1996 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

THERE WERE TWO TIRES BLOWOUTS AT THE SIDEWALL SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE BLOWOUTS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. TIRE INFO: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 235/75R15 (DOT/UNAVAILABLE) 20K MILES ON BOTH TIRES DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR. TS SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001201 at NHTSA ↗

1996 FORD EXPLORER HEATER/ AC BLEND DOOR FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002705 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

FORD EXPLORER WITH 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTARE 12 NEAR MILEMARKER 75 THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES BUT HAVE THE FAILED TIRE AND DIGITAL PHOTOS IF THEY ARE NEEDED

Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002947 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT REAR DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER (LT235/75R15) TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. OCCURRED ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH. THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE. NO CRASH, NO INJURIES BUT SOME DAMAGE TO LEFT 1/4 PANEL & TRIM ON VEHICLE, 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED AT SAME TIME & HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002979 at NHTSA ↗

CENTER CONSOLE WITH COMPUTER INFO DISPLAY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

Owner-reported narrative. 86,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003373 at NHTSA ↗

THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER BROKE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. FROM THE FORD OWNERS GROUPS WEB SITES, I HAVE SEEN NUMBEROUS OTHER OWNER'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HEATING IS STUCK IN HOT UNLESS MAX AIR IS TURNED ON. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AN EXTREAM SAFTY ISSUE, IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MY INFANT CHILD. THE FORD DEALER WILL FIX IT BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT WILL COST ARROUND $1000. I SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX FORD'S DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005852 at NHTSA ↗

ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006135 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 1996-04-22 (April 22, 1996)

WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."

Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.

Reported: 1996-08-29 (August 29, 1996)

THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

Reported: 1997-04-30 (April 30, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.

Reported: 1997-08-19 (August 19, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.

Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.