16 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the equipment — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 158,000 miles.
16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT
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.
EQUIPMENT
I DID NOT RECEIVE A REMEDY OR NOTIFICATION LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT MY SAFETY DEFECTS ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHAT DO I DO NOW, IS THERE STILL TIME TO FIX THESE DEFECTS?
NHTSA complaint #10312693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
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.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1996 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - CD CHANGER, CD PLAYER FAULT.
NHTSA complaint #10049472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CABLE HOLDING SPARE UP AGAINST VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. WIRING WAS WEARING OUT. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #892250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A GREAT VEHICLE, BOY WAS I WRONG. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS SUV. PLEASE CHECK ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS THIS IS AN INTERIOR PROBLEM, THESE THINGS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EVEY DAY USE. THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE, BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE, THE SPARE TIRE RELEASE BROKE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAUSED AN INCONVIENCE TO MY FAMILY, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ALINGMENT HASEN'T BEEN RIGHT SENSE I'VE OWNED IT, THE BACK SEAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT RELEASE TO FOLD FORWARD, AND THE MOTOR ON THE HATCH HASEN'T WORKED PROPERLY FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK FOR ALL YOU DO. MARGIE HULSEY. ML
NHTSA complaint #736209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
AAA CAME TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. TURNED THE CABLE FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN. TIRE WAS LOWERED FROM STORAGE AREA, REACHED UP, AND THE CABLE BROKE. MOVEMENT OR THE POSITION OF THE CABLE COULD BE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #856042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
LABEL ON DOOR SHOWS INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE.
NHTSA complaint #532325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES
EXPLORERS EQUIPPED WITH MESSAGE CENTERS HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE WHENN USING THE TOWING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #533579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
JACK HANDLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO HEAD/AM-FM/CASSETTE/CD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAN FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
LUGGAGE RACK ATTACHMENTS VIBRATE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND PARTIALY SEPARATED.
NHTSA complaint #812496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS LUGGAGE RACK ATTACHMENTS VIBRATED, CAUSING IT TO LOOSEN AND SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #812449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
ONE END OF BACK LUGGAGE RACK CAME UNDONE, CAUSING RACK TO BLOW OVER AND DANGLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #506553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.