1996 Ford Explorer Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. SHIFTED INTO PARK & VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO STOP. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, IT FINALLY STOPPED. DEALER IS HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO BE CHECKED BY THE MECHANIC. *AK
NO SUMMARY
TWO PISTONS IN THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
PHIL CALDWELL FROM THE AUTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FORD PUT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL (LEAK) PROBLEM. TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS, THE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAD IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO RECALL. IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. AS A CONSUMER, I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIRS. *AK
THIS IS IN RE: TO A VIBRATION ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE BEFORE MY VEHICLE REACHED 11,000 MILES. I HAVE GIVEN NO LESS THAN 25 OPPORTUNITIES TO 2 FORD DEALERS, AND THIER REPRESENTATIVES, AND HAVE GOTTEN NO MORE THAN A "NO PROBLEM FOUND" OR "THIS IS A TIRE ISSUE" (OR THE 2 TECHNICIANS WHO STATED THE OBVIOUS "I HAVE NO IDEA..." ONE STATED, " IF YOU FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, LET US KNOW, ALL RIGHT?". I HAVE SINCE THE LAST DEALER VISIT, AND SUBSEQUENT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER CALLS, TAKEN MY TRUCK TO 3 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. 3 OF 3 SAID IT WAS DRIVE TRAIN RELATED. 2 OF 3 SAID IT WAS THE DRIVESHAFT OR ATTACHED COMPONENTRY. PATTERSON DRIVESHAFTS IN INDIANAPOLIS REBALANCED AND TRUED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND 50% OF THE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WERE IMMEDIATELY DONE AWAY WITH, (THIS WAS IN ONE DAY, FIRST VISIT). ONE FORD DEALER SERVICE SHOP ASSERTED THEY HAD REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT ON ONE OF THE SERVICE CALLS. BUT THIS IS ONLY SOMETHING WRITTEN ON A RECEIPT TO ME, SINCE THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE CALL SEEMED TO DO LITTLE, IF ANYTHING FOR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD C.S.D. TO ASK HOW THIS CAN BE THAT AN "OUTSIDE" SERVICE COMPANY COULD FIND THIS PROBLEM CAUSE WITH SEEMINGLY LITTLE EFFORT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FMC REP. THAT WE(FORD)DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE 'OPINION' OF OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, RELATIVE TO REPAIRS". (I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT PATTERSON DRIVESHAFT IS ONE OF FORD'S MOST USED DRIVESHAFT CONTRACTOR/TECHNICIANS), THEY KNOW FROM WHENCE THEY SPEAK. THEN RECENTLY, I HEARD FROM A FRIEND ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE, (I HAD CALLED ONCE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO). THIS IS GREAT! I CAN SEE NO LESS THAN 3 TSB'S ON MY PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND SOME MORE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE VOICED TO FORD ("NO PROBLEM FOUND"), I SEE ARE LISTED TOO. NOW IF I ONLY KNEW WHAT TO DO FROM HERE. I HAVE PAID FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, AND BEEN TOLD THAT THIS MAY TAKE UPWARDS OF 16 HOURS @ $78.00 PER HOUR TO PINPOINT THE LAST OF THE VIB. PROBLEMS(THOUGH THE VIBRATION NOW FEELS MORE PREVALANT (PLEASE CONTACT ME FMI).
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 45 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF.DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE IN SHOP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT AXLE SEAL UNTO THE POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING IT TO SLIP RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
4-WHEEL DRIVE LOCKING HUBS FAILED, CAUSING FRONT END NOISE.
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS OIL.
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, WITH MOTOR RUNNING, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO REVERSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE.
TRANSMISSION JERKS/BUCKS.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIVER TURNED ON THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, INDICATING A PROBLEM AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT KICK IN. THE AUTO SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
OVERDRIVE UNIT BROKE.
4 WHEEL DRIVE ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE.
TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE.
DRIVING VEHICLE IN FAST LANE, HEARD A HORRIBLE NOISE, LOOKED BACK & SAW UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD BLOWN OUT; HAD TO COAST TO SLOW LANE & SIDE OF HWY; DRIVESHAFT BROKE, HAD NO POWER; HAD VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
POWER TRAIN FAILED.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM OUT OF SECOND AND THIRD GEAR.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LEFT IN GARAGE, VEHICLE JUMPED OUT GEAR, ROLLED FORWARD, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION IN FOR REPAIR, FOUND NOT PROBLEM, OCCURRED AGAIN DEC-95. *AK
THE CONSUMER WENT TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKED POSITION WHEN THE SHIFT GEAR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE.C ONSUMER KEPT MOVING THE GEAR WHEN SUDDENLY IT MADE LOUD NOISE AND ENGAGED AT A QUICK SPEED. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A PEDESTRIAN. *AK
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLEY FAILURE.
THE CLUTCH SQUEAKS WHEN PEDAL PUSHED; THEREFORE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER REPLACED ALSO, HUB AND BEARING FAILED AND CLUTCH RELEASE REPLACED.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1996 Ford Explorer has 91 Power Train complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.