35 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 99,500 miles.
35
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY WIFE AND I ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR 96 EXPLORER ONCE WE LEARNED OF ALL THE RECALLS ( REAR SIDE GLASS, BAD SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS.) JUST TO NAME A FEW I KNOW OF.
NHTSA complaint #10367349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1996 FORD EXPLORER. VEHICLE KEYS ONLY WORK INFREQUENTLY. NEW KEYS FROM FORD DEALER CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FOR SAFETY, ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEIR VEHICLE KEY WILL OPERATE RELIABLY. IF YOU FEEL THREATENED OR ARE BEING FOLLOWED AND NEEDED THE SECURITY OF ENTERING AND LOCKING YOUR VEHICLE BUT WERE UNABLE THIS COULD RESULT IN A PERSONAL SAFETY RISK INCLUDING DEATH. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ISSUE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FROM OTHER OWNERS AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE OR CORRECT IT. HAVING TO LEAVE A VEHICLE UNLOCKED SIMPLY TO ALLOW ENTRY IS UNACCEPTABLE. I MIGHT AS WELL PLACE A SIGN ON MY VEHICLE SAYING STEAL ME. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT A SOLUTION. NEW KEYS MAY WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN SIMPLY STOP WORKING. THEY MAY EVEN WORK LATER, IT IS NOT A KEY PROBLEM BUT A VEHICLE DESIGN ISSUE. NONE OF THE KEYS OPERATE THE REAR HATCH, NONE OF THE KEYS OPERATE THE PASSENGER DOOR ANY LONGER EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH EITHER. THE DRIVERS DOOR WORKS APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME. THESE ARE NOT "CHIP KEYS", THERE IS NO SECURITY ISSUE IN THAT REGARD. THESE ARE SIMPLY STANDARD DEALER CUT KEYS. THERE IS NO DISTINGUISHABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEYS AND ALL HAVE WORKED AT TIMES. AGAIN, THE ISSUE IS THE VEHICLE DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10244016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SUPPORT GATE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE GLASS. ALSO, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V137000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:SUPPORT DEVICE) OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V070000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #10206344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10115953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
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.
NHTSA complaint #10105625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE OF DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10094609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DEFECT WITH FAULTY INTERIOR DOOR LATCH/RELEASE MECHANISM PREVENTS DOORS FROM BEING OPENED BY PASSENGERS.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10031493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTHE REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE...SOMETIMES LEFT REAR DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE DUE TO CHILD SAFETY LATCH NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10062473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #755626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK TAILGATE BECAUSE RIGHT SIDE LATCH WILL STICK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
10/2000 - THE LEFT REAR DOOR LATCH FROM THE INSIDE WOULD NOT WORK. ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST ME APPROX. $175.00. MARCH, 2001 - THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LATCH HAS NOW BROKEN. AGAIN, ANYONE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE WILL BE UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN SINCE I HAVE CHILDREN WHO SIT IN THE BACK AND IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. I WILL BE GETTING THIS DOOR FIXED NEXT WEEK BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THESE SAFETY DEFECTS PUT ANY PERSON SITTING IN THE BACK IN GRAVE DANGER IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. THESE FAILURES SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #743365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN. THEY WILL ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IN AN ACCIDENT REAR PASSENGERS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT.
NHTSA complaint #868530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE BROKEN INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME BUT, BECAUSE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK FEATURE BEING ACTIVATED IT WASN'T NOTICED UNTIL THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS DEACTIVETED ONLY TO FIND THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. UPON DISASSEMBLY, I FOUND THE PLASTIC CAM THAT UNLOCKS THE LATCH OF THE DOOR TO BE CRACKED OFF RENDERING THE HANDLE USELESS. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, THE PREMATURE AND EXPENSIVE FAILURE SHOULD BECOME A RECALL ITEM FOR FORD AS I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS TYPE VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS OF GREAT FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCE AND POSSIBLE TRAGIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCE.. I'D SAY A DISPORPORTIONATE NUMBER OF EXPLORER OWNERS ARE ENCOUNTERING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE LIFE THREATENING CONDITION OF A BAD TRANSIMISSION COULD HAVE LED TO A LOCK-UP OR UNEXPECTED RAPID DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD HAVE ROLLED THE TRUCK. INTERNAL COMPONENTS WERE BADLY SCARRED AND IRREPAIREBLY DAMAGED. INITIAL SYMPTONS WERE HESITATION ON ACCELLERATION AT SHIFT POINTS FORD ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS TO ADDRESS THESE SYMPTOMS BUT NEVER RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #722413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON THE SAME DAY BOTH MY REAR DOOR LATCHES BROKE.YOU CAN'T OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE.THIS IS NOT DUE TO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY PASSENGERS COULDN'T GET OUT IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #720906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH REAR DOOR CHILD SAFETY LOCKS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. YH
NHTSA complaint #550510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH REAR INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES FAIL TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. FIRST THE RIGHT REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THEN THE LEFT REAR ALSO FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT "TRAPS" THE REAR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS IS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #714089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
REAR LIFTGATE BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNNOT OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #849253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE OFF INSIDE DOOR, MAKIN G IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO GET OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WITH BOTH DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #842510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE REAR RIGHT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #839099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AT VAROIUS TIMES, CAUSING THEM TO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THE DEALER WILL FIX BUT ONLY IF I PAY.
NHTSA complaint #706823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHENEVER CHILD SAFETYLOCK IS ACTIVATED, THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE WITH A LITTLE PRESSURE, CAN CAUSE THE DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #833553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE TWO DOORS IN REAR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. SEEMS THE CHILD LOCKS ARE ON, WHEN THE CHILD LOCKS ARE IN THE CORRECT POSITION, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #831193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED ON THE DOOR LOCKS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #509444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #539935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO POP OFF.
NHTSA complaint #539935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. OPENS FROM OUTSIDE. LATCH DISENGAGES ITSELF SO DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. TOOK TO DEALER. WAS REPAIRED. PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED.
NHTSA complaint #821581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE REAR DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. MECHANIC STATED THAT PROLBEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK. THE PROLBEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #821616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT DIRECTION OF VEHICLE. IT ROTATED CONTER-CLOCKWISE AND WENT INTO A SLIDE. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 4 TIMESS. IN ADDITION, DURING ITS FIRST ROTATION, DOOR LATCH FAILED, DOOR OPENED AND DRIVER PARTIALLY EJECTED. DRIVER DIED FROM FATAL INJURIES AND PASSSENGER WA S INJURED. DRIVER WAS NOT INFORMED BY FORD OF RECALL REGARDING DOOR LATCHES AND LOCKS (96V-070).
NHTSA complaint #524206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCK FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.