Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 1
Average Mileage:
25,151 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 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1996 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #45

Sep 291999

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while on cruise control setting, unable to find problem with cruise control however consumer had it disconnected. Mjs

- Stow, MA, USA

problem #44

Sep 291999

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while on cruise control setting, unable to find problem with cruise control however consumer had it disconnected. Mjs

- Stow, MA, USA

problem #43

Jul 011999

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When driving at any speed vehicle accelerated on its own. Consumer applied the brakes and vehicle would not slow down, and continued to race. Consumer put vehicle in neutral, ranched down and pulled pedal with her hands, stopping acceleration, and vehicle came to a stop.

- Mount. Carmel, TN, USA

problem #42

Sep 301999

Explorer

  • miles

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

While driving at about 65 mph and using cruise control, consumer tried to slow down, but cruise control locked up. When attempting to stop by hitting the brakes nothing happened. So consumer tapped on the gas pedal, and car accelerated all to 90mph. Consumer then put car in neutral and shut car off. Turned car back on, and rpms went up to 5, and sounded as though car was about to take off at full speed if foot had been taken off the brakes.

- Stow, MA, USA

problem #41

May 011999

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. Mjs

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #40

Sep 281999

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Consumer recieved recall letter 97V074000 concerning throttle linkage and control. Contacted dealer, and was informed that no parts were available to correct the problem.

- Cogan Station, PA, USA

problem #39

Sep 281999

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Consumer was sent a recall 97V074000, concerning throttle linkages and control. Contacted dealer in reference to recall.dealer refused to correct recall's application to cold climate areas only. The car may not slow down or stop as promptly as expected, and the throttle plate may stay in the highway cruising position. This could mean a potential accident. 'jn

- Avonvale, PA, USA

problem #38

Aug 031999

Explorer

  • miles
While driving about 65 mph consumer tried to reduce speed of cruise control by applying brakes pedal, but ABS locked up, making the vehicle turn/roll over. Upon impact, air bags did no tdeploy, and vehicle was totaled.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #37

Jul 291999

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle continued to accelerate after foot released from pedal. Mjs

- Brookfield, CT, USA

problem #36

Aug 191999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
While driving my vehicle at approximately 40 mph a loud ping noise was heard. This proved to be the accelarator bracket weld breaking off of the firewall and the accelarator pedal hanging unrestrained. The accelerator pedal landed behind the brake pedal and consequently, I had no braking capability. I had to reach down and move the pedal from behind the brake before I could stop the truck. Luckily the traffic was light and I did not hit anything. If this happened on the highway, it could be catastrophic. I filed a complaint with Ford (reference #502442309). The dealership did not consider this to be a warranty issue even though a weld like this should not break if done correctly.

- Hamilton, MA, USA

problem #35

Aug 041999

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles

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

When applying the brakes hard the engine revs up to 4000 to 5000rpm. Dealer can't find the cause of problem because they cannot duplicate it.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #34

Jan 071999

Explorer

  • miles
Consumer was driving approximately 55-65 mph on two occasions when the vehicle would not stop. He took vehicle in for recall #97V-074 Ford, throttle linkages and control failure. Dealership said this was not the problem. Also, would not honor the recall.

- Wall, NJ, USA

problem #33

Jun 041999

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Speed control failed to disengage when braking or using off button, throttle cable hung up shifted to neutral, but transmission shifted between neutral and reverse and destroyed transmission.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #32

Apr 021999

Explorer 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration resulting in collision, injuries. (police report attached). Mjs

- Waldwick, NJ, USA

problem #31

Apr 121999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No summary given by consumer.

- Los Gatos, CA, USA

problem #30

Apr 081999

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
I filed this form months ago, if I was still driving this car, rather than just parking it, I could be dead by now. You have plenty of complaints about this to do something about it. Dateline did a whole show on this, whats the hold up. Why arent you making sure Ford is held accountable. People like me are just out of luck. I cant even sell this car, and the dealer doesnt want it back. This is so dangerous. It cant wait for a whole bunch of beuracracy crap. Please help.

- Azusa, CA, USA

problem #29

Jun 031997

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle experiences sudden acceleration while trying to brake, several incidents have resulted in two vehicle accidents causing damages and injuries.

- Palm Desert, CA, USA

problem #28

Feb 201999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Because of such a high idle could cause a major wreck

- Leicester, NC, USA

problem #27

Feb 051999

Explorer

  • miles
My car had a sudden acceleration problem similar to what was recently described on dateline (one week later). Luckily, we were able to get the car to stop by putting it in park and turning off the ignition. I won't drive the car anymore. We were almost killed and almost killed some pedestrians. Ford is not acknowledgin the problem, but rather denying it. Would appreciate some follow up. Regardless, I am getting rid of the car before it kills us. This is a serious problem and shouldnt be taken lightly. We hope that you will help us and others. It is not right for Ford to ignore the problem because of the expense of a recall. They did it with the pintos and now with the Explorer. Don't allow this, its not fair to the consumer. I had my three year old boy with me and I could have lost him.

- Azusa, CA, USA

problem #26

May 311998

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
On several occasions vehical accelerated to high speeds and was extremely difficult to stop. Vehicle was brought into the dealership and they could not find any problem.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?