134 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the transmission — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 138,579 miles.
134
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING TRUCK DOWN WISCONSIN AVENUE IN APPLETON WHEN TRUCK REFUSED TO SHIFT. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TRUCK INTO TO WISCONSIN MOTORS SALES AND SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED IN TRUCK. TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN PURCHASED TEN DAYS EARLIER.
NHTSA complaint #10535179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING DURING TAKEOFF, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO EXPERIENCE HIGH RPM'S BUT VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO NOT FALL INTO 1ST GEAR, WHEN YOU SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS THEN LURCH HEAVILY, THE VEHICLE ALSO DOES THIS AT EVERY STOP, AFTER YOU MAKE A COMPLETE STOP AND PRECEDE TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WILL RPM AS YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR BUT WON'T MOVE FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS, AFTER THE 4 SECONDS THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD HEAVILY AND SPINS BOTH REAR TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10503132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I REPLACED THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES IN DECEMBER 2011 WITH PARTS PURCHASED FROM AUTOPARTSMIDWEST.COM. ON DECEMBER 18, 2012, THE LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BALL BEARING RACE CAME OFF THE SPLINED HUB. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY, CALIPER BRACKET AND SOME OTHER BRAKE PARTS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR PARTS NOT INCLUDING LABOR IS ABOUT $500. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY. IT SHOULD BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT A CRITICAL PART LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO LAST MORE THAN ABOUT 6000 MILES. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART TWO MINUTES OR A HALF MILE EARLIER, I MIGHT NOT BE FILING THIS REPORT. I HAVE ASKED AUTOPARTSMIDWEST TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE DEFECTUVE HUB ASSEMBLIES AS WELL AS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE SALE OF DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS BY AUTOPARTSMIDWEST AND OTHER ON LINE SELLER MUST STOP. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT SOMETHING LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO VERIFY ITS QUALITY. BUYERS MUST DEPEND ON THE SELLER AND MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE SAFE CAR PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10489389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
1996 EXPLORER, HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. STARTED LOOSING POWER AND SHIFTING DOWN AND STRANGE TIMES. THEN THE O/D FAIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10328640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR 96 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, SPEEDS, AND INCLINES. ONLY HAVE HAD A BACK BUMPER "BUMPED" WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR SOME DEPT OR ENTITY TO REFER US TO A TRULY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SHOP OR OTHER HELPFUL SOURCE.
NHTSA complaint #10313333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
4X4 FAILS TO ACTIVATE LEAVING VEHICLE IMPAIRED IN 2 WHEEL MODE DURING CRITICAL DRIVING TIMES. SWITCH ON DASH GOES OUT, APPEARS TO BE FAILURE OF 4X4 CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSFER MOTOR. PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER BATTERY HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. REPAIR FOR VEHICLE REQUIRES CHANGING OUT CONTROL MODULE OR TRANSFER CASE MOTOR. PROBLEM APPEARS TO OCCUR IN ALL MODELS OF FORD EXPLORER 1991 - TO DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10253697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE VEHICLE STARTED ON FEBRUARY 2, 2005 TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT, BUT DID NOT REPLACE IT. ALSO, THERE WAS A RADIATOR LEAK. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR THE TRUCK WILL JERK. FORD SAID THIS WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO DRIVE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD TELL IT WAS NOT HOOKED UP PROPERLY. NOW THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS WHY THE VEHICLE WAS TORN UP DUE TO THE WAY FORD HAD THE CONSUMER DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10137301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THURSDAY JULY 29TH,2004 STARTED TO MAKE LEFT TURN STALLED ROLLED OUT OF WAY OF TO AVOID ACCIDENT.FEW SECONDS LATER WAS ABLE TO GO FORWARD DROVE APP.20 MILES NO PROBLEMS,NORMAL.PARKED IN DRIVE VEHICLE SAT OVER NIGHT APP.14HRS.JULY 30TH DROVE APP.5-6 MILES THEN BEGIN TO NOT FEEL GEARS SHIFTING,DROVE HOME.PARKED WAITED 3-4 HRS CHECKED TRANSMISSIOM FLUID DID NOT LOOK RIGHT.WAITED OVER NIGHT WAS TOLD LOOKED LIKE WATER IN FLUID,WAS TOLD TO CHECK RADIATOR,FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RADIATOR.HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.NO WARNING,NOTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10083157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS WITH 1996 FORD EXPLORER'S ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10073387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAVE AN EXPLORER SPORT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS WILL TAKEN CARE OF EVEN IF IT HAS ALOT OF MILES ON IT. THE MANUAL SHIFT SHAKES CONSIDERABLY. IF THERE IS A ROUGH SURFACE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMS TO BE READY TO TAKE FLIGHT. AT 165,000 MILES I HAD THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, AND THROWOUT BEARINGS REPLACED. THE MACHINE AT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T TELL ME WHY IT HAPPENED BUT HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG. NOW AT 212,000 MILES THE BEARINGS AND CLUTCH ARE OUT AGAIN. WHILE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER EXPLORERS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT THE NEWWER EXPLORERS HAVE A VIBRATION DAMPER MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE. FORD WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT ONE ON MY CAR FOR $4,000. I AM VERY UPSET SINCE IT WAS THEIR DESIGN FLAW THAT IS CAUSING ALL MY PROBLEMS.I HAVE ALREADY SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THEIR DESIGN ERROR.
