1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235 75 R15 WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO RIDE POORLY AND MADE NOISES, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AND WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED THE TRUCK UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. HE NOTICED SMOKE CMMING FROM UNDER NEATH THE HOOD. *AK

NO SUMMARY GIVEN BY CONSUMER. *MJS

ALTHOUGH THIS TIRE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, I ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED TIRES. THE TIRE, WHICH WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND STILL IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION, AS FAR AS TREAD DEPTH, COMPLETLY SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALLS AND DISINTEGRATED RAPIDLY. THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING IN BAJA, MEXICO ON A ROAD THAT WAS PAVED, BUT FAIRLY ROUGH. ALTHOUGH THE TIRE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL OF FIRESTONE TIRES, THE METHOD OF FAILURE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK

WITH ALL THE RECENT REPORTS OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REPORT MY INCIDENT TO SEE THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.MY WIFE HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 50 M.P.H. WHEN HER TIRE BLEW OUT. SHE CAME CLOSE TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.I REMEMBER IT AS BEING A VERY WARM, DRY AFTERNOON BECAUSE I CHANGED THE TIRE AND I WAS POURING SWEAT. MY WIFE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THE TIRE WAS NOT PUNCTURED, IT JUST BLEW OUT AND CAME APART. THE SHOP THAT CHANGED THE TIRE SAID THEY SAW NO PUNCTURE THE TIRE JUST BLEW APART. THIS HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT SINCE IT WAS SIMILIAR TO THE OTHER REPORTS OF TIRE PROBLEMS.THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: E4026556 ? TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD CAUSING TRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HICH THE TRAVELED TO THE LEFT GRASS SHOULDER, AFTER ENTERING THE SHOULDER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROTATE IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AND STARTED TO OVERTURN FOR ABOUT 89 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ,DRIVER, PASSENGER AND REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES, THE REAR LEFT PASSENGER SUSTAINEDNON-INCAPACITATING INJURIES (BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM246, LEFT REAR, FLORIDA, TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT LESS THAN 5MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL, AND PUSHED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF IT OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION, INJURIES. (POLICE REPORT ATTACHED). MJS

THE SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT IS BROKEN. *SLC

ON THREE OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, ON ONE INCIDENT VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A GUARDRAIL WHICH RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC

THE BACK SUPPORT PART OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A CRACK IN THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *ML

CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.*JB

THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED A BANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, THIS PROBLEM OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-402. NLM

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AFTER DRIVER REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL AND THER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.

THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND ROLL SEVERAL TIMES, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES (TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15,RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM465). NLM

REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT COSTCO AFTER TREAD COMMING OFF FRONT TIRES EXPOSING METAL, SPARE TIRE STILL A FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TRAVEL DOWN HIGHWAY 287 IN TEXAS, TREAD CAME OF VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL, I ROLLED THE VEHICLE 1 1/2 TIMES. MINOR BRUSES TO THE HEAD, LT ARM AND LEFT LEG.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/15/75 )

TIRE FAILED AS TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BODY. ALTHOUGH TIRE WAS REPLACED VIA PRO-RATA VALUE OF TIRE TREAD USED, WE REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON MARCH 24, 1999. WE DID THIS BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRUST IN THE FIRESTONE TIRES, AND EVEN THOUGH THE FIRESTONE TIRES WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR ANOTHER 20000 MILES OR SO BASED ON TREAD LEFT.. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO HITTING A DEER. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS TOP. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS EQUIPTED WITH FIRESTONE ATX TIRES ( P235/75R15). TIRES WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, FOUND OUT THAT CORDS WERE BAD IN THE TIRE. THEY EVENTUALY BLEW OUT.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. *AK

REPLACED TIRES BUT I HAVE A SPARE THAT FIRESTONE REFUSES TO CHANGE( DOT NUMBER: VW TIRE SIZE: P236/75R15 )

I HAVE TRIED TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD AND FIRESTONE EVER SINCE AUGUST 2000 FOR FOUR FAILED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX'S. FROM THE BEGINNING WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES ON MY FORD EXPLORER. WHEN WE TRAVELED AT 60MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS WHO TOLD US THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. SO FOR THE NEXT 2 1/2 YEARS, WE DID NOT DARE DRIVE ABOVE 60MPH. WHILE THESE TIRES WERE ON THE EXPLORER, I MADE SURE TO HAVE THEM ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED PER THE DIRECTIONS ON THE TIRES. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, WE NOTICED EXTREME WEAR ON THE OUTER PERIMETERS OF ALL FOUR TIRES, AS WAS NOTICED BY THE PLACE WHERE WE GOT THE TIRES ROTATED, AS WELL AS STRANGERS AT GAS STATIONS. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO FIRESTONE AND DEMANDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY, AND BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WORN OUT (STEEL BELTS VISIBLE) ON THE PERIMETER (BUT NOT THE MIDDLE TREAD AREA) THERE WAS NO WEAR CREDIT. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL I COULD DO WAS PURCHASE NEW TIRES AT MY COST. NOT WANTING TO PUT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY, IN EARLY 1999, I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT MY COST ($367.29) WITH MICHELINS. SINCE THEN, NOT ONLY IS THE CAR RUNNING SMOOTHLY ABOVE 60MPH, WITH 20,000 MILES ON THEM, THEY STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD FOR ANOTHER 20-30,000 MILES. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST 2000, I REJOICED BECAUSE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THE TIRES, AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT (MISTAKINGLY) I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. BUT...BECAUSE I HAD REPLACED MY TIRES BEFORE THE OFFICIAL RECALL, I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. IRONICALLY, WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER RECENTLY FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL, HE NOTICED THAT I STILL HAD A WILDERNESS ATX AS A SPARE, SO I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THAT ONE. IT IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL AND INSULTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR A NEVER-USED SPARE AND NOT FOR THE OTHER FOUR, (DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PM 4 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE - ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING, THUS CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT JUST TODAY IN A PRIOR REPORT, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFO., SO THIS IS THE COMPLETE INFO. THIS TIRE FAILED IN A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT, LATE ON A VERY COLD NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 94 IN WISCONSIN. THERE WAS N( DOT NUMBER: VDHKAWZ TIRE SIZE: LT23575R15 )

BECAUSE OF SUCH A HIGH IDLE COULD CAUSE A MAJOR WRECK

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 EXPLORERS. 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. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

REAR DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH SIDES HAVE FAILED. PLEASE CONTACT IF A RECALL IS PENDING.

PHIL CALDWELL FROM THE AUTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FORD PUT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL (LEAK) PROBLEM. TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS, THE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAD IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO RECALL. IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. AS A CONSUMER, I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIRS. *AK

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. *AK

PASSENGER'S DOOR IN REAR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. SLOWS DOWN WHEN USING BRAKES, BUT ACCELERATION WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IE98-038. LINKAGE BETWEEN THROTTLE CABLE AND THROTTLE BODY BROKEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER HAD JUST COME BACK FROM A TRAVELING TRIP AND GAS ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT HIS TIRES DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE ATX#. HE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. *AK

ON ICY SURFACE WITH TEMPERATURE OF 30F, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND VEERED INTO A GUARD RAIL ON MEDIAN, BOUNCED OFF AND HIT GUARDRAIL ON SIDE OF ROAD HEAD_ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DRPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY. *AK

THE FIRESTONE (ATX DOT. VDHL 1P 425 TUBELESS RADIAL P235/75R15, 105S M+S) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005) NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

WHENEVER CHILD SAFETYLOCK IS ACTIVATED, THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE WITH A LITTLE PRESSURE, CAN CAUSE THE DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 45 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF.DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE IN SHOP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND DRIVER THOUGHT THAT HE HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT DISCOVERED THAT TREAD HAD PEELED OFF OF TIRE. SIZE OF TIRE WAS WILDERNESS P255/70 R 16.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70/R16 *MW

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS BREAKING OFF. NO INJURIES. *AK

WIND BLEW VEHICLE SIDEWAYS. HIT MEDIAN BARRIER ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. DRIVER WAS NOT NEGLIGENT ACCORDING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE AND MASS. DEPT. OF MOTOR VEHICLES. HOW DO YOU PROTECT AGAINST WIND CAUSING ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW? PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME, WIND BLEW IT, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT IT BLEW THE EXPLORER. I SUFFERED HORRENDOUS INJURIES AND STILL CANNOT WALK PROPERLY OR BE WITHOUT PAIN.

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED TO OPERATE AT 44,000 MAIL OF WEAR; DEALER/MFR NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE/REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY. *AK

CONSUMER HAD 1 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P255/70R16 DOT VNCU THAT HAD A SLOW AIR LEAK, TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER WHO STATED THAT 2 OF THE TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING SIDEWALL AND TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED THE 2 TIRES AT A 50% DISCOUNT, LATER THE TIRES FELT AND SOUNDED STRANGE AGAIN TO THE CONSUMER, THIS TIME THE 2 OLDER TIRES WERE PEELING APART, DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL, HOWEVER CONSUMER REPLACED THEM ANYWAY. *SLC

I PURCHASED MY 96 FORD EXPLORER IN NOV. 95 AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE SHUDDER PROBLEM THAT BECOMES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TIRES ARE INFLATED BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26PSI. FORD HAVE NOW RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES OF 30PSI, WHICH I CANNOT DO WITHOUT RISKING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL SITUATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT ABSOLUTELY SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME, TO PUT IT POLITELY! I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE MISSION VALLEY FORD AFTER SOME BRAKE WORK. I TOOK THE TRUCK UP TO FREEWAY SPEED AND WHILE TRAVELING OVER SOME ROUGH FREEWAY SURFACE THE TRUCK ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE FAILURE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE ONLY ISSUE THE SERVICE ENGINEER IDENTIFIED AS ABNORMAL WAS THEY HAD SET THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 30PSI(ALL TIRES). RESETTING THE TIRES BACK TO 26PSI ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM.THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED TWICE MORE SINCE AND RESETTING THE TIRES TO 26PSI CORRECTED THE LACK OF CONTROL PROBLEM. THE SHUDDER I NORMALLY FEEL APPEARED TO EXTEND INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHEN I TRAVELED OVER A ROUGH PATCH IN THE SURFACE OF A FREEWAY. EMERGENCY BRAKING BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK UNDER CONTROL. I NO LONGER ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE EXPLORER. IM FAMILIAR WITH STEERING WHEEL SHUDDER AS A RESULT OF POOR WHEELING BALANCING, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUDDERS, NOT THE STEERING WHEEL, AT CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE, AND IS PARTICULARLY OBVIOUS ON LONG JOURNEYS. THIS WAS IDENTIFIED TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPT., WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE TRACKING AND/OR THE TIRES MAY BE AT FAULT. TRACKING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NEW TIRES PURCHASED, BUT NEITHER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE SERVICE DEPT OF THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER. SEE ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS DATED 6/12/97 AND 12/1/98 FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH THE PCV/EGR SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE IN 1998. SPENT OVER $1200 ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. BOTH INDEPENDENT AND DEALER MECHANICS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH NO SUCCESS. THE CEL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER THREE YEARS NOW BECAUSE I NO LONGER WISHED TO SPEND MONEY DIAGNOSING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THIS IS A NON-RECALL FOR ABS. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT/SOME ICE, VEHICLE FISHTAILED ON BLACK ICE, DRIVER CORRECTED THE SLIDE. HOWEVER, ABS LOCKED UP, SENDING VEHICLE IN SPIN, RESULTING IN ROLLOVER. ONCOMING 2ND VEHICLE (SAME MODEL) TRYING TO GO AROUND, CAUSED HEAD-ON COLLISION. 2ND VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE 1ST VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOTALLED. VEHICLE TOWED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK