IllustrationLEFT REAR TIRE, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE STILL FULLY INFLATED AT 30 PSI. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. FIRESTONE RECEIVED TIRE AND ONLY "VERBALLY" CLAIMS NOT THEIR TIRES FAULT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
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 TIRES IN QUESTION, ARE COMING APART THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. I ALSO TRIED TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED BUT IT DID NO GOOD . THE TIRES HAS MORE THAN 4/32 OF RUBBER LEFT BUT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 16" WILDERNESS SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST OF TIRES RECALLED BY FIRES…
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THE TIRES IN QUESTION, ARE COMING APART THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. I ALSO TRIED TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED BUT IT DID NO GOOD . THE TIRES HAS MORE THAN 4/32 OF RUBBER LEFT BUT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 16" WILDERNESS SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST OF TIRES RECALLED BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
I WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A RUBBER FLAP... I DROVE IT HOME CAREFULLY AND PUT THE SPARE ON IT. ABOUT 5 DAYS LATER, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, I HEARD FLAPPING AGAIN.. THIS TIME, IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. SINCE I WAS SELLING THE TRUCK, I STOPPED AT GATEWAY TIRE ON BERT KOUNS, SHREVEPORT, LA TO HAVE "O…
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I WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A RUBBER FLAP... I DROVE IT HOME CAREFULLY AND PUT THE SPARE ON IT. ABOUT 5 DAYS LATER, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, I HEARD FLAPPING AGAIN.. THIS TIME, IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. SINCE I WAS SELLING THE TRUCK, I STOPPED AT GATEWAY TIRE ON BERT KOUNS, SHREVEPORT, LA TO HAVE "ONE-OFFS" PUT ALL THE WAY AROUND. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THIS AS I'VE SOLD THE TRUCK, I JUST WANT IT NOTED FOR REFERENCE. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: )
ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS, AN ORIGINAL REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRES' TREAD PEELED OFF RESULTING IN 2 SEPERATE ACCIDENTS. BOTH OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING HOT DAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, 5 PEOPLE WERE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE WHICH ALMOST ROLLED. …
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ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS, AN ORIGINAL REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRES' TREAD PEELED OFF RESULTING IN 2 SEPERATE ACCIDENTS. BOTH OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING HOT DAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, 5 PEOPLE WERE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE WHICH ALMOST ROLLED. THANKFULLY, TRAFFIC ON THE FWY WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL 5 PASSENGERS ENDURED EXTREME MENTAL ANGUISH THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM CONTINUING THEIR TRAVEL. WE CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO WOULD NOT ADMIT ANY DEFECT WITH THE TIRE, BUT DID PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WE WERE VERY SUSPICOUS OF THE TIRES AT THAT TIME SINCE IT SEEMED SO UNLIKELY THAT A TIRE WOULD DO THAT. SO WE ASKED TO HAVE ALL TIRES REPLACED. FIRESTONE REJECTED OUR REQUEST. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER THE OTHER REAR TIRES' TREAD PEELED OFF UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. AGAIN, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. FIRESTONE HOWEVER REFUSED TO REPLACE THAT TIRE AS WELL AS ANY OF THE OTHER TIRES. NOW THAT THE NEWS OF THIS PRODUCT DEFECT IS ARISING EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO MAKE SENSE. WE FEEL BOTH ANGRY AND BETRAYED BY FIRESTONE THAT THEY HAD THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE, REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS SO APPARENT ON OUR VEHICLE, AND KNOWINGLY PUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY'S LIVES IN JEAPORDY. WE INTEND TO FILE SUIT AGAINST FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
HAD A BLOW OUT. ALSO HAPPENED IN 1998. SAME THING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R-15 )
TIRES ARE SPLITTING AT THE TREAD AND WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )
THIS IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM THAT FIRESTONE ANNOUNCED 08/15/2000 THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES REPLACED FROM 08/09/2000 TO 08/16/2000. EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM WAS ONLY ANNOUNCED 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE END DATE. THIS DOESN'T SEEM QUITE FAIR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )
PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. INVOLVED INTO AUTO CRASH 7/1/1998 SERIOUS INJURIES, MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, RIGHT HIP REPLACED....ETC. EX HUSBAND DRIVING FORD EXPLORER, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VE HICLE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS BLOWN ON VECHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE PICTURE. THIS ACCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE, AND NOW I'M PERMANENTLY HA…
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PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. INVOLVED INTO AUTO CRASH 7/1/1998 SERIOUS INJURIES, MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, RIGHT HIP REPLACED....ETC. EX HUSBAND DRIVING FORD EXPLORER, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VE HICLE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS BLOWN ON VECHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE PICTURE. THIS ACCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE, AND NOW I'M PERMANENTLY HANDICAPPED. I WAS UNAWARE I HAD AN AVENUE TO REPORT THIS TO. THANKS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLIC. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED. VECHICLE APPRANENTLY SPINNED DOWN THE I-10 ROTATING AT 180 DEGREES, AND THE ROLLED RIGHT ACCORDING TO PHOENIX POLICE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD OFFER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.( DOT NUMBER: )
BACK REAR TIRE BLEW. TREAD WAS DETACHED FROM THE TIRE IN PLACES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15 )
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.