1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CENTER CONSOLE WITH COMPUTER INFO DISPLAY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

THERE WERE TWO TIRES BLOWOUTS AT THE SIDEWALL SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE BLOWOUTS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. TIRE INFO: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 235/75R15 (DOT/UNAVAILABLE) 20K MILES ON BOTH TIRES DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR. TS SCC

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BUT THEY DIDN'T HOLD. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK GEAR TO STOP VEHCILE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS COASTING. TS

1) NO HEAT, ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. 2) TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SKIP GEARS. VEHICLE WILL SHIFT FROM FIRST TO THIRD GEAR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE 2ND GEAR BAND HAD BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMACTIC TRANSMISSION. MR

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE BRAKING, THE ABS SENSOR KICKED IN, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES. MR SCC

BOTH FRONT SEATS BELTS RELEASE ON THEIR OWN. HAVE DONE SO NUMEROUS TIMES. I WILL REPLACE THEM TODAY. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE HANDLE. CONSUMER CAN'T OPEN DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

TIRE BLEWOUT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES, WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES SYSTEM TAKE LONGER TO STOP AND ALWAYS REMAIN THE LIGHT ON. ALSO HAS PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELARATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE PEDAL WILL STICK AND VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH, AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO USE IT WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH VEHICLE STEERED LEFT. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, AND HIT A CONCRETE DIVIDER, CAUSING $ 4000.00 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN ON RIGHT FRONT.*AK

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO LEAK FROM HEAD GASEKTS. TOO MUCH WEAR ON GASKETS FOR ONLY 75,000 MILES. *TT

AT 65MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER BECAUSE FLYWHEEL'S CENTER HUB BROKE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION.*AK

I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON 4/16/02 AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CROSSED MY PATH. WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAG INFLATE? I HAVE SEVERE BRUSING AND CONTUSIONS ON MY CHEST AS A RESULT OF BEING THRUSTED FOREWARD HITTING THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

FRONT SWAY BAR BRACKET BROKEN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, REAR SUSPENSION BAD, REAR BUMPER & FRAME BENT, ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, FRONT & REAR BRAKES NEEDED, REAR -END SHIFTS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS LIED TO BECAUSE I DID INQUIRE ABOUT AND ACCIDENT BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT. ALSO, ALLIGNMENT NEEDED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

WITHIN A 6 MONTH SPAN CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. TRANSMIISSION EXPLODED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, AND THE VEHICEL WAS NOT ACCELERATI NG.*AK

SECOND FIRESTONE (P235/75R15S)TIRE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE SHOCK ABSORBERS, REAR AND FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS MY EXPLORER SEEMS TO HAVE LOST IT'S HANDLING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE SWAY AND TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

FORD EXPLORER WITH 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTARE 12 NEAR MILEMARKER 75 THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES BUT HAVE THE FAILED TIRE AND DIGITAL PHOTOS IF THEY ARE NEEDED

VEHICLE WOULD START VIBRATING AT 40 MPH OR LESS. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICTO CHECK. MECHANIC INDICATED ONE BOLT WAS MISSING, AND OTHERS WERE HALFWAY OUT OF SUSPENSION. *AK

EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF HEATER/DEFROSTER IN COLD WEATHER. FORD DEALER IN ATHENS AL WANTED $1000 TO CORRECT FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25MPH BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE TO BE REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

PADS STICK AND WEAR DOWN AFTER GLUE GIVES WAY NOTED FOR ON FORD EXPLORERS ACCORDING TO GARAGE DOING REPAIR WHICH WILL COST ME $175.00 TO REPLACE.*AK

00 T 005 000/TREAD SEPARATION: DEALER (SUNRISE METRO FORD; NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA; PHONE # 818/980-9800) REFUSED TO HONOR MANUFACTURER RECALL 00T005 CONCERNING TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT# H4BNDFA478. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. AK *YH

THE PLASTIC BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF HOT/COLD TEMP ON TRUCK. *AK

BOTH REAR RESTRAINTS DO NOT RETRACT, LEAVING OCCUPANTS UNRESTRAINED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, NOT A PANIC STOP, ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, THIS INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE BY SEVERAL FEET. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND IS GETTING MORE FREQUENTLY, DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE ACCELERATING ON INTERSTATE 17 TO PASS A TRUCK, THE ENTIRE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE FIREWALL OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND A NEAR-COLLISION.*AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHILE DRIVING REQUIRES PLACING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND PULLING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CORRECT - CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC WITH INEXPERIENCED DRIVER.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT STAY LATCHED, AND PLASTIC ON PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS CRACKING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL BROKE, HITTING THE FLOOR, THE BOLT BROKE.

