10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,750 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Ford Explorer:

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

problem #4

Apr 042008

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 143,000 miles
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. The contact started the vehicle and turned on the heater. He walked to his mailbox and returned to find smoke coming from the center console of the vehicle. All of a sudden, flames appeared from the console. He retrieved a fire extinguisher to douse the fire. The entire dashboard and underneath caught fire and he believed that the wiring harness under the dashboard may have been the cause of the fire. He did not contact the fire department or the manufacturer to report the fire, but he did contact his insurance company. The failure and current mileages were 143,000. Updated 07/29/08 updated 07/29/08.

- Mableton, GA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #3

Mar 211999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
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 )

- Livermore, CA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Nov 011996

Explorer 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine stalls at idle, due to on-board computer.

- Santee, CA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Nov 131996

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Electrical short, consumer was driving on the interstate and noticed smoke coming from the center of the dashboard and above the windshield and the vehicle caught on fire in the dash.

- Saint Geroge, UT, USA

Add Complaint