Most common 1996 Ford Explorer problems
Share of the 1,450 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer complaints by model year
Best Explorer years: 2024, 2023, 2019. Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2013, 2015. Compare all years →
1996 Ford Explorer recalls (6)
Vehicle speed control
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…
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…
Suspension
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain conditions, a front sway bar link can fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both the left and right front sway bar links.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The liftgate assist gas cylinder bracket on the right hand bodyside outer panel was incorrectly welded.
Remedy: Dealers will reinforce the bracket attachment with two pop rivets.
Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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."
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1996 Ford Explorer:
Accelerator pedal
There is no summary currently available
Electrical fire in center console
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…
Front suspension stabilizer bar link
There is no summary currently available
What 1996 Ford Explorer owners say
Wheels & tires all 585 →
I was driving my Ford Explorer and my tire on the driver frontside went out and my steering wheel locked up on me and then my vehicle hit the curve and flipped over 15 or 16 times before it stopped I was feeling all over the road I had my set belt on but my air bags never came out and I was only going 25 or 30 and I was on a city street turning into the next lane when the tire went out and my vehicle flipped yes police account report #170042354 I'm not sure what happened I was in shock that it happened so quickly and I was happy to be a live my Ford Explorer is totally destroyed.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. While driving 53 MPH, the vehicle's front passengers side Michelin tire blew out. The contact lost control of the vehicle and flipped over. She broke her back in four places on the right side and her right arm is currently in a splint. The contact was pregnant and lost her baby. She was airlifted to a hospital. A baby was in the vehicle and received several scratches. The vehicle was towed from the scene. A police report was filed. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 285,000.
Speed control & acceleration all 148 →
On Wednesday December 29th, 2004, at approximately 3:30 pm I was traveling south on rt. 9w in my 1996 Ford Explorer xlt. The weather was clear, approximately 35-40f, and the roads were clear of snow and ice. I passed a car going 35mph in a 55 MPH area, and my Explorer stuck going at 3000r pms and accelerating. I tried to brake but my Explorer would not decelerate. I put on my hazards, put both of my feet on the brake pedals pushing as hard as I could and still could not control the vehicle. I ended up trying to pull into an empty parking lot, it still would not slow down so I turned the ignition off and ended up going through the parking lot and crashing down a 10 feet. Embankment. Both air bags deployed, vehicle was totaled. Transported to hospital by ambulance for observation and released.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. While placing fuel in the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke underneath the hood. He opened the hood and noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The fire was doused with a fire extinguisher. The contact examined the damage and noticed that the wiring harness for the cruise control had melted, as well as the master cylinder. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 127,000.
Brakes all 132 →
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. While placing fuel in the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke underneath the hood. He opened the hood and noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The fire was doused with a fire extinguisher. The contact examined the damage and noticed that the wiring harness for the cruise control had melted, as well as the master cylinder. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 127,000.
On October 21, 1998 I was involved in an automoble accident. A Ford taurus pulled out of a parking lot (from a complete stop) directly into my path. I was traveling at 30 MPH and when I applied the brakes I slid directly into the drivers door. Rain had been falling all day(the first rain of the year). Therefore, I do not feel that my Explorer slowed at all, my total skid was between five and ten feet in length. My question/complaint is why did my air bags not deploy? I was wearing my seatbelt, but I still hit the steering wheel. I have been looking on the internet for information on the speed a vehicle has to be traveling in order for the airbag to activate. The national insurance institute web page said the average speed should be between 12-16 MPH. My Explorer has many problems (it's a lemon). This, however, worries me. Would my airbag activate at a higher speed? …
1996 Ford Explorer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford Explorer a good car?
Based on 1,450 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Explorer rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Explorer at the same age. It is one of the Explorer years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Ford Explorer?
The wheels & tires — 585 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the speed control & acceleration (148) and brakes (132).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Explorer have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1996 Ford Explorer, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024, 2023 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2013 and 2015. See the full Ford Explorer years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Explorer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 120,000 miles; 8% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.