IllustrationTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDEEN ACCELERATION WHILE CONSUMER WAS BRAKING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED, CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 97V-074 WHICH SPEAKS OF THE SAME FAILURE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED RECALL DUE TO VIN. NLM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
148 reportsTHIS IS THE SECOND TIME SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AFTER AN INITIAL START FROM BEING STOPPED, I.E., AT A STOP LIGHT. FORD CLAIM FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATING I HAVE DISCOVERED ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN THIS INCIDENT AND THE 60+ SIMILAR COMPLIANTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THI…
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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AFTER AN INITIAL START FROM BEING STOPPED, I.E., AT A STOP LIGHT. FORD CLAIM FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATING I HAVE DISCOVERED ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN THIS INCIDENT AND THE 60+ SIMILAR COMPLIANTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN , REACHING SPEEDS OF 90 MPH . CONSUMER PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF IGNITION, AND IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MILES BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK
UNCONTROLLED RAPID ACCELERATION. ONLY STOP BY SET TRONSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND/OR PUNCH DOWN ON GAS PEDAL. HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO DATE. *AK
ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER RELEASING PEDAL. OCCURRED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, AND PRESSED DOWN ON BRAKE FULLY WITH NO EFFECT. ENGINE STILL 'REVVED' AT FULL THROTTLE, WITH BRAKE AT FULL PRESSURE, CAUSING A SQUEALING TURN. ONLY AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL DID ENGINE STOP RACING AND ACCELERATION STOP. TH…
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ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER RELEASING PEDAL. OCCURRED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, AND PRESSED DOWN ON BRAKE FULLY WITH NO EFFECT. ENGINE STILL 'REVVED' AT FULL THROTTLE, WITH BRAKE AT FULL PRESSURE, CAUSING A SQUEALING TURN. ONLY AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL DID ENGINE STOP RACING AND ACCELERATION STOP. THIS OCCURRED TO A LESSER DEGREE A WEEK OR TWO EARLIER, BUT COULD NOT DEFINITIVELY IDENTIFY IF ACCELERATION PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. *AK
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED MANY TIMES, WITH NO SUCCESS IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR DIES. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. DURING THE FIRST FEW OCCURRENCES THE CAR WOULD RUN FINE AFTER I REVVED THE ENGINE A FEW TIMES. HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS (AND PRESENTLY) THE PRO…
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MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED MANY TIMES, WITH NO SUCCESS IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR DIES. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. DURING THE FIRST FEW OCCURRENCES THE CAR WOULD RUN FINE AFTER I REVVED THE ENGINE A FEW TIMES. HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS (AND PRESENTLY) THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY AFTER THE ENGINE IS REVVED NOR DOES IT MAKE IT VERY EASY TO DRIVE. ONCE I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL AND THE RPM'S DECREASE, THE CAR DIES ON ME...WHETHER IT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION OR ANY PLACE. *AK
ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL ONE INCH AWAY. THE MASTER CYLINDER DEVELOPED A LEAK ALLOWING THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO TRAVEL PAST THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS SO CLOSE THE INCIDENCE OF HITTING BOTH PEDALS BECOMES GREATER AS IT WAS WITH MY VEHICLE. WE HAD COME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP THEN …
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ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL ONE INCH AWAY. THE MASTER CYLINDER DEVELOPED A LEAK ALLOWING THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO TRAVEL PAST THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS SO CLOSE THE INCIDENCE OF HITTING BOTH PEDALS BECOMES GREATER AS IT WAS WITH MY VEHICLE. WE HAD COME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP THEN THE 1996 EXPLORER ACCELERATED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. SIMPLE FIX BEND THE ACCELERATOR ARM AWAY FROM THE BRAKE PEDDLE. ON 98 EXPLORER'S THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS THREE INCHES AWAY INDICATING FORD DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, FIXED IN LATER MODELS, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY 96 EXPLORER OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. *AK
WHILE TRYING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STARTED ACCELLERATING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR. NOTIFIED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND BOTH REPLIED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED (REPORTEDLY) CAUSING THE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATE - REFUSING TO DECELERATE. THIS "AGGRESSIVE" FAILURE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I HAD TO REACT AND TAKE THE CARE OUT OF GEAR - SINCE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A SPEED OF 47-55 MPH AS I TRIED TO BRAKE. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE P…
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THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED (REPORTEDLY) CAUSING THE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATE - REFUSING TO DECELERATE. THIS "AGGRESSIVE" FAILURE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I HAD TO REACT AND TAKE THE CARE OUT OF GEAR - SINCE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A SPEED OF 47-55 MPH AS I TRIED TO BRAKE. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO REACT QUICKLY - ALTHOUGH I JUST MISSED TAIL-ENDING CARS ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THIS OCCURED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $480. FORD MOTOR CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO RECALL ON FAILED THROTTLE BODIES ON EXPLORERS. SIMILAR CLAIMS WERE MADE ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRES ON EXPLORERS AND 133 PEOPLE HAVE DIED BEFORE THERE WAS A RECALL. MY STAFF MAINTAINS A LARGE MUNICIPAL FLEET AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A DANGEROUS/AGGRESSIVE FAILURE THAT CAUSE AN AUTOMOBILE TO FAIL OR PERFORM JUST THE OPPOSITE OF HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO. THIS FAILURE, WHICH OCCURED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 3 WEEKS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES. I'M NOT HAPPY - AND NOT EVEN SURE THAT THE PART REPLACED IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
609V399000 · 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
3PE00039 · 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.