1996 Ford Explorer window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AFTER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM DEALER, IT WAS NOTED THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, NONE OF THE WINDOWS IN THE TRUCK WOULD OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN WINDOWS IF NEEDED FOR ESCAPE (DOORS IN PASSENGER SECTION OF TRUCK DID NOT WORK EITHER. SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT).

NHTSA complaint #10535187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

96' FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION CLIMATE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. IT ONLY BLOWS COOL AIR. SHOP WANTS $900 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T DRIVE DURING WINTER IF THE WINDOWS FROST OR FREEZING RAIN. IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10292116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

MY FORD EXPLORER '96 SUV CABIN CLIMATE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 2 YRS AGO AT 70K MILES. IT ONLY BLOWS BURNING HOT AIR OR FREEZING COLD AIR. DEALER WANTS $900 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR. FORD WILL NOT FIX THIS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPENSIVE & THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT RUINS THE UTILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IN WINTER, WINDOWS FROST IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. THIS IS THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE EDDIE BAUER EDITION...FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10205799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE DURING WET/RAINING WEATHER. THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT, IE MOST WET CONDITIONS CAUSE THIS 'LOCK-UP' CONDITION. TURNING IGNITION OFF-AND-ON AGAIN IN ATTEMPT TO RESET FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. IN ADDITION THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, REAR WIPER, ALL POWER WINDOWS, AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE FUNCTIONS FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP ENDED UP REPLACING THE, YOU GUESSED IT, GEM MODULE - THE SAME ONE CITED IN THE RECALL FOR OTHER YEAR VEHICLES. THERE IS A RECALL (NUMBER 00V072000) FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL BUT FOR YEARS 1999 AND 2000. THIS IS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND HAS EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, ONLY RECENTLY WAS THE DEALERSHIP ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS THE APPARENT CULPRIT.

NHTSA complaint #10180887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE AIR CONDITIONING BLEND DOOR ON MY CAR IS STUCK AND WILL NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD EVEN ON COLD WINTER AND ICE DAYS, INCLUDING DURING ICE STORMS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET THE ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AND FIXED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR A LONG TIME NOW WITH NO RESULTS. NOW THAT ITS SUMMER, THE BLEND DOOR IS STUCK ON HOT AND ITS ONLY BLOWING COMPLETELY HOT AIR - THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN DESIGN AND MATERIAL DEFECT WITH THE BLEND DOOR AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS FOR ALL 1995 - 1999 FORD EXPLORERS AND STILL FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT AND TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO ITS CONSUMERS TO FIX IT. IN THE WINTERS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S INABILITY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10159948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW: ON 4/19/2006, TEMP. NEVER REACHED OVER 80 DEGREES AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. SUMMER OF 2005, I HAVE 5 CO-WORKERS STATED THEIR REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AS WELL. THE COMPANY WHO REPLACED THE REAR WINDOW, STATED THEY (FORD EXP.) ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS OR FORD BE MADE TO PUT A HIGHER QUALITY WINDOW IN?

NHTSA complaint #10158209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS FAIL REGULARLY. 5/01 MOTOR REPLACED. 10/02 STEM REPLACED. 1/03 RELAY REPLACED. 9/03 MOTOR REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10038897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

THE BLEND DOOR FROZE -THIS DISABLES THE CARS HEATING AIR CONDITION AND DEFROSTING SYSTEMS I CONTACTED THE DEALER- AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $100.00 TO DETERMINE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT HELP(THE DEALER CHECKED) ---I THEN CONTACTED FORD MYSELF--I WAS TOLD TOO BAD--NO HELP .

NHTSA complaint #10013765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF HEATER/DEFROSTER IN COLD WEATHER. FORD DEALER IN ATHENS AL WANTED $1000 TO CORRECT FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #757618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE PLASTIC BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF HOT/COLD TEMP ON TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #757123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

PART THAT SWITCHES HEAT TO AIR CONDITIONER IS WARPED ,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #884543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

