IllustrationI REPORTED THIS INCIDENT JUST TODAY IN A PRIOR REPORT, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFO., SO THIS IS THE COMPLETE INFO. THIS TIRE FAILED IN A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT, LATE ON A VERY COLD NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 94 IN WISCONSIN. THERE WAS N( DOT NUMBER: VDHKAWZ TIRE SIZE: LT23575R15 )
1996 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Explorer years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Explorer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 153 of 1,450 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 570 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
195 crash reports37 fire reports179 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,450 reportsTHE 1ST INCIDENT REPORTED WAS A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT OF A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT LT235/75R15 DOT VDHK AWZ. IT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT ON A COLD FEBRUARY NIGHT (2/21/99) ON A WISCONSIN INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO SIGN OF ANYTHING ON THE ROAD, AN( DOT NUMBER: VDHK AWZ TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )
SEAT BACK FAILURE DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT, BOLT FRACTURED, SEAT BACK FELL TO RECLINE, LOSS OF CONTROL POSSIBLE IF AT DRIVING SPEED
I PURCHASED 4 ATX TIRES 04-28-1997 FROM THE FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER,6783 W. CANYON AVE, LITTLETON CO 80123. ON JULY 17TH, 1997 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE THREW ITS TREAD WHILE I WAS GOING AROUN A CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE I BOUG…
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I PURCHASED 4 ATX TIRES 04-28-1997 FROM THE FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER,6783 W. CANYON AVE, LITTLETON CO 80123. ON JULY 17TH, 1997 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE THREW ITS TREAD WHILE I WAS GOING AROUN A CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE BLAMES THE TREAD SEPARATION ON A ROAD HAZARD BUT THEY DID REPLACE THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 15 )
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 16" TIRES ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUESTS FIRESTONE REPLACE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC
WHILE HAVING TIRE SERVICED NOTICE A BUBLE ON THE OUTER SIDEWALL OF TIRE. *AK IN ADDITION, ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE OUTER TREAD. *YH
ON A VERY WARM DAY IN MAY, I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIQUE PROBLEM, HOWEVER WITH ALL THE FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTS ABOUT DEFECTIVE TIRES, I BELIEVE THAT MY TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER CONTACTING BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS WITH MY CONCERN, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NHTSA HAS ISSUED WARN…
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ON A VERY WARM DAY IN MAY, I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIQUE PROBLEM, HOWEVER WITH ALL THE FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTS ABOUT DEFECTIVE TIRES, I BELIEVE THAT MY TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER CONTACTING BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS WITH MY CONCERN, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NHTSA HAS ISSUED WARNINGS AGAINST MY TIRES,THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPLACE MY TIRES. ACCORDING TO PRESS STATEMENTS MADE BY JASON VINES FROM FORD AND CHRISTINE KARBOWIAK FROM FIRESTONE, IF A CUSTOMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THEIR TIRES, THEY WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST. OBVIOUSLY, THE FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS ARE NOT HONORING THESE COMMENTS AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED NOT TO REPLACE THE TIRES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH MY TIRES AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING MY CONCERN. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME OF HOW I SHOULD PROCEED.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRE SIZE: 235/70/15 )
TIRES TURNED "LUMPY" IN 1998. GOODYEAR DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO TIRE SEPARATION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THEM AND HAVE JUST RECENTLY ORDERED NEW TIRES. .( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255 70 R16 )
WHILE TRAVELLING I-20 WESTBOUND SUN OCT 3, 1999. (3 OCCUPANTS WERE IN THE EXPLORER) THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION. I THOUGHT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. THE FASTER I DROVE THE SMOOTHER THE RIDE WAS.. AFTER RETURNING HOME (20MILES). MY HUSBAND (WAS NOT IN THE EXPLORER AT THE TIME) INSPECTED THE TIRE. T…
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WHILE TRAVELLING I-20 WESTBOUND SUN OCT 3, 1999. (3 OCCUPANTS WERE IN THE EXPLORER) THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION. I THOUGHT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. THE FASTER I DROVE THE SMOOTHER THE RIDE WAS.. AFTER RETURNING HOME (20MILES). MY HUSBAND (WAS NOT IN THE EXPLORER AT THE TIME) INSPECTED THE TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. HE COULD LITERALLY PUT HIS HAND BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE TIRE. THE LENGTH OF THIS SPLIT WAS APPROX 5 INCHES. WE REPLACED THESE TIRES ON OCT 6, 1999 WITH A NEW SET OF FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. THE OLD TIRES WERE STILL IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND DID NOT NEED REPLACING. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A "FLUKE". IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW. THANKS, PENNY GARNER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75SR15 )
THE AUTO WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THANKFULLY DID NOT CRASH OR OVERTURN AS OUR 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND HAD 3 PASSENGERS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Official recalls
609V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: 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.
00V402000 · Suspension
Nov 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
97V137000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Aug 19, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
97V074000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Apr 30, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
96V161000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 29, 1996
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
96V070000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Apr 22, 1996
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.