1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

RECALL 03V281000. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLT BROKE . *AK THE SEAT LAID ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SEAT WITH THE BOLT BROKE. *PH *JB

DRIVER SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWING A TRAILER. THE LEFT SIDE TRAILER WHEEL SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY. UPON INSPECTION ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE ALONG WITH THE TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL ON THE TRAILER. *PH *NLM

LOWER STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE CHANGED IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER IN AUG. 2000 (68250 MILES) AND OCTOBER 2003 (120000+ MILES). FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, I HAD ALMOST NO STEERING. THE RUBBER BOOT KEEPS TEARING AND RIPPING. I BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 1995. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRUCK WINCH CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, POPPED AND TIRE FELL ONTO THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER THAT JUST HAD IT'S FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLY FAIL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300. I NOTICE THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE BUT IT WAS NOT FOR 1996 BUT 1998 - 01 YEAR EXPLORERS. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER THAT MADE THE REPAIR AND THEM STATED THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 1996 AND 1998 VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THEY POINTED ME BACK TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS LIMITING THIS RECALL TO SAVE MONEY. THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE 1996 MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER YEAR MODELS AS EVIDENT BY THE PROBLEM MY VEHICLE JUST EXPERIENCED. THE RECALL NOTICE IS BELOW FOR REFERENCE. THANK YOU. . MAKE : FORD MODEL : EXPLORER YEAR : 1998 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V281000 RECALL DATE : AUG 04, 2003 COMPONENT: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 1552880 *JB

WHILE VEHICLE IDLED ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MOVE WITH BRAKES APPLIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE LOWER ENGINE LOCKED, THE POWER STEERING LEAKED AT THE RACK ASSEMBLY, THE BELT TENSIONER WAS FAULTY AND THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, RIGHT OR AT STAND STILL. *SCC *JB

WIPERS FAIL REGULARLY. 5/01 MOTOR REPLACED. 10/02 STEM REPLACED. 1/03 RELAY REPLACED. 9/03 MOTOR REPLACED AGAIN.

TRUCK WAS IN PARK. PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, TRUCK IMMEDIATELY MOVED FORWARD WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, AT APPROX 2- 5 MPH. PUSHED CONTINUALLY HARDER ON BRAKE WITH NO RESPONSE. LIFTED FOOT COMPLETELY OFF BRAKE AND PUSHED AGAIN, THEN TRUCK STOPPED. WENT THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR IN THE PROCESS, COULDN'T STOP UNTIL TRUCK WAS FULLY THROUGH.*AK