10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 10,209 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.
The blend door on my 1996 Ford Explorer broke due to a defective design. From the Ford owners groups web sites, I have seen numberous other owner's with the same problem. My heating is stuck in hot unless max air is turned on. There is no in between. Although it is not an extream safty issue, it is very uncomfortable for my infant child. The Ford dealer will fix it but from what I understand it will cost arround $1000. I simply can't afford that kind of money to fix Ford's defective parts.
- Riverside, CA, USA
1996 Ford Explorer heater/ ac blend door failure
- Broken Arrow, OK, USA
While driving at 35 mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated at a speed of 70 mph. The consumer applied brakes but they didn't hold. Consumer had to put vehicle in park gear to stop vehcile, while vehicle was coasting.
- Carlsbad, CA, USA
Engine check light comes on whenever it pleases. Have taken to dealer 3 times to fix problem, and they have been unable to do so. Light would stay off for up to 1 week after repair, then come back on. Dealer advised they had replaced an O2 sensor, and reprogrammed the computer which should have fixed the problem, which it didn't. vehicle then taken to an independent service garage where another O2 sensor replaced. That time light stayed off the longest it ever had, but it still came back on. Battery cables have even been disconnected to allow computer to reset, but light always comes back on. As of now I have spent over $500 out of my pocket to try and fix problem, but it still exists.
- Independence, KS, USA
Engine check light keeps coming on, dealer cannot remedy problem.
- Boise, ID, USA
Was driving and engine check light came on & stayed. Been to dealer. Had sensors replaced, but problem came back. Temperature gauge had failed to register. Fuel guage was not working, and stablizer bar had broken and was replaced. Also, power locks failed to release. The sensors were being replaced over and over again.
- York, ME, USA
Engine check light came on, and consumer made an appointment, but head gasket blewout before appointment.
- Souix City, IA, USA
I am making this report as I had paid for the repair back in 1998 and will pursue Ford for a credit. No safety defect listed within summary.
- Concord, CA, USA
At such a low mileage it seems to me that this repair should be necessary. It was reported by my mechanic that other Explorer have demonstrated similar problems. If so, why has this not been on recall by Ford. It is a costly part and repair fee.
- Bloomingburg, NY, USA
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
- Statesboro, GA, USA
No summary listed for abov evehicle.( dot number: Dhl1pm116 )
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
No summary
- Boston, MA, USA
I have contacted Firestone about this failure and have been stonewalled at every turn. I keep explaining that I replaced the tires at my onw cost over a 1 year ago and they keep asking me to send it to me. Need some help to get them to respond constructively.( dot number: Don't know tire size: ? )
- Marshalltown, IA, USA
I am very concerned that yes Firestone tires caused deaths but what if I blow a Michelin the design of the Explorer creates the deadly rollover not necessarilly which brand tire you have I am worried any time we drive what if a tire blows theres a what 50 % chance we die and that is making me want to never buy the Ford product again...and everyone is freaking out in the nation about no confidence in the Firestone name my question is what is Ford going to do? why doesnt anyone notice the problem is Ford not neccesarily firestones.
- North Highlands, CA, USA
I was driving along and heard a big thump, like someone threw something and hit the side of the truck. I took it into Ford and they couldn't find anything wrong. In the meantime my engine check light came on (second time within 16000 miles) and my window washer was broke so they had to order the part. I went in a week later and they put it up on the rack and that's when the bolt fell out holding my front end together. I was told I was lucky to be there for them to fix it. If it went out on me when I was driving I would have be killed. I was also told that seeing how they couldn't find the problem the first time I would have to wait until it did it constantly. If I would have waited, I wouldn' T have been around for them to find the problem. No one could explain to me why this happened. I was told by Ford Motor Company that this isn't a recall item. $500 plus later I was also told that they couldn't pay for it because it was out of warranty. How would they like my family owning Ford Motor Company for their shoddy workmanship"?" that could have been a nice law suit. I have owned this vehicle for 2 years and I'm constantly putting money into it (besides my monthly car payments) to keep it on the road. I am very dissatisfied with this vehicle and will never buy a Ford product again. I just want the buyers to beware!!!
- Signal Mountain, TN, USA
Check engine light comes on repeatedly. Sometimes will go off by its self, sometimes battery has to be disconnected.will not idle properly.we have had it in the garage several times to be put on a scope with absolutely no results at all.I feel it is some kind of a sensor problem.please help!!
- Sturgis, MI, USA
O/D and check engine light went on and the truck would not shift from first to second gear
- Murray, UT, USA
Would you like original part??
- Eden Prairie, MN, USA
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.
- Reading, MA, USA
- Albuquerque, NM, USA