1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG THUMP, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN THE MEANTIME MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON (SECOND TIME WITHIN 16000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. I WENT IN A WEEK LATER AND THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT'S WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT HOLDING MY FRONT END TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE FOR THEM TO FIX IT. IF IT WENT OUT ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BE KILLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEEING HOW THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY . IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED , I WOULDN' T HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM. $500 PLUS LATER I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE MY FAMILY OWNING FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP??? THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A NICE LAW SUIT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. I JUST WANT THE BUYERS TO BEWARE!!! *AK

MY WIFE COMMENTED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING HER FORD EXPLORER ON 4/8/00. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND AGREED THAT IT SEEMED TO "SWAY" FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A PART WAS MISSING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL/AXLE ASSEMBLY. I LATER FOUND THE PART IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS A "SWAY LINK ASSEMBLY" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I HAD DEALER REPLACE LF AS WELL AS RF AS I FEEL THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. IT SIMPLY SNAPPED IN HALF. THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, NOT BREAK AFTER 5 YEARS.*AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND DEATH. (LIMITED INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM CONSUMER) NLM

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BODY AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH). *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

KEEPS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. IT DOES HAVE 4-WHEEL SWITCH ON DASHBOARD. *AK

ON THE SAME DAY BOTH MY REAR DOOR LATCHES BROKE.YOU CAN'T OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE.THIS IS NOT DUE TO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY PASSENGERS COULDN'T GET OUT IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *AK

TIRE BEGAN TO DESINTEGRATE AND THROW TREAD, DAMAGING VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSING A ROLL OVER. COMPLETELY THROWN THE TREAD BUT REMAINED FULL OF AIR.

SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE ARE FALLING APART. SEAT BELT MATERIAL IS ROTTING AWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE BELTS WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PARTS UNDER 40,000MILES, IS THIS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE? *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSON. AFTER SHIFTING INTO FOUR- WHEEL DRIVE. TRANSMISSION LOST LOW GEARS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML