10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
47 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
121 / 24
Average Mileage:
2,600 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.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #120

Apr 062000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.( dot number: Tire size: P225/75/15 )

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #119

Sep 062000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
As reported on 9/5/00 (before the tire recall hearings on 9/6/00) to senators richard shelby and frank lautenberg and house representatves w.J. "billy" tauzin and fred upton: I recently read in the times that the Explorer tire that blows out most often is the rear driver side tire, which makes me wonder if there is a design defect in the vehicle. Upon closely examining my 96 Explorer (which didn't come with Firestone tires, by the way), I found that the body leans to the left (driver's side), resulting in a vertical sag of about half an inch on that side. I confirmed that the sag is not related to vehicle loading - the sag persists with both vehicle and gas tank empty; or to weakened springs - the chasis stays level, only the body sags. Also, the vehicle has not been in any accidents that could have caused this. Since then, over the last couple of weeks or so, I have been closely observing Explorer and other SUV's on the road and in parking lots. The results of my admittedly not-so-scientific survey are as follows: (1) about 50% of the older Explorer on the road show a similar sag to the left. (2) none of the Explorer's observed showed a sag to the right. (3) less than 5% of the other SUV's observed showed any sag, which was equally likely to be to the left or to the right. I thought I should pass on this information to you, for whatever it is worth, before the tire recall hearings in the senate tomorrow. Sincerely, ramesh dhingra.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #118

Sep 122000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
PE-00-020; original equipment tires were Wrangler.. tires have been replaced with four other sets of tires every 15 thousand miles due to the cupping on the frontal tires, around the outter edge, which was causing excessive wear and vibration when driving at any speed. Vehicle have been aligned. Excessive wear control to occur..

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #117

Sep 052000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The Firestone wilderness tires had big bulges in them which caused the vehicle to shake badly while driving, consumer believes this defect is what caused the wheel bearings to fail. Nlm

- Union, NE, USA

problem #116

Apr 032000

Explorer

  • miles
First tire failed in April. Tire went flat. When inspected, the tread was separating from the body. Replaced it and its mate. Still have the mate (unmounted) which numbers are being reported. Second incidence occurred in July while driving on I45 South of conroe Texas. Car had been vibrating and was getting worse. While slowing down and looking out rear view mirror saw tread portion of tire fly off. The tire and its mate were again replaced. Still have the original spare. Both of these incidence appear to be very similar to those being reported. For both times, the Explorer started vibrating but could not determine why until the tire failed.( dot number: Vdhl1pm485 tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Taylor Lake Village, TX, USA

problem #115

Jun 111999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No summary( dot number: Tire size: 16 )

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #114

Jun 231999

Explorer

  • miles
Tire failure. Traveling on I-20, near weatherford, tx, traveling at 70, the rear left tire pealed off. I lost control of the truck and hit a side rail. The tires were replaced with same tire model. A set of 4 tires was purchased. This is my main complaint.( dot number: Vdhl1pm475 tire size: P235-75R15 )

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #113

Sep 012000

Explorer

  • miles
All 4 tires have spider crackes on the outside of the rubber lugs. This tire should have been recalled. I should get 2 more years out of them, but I don't feel safe and think I'm take the off. Please look into this tire size. Thank you( dot number: W2culpx tire size: P255/70R16 )

- Gariner, NY, USA

problem #112

Oct 191999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Steel belt came through front tire while driving. Town fair tire examined and found a second tire with separation.( dot number: Tire size: 235/75R15 )

- Wilton, CT, USA

problem #111

Jun 292000

Explorer

  • miles
At about 44K miles, during a routine maintenance inspection, the garage mechanic told me that the rear tires were separating. Since I couldn't see the problem, I did nothing about it. At 61K miles, June 29, 2000, the mechanic told us to replace the tires yesterday. I ran my hand along the inside of the rear tire and cut my finger on some sharp steel coming through the tread area. Replaced the tires immediately with new Firestone Wilderness AT's. a few weeks later the news about Firestone problems started appearing. I immediately returned the new Firestone tires and replaced them with Michelin's. my family was very lucky. Since I don't have the defective tires, I don't know the serial numbers, so I don't know where they were manufactured.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #110