HEATER CONTROL VALVE WAS LEAKING CAUSING A BURNING ANTIFREEZE SMELL. NLM

NHTSA complaint #558876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING THIS FALL I FOUND THAT WHEN USING THE VENT I GOT NOTHING BUT HOT AIR, THEN THE AUTOMATIC SETTING ON THE HEAT/AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL WOULD NOT REGULATE PROPERLY. IT WOULD GO TO EXTREMES TO 85+ DEGREES, THEN DROP OFF AND BLOW UNTIL IT WAS DOWN TO 60 AND THEN BACK UP TO 85 CONTINUOUSLY. I WENT ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH STATED I NEEDED TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER AND CHECKED AT THE DEALER. AFTER THEY KEPT MY CAR 2 X AS LONG AS PROMISED AND CHARGING ME $100 TO CALL THE ENGINEERS AT FORD ITSELF, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM. THIS DOOR IS APPARENTLY MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS. IN MY CASE IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT VERY SLOWLY, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING. IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND IS STUCK IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SIDE. I GET NO HEAT AND CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDOWS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND WE ARE EXPECTING FREEZING RAIN TODAY, NOT TO MENTION SNOW LATER THIS WEEK. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEER THEY TALKED TO SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IF IT IS A BAD DESIGN, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIALLY A DEFECTIVE PART ON THEIR LIST, THEY COULD NOT FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME ANOTHER $700 ON TOP OF THE $100 ALREADY SPENT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO (SEE MIGHTYAUTOPARTS.COM, ON THE LINE WITH LARRY HAMMER - EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF PATIENCE). THE NEWLY DESIGNED DOOR IS MADE OF NYLON THAT IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING. WHEN CONTACTING FORD CUSTOMER 1ST TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY VISIT, THEY SAID AN ADVISOR WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO ME AND WOULD CONTACT ME THE NEXT DAY, THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. I FEEL I AM BEING GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND. I AM DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BAD DESIGN. I FULLY APPRECIATE AND ACCEPT THAT THINGS WEAR OUT ON VEHICLES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DEFECTIVE DESIGN SHOULDN'T BE AT MY EXPENSE, IN DOLLARS OR SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #740083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

DESIGN OF CONSOLE CAUSES REARVIEW MIRROR PLACEMENT TO BE TOO LOW. THIS CREATES A BLIND SPOT FOR DRIVER WHEN TRYING TO MERGE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. FORD HAS AGREED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #874552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

GLASS IS SOFT - PITTING AND CHIPPING OCCUR EASILY

NHTSA complaint #734841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN 99-8-8 ADMITS TO DEFECTIVE AIR PLENUM. CONSUMER COST TO REPLACE IS $700-$1000. HAS BECOME A DEALER STOCK ITEM. WHEN THE AIR DOOR BRAKES THERE IS NO AIR FLOW HOT/COLD/DEF CONTROL. CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH FOGGED WINDOWS. FORD REVISED THE PLENUM OUT OF NYLON (#F87Z-18471-DA) CLAIMING IT WOULD NOT BREAK LIKE THE PLASTIC WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1000 FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. CRASHES WILL OCCUR WITHOUT DEFROSTERS. THEY ADMIT IT IN THE MENTIONED SERVICE BULLETIN BUT REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #733824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF AIR PLENUM DOOR WHICH WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT CAUSED A LOSS OF ABILITY TO CONTROL DEFROSTER/ HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING. FORD HAS SENT A TSB (99-8-8) FOR DEFECT. A NEW REDESIGNED PLENUM WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON (F87Z18401DA).

NHTSA complaint #872229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL VENT TUBE SPRAYS OUT LUBRICANT BEACAUSE THE VENT MECHAMISM IS DEFFECTIVE. YH

NHTSA complaint #782036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG THUMP, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN THE MEANTIME MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON (SECOND TIME WITHIN 16000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. I WENT IN A WEEK LATER AND THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT'S WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT HOLDING MY FRONT END TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE FOR THEM TO FIX IT. IF IT WENT OUT ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BE KILLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEEING HOW THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY . IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED , I WOULDN' T HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM. $500 PLUS LATER I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE MY FAMILY OWNING FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP??? THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A NICE LAW SUIT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. I JUST WANT THE BUYERS TO BEWARE!!!

NHTSA complaint #721341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #848881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO REASON WHY IT SHATTERED.

NHTSA complaint #547197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE DESIGN OF THE WIPERS ALLOWS ICE TO BUILD UP ON WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #544208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

FUNCTION SELECTOR KNOB TURNED ON , DRIVER RETURNED TO VEHICLE TO FIND INTERIOR COVERED WITH SNOW.

NHTSA complaint #544208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #604501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

BLOWER FAN RELAY FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #603582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDSHIELD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.