81 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the seat belts — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 140,000 miles.
81
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS
WHILE STATIONARY AND PREPARING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE DOES NOT RETAIN THE SEAT BELT. IT MAY HOLD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT THEN RELEASES THE BELT RENDERING THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE AND UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #11354896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT UNLATCH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. JIM HUDSON FORD (1201 W MAIN ST, LEXINGTON, SC) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 672,000.
NHTSA complaint #11066933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED. I WILL BE DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEATBELT WILL RELEASE FOR NO REASON. IT DOES IT NO MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING, SITTING STILL OR WHATEVER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST MONTH AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10808392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA complaint #10562711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED. DOOR LOCKS BROKEN (WILL NOT LOCK), AND LOCK KEY WORKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, DRIVER-SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RECENTLY (1/15/2114) WILL NOT OPEN DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10562244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10508999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING.
NHTSA complaint #10502259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LOCKS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10488123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CLASP COULD NOT BE SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 6/4/12
NHTSA complaint #10456165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT JUST STARTED POPPING OUT OF THE RECEIVER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT. AND I HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO FIX IT.. I GUESS IM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART. IT CAUSES ME TO SWERVE ON THE ROAD WHEN IT CAME OFF DURING DRIVING.. VERY DANGEROUS!!!
NHTSA complaint #10448147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER DOES NOT CLASP SEAT BELT. WE ARE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP TO REPLACE THE RECEIVER AT $100 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. A SEAT BELT RECEIVER SHOULD BE BUILT TO LAST NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED IN THE RECLINE POSITION ON 8/24/2011, FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE RECLINE MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK, AND THE SEAT DOES NOT STAY UPRIGHT. THESE TWO ITEMS ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10427520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I HAD A ACCIDENT ON SEPT 10 2011. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHEN I CRASHED BUT IT DIDN'T CATCH AND ACTUALLY CAME UNDONE. THE DEPUTY INVESTIGATING ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SEA TBELT WOULD NOT EVEN CATCH INTO THE RECEIVING PART OF THE SEAT BELT ANYMORE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10425664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SUDDENLY BECAME UNLATCHED WITHOUT FORCE OR ASSISTANCE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RELATCH THE BELT. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LATCH ASSMEBLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.
NHTSA complaint #10417085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS FAILED. THE FEMALE PART OF THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH TO THE MALE SECTION. THE INTERNAL SPRING HAS BROKE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10410395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT TRIED TO FASTEN HIS SEAT BELT AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
NHTSA complaint #10371065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE RELEASED SEATBELT DUE TO FAILURE OF LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS WAS ENTIRELY SPONTANEOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY IF IT OCCURRED DURING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR IS STILL PENDING DUE TO COSTS AND DELAYS AS WELL AS RESPONSE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10361573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT RATHER SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I THINK THE SPRING IS BROKEN AND I AM USING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10359059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT DETECTED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT REMAIN COMPLETELY SECURE IN A LOCKED POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10347211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SEAT BELT BROKEN; DOES NOT STAY LATCHED.
NHTSA complaint #10324582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10256912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. VERY UNSAFE!
NHTSA complaint #10247634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE A '96 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO LOCK IN THE SEAT BELT. THIS SAFETY DEVICE SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10227732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT WONT CLICK.
NHTSA complaint #10220326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1996 FORD EXPLORER SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED 10-15 TIMES PER DAY, DRIVER SIDE ONLY AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.....THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10192625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I CAN'T LATCH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE RED BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON DOESN'T SPRING"WHEN INSERTING THE BUCKLE NOR WHEN I PUSH IT AS I WOULD TO RELEASE A BUCKLE. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS SUDDEN, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF POSSIBLE FAILURE. UNTIL I CAN REPLACE (OR REPAIR) THE FAILED EQUIPMENT, I NEED TO LATCH THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER BELT LATCH. THIS ACTION OF PULLING MY SEAT BELT TO THE PASSENGER BELT LATCH RESULTS IN MY NECK BEING RUBBED BY MY UPPER CHEST BELT, WHICH IS AGGRAVATING.
NHTSA complaint #10187873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING. THE CLIP WOULD OFTEN BECOME STUCK AND WOULD NEED TO BE PRIED OUT WITH A SCREWDRIVER OR SIMILAR OBJECT OR IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY JUST NOT CLIP IN AT ALL. FINALLY IT BECAME COMPLETELY STUCK AND THE WHOLE CLIP MECHANISM HAD TO BE TORN OUT. I WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS A BODY SHOP TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON FIXING IT AND BOTH SAID THAT IT WOULD BE $250.00 IN PARTS AND WOULD BE AROUND $300.00 TOTAL. WHEN I WENT TO A JUNKYARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT, THEY SAID THAT THE '95 AND '96 EXPLORERS THEY HAD ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SO I HAD TO GET A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT FROM AN EARLIER MODEL AND THEN INSTALLED IT MYSELF. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WON'T WORK EITHER. IT WON'T CLIP IN AT ALL. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET.
NHTSA complaint #10173532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE: 1996 FORD EXPLORER FAILURE: THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SPRING FAILED, AND WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY, RESULTING IN RELEASE OF THE SEAT BELT UNDER VERY LIGHT PULL. CANNOT COMPLY WITH SEAT BELT USAGE LAWS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PART.
NHTSA complaint #10164483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL NOT STAY SECURED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THE CONTACT IS PLANNING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - THE BUCKLE SPRING BROKE DUE TO WEAR WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELT NOT LATCHING.
NHTSA complaint #10152292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHING. IT WOULD UNLATCH WHILE IN USE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORCE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO COME UNLATCHED. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD. NOW, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *AK WHEN CONTACT'S HUSBAND BOUGHT THE NEW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY TO INSTALL IT THE SALES PERSON CLAIMED HE SOLD MULTIPLE OF THESE SETS, AND THEY WORKED WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10147289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY. ONE DAY LATER IT DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10146617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.