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U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,061 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

123,345 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 153 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 321 of 1,061 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior10910.3%
Transmission and shifting535.0%
Steering behavior353.3%
Electrical and battery issues151.4%
Engine operation141.3%
Fuel system concerns80.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Tires:Tread/Belt
321
Tires
214
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
45
Vehicle Speed Control
41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
38
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
31
Seat Belts
24
Suspension
22
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Tires:Tread/Belt321
Tires214
Power Train:Automatic Transmission45
Vehicle Speed Control41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip38
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly31
Seat Belts24
Suspension22

Tires:Tread/Belt: 321; Tires: 214; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 45; Vehicle Speed Control: 41; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 38; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 31; Seat Belts: 24; Suspension: 22

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
20
75,000 to 99,999
25
100,000 to 149,999
47
150,000 and above
49
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,99920
75,000 to 99,99925
100,000 to 149,99947
150,000 and above49

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 49

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 908 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
2
1996
44
2000
584
2001
151
2002
52
2003
40
2004
43
2005
26
2006
18
2007
21
2008
15
2009
8
2010
18
2011
8
2012
5
2013
7
2014
8
2015
1
2016
2
2017
3
2018
2
2019
1
2020
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19952
199644
2000584
2001151
200252
200340
200443
200526
200618
200721
200815
20098
201018
20118
20125
20137
20148
20151
20162
20173
20182
20191
20202

1995: 2; 1996: 44; 2000: 584; 2001: 151; 2002: 52; 2003: 40; 2004: 43; 2005: 26; 2006: 18; 2007: 21; 2008: 15; 2009: 8; 2010: 18; 2011: 8; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 8; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2

Pattern summary

Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 109 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 53 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10008465 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)

UPON ACCELERATING PAST A VEHICLE TO CHANGE LANES, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AGAINST FLOOR. BRAKES WERE ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. ENGINE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF TO PREVENT FATAL DAMAGE DUE TO ENGINE OVER REVVING AFTER BEING PUT INTO NEUTRAL. NEW PROBLEM WAS POSED AS POWER BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL ONCE ENGINE WAS OFF. ABLE TO FINALLY GET VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC. CONTACTED NEARBY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUGGESTED HITTING THE PEDAL TO BREAK LOOSE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. DROVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 129,891 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008465 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015302 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)

MULTIPLE FAILURES INCLUDING: DEFECTIVE TIRES, ROTORS AND BRAKES CRYSTALLIZING, "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING, CROSS BARS ON THE TRUNK, PAINT PEELING AND DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. *TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015302 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002776 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)

1) NO HEAT, ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. 2) TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002776 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007679 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007679 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034178 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE LOWER ENGINE LOCKED, THE POWER STEERING LEAKED AT THE RACK ASSEMBLY, THE BELT TENSIONER WAS FAULTY AND THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, RIGHT OR AT STAND STILL. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 53,264 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043908 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)

LOWER STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE CHANGED IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER IN AUG. 2000 (68250 MILES) AND OCTOBER 2003 (120000+ MILES). FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, I HAD ALMOST NO STEERING. THE RUBBER BOOT KEEPS TEARING AND RIPPING. I BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 1995. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 120,416 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043908 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016434 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)

96 FORD EXPLORER: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE WEEK LATER, BATTERY STALLED AND REQUIRED A JUMP, THE POWER LEVELS READ NORMAL. I CHECKED THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX AND THE FUSES DID NOT MATCH OWNER'S MANUAL. TWO PARTS SHOPS ADVISED THIS COULD TRIGGER FIRE, OR A DEVICE TO MALFUNCTION. PER FORD OWNER'S MANUAL, AIRBAG & ATBS IMPACTED. I REPLACED THE FUSES TO MATCH THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE SHOP, THAT WORKED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EARLIER. THE OWNER PULLED AN ALL DATA SCHEMA, WHICH IS QUITE DIFFEREN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016434 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10124285 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)

DT: THE DRIVER'S SEATS BROKE FROM THE METAL PART BY WHERE ONE ADJUSTS SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE BOLT THAT HOLDS SEAT IN PLACE BROKE. A MECHANIC THAT INSTALLS THE SEATS IN THE FORD EXPLORER COME LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OF HAPPENED. WAS INJECTED INTO THE BACK SEAT, AND THEN GOT OUT. THEN HUSBAND GOT IN AND MOVED VEHICLE , INJECTED HIM FORWARD . ALSO, IT BLEW ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUSES , BOUGHT NEW FUSES AND NOW IT WORKS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060684 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)

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 STA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060684 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10419805 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STRAPS TO THE GAS TANK RUSTED AND BROKE CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO DROP TANK DROPPED ONTO DRIVESHAFT CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 194,000. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 194,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419805 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 728930 · 2000-08-24 (August 24, 2000)

FIRST BLOWOUT LISTED TOOK OUT GAS TANK FILL ASSEMBLY WITH TREAD, SECOND BLOWOUT IN DECEMBER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 INCH )

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728930 at NHTSA ↗