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT IN ABOUT 7 PLACES ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER YESTERDAY ( 11-11-01) ON I-71 ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF COLUMBUS OHIO. AT RIGHT AROUND 65 MPH I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I COULD KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER CALLING AAA FOR ASSISTANCE THE MECHANIC THAT CAME OUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR TIRE FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OR NOW TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS?*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKE PEDAL BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE NO BRAKES, CONSUMER USED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER BRAKE UNIT. *TT

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE SHORTED OUT WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND STARTED A FIRE (OPEN FLAME) ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.

VEHICLE WAS GOING 30-35MPH AND FLIPPED OVER DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULDN'T UNLOCK, LEAVING CONSUMER IN A UPSIDE DOWN POSITION. CONSUMER USED A SCREW DRIVER TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. SEAT BELT PART# TRW TC077. *AK THE AIR BAG ALSO FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE CAUSE FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO THE TIRE WHICH ROLLED OFF FROM THE SAFETY RIM. *YH

SUMMARY WAS UNREADIBLE, AND THEN DISAPPEARED. *AK

THE DEVICE CAUSED MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO LOSE A PORTION OF HER RIGHT POINTER FINGER AND WE FEEL THIS COULD BE PREVENTED IF THAT PART WAS COVERED UP (AT THE VERY LEAST) IN THE MODELS IT EXISTS IN. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE REAR DOOR IS BEING OPENED AND THE FRONT DOOR IS ALREADY OPEN. MY DAUGHTER WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY OF THE FRONT DOOR AND APPARENTLY TOUCHED THIS ROLLER MECHINISM AS MY HUSBAND WAS OPENING THE REAR DOOR, IT BASCIALLY SUCKED HER FINGER IN AND CUT IT OFF (DUE TO THE PRESSURE - THE ROLLER USES THE CAR BODY TO HOLD THE DOOR OPEN). WE HAVE CHECKED AND SOME VEHICLES HAVE THIS AND OTHER DO NOT AND SOME HAVE IT COVERED UP! IT WOULD ONLY BE APPLICABLE IN 4 DOOR VEHICLES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, AS I KNOW IT IS SOMEWHAT CONFUSING. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM GOING THROUGH WHAT WE DID - MY DAUGHTER (2 YEARS OLD) HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REMOVE MORE OF THE BONE/FINGER AND REPAIR THE TIP THE BEST IT COULD BE. SHE STILL HAS DISCOMFORT AT TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN 2 1/2 MONTHS SINCE THE ACCIDENT. WE HAVE CHECKED IT OUT AND SHE COULD HAVE FIT HER WHOLE HAND IN THERE WHICH WOULD OF BEEN EVEN MORE TRAGIC! I HOPE YOU WILL HELP US GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PART IN MANY CARS. *AK

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH WAS PLACED INTO CENTER POSITION RECEPTACLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RELEASED. HAD TO CUT BELT TO FREE THE PASSEANGER. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

ON 09/23/01 MY 24YR. OLD SONINLAW WAS KILLED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A MEIDIAN AND TREE WAS ON TWO TIRES THEN WENT 30FT THRU THE AIR BEFORE THE EXPLORER HE WAS DRIVING ROLLED AND THREW HIM OUT THE DRIVER WINDOW. HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELT WHICH HE HAD HAD TROUBLE WITH SINCE PURCHASE FAILED AND HE WAS EJECTED ALSO HIS BROTHER IN PASSENGER SIDE COULDNT GET HIS BELT TO LATCH BUT HE WAS LUCKY AND WALKED AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES WHICH DIDNT DEPLOY EITHER. MY SON IN LAW DIED THAT NIGHT WHEN HE WAS EJECTED AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON HALF OF HIS FACE. HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND 2SONS AND A 1 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THESE EXPLORERS ARE DEATH TRAPS PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ONE.*AK

THROTTLE INCREASES ON ITS OWN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MOST RECENTLY AT A STOP IN TRAFFIC. MUST APPLY BRAKES HARD TO SOME WHAT CONTROL VEHICLE AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL OR PARK. THEN RELEASE BRAKE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL TO RETURN TO IDLE.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER IT PLEASES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES TO FIX PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. LIGHT WOULD STAY OFF FOR UP TO 1 WEEK AFTER REPAIR, THEN COME BACK ON. DEALER ADVISED THEY HAD REPLACED AN O2 SENSOR, AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH IT DIDN'T. VEHICLE THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE WHERE ANOTHER O2 SENSOR REPLACED. THAT TIME LIGHT STAYED OFF THE LONGEST IT EVER HAD, BUT IT STILL CAME BACK ON. BATTERY CABLES HAVE EVEN BEEN DISCONNECTED TO ALLOW COMPUTER TO RESET, BUT LIGHT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON. AS OF NOW I HAVE SPENT OVER $500 OUT OF MY POCKET TO TRY AND FIX PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXISTS.

WAS TRAVELING 30MPH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR FROM 2ND GEAR. TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP HARD. VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AT DEALERSHIP, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE, BUT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK