NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF FRONT DIFFERENTIAL VENT TUBE, ALSO INCREASED VIBRATION FELT IN STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH CLUNKING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR TURNING. *AK
FRONT WINDOW INOPERATIVE.
FRONT BRAKES FAILED.
HEATER SWITCH FAILED.
NO SUMMARY
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN FILLED WITH GAS OR WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKOWN. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS ERRATIC, DEALER REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT WORK, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE ERRATIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE OR THE INACCURATE GAS GAUGE. *SLC
ONE END OF BACK LUGGAGE RACK CAME UNDONE, CAUSING RACK TO BLOW OVER AND DANGLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *DH
RADIO HEAD/AM-FM/CASSETTE/CD FAILED.
DEFECTIVE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COVER PLATE, CAUSING OIL LEAK.
ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN FOUR DEATHS.
DRIVE TRAIN 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILS TO ENGAGE. *SD
POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.
FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE.
INTERIOR DOOR RELEASE LEVER FAILED TWICE.
PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF.
AIR CONDITIONER FAN FAILED.
SEAT BELTS ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR FAILED.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
COMPARTMENT LAMP LIGHT BULB FAILED TWICE.
AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED.
SUDDEN REVERSE ACCELERATION WHEN IN REVERSE GEAR ON THREE OCCASIONS, ACCIDENTS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE ON THREE OCCASIONS, TWO OCCASIONS RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
FIRESTONE TIRE (NO SIZE OR BRAND) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER NOTICED A SPLIT IN SIDEWALL ALL AROUND THE TIRE, CONSUMER STATES THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. *SLC
PARKED ON INCLINE, EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED, INDICATOR MOVED BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDEN, ALSO ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
SMOG CONTROL FAILED.
APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY SERGED.*AK
HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS CONSUMER PULLS THE PLUG ON THE MIRROR, THINKS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT NO ONE WILL HELP. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SD
DRIVE TRAIN HAS VIBRATION WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40/50 MPH.
EXTREME FUEL FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE.
PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD.
FRON WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
THE STEERING MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND IS LOOSE AT ANY SPEED WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK DEALER STATED FIX WOULD BE TO GREASE STEERING COLUMN AND BEARING, HOWEVER TSB STATED DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, CONSUMER STATED THE GREASING DID NOT HELP PROBLEM AND IS ANGRY THAT DEALER WILLINGLY SOLD VEHICLE KNOWING OF THIS PROBLEM. *SLC
PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD VEHICLE, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH
MOTOR FOR POWER WINDOWS FAILED.
HOLE IN THE CENTER OF TIRE.(GOODYEAR TIRE WRANGLER RT 5 P235/75R15).
ABS BRAKES; VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS OIL AND SPRAYS IT ON THE ENGINE. *AK
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLEY FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING & MAKING A TURN, OWNER NOTICED VEHICLE VEERING. STEERING WHEEL HAD SEPERATED FROM COLUMN, TURNING FREELY. HAD 80 MILES ON ODOMETER, BRAND NEW. *AK
GOODYEAR PERFORMER TIRE FAILED TO STAY ON RIM. *DH
HEADLIGHTS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
RADIO FAILED.
TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED.
WINDSHIELD IS CONTINUALLY DENTED BY ANY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, W/REASON CLEARLY NOT IDENTIFIED BY FORD TRUCK ROLLED FLIPPED ON DRIVERS SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD.
REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP DURING NORMAL STOPPING, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, ABS BRAKES. *AK
FUEL VENT TUBE FAILED, FUEL SPRAYED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN FILLING THE TANK. *AK