20 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the lighting — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 163,000 miles.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILS, RESULTING IN TURN SIGNAL STAYING IN THE ON POSITION AND RESULTS IN WIRE SHORTAGE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD I NOT MANUALLY PUSHED THE SWITCH OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRE WITHIN SECONDS. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, IN 2006. THAT SWITCH ALSO FAILED, BUT I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12/12, SO I CANNOT HAVE IT REPLACED FOR FREE. SINCE IT IS FAULTY, (NOT CAUSED BY THE DRIVER) AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND GET THIS HANDLED IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10302342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE SHORTED OUT WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND STARTED A FIRE (OPEN FLAME) ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #9005560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING INTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHIN ELECTRIAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO MALFUNCTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #880103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
THE SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT IS BROKEN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #554782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
THE SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT IS BROKEN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #554782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70MPH AND THEN SHE FELT VIBRATION, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRES AND DAMAGED VEHICLE. ALSO, TAIL LIGHT WAS BROKEN, AS WELL AS FENDER WELL AND THE BUMPER. THE ORIGINAL ATW TIRES WERE ON THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #865855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE STEREO DOES NOT LIGHT UP AT NIGHT. YH
NHTSA complaint #550510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAT FROM HEADLAMP BURNS TOP PORTION OF ASSEMBLY CAUSING A CRACK WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO SEEP IN AND BURN OUT BULB. HEAT SHIELD DOES NOT APPEAR TO ADEQUATELY COVER THE AFFECTED AREA.
NHTSA complaint #712817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LAMPS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #547722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ENGINE LIGHT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOME LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED DUE TO WIRING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #605014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
COMPARTMENT LAMP LIGHT BULB FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #605157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER MAP LIGHT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #602686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
FOG LIGHT HOUSING BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #602710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TAIL LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #602847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
UPON BRAKING, REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BUT FLICK INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER WANTS TO IDENTIFY HIS OTHER FORDS DATING BACK TO 1986 W/SAME PROBLEM. DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE USING HEADLIGHTS EARLY MORNING IN MOTION, LIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. ROPER AUTO SALES FOUND NOTHING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.