TroubleCAR
85
Trouble

1996 Ford Explorer

Complaints: 1450Avg mileage: 119,582 miSince: Nov 1995
51 deathsCrashFire347 injured

Problem Areas

Tires:Tread/Belt
328
Tires
225
Vehicle Speed Control
83
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
75
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
72
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
39
Suspension:Front
34
Front: Buckle Assembly
34
Body: Door
31
Unknown or Other
28

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Feb 23, 2010NEWBURGH, NY
1 deathCrash6 injured

1996 FORD EXPLORER ACCIDENT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. CW ACCORDING TO AN EYE WITNESS STATEMENT, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CROSSED SEVERAL LANES, STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON IT'S ROOF. THE WITNESS STATED TWO PEOPLE WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY DIED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS) *JB

STEERING
Jun 8, 2005ADDISON, TX
2 deathsCrash5 injured

SUDDEN TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT REAR TIRE OF FORD EXPLORER CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ON-ROAD ROLLOVER. TIRE WAS A COOPER ELDORADO RADIAL ZR1, SIZE P23575R15, DOT# 3DHLEKN2900.

STRUCTURE
106,000 miJul 14, 2004COVINGTON, LA
1 deathCrash1 injured

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH 10:30P.M., WITHOUT CAUSE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS HIGHWAY TO THE LEFT, ROLLED AND FLIPPED, AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE - VEHICLE LANDED ON ITS SIDE WITH ROOF IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL: ALL WINDOWS BROKEN AND WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. ROOF ACTUALLY CAVED IN ON TEENAGE DRIVER -FATALITY FROM MULTIPLE BRAIN INJURIES.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Dec 17, 2001JACKSONVILLE, FL
1 deathCrash1 injured

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND ROLL. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER DOOR CAME OPEN AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER DIED INSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY.(SISTER ON BEHALF OF DECEASED BROTHER) *YH

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Oct 1, 2001HOUSTON, TX
1 deathCrash1 injured

ON 09/23/01 MY 24YR. OLD SONINLAW WAS KILLED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A MEIDIAN AND TREE WAS ON TWO TIRES THEN WENT 30FT THRU THE AIR BEFORE THE EXPLORER HE WAS DRIVING ROLLED AND THREW HIM OUT THE DRIVER WINDOW. HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELT WHICH HE HAD HAD TROUBLE WITH SINCE PURCHASE FAILED AND HE WAS EJECTED ALSO HIS BROTHER IN PASSENGER SIDE COULDNT GET HIS BELT TO LATCH BUT HE WAS LUCKY AND WALKED AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES WHICH DIDNT DEPLOY EITHER. MY SON IN LAW DIED THAT NIGHT WHEN HE WAS EJECTED AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON HALF OF HIS FACE. HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND 2SONS AND A 1 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THESE EXPLORERS ARE DEATH TRAPS PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ONE.*AK

SUSPENSION
Feb 23, 2001HILL CITY, SD
1 deathCrash1 injured

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN IT ROLLING OVER 3 1/4 TIMES, THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN NECK, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL 00V-402 FOR FRONT SWAY BARS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED, DURING THE ACCIDENT NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NLM

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Sep 13, 2000CHEVY CHASE, MD
1 deathCrash4 injured

INFORMANT'S (ATTORNEYS) CLIENTS WERE TRAVELLING IN A FORD EXPLORER AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERTURN, AND 5 OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED, 1 FATALITY AND 4 INJURIES, 2 OF WHICH WERE SERIOUS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/70R16). *AK (ATTORNEY- HARRY W. GOLDBERG, P.A. #301-654-5757.

TIRES
Sep 13, 2000MAYAGUEZ, PR
1 deathCrash3 injured

ANOTHER FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRE 30X9.50R15LT- DOT VD 66AXC146 FAILED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD66AXC156 TIRE SIZE: 30X9,5R15L )

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 13, 2000ALBUQUERQUE, NM
2 deathsCrash1 injured

TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FLIPS AND FATALLY INJURED. THE PASSANGER IN THE BACK SEAT, THOUGH SERIOUSLY AND SEVERLY INJURED, SURVIVED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 9, 2000LOS ANGELES, CA
2 deathsCrash2 injured

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, DOTVDHL1PM146, AND TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 8, 2000ALBUQUERQUE, NM
2 deathsCrash2 injured

SPONTANEOUS TREAD SEPARATION. OUR EXPERTS DETERMINED NO INJURY TO TIRE: DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. HAVE FILED SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT, 10TH CIRCUIT, CIVIL NO. 00-1144-BB (10TH CIRCUIT). CONTACT US OUR OFFICES IF YOU WISH MORE INFORMATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 7, 2000SEGUIN, TX
1 deathCrash4 injured

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, INJURIES AND FATALITY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1 PM TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 3, 2000DAVIE, FL
1 deathCrash4 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT ,BUT IT DID NOT GO FLAT. TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT 70 MPH , LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ,SPUN AROUND, AND ROLLED OVER,CAUSING 1 FATALITY AND 4 SERIOUSLY INJURED. TIRE AND TREAD WERE SENT TO HR BAUMGARDNER TIRE CONSULTANTS ,JAY HALPERN, TO 3330 LAKEWIND WAY ,ALPHARETTA, GA 30005 TELE#18008827006 BY ATTORNEY. ( FIRESTONE ATX RADIAL TIRE DOT VDHL1PM196). *AK *MJS

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 3, 2000PHEONIX, AZ
2 deathsCrash3 injured

ON JULY 2, 2000 THIS VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH ONE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE AND THREE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, AND SUFFERED A REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLOWOUT, TAKING THE LIVES OF TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS, AND INJURING 3 OCCUPANTS. *AK *SLC

TIRES
Aug 3, 2000ODESSA, FL
2 deathsCrash5 injured

THE ACCIDENT OCCURED OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN TEXAS AND RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY BROTHER JOHN CHRISTOPHER HOUSTON AND HIS FIANCE, DANA WILLENBERG. 3 OTHER PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE GEORGETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE 3 OTHER PASSENGERS, WHO RESIDE IN AUSTIN, ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 24, 2000ALAMEDA, CA
1 deathCrash1 injured

WHILE POSITIONING MY SUV WITH INTENTION TO BACK UP, AS SOON AS I SHIFT LEVER IN GOT THE THE REVERSE MODE, THE SUV ACCELLERATED WILDLY, AND PLUNGED AHEAD UNTROLLABLE UNTIL IT SMASHED INTO A BACK OF THE CLOCK STORE BACK LOADING AREA, AND PULLED DOWN A WALL, AND CEILING AND SMASHED ITS SELF UNTIL IT WAS STOPPED BY THE ENORMOUS IMPACT.. IT DESTROVED MUCH OF THE BUILDING, AND ANTIQUE GRANDFATHER CLOCKS, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER OLD PRISTINE LASALLE AUTOMOBILE.... SEATS WERE FLATTENED IN THE SUV, AND GLASS WAS BROKEN EVERY WHERE. *AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Jan 14, 1999LOS ANGELES, CA
1 deathCrash5 injured

THIS IS A NON-RECALL FOR ABS. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT/SOME ICE, VEHICLE FISHTAILED ON BLACK ICE, DRIVER CORRECTED THE SLIDE. HOWEVER, ABS LOCKED UP, SENDING VEHICLE IN SPIN, RESULTING IN ROLLOVER. ONCOMING 2ND VEHICLE (SAME MODEL) TRYING TO GO AROUND, CAUSED HEAD-ON COLLISION. 2ND VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE 1ST VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOTALLED. VEHICLE TOWED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Feb 13, 1998JACKSONVILLE, FL
1 deathCrash2 injured

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT DIRECTION OF VEHICLE. IT ROTATED CONTER-CLOCKWISE AND WENT INTO A SLIDE. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 4 TIMESS. IN ADDITION, DURING ITS FIRST ROTATION, DOOR LATCH FAILED, DOOR OPENED AND DRIVER PARTIALLY EJECTED. DRIVER DIED FROM FATAL INJURIES AND PASSSENGER WA S INJURED. DRIVER WAS NOT INFORMED BY FORD OF RECALL REGARDING DOOR LATCHES AND LOCKS (96V-070). *AK

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 14, 2000MEMPHIS, TN
2 deathsCrash

HE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Aug 5, 2000ALBUQUERQUE, NM
3 deathsCrash

TIRE TREAD DELAMINATED./VEHICLE ROLLED MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Other Explorer Years

Other Ford Models