IllustrationRECALL 00V402000/STABILIZER BAR LINK STUB: DRIVER'S SIDE STUB BROKEN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15-20 MPH; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO HIM ON THIS PROBLEM ? *AK BOTH LINK STUBS HAD BEEN REPLACED. *YH
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
What owners actually said
1,450 reportsI NEVER CONTACTED FORD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY SUSPENSION WAS FALLING APART DUE TO TOWING AND BAD ROADS IN MY AREA.. THEN I GET A RECALL FOR END LINKS... BUT THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR ADDITION DAMAGED RELATED TO THE SWAY BAR LINKS. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR PAYMENT BUT I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY SOMEONE. I …
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I NEVER CONTACTED FORD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY SUSPENSION WAS FALLING APART DUE TO TOWING AND BAD ROADS IN MY AREA.. THEN I GET A RECALL FOR END LINKS... BUT THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR ADDITION DAMAGED RELATED TO THE SWAY BAR LINKS. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR PAYMENT BUT I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY SOMEONE. I HAVE ALMOST ROOLED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THE END LINKS BREAKING AND I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED TWICE AND THE BALL JOINT ONCE, THE BALL JOINT FAILED WHEN THE END LINK FAILED THE SECOND TIME. I MIGHT ADD I WAS A FORD LOVER AT ONE TIME, AND I OWN MANY CLASSIC FORDS, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NEW FORD AGAIN, NOR WILL ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I JUST FEEL THAT THE CONSER GETS RIPPED OFF BY BIG BUSINESS LIKE IN MY CASE, I'M FORCED TO PAY FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WHAT A JOKE, HENRY FORD IS ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE. WHAT A SHAME THAT A COMPANY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LINE THIER POCKETS WITH MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO THAT YOU FOR READING THIS. SINCERLY JOHN BUGDONOVITCH. *AK
TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR ONCED WARMED UP. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY FORD SINCE NEW AT THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED AT. SERVICE VERIFIED PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY'VE SEEN THIS 3-4 TIMES AND COULD ONLY RECOMMEND OVERHUAL OR REPLACEMENT. FLUID FOR TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN OVERFILLED WHE…
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TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR ONCED WARMED UP. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY FORD SINCE NEW AT THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED AT. SERVICE VERIFIED PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY'VE SEEN THIS 3-4 TIMES AND COULD ONLY RECOMMEND OVERHUAL OR REPLACEMENT. FLUID FOR TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN OVERFILLED WHEN SERVICED BY THEM IN FEBUARY 2000. EST COST OF REPAIR 2-3000. *AK
FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIO TI AUGUST 9,2000. NLM
THE BELTS OF THE FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 AND WERE NOT PURCHASED ON A PRORATED BASIS. NLM
FIRESTONE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED REFUND BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENTS WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 (SERIAL # VHDLF0A219). NLM
THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005 DUE TO SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REIMBURSEMENT, THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. *CJ
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT BEFORE APPOINTMENT. *AK
ON DEC. 13, 2000, MY 22 YEAR OLD SON TOTALLED THIS VEHICLE AFTER HITTING A PATCH OF "BLACK ICE" WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS 4 TIMES AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY SON WAS, THANK GOD, WEARING HIS SEATBELT! HE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE HIS SEATBELT AND CRAWLED…
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ON DEC. 13, 2000, MY 22 YEAR OLD SON TOTALLED THIS VEHICLE AFTER HITTING A PATCH OF "BLACK ICE" WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ROLLED ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS 4 TIMES AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY SON WAS, THANK GOD, WEARING HIS SEATBELT! HE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE HIS SEATBELT AND CRAWLED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WHICH HAD BEEN BROKEN OUT. HE ESCAPED WITHOUT ANY INJURIES! MY CONCERN IS SO MUCH EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE ROLLOVER POSSIBILITIES WHEN A TIRE BLOWS, WHY NOT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLIPPING WHEN HITTING ICE? IS ANYTHING BEING INVESTIGATED TO CORRECT THE TOP HEAVINESS OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE 2-DOOR MODELS. MORE EMPHASIS NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE NECESSITY OF WEARING SEATBELTS TO SURVIVE A ROLLOVER.. *AK
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED (RUNAWAY) ACCELERATION AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 20 DEGREE F TEMPERATURE. UPON EXITING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FIRST LIGHT (GREEN) WITH OUT NEEDING TO BRAKE OR STOP. THE SECOND (IMMEDIATE) LIGHT WAS ALSO GREEN AND I PROCEEDED THROUGH …
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THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED (RUNAWAY) ACCELERATION AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 20 DEGREE F TEMPERATURE. UPON EXITING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FIRST LIGHT (GREEN) WITH OUT NEEDING TO BRAKE OR STOP. THE SECOND (IMMEDIATE) LIGHT WAS ALSO GREEN AND I PROCEEDED THROUGH IT WITH SLIGHT ACCELERATION (NO BRAKING). THE NEXT LIGHT WAS RED WITH A LINE OF CARS WAITING TO PROCEED AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES. AT THAT POINT, THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW AND THEN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND WAS AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE WITHIN A SECOND OR SO. I BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD AND MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR CAR IN LINE, WHICH, IN TURN CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT. BOTH OTHER DRIVERS WERE INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THIS ACCIDENT IS COVERED IN THE BRIGHTON, NY POLICE REPORT #100220. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AFTER EXPLORING THE NHTSA DATABASE AND DISCOVERING NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V07400. MY VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT RECALLED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN, ALTHOUGH THE CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY APPEAR TO BE MET BY MY VEHICLE. NOTE: I AM VERY SURE THAT I DID NOT MISTAKENLY APPLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RATHER THAN THE BRAKE PEDAL. *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.