NHTSA complaint #10066316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I CURRENTLY OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4X4, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE IS WHEN I AM EITHER STOPPING MODERATELY HARD/FAST OR MAKING SHARP RIGHT TURNS, THE ENGINE TENDS TO STALL. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL OR I HAVE THE CLUTCH IN. THE MAIN REASON THIS IS A PROBLEM IS BECAUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STALLED, THE POWER STEERING IS OFF. MOST OF MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON OFF RAMPS WHERE I'M TRAVELING REALITIVELY FAST AND A RIGHT TURN. TOWARDS THE END OF THE RAMP I START TO STRAIGTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND REALIZE I CAN'T MOVE IT. GENERALLY I AM FORCED TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING INTO SOMETHING OR IF I HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I WILL QUICKLY ATTEMPT TO START IT. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE. THIS DID NOT START TO HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER MY 30-DAY WARRANTY WAS UP AT FROM THE DEALER SO I HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING DONE TO ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT SEVERAL EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE BLAMED IT ON A VALVE. BELOW ARE LISTED WEBSITES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SUBMITTED TO FORUMS. THESE ARE PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS AS MYSELF. THANKS HTTP://WWW.CARCONSUMERS.COM/FORD_EXPLORER.HTML HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2001/04/13/NATIONAL/MAIN285613.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2000/10/10/NATIONAL/MAIN240067.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/GREMLINS/191.HTML HTTP://WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/CGI-BIN/DATACGI/DATABASE.CGI/FORUM/SUBTOPIC/TOPICID=0351/SUBTOPICID=0000857 7/FIRSTRECORD=0/FINALRECORD=14/ HTTP://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/PM-1001/MESSAGES/3445.HTML.
NHTSA complaint #10060684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10042904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, TRANSMISSION HAD GONE BAD, PER DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10029406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE USED IN 1999 WITH 33000 MILES. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, ANOTHER NEW TRANSMISSION LAST YEAR (2002), NEW BALL JOINTS, AND NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY RECALLS ON THIS PART BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS. MY VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY SHAKING (FEELS LIKE I AM GOING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS) WHEN I AM OVER 30-40 MPH. WE ALSO JUST HAD OUR VEHICLE ALIGNED AND IT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10018347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD ONLY 25,000 MILES. THE MAINTENANCE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE BOOK. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR IT SLIPS IN EACH FORWARD GEAR. REVERSE GEAR NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN IN REVERSE ITS AS THOUGH IN PARK. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES RAPIDLY.
NHTSA complaint #10007679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1) NO HEAT, ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. 2) TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10002776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SKIP GEARS. VEHICLE WILL SHIFT FROM FIRST TO THIRD GEAR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE 2ND GEAR BAND HAD BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMACTIC TRANSMISSION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8022311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #761642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHICH COMES FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CONSUMER CONSTANTLY HAS TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEED SENSOR AND THE O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. JG
NHTSA complaint #8009112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHICH COMES FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CONSUMER CONSTANTLY HAS TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEED SENSOR AND THE O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. JG
NHTSA complaint #8009112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #759174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #758690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITHIN A 6 MONTH SPAN CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. TRANSMIISSION EXPLODED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, AND THE VEHICEL WAS NOT ACCELERATI NG.
NHTSA complaint #8003723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AT LEAST 6 TIMES DUE TO A VIBRATION. ON FEB.2001, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, JUST NOT AS MUCH. I TOOK THE MECHANIC ON A TEST DRIVE 2 TIMES AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UNFORTUNITELY IT DID NOT DO THE VIBRATION. JUST RECENTLY, IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER TODAY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, I ASKED ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT DONE.
NHTSA complaint #756061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
AFTER I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AT LEAST 6 TIMES DUE TO A VIBRATION. ON FEB.2001, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, JUST NOT AS MUCH. I TOOK THE MECHANIC ON A TEST DRIVE 2 TIMES AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UNFORTUNITELY IT DID NOT DO THE VIBRATION. JUST RECENTLY, IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER TODAY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, I ASKED ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT DONE.
NHTSA complaint #756061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSON REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8001623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WAS TRAVELING 30MPH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR FROM 2ND GEAR. TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP HARD. VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AT DEALERSHIP, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE, BUT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #897209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND THEN POP INTO REVERSE AFTER 15-20 SECONDS, VEHICLE WILL NOT ALWAYS GO IN REVERSE, DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS GOING, BUT NOT TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL ALL GEARS WERE AFFECTED.
NHTSA complaint #561742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLES OVERDRIVE FAILED RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.