEL SNAPPED DUE TO CORROSION WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER WILL REPLACE BOLT WITH THE SAME DESIGN. *AK

5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES P235/75R15, FIRESTONE INFORMED CONSUMER TIRES WERE OKAY, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER NOISE GOT WORSE AND WHEN EXAMINING TIRES FOUND THAT 2 HAD EXPERIENCED SLIGHT TREAD SEPARATION, FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ALL 4 TIRES HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

I PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER, IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. WHEN I PURCHASED IT, THE MILEAGE WAS AT 23,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO OR THREE TIMES FOR MINOR REPAIR WORK WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IT CURRENTLY HAS APRROX. 54,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS SLIPPING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, AND IS ON THE VERGE OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME CHECKING I FOUND THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $2,400.00 FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF VEHICLE REPAIRS BECAUSE I DEPEND ON MY VEHICLES , FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. HOWEVER, IT IS MY CONSIDERED OPINION THAT A NEARLY NEW VEHICLE SUCH AS THIS ONE WITH THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILEAGE THAT IT HAS, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE IT IS CURRENTLY HAVING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE FOR THIS MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED SO THAT I CAN DETERMINE IF I AM ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OR TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ADDITONAL CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING AND JUST SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER ME CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THREE (3) TIRES HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE BELTS. ONE LEFT-REAR TIRE SEPARATED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THE CAR STARTED SHIMMING, THEN A THUMP, AND YOU COULD HEAR FLAPPING. THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE BELTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING AND SEAT BELT IS FASTENED, WHEN MOVING AROUND,SEAT BELT WILL COME UNDONE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LINING ON LEFT REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOE SEPARATED FROM SHOE, CAUSING LEFT REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *AK