1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH & HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FLIPPED OVER WHILE TRYING TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE. DRIVER/PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. TWO WEEKS PREVIOUSLY, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, INCLUDING TIRE ROTATION. FIRESTONE, RADIAL ATX, P235/75R15 WITH 39,000 MILES.*AK

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES' STEEL BELTS BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NEED ALIGNMENT, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FRONT STABILIZER LINKAGE HAD TO BE REPAIRED. AFTED CONSUMER HEARD A SNAP, A MINUTE LATER, CAR WENT TO SHOULDER LIKE A BIG WIND HAD PUSHED IT. VEHICLE STARTED TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH, AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER.*AK

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL, USUALLY WHEN WEATHER IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH PUT CONSUMER AND FAMILY IN DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

STEP ON BRAKES & FOOT HITS GAS PEDAL. BRAKE PEDAL IS BELOW GAS PEDAL. PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE INFO AND THAT FORD WAS CONTACTED AND DENIES ANY PROBLEM OR OTHER COMPLAINTS. THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE AND AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR. NOTIFIED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND BOTH REPLIED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P255 70 R16 EXPERIENCED CRACKING ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF SIDEWALL. *SLC

THE TIRE WAS CORRECTLY INFLATED PER FORD MOTOR COMPANY MANUAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE OUTER TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER WAS FORTUNATE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OF THE ROAD AND THEN PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS BEEN SAVED. (DOT NUMBER: P255-70R16 TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)

THE FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) BEGAN TO DEVELOP LOUD THUMPING SOUNDS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE AND THE LEFT REAR HAD A RAISED RIDGE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE TIRES CIRCUMFERENCE, IN ONE SPOT THE TIRE HAD WORN DOWN THROUGH THE TREAD AND THROUGH ALL THE LAYER OF RUBBER WHICH WAS AS SOFT AS AN INNER TUBE, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN 99-8-8 ADMITS TO DEFECTIVE AIR PLENUM. CONSUMER COST TO REPLACE IS $700-$1000. HAS BECOME A DEALER STOCK ITEM. WHEN THE AIR DOOR BRAKES THERE IS NO AIR FLOW HOT/COLD/DEF CONTROL. CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH FOGGED WINDOWS. FORD REVISED THE PLENUM OUT OF NYLON (#F87Z-18471-DA) CLAIMING IT WOULD NOT BREAK LIKE THE PLASTIC WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1000 FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. CRASHES WILL OCCUR WITHOUT DEFROSTERS. THEY ADMIT IT IN THE MENTIONED SERVICE BULLETIN BUT REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.