May 292000

Explorer

  • miles
While driving along interstate 10, the floorboard started shaking. We decided to pull over to the curb but before we could the tire tread pealed off. We swerved for a bit and resumed control of the car. We pulled over and observed the tire's tread was completely off. The tread was lost on the road and the tire was replaced and discarded. I have documentation of the damages and for the replacement ire.( dot number: W2uuipo tire size: P225/70R15 )

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #109

Aug 092000

Explorer

  • miles
At 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone (Firestone) and Ford announced jointly that Firestone will recall approximately 14.4 million tires that contain a safety-related defect. (most of the tires in question were original equipment on Ford vehicles, primarily the Ford Explorer, although a small number were used as original equipment on other manufacturers' vehicles, and they have been used as replacement tires on a wide variety of models.)( dot number: Tire size: 75 R15 )

- Belleair, FL, USA

problem #108

Oct 121999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Spontaneous blowout left rear tire due to delamination of tread and inner sidewall. Inspection showed major identical damage on right rear also. Both tires replaced at owner expense. Firestone recall limits reimbursement to tires replaced after Jan. 1, 2000. That is ridiculous; if anything, they are more culpable for tires that failed earlier in their life( dot number: Vdhl tire size: P235/75R-1 )

- Englewood, CO, USA

problem #107

Jul 101999

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle experienced two tire blowouts due to defective Firestone ATX tires prior to recall(00T-005), consumer is requesting reimbursement. Dealer refused to honor the nationally issued recall and replacement of tires. P235-75-R15

- Show Low, AZ, USA

problem #106

Aug 241999

Explorer

  • miles
The tire seperated on the freeway at approx.65mph. The highway patrol did stop and talk to us. When the tire seperated it did damage to the right front fender and under carriage of front bumper. I replaced the 2 front tires that day as the other tire was questionable. I replace like for like on the tires not knowing of any problems with said tires. This year I again had a problem and replaced 2 more firestones this time I bought remington tires. 3 days later a recall of the Firestone tires was announced. I have talked to magic Ford and they feel it is not their problem. I have talked to Firestone and because I did not keep the first 2 tires with separation they say that is not their problem. Had I known a recall would happen I would have kept the bad tires. I did take pictures of the tires and damage to car but Firestone didn't seem to care. I am now out of pocket for 5 Firestone tires and front end damage on my car. Do I have any recourse?( dot number: Tire size: P235-75R15 )

- Acton, CA, USA

problem #105

Mar 182000

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer replaced both rear Firestone Wilderness AT tires P225/70R15 dot W2uu due to tread peeling, 15-20 thousand miles later, while driving, rear tire experienced blowout, consumer was able to keep control and pull over, consumer is requesting reimbursement.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #104

May 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE00 020; when consumer was traveling on the highway he heard a wash board sound, tires were falling apart. He took vehicle to a Firestone retailer. And the attendant told him that the tires were unsafe. Firestone wilderness #at P25570R16 #dot number W2. The tires had 65000 miles on them but 25%-30% tread wear left.

- Monrovia, MD, USA

problem #103

Mar 122000

Explorer

  • miles
Tread violently separated with loud noise and destroyed left rear panel ; vehicle stopped under control( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Destrehan, LA, USA

problem #102

Jun 191998

Explorer

  • miles
The tire that is mentioned in this complaint, came apart while I was driving causing my 1996 Ford Explorer to go off-road and summer-sault several times...landing upright. My insurance company had an engineer inspect the tire and it was found to be defective. Unfortunately, I have been unable to get a response from Firestone, Ford and the NHTSA. The problem is that the tire size is not the one being re-called. The same thing happened to my tire that has been described by others.....why can't someone respond back to me ? thank you for your time.( dot number: Tire size: 30950R15 )

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #101

May 032000

Explorer

  • miles
I previously filed this complaint but did not have the tire marking numbers at that time. While driving my Explorer straight on the freeway in southern ca the rear tread completely separated from my tire causing me to lose control of the vehicle and the vehicle overturned. The tire remained inflated following the tread separating. My car had been inspected, including the tires, approximately 6 weeks prior to the accident. I sustained a concussion, neck and back injuries due to this accident.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- New York, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »