16 of the 1,818 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer are about the wheels — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 114,855 miles.
16
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
WHEELS
THE RIMS ON THIS 1996 FORD EXPLORER-EDDIE BAUER EDITION ARE SHOWING FRACTURES THROUGHOUT THE FACE. THIS HAS WEAKENED THE STABILITY OF THE RIMS.
NHTSA complaint #11233643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER AND MY TIRE ON THE DRIVER FRONTSIDE WENT OUT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND THEN MY VEHICLE HIT THE CURVE AND FLIPPED OVER 15 OR 16 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED I WAS FEELING ALL OVER THE ROAD I HAD MY SET BELT ON BUT MY AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND I WAS ONLY GOING 25 OR 30 AND I WAS ON A CITY STREET TURNING INTO THE NEXT LANE WHEN THE TIRE WENT OUT AND MY VEHICLE FLIPPED YES POLICE ACCOUNT REPORT #170042354 I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED I WAS IN SHOCK THAT IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE A LIVE MY FORD EXPLORER IS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #10984405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1996 FORD EXPLORER WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE MECHANICAL ISSUES. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCENE. *KB THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE WHEEL BEARING AREA WAS DRY AND RUSTY, WHICH UNDER NORAML CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE LUBRICATED WITH OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10207178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
DT: CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT STREET AND THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE WITNESSES TO THIS. THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL WITH TIRE INTACT CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE LEANED AND FLIPPED, AND TIPPED OVER. IT LANDED HALFWAY ON SIDEWALK AND HALFWAY IN STREET. EMERGENCY CREWS WERE CALLED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER, AND HAS NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10126262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DRIVER SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWING A TRAILER. THE LEFT SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY. UPON INSPECTION ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE ALONG WITH THE TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL ON THE TRAILER. *PH *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10046444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUGS: NUTS IS WEARING OFF FROM WHEEL WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE WHEEL TO COMPLETLEY SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #888223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND, THEN ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAME OFF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #884247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL MOLDING IS LOOSE AND IS MISSING THE SCREWS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #554782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL MOLDING IS LOOSE AND IS MISSING THE SCREWS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #554782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #784348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM AXLE AND SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD DURIN AN EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT WHICH TIME THE ASSEMBLY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #540737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL LUG FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS BREAKING OFF. NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #831946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
IN 1996 FORD IMPLEMENTED NEW SEALED HUB ASSEMBLIES TO REPLACE STANDARD WHEEL BEARINGS. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES A CONSTANT SQUEAKING DEVELOPED IN MY FRONT WHEELS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS WAS BRAKE NOISE ANNOYING BUT HARMLESS. AT 40,000 MILES THE SQUEAK TURNED SUDDENLY INTO THE SOUND OF GRAVEL IN THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE LOST STABILITY IN HANDLING AND I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT INTO THE CLOSEST GARAGE. THEY REPORTED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE BAD AND FURTHER DIAGNOSIS THEY DISCOVERED THE EXISTENCE OF THE SEALED HUB ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE BAD. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FORD HAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THE PARTS DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WILL NOT DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH AND HAS SENT ME DIRECTLY TO FORD. (I ASSUME THAT THIS IS DUE TO THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THE PROBLEM AND INABILITY TO ASSIST.) FORD REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AS I AM CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY CAN NOT EVEN TELL ME WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. I HAVE NO COURSE OF ACTION.
NHTSA complaint #544657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
THE ASSEMLBY OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS WAS BAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS TO SQUEAK AND FINALLY LOOSE STABILITY IN HANDLING.
NHTSA complaint #539050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
DRIVER HEAR STRANGE RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE THEN WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF STEERING. VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK REAR OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO A BROKEN UPPER CONTROL ARM. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #515702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.