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Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Recalls by model year:

Recall campaigns

1. 09V399000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 13 Oct 2009 · 4,500,000 units

   Defect, as filed: 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: 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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 09S09).

2. 00V402000SUSPENSIONReported 28 Nov 2000 · 810,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain conditions, a front sway bar link can fracture.

   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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S47).

3. 97V137000STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUTReported 19 Aug 1997 · 2,200 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The liftgate assist gas cylinder bracket on the right hand bodyside outer panel was incorrectly welded.

   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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

4. 97V074000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLReported 30 Apr 1997 · 23,000 units

   Defect, as filed: 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: 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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 97S67).

5. 96V161000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSReported 29 Aug 1996 · 134,770 units

   Defect, as filed: 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: 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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

6. 96V070000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHReported 22 Apr 1996 · 73,500 units

   Defect, as filed: 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: 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.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1996 Ford Explorer (black) against all 1996 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.

1,447 unique complaints, 1,813 component mentions; 347 injuries and 51 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.

Complaints by year received

Investigations

Other Ford Explorer model years

Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.

All Ford Explorer model years · Ford: 201 model lines

Questions and answers

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.