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2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,443 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Ford Explorer drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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1996 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #11

Jan 042013

Explorer

  • 72,428 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #10

Jan 082013

Explorer

  • 175,000 miles
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.

- Richmond, IN, USA

problem #9

Dec 182012

Explorer

  • 170,000 miles
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.

- Kihei, HI, USA

problem #8

May 032010

Explorer

  • 178,450 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #7

Oct 012008

Explorer

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #6

May 032002

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
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. The check engine light illuminated. The speed sensor and the O2 sensor were replaced.

- Columbus, NJ, USA

problem #5

Apr 051998

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tachometer/ driver's side interior handle failed.

- Monmouth, OR, USA

problem #4

Nov 011995

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Power train failed.

- Tarzana, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 011996

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Tachometer inoperative.

- Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 241996

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Odometer fraud.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 121996

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
With key in ignition w/engine running, truck rolled backwards across highway into school yard.

- Charleston, WV, USA

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