1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

FIRESTONE TIRE P235 75 R15 FR480 MS SEPARATED CAUSING OUR FORDEXPLORER TO ROLL OVER. NEAR VENUS, TEXAS ON HWY 67 SOUTH. *TR

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A NONE TO VERY LITTLE BAKING. 2ND TIME WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. *NM

GAS PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET SEPARATED FROM FIREWALL. *TR

VEHICLE: 1996 FORD EXPLORER FAILURE: THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SPRING FAILED, AND WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY, RESULTING IN RELEASE OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER VERY LIGHT PULL. CANNOT COMPLY WITH SEAT BELT USAGE LAWS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PART. *JB

RUNNING TAILLIGHTS BECOME DIM THEN FAIL COMPLETELY WITH THE SMELL OF BURNT WIRING, COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VICINITY. ON BOARD COMPUTER SHOWS NO FAILURE AND FRONT RUNNING/MARKER LIGHTS STILL OPERABLE. NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS CLIP CRACKED, AND ALSO THE HARNESS BUCKLE WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, WHICH ALLOWS THE CHILD TO GET OUT.

I OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 9, 2006, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION (THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY) ALL FOUR TIRE WERE MARKED ON THE TREAD DEPTH SCALE IN THE GREEN 7/32 OR GREATER BOX. LATER THAT SAME EVENING AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT I PROCEEDED ON A TRIP. I LEFT TUCSON, AZ AROUND 5:30 TO 6:00PM GOT NO FARTHER THAN YUMA AZ WHEN THE TREAD FROM MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TEARING THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER OFF, THE BUMPER AREA UNDERNEATH THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON THE GROUND AND BIG BLACK CIRCULAR MARKS WERE ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHERE THE TREAD HAD HIT DURING SEPARATION. THE EVENT ITSELF WAS HORRIBLY FRIGHTENING FOR US AS WELL AS MY 3 CHILDREN. THANK THE LORD WE DID NOT WRECK AND THERE WAS NO TURNOVER OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P225/70R15. I WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO HAD SAFETY CHECKED THE TIRE AND HE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE IS W2UU IPO .99. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE LAST 2 NUMBERS WOULD BE THE DATE THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED. MY QUESTIONS ARE IS THIS A COMMON THING FOR THESE TYPES OF TIRES AND WHAT IS THE LIFE SPAN OF THAT TIRE. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE TIRE WAS 7 YRS OLD OR DOES IT MATTER HOW OLD THE TIRE IS. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES (CERTAINLY NOT FIRESTONES) BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE AGE OF MY TIRE IF ITS SIMPLY CHECKING A MANUFACTURING DATE. THAT WAY I COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE IN JEOPARDY!! *NM

FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW: ON 4/19/2006, TEMP. NEVER REACHED OVER 80 DEGREES AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. SUMMER OF 2005, I HAVE 5 CO-WORKERS STATED THEIR REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AS WELL. THE COMPANY WHO REPLACED THE REAR WINDOW, STATED THEY (FORD EXP.) ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS OR FORD BE MADE TO PUT A HIGHER QUALITY WINDOW IN? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL NOT STAY SECURED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THE CONTACT IS PLANNING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - THE BUCKLE SPRING BROKE DUE TO WEAR WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELT NOT LATCHING. *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY, WHEN THE CAR RPMS SUDDENLY WENT UP TO 5500 WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY, I THEN REACHED DOWN TO CHECK IF SOMETHING WAS CONTACTING THE ACCELERATOR AND I ALSO PULLED THE FLOOR MAT BACK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST 80 MPH. PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO I PUSHED DOWN THE CLUTCH AND THE CAR SLOWED, HOWEVER, THE RPM STAYED AT 5500. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED IT AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE RPM WENT BACK UP TO 5500. I THEN STOPPED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE CAR WAS THEN RUNNING NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AS THERE WERE NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION CODES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE INCIDENT AND THE ACCELERATOR AND CRUISE CONTROL CABLES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE FLOOR MAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE BUT I'M SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE AS I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE HONEST AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE, THE HOUSE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 80 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE BY THE APPLIED BRAKES. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CONTACT PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH ASSISTED IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 4 OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON 07/22/06.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHING. IT WOULD UNLATCH WHILE IN USE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORCE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO COME UNLATCHED. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD. NOW, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *AK WHEN CONTACT'S HUSBAND BOUGHT THE NEW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY TO INSTALL IT THE SALES PERSON CLAIMED HE SOLD MULTIPLE OF THESE SETS, AND THEY WORKED WELL. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY. ONE DAY LATER IT DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. *JB

