- The problem
- Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- The risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Ford Explorer Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in October 2009 for the vehicle speed control.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Explorer year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1996 Ford Explorer recalls 11
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
- The problem
- Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
- The problem
- This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Equipment description: ford is replacing all firestone wilderness at 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on ford trucks and suvs. Ford reports tread separation can occur due to a combination of the sensitivity of the tire design to stress, aging, and manufacturing differences between plants. Ford is replacing these tires to prevent possible premature tire failure. Vehicle description: the vehicles listed below may have been originally equipped with firestone wilderness at tires or may have had wilderness at tires installed during the firestone recall launched in august 2000. Certain 1991 throught 2002 ford explorer Certain 2001 throught 2002 explorer sport, and sport trac Certain 1997 through 2002 mercury mountaineer Certain 1991 through 2001 ranger Certain 1999 through 2001 expedition Certain 1991 through 1994, and 1997 model year f-series Certain 1991 through 1994 bronco Note: both original equipment and replacement tires are affected.
- The risk
- Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
- The fix
- The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on march 31, 2002. However, customers can contact ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.Com for possible assistance.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain conditions, a front sway bar link can fracture.
- The risk
- Vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace both the left and right front sway bar links.
- The problem
- Tire description: firestone wilderness at, size p235/75r15, produced at the decatur, illinois tire plant and all firestone radial atx and radial atx ii tires, size p235/75r15. Operation of these tires at low inflation pressures, high speed, and in hot weather, can contribute to separation of the tire tread.
- The risk
- If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.
- The fix
- The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on august 29, 2001. However, customers should contact firestone customer service at 1-800-465-1904 for possible assistance.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The liftgate assist gas cylinder bracket on the right hand bodyside outer panel was incorrectly welded.
- The risk
- The gas cylinder bracket may not properly support the liftgate increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will reinforce the bracket attachment with two pop rivets.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 5.0L engines originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, idaho, iowa, maine, michigan (upper peninsula only), minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. These vehicles, when operated for extended periods of time at highway speeds and temperatures below -20 degrees farenheit, do not return to idle due to ice in the throttle body.
- The risk
- Although the vehicle can be controlled by either applying the service brakes or shifting the transmission to neutral, increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance can result.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
- The problem
- The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
- The risk
- Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
- The problem
- When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "Door locks and door retention components."
- The risk
- The driver's door, when closed only to the secondary latched position, may not sustain a 1,000 pound transverse load.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
What owners say
Be the first Explorer owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Ford Explorer: every year compared
All Explorer years1996 Ford Explorer vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Ford Explorer | 0 | 11 | B | |
| 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,342 | 12 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Chevrolet Blazer | 1,161 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER | 165 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Nissan Pathfinder | 159 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Subaru Outback | 46 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Contour | 581 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Aerostar | 104 | 6 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Bronco | 99 | 2 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Ford Explorer
Does the 1996 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 1996 Ford Explorer: vehicle speed control (October 2009); headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); exterior lighting (March 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1996 Ford Explorer had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1996 Ford Explorer a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 71 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Ford Explorer year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Explorer years have the most complaints?
2002 (3,613), 2016 (2,466), 2015 (1,822). See every Ford Explorer year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Ford Explorer has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data