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1996 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Explorer years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Explorer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 609.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 153 of 1,450 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 570 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

195 crash reports37 fire reports179 injury reports

Tires complaints

570 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Tires

ON THE FIRST INCIDENT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE AND READY TO EXPLODE, IT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE MISALIGNED. DURING THE ALIGNMENT THEY DISCOVERED THE DEFECT AND REPLACE THE TIRE FOR THE SAME TYPE. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TIRE PEELED-OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY TO BEING ABLE TO CONTR…

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ON THE FIRST INCIDENT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE AND READY TO EXPLODE, IT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE MISALIGNED. DURING THE ALIGNMENT THEY DISCOVERED THE DEFECT AND REPLACE THE TIRE FOR THE SAME TYPE. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TIRE PEELED-OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY TO BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL TO THE SIDE, BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I ALMOST CRASHED. AT THAT TIME I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE (PREGNANT 6 MONTHS) AND MY 3 YEAR OLD SON. THE TIRE PROBLEM CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND PART OF IT WAS COVERED BY THE INSURANCE. PLEASE HELP ME GET A REFUND FROM THESE PROBLEMS AS NOW FIRESTONE HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS QUALITY ISSUE. THANKS. FRANCISCO BUITRON.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728756

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
SuspensionTires

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

NHTSA ODI #868356

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND DRIVER THOUGHT THAT HE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT DISCOVERED THAT TREAD HAD PEELED OFF OF TIRE. SIZE OF TIRE WAS WILDERNESS P255/70 R 16.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70/R16 *MW

NHTSA ODI #868351

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THEN, CONSUMER TOOK TIRE FOR REPAIRS, BUT FOUND OUT THAT TIRE HAD CRACKS ON EACH SIDE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, 255/70R16. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868325

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE NOT STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. THEN, FOUND OUT OF A TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, 225/70R15. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868308

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95, TO FLORIDA THE FRONT TIRE, DRIVERS SIDE, BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728739

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

I HAD TWO TIRES THAT BLEW OUT ON ME RESULTING IN TWO MAJOR DENTS IN MY VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728700

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

ON JULY 29, 2000 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE/BACK TIRE. IT RESEMBLED AN ORANGE THAT HAD BEEN PEELED WITH THE OUTER EDGE LODGED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EXPLORER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS IN SHREDS. WE HAD PURCHASED THESE TIRES IN MARCH OF 2000 AND THEY HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM. FIRESTONE AND FORD WILL NOT TALK …

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ON JULY 29, 2000 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE/BACK TIRE. IT RESEMBLED AN ORANGE THAT HAD BEEN PEELED WITH THE OUTER EDGE LODGED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EXPLORER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS IN SHREDS. WE HAD PURCHASED THESE TIRES IN MARCH OF 2000 AND THEY HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM. FIRESTONE AND FORD WILL NOT TALK TO ME BECAUSE THEY ARE P255 AND NOT P235. WE ARE LUCKY WE WERE NOT KILLED ON THE INTERSTATE WE WERE ON. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. AFTER A MONTH NO ONE WILL TAKE MY CALLS OR TELL ME I AM WASTING MY TIME WHEN I COME IN PERSON BECAUSE WE HAVE 16 INCH TIRES. DO WE HAVE TO DIE TOO?( DOT NUMBER: W2CU -VNCU TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NHTSA ODI #728686

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

I WAS DRIVING ON I20 AT APPROX. 50 MPH WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF THE LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. (NO INJURY OCCURRED.) I HAD BEEN TO THE FIRESTONE OFFICE IN TYLER, TX TWICE SINCE THE RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW THAT THEY WERE ALREADY BEGINNING TO BREAK LOOSE, BUT H…

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I WAS DRIVING ON I20 AT APPROX. 50 MPH WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF THE LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. (NO INJURY OCCURRED.) I HAD BEEN TO THE FIRESTONE OFFICE IN TYLER, TX TWICE SINCE THE RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW THAT THEY WERE ALREADY BEGINNING TO BREAK LOOSE, BUT HAD NO TIRES TO REPLACE THEM, SO THEY PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST. LAST FRIDAY I CHECKED TO SEE WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE TIRES. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES THEN, JUST SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 140 MORE AHEAD OF MINE. THEY SAID THAT MY NAME WAS #2 ON THE ATX LIST, BUT THAT WILDERNESS ATS WERE THE ONLY ONES THEY WERE CHANGING OUT NOW. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 2 MORE WEEKS BEFORE MY NUMBER WOULD COME UP, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM AGAIN THAT THE TREAD WAS ALREADY COMING LOOSE AND THAT I DRIVE 50 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK ON HIGHWAYS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PM095 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728682

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires

CRACKING BY TREAD,UPPER SIDEWALL AND BY RIM. LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER SAID THAT WAS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SAID I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 2 MO. FOR BRIDGESTONE REPLACEMENTS. BOUGHT GOODYEARS AND THREW OUT THE FIRESTONES. I DO HAVE SOME PHOTOS OF THE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PL285 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NHTSA ODI #728634

Official recalls

6

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

00V402000 · Suspension

Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.

97V137000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

Aug 19, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.

97V074000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 30, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.

96V161000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 29, 1996

THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

96V070000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Apr 22, 1996

WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link

Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal

Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console

Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.

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