I WAS DRIVING FROM LOUISVILLE TO REHOBOTH BEACH, DE. I LEFT AROUND 4:00 AM WITH NO TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. APPROXIMATELY 9:45 AM EST MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT STOP. I PUSHED EVERY BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND KEPT PUSHING THE BRAKES AND THAT WOULD ONLY SLOW DOWN THE CAR. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 80+ MPH, I ONLY HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 74. MY CAR WAS DRIVING OUT OF CONTROL ON THE CURVY AND MOUNTAINOUS ROADS OF HWY 79 N AND THIS WENT ON FOR AROUND 5 MILES BEFORE I CAME TO A STRAIGHT-AWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL (SLAMMING ON THE BREAKS) MY CAR STILL DID NOT STOP, I FINALLY PUT IT IN PARK (I'M IN THE EMERGENCY LANE NOW, ) STILL DID NOT STOP AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY BREAKS WERE SMOKING AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THIS WAS BETWEEN MILE MARKER 71 & 72. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA (MY CELL PHONE WAS OUT OF RANGE SO I HAD TO PUT IT ON ROAM) AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL SHOWED UP WITHIN MINUTES AND WAITED WITH ME UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME. HE THEN TOWED ME TO GASSAWAY FORD WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER (JOHN SMALLWOOD) CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE CRUISE CONTROL PIECE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REMOVED IT FROM MY CAR AND CHECKED MY BREAKS AND SAID THEY WERE O.K. (I DROVE THE REST OF MY TRIP TO REHOBOTH AND BACK TO LOUISVILLE, THE BREAKS APPEAR TO BE LOOSE NOW AND NOT AS TIGHT AS THEY ONCE WERE). HE GAVE ME THE DEFECTIVE PIECE AND THEY WERE OUT OF THAT PART SO IT WAS NOT REPLACED ON MY CAR. HE ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND WITH THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE PIECE WAS DEFECTIVE AND I'M LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED. *JB

MY FORD EXPLORER '96 SUV CABIN CLIMATE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 2 YRS AGO AT 70K MILES. IT ONLY BLOWS BURNING HOT AIR OR FREEZING COLD AIR. DEALER WANTS $900 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR. FORD WILL NOT FIX THIS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPENSIVE & THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT RUINS THE UTILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IN WINTER, WINDOWS FROST IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. THIS IS THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE EDDIE BAUER EDITION...FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *JB

I OWN A 96 FORD EXPLORER AND WAS TOLD BY CO-WORKERS THAT A DEFECTIVE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE 2000 MODEL F-150 THAT PART WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT WAS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE BRAKE FLUID HOUSING, IT WAS A LIVE WIRE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION, IF FOR ANY REASON THERE WAS A SPARK OR SHORT THAT WIRE WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO EXPLODE. I NOTICED THAT I HAD A LEAK AROUND A PART IN MY FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS IN FRONT OF MY BRAKE FLUID HOUSING AND WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAD THAT SAME PART THAT WAS BEING RECALLED IN THE F-150. THE PART ONLY COST 18.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BUT THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS HOW WOULD I HAVE EXPLAINED TO MY FAMILY WHY MY CAR EXPLODED WHEN I WOULD OF HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A WORD OUT TO ALL THE EXPLORER OWNERS AROUND THE WORLD TO HAVE THERE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES CHECK OR REPLACE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A UNPLEASANT VISIT TO THE FORD REPAIR PLACE TO FIND OUT THAT THEY COULD OF NOT COME BACK THE NEXT MORNING. *JB

DT: CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HER SON DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES SOMEONE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER YET, BUT WAS GOING TO DO SO.*AK

1996 FORD EXPLORER HAD SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE WHILE PARKED AND UNATTENDED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 8 HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. *JB

DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WITH HUSBAND, MYSELF AND 21 MONTH BABY IN CAR, PASSING VEHICLE, WHEN PUT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWED DOWN THEN WHEN LET OFF BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, APPLIED BRAKE 2 MORE TIMES, BOTH TIMES, SLOWED DOWN BUT WHEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, RESULTED IN A SPIN-OUT ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY STOPPING SHORT OF CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICHLE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. CALLED FORD CONSUMER RELATIONS, WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. TOOK CAR THE NEXT DAY TO A FORD DEALER IN CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE NEW JERSEY, SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR.

BRAKE FAILURE - REAR BRAKES FAILED, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AT REAR BY AXLE. NEW LINE INSTALLED. GARAGE SAID COMMON PROBLEM ON FORDS.

1996 EDDIE BAUER, FORD EXPLORER..THE VEHICLE HAS OPERATED FINE FOR THE PAST YEAR, BUT IN JUNE THE WIPERS, WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND SOME INTERIOR SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, THEN COME BACK ON, THEN LOCK UP AGAIN. AFTER TALKING TO MY DEALER, THEY TELL ME IT LIKELY THE GEM GOING OUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE ON 1999 MODELS, BUT THAT IT DIDN'T COVER 1996'S. I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF OTHER 1996 OWNERS AND HAVE VISITED A NUMBER OF EXPLORER SITES ONLINE AND EVIDENTLY THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE NHTSA RECALL FOR THE 1999'S IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING...IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE GEM IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART AND MY MECHANIC SAYS IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WENT OUT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT AND IS KEPT IMMACULATE, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS MAKING ME SERIOUSLY QUESTION PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE GIVEN ALL THE ELECTRONIC GARBAGE THAT IS PLACED ON THEM NOWADAYS. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT, JUST TELLING ME THAT IT ISN'T A RECALLED ITEM AND THEREFORE ISN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF HIS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END. *TT

DT: THE DRIVER'S SEATS BROKE FROM THE METAL PART BY WHERE ONE ADJUSTS SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE BOLT THAT HOLDS SEAT IN PLACE BROKE. A MECHANIC THAT INSTALLS THE SEATS IN THE FORD EXPLORER COME LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OF HAPPENED. WAS INJECTED INTO THE BACK SEAT, AND THEN GOT OUT. THEN HUSBAND GOT IN AND MOVED VEHICLE , INJECTED HIM FORWARD . ALSO, IT BLEW ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUSES , BOUGHT NEW FUSES AND NOW IT WORKS.*AK

1996 FORD EXPLORER TWO DOORS: CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL MELTED. NEW BUTTONS PUT BY A PRIVATE TECHNICIAN AT MY OWN COST. SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT MINE. WHY NOT? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB

DT: WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE ACCELERATOR FELL OFF THE FIREWALL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HAVING IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD MADE A COMMENT SAYING THEY HAD SEEN THAT BEFORE. THEY DRILLED BOLTED THE FIREWALL AND ATTACHED IT WITH BOLTS INSTEAD OF SPOT WELDING IT. *AK

DT: CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT STREET AND THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE WITNESSES TO THIS. THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL WITH TIRE INTACT CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE LEANED AND FLIPPED, AND TIPPED OVER. IT LANDED HALFWAY ON SIDEWALK AND HALFWAY IN STREET. EMERGENCY CREWS WERE CALLED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER, AND HAS NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK PROPERLY, TRAPPING THE DRIVER AND CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. PRESSING THE 'UNLOCK' BUTTON DOES NOTHING. SO FAR, THE FORD DEALER WANTS AROUND $400 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND SAYS IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. *JB

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED INSIDE THE PARKING LOT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATED IN 02-05 THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CONSUMER REPORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *NM

DT: THE VEHICLE STARTED ON FEBRUARY 2, 2005 TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT, BUT DID NOT REPLACE IT. ALSO, THERE WAS A RADIATOR LEAK. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR THE TRUCK WILL JERK. FORD SAID THIS WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO DRIVE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD TELL IT WAS NOT HOOKED UP PROPERLY. NOW THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS WHY THE VEHICLE WAS TORN UP DUE TO THE WAY FORD HAD THE CONSUMER DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING BLEND DOOR ON MY CAR IS STUCK AND WILL NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD EVEN ON COLD WINTER AND ICE DAYS, INCLUDING DURING ICE STORMS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET THE ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AND FIXED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR A LONG TIME NOW WITH NO RESULTS. NOW THAT ITS SUMMER, THE BLEND DOOR IS STUCK ON HOT AND ITS ONLY BLOWING COMPLETELY HOT AIR - THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN DESIGN AND MATERIAL DEFECT WITH THE BLEND DOOR AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS FOR ALL 1995 - 1999 FORD EXPLORERS AND STILL FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT AND TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO ITS CONSUMERS TO FIX IT. IN THE WINTERS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S INABILITY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT STAY BUCKLED, EA02-011. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELT LOCKED, RESTRAINING THE DRIVER, EVEN WHEN DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 29TH, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30PM I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON RT. 9W IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, APPROXIMATELY 35-40F, AND THE ROADS WERE CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE. I PASSED A CAR GOING 35MPH IN A 55 MPH AREA, AND MY EXPLORER STUCK GOING AT 3000R PMS AND ACCELERATING. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT MY EXPLORER WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I PUT ON MY HAZARDS, PUT BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDALS PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD AND STILL COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP TRYING TO PULL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, IT STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN SO I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND ENDED UP GOING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND CRASHING DOWN A 10 FEET. EMBANKMENT. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR OBSERVATION AND RELEASED.*AK

BUCKLE END OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS. BUCKLE END NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

1996 FORD EXPLORER ,OPENED LIFTGATE AND SUPPORT SHOCK POPPED OFF OF BRACKET THE BALL ON BRACKET BROKE OFF,NOW TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANGER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL,BUT HE SAID THERE WASNT,BUT HE SEEN OTHER EXPLORERS DO THE SAME THING,NOW LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS OPENING THE GATE,NOT WHEN I WAS UNDER THE GATE,WHICH MADE ME THINK THAT THIS COULD A VERY POTENTAL INJURIE,OR EVEN A LIFE THREATING HAZZARD IF IT WAS A SMALL PERSON LIKE A CHILD,IF THIS GATE LETS LOOSE WHEN SOMEONE IS UNDER IT.THIS GATE IS VERY HEAVY AND SLAMS VERY HARD WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF BOTH SHOCKS.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THEY LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE SLID AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN ROLLED OVER. *AK

FORD EXPLORERS MODEL 1996 (XTL) PROBLEM-SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP. *BF THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO TIRE BURSTS. *SC

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.

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

TRAVELING HOME ON HIGHWAY 509 AROUND 3:00 PM IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER, CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND DRY, PASSED A CAR GOING 40 MPH IN A 55MPH ZONE, UPON PASSING THE ACCELERATOR WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND STUCK THERE. TRIED TO PLACE MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO LIFT UP, COULD'NT. SUV STEADILYGAINING SPEED,LAS TIME I GLANCED DOWN I WAS GOING APPROX. 95MPH, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH SO I COULD GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD SAFLEY,SUV WENT OFF THE ROAD DID A FLIP IN MID AIR ROLLED HITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CAME TO REST ON DRIVERS SIDE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WIDE OPEN, MANAGED TO SOMEHOW REACH THE IGNITION KEY TO TURN ENGINE OFF, IT TOOK FIRE RESCUE 35 MINUTERS TO CUT ME OUT OF THE SUV,I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES,AS OF 12/10/04 I AM STILL GOING THROUGH THERAPY WITH MY NECK AND SHOULDERS, SUV WAS A TOTAL LOSS.HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW AUTOMOBILE.*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

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

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

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

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH O MELTED BECAUSE OF THE HOT SUN. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES WORK, BUT THE CONSUMER NO LONGER USES THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE.*AK