68 complaints reported

1996 Ford Explorer Suspension

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
68
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2014

SUV SUSPENSION SWAYS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO FLIP. THE DRIVER MUST SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN STABILITY. THIS OCCURS ALWAYS WHEN INCREASING SPEED WHILE IN PASSING LANE OR DURING RAPID ACCELERATION! I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE A WREAK IN THE FUTURE! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
Apr 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SWAY BAR FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V402000 (SUSPENSION); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2009
Jul 2008

DRIVER SIDE FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE/SPLIT, APPROXIMATELY AT ITS HALF LENGTH POSITION, WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE SUMMER. FIX WAS TO DONATE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2008
Mar 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 00V402000) HOWEVER; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 164,827. UPDATED 04/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. UPDATED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2008
Mar 2008 Crash Injury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. THE CONTACT AND HER BABY RECEIVED MINOR BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V402000 (SUSPENSION). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008
May 2007

FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE, DEALER REPAIRED IT, (CHARGED ME FOR REPAIR, BUT SOON AFTER, THE OTHER FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. THERE WAS RECALL 00V402000, BUT THIS Y CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Apr 2007

I BOUGHT MY 1996 EXPLORER NEW ON 01/19/1996 FROM WADE FORD SMYRNA GA. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER MAILING ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE WHERE I LIVED AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND I STILL LIVE THERE TODAY. FORD DID NOT SEND ME A NOTICE OF NHTSA ID # 00V402000. CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE FORD SEND A NOTICE THAT I CAN TAKE TO A FORD DEALER FOR THE SPECIFIED REPAIRS? I LEARNED OF THE RECALL 10/3/07. THANK YOU. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2007
Apr 2004

SUMMARY WAS UNREADIBLE, AND THEN DISAPPEARED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2001
Apr 2004 Crash Injury

EXPLORER SPORT (4X2),( MANUAL TRANSMISSION)(18,462 MILES) DODGING TRUCK TIRE RETREAD ON INTERSTATE WAS OVERSTEERED. THEN OVERSTEERED BACK WHEN LEFT REA HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF. THEN CAR FLIPED 6 TIMES. WHEN THE CAR LOST THE REA WHEEL, CONTROL WAS LOST.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 1996
Apr 2004

IN FEB 04 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SWAY BAR REPLACEMENT. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS BEEN RIDING WORSE AND MAKING RATTLING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEY SAID IT MOST LIKELY IS NOT THE SAME THING AND WILL CHARGE $35-$68 FEE TO INSPECT THE FRONT END. THE DID NOT DO A DIAGNOSIS THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN ACCORDING TO THEIR REP WALT. THEREFORE MY QUESTION IS, HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS A PENDING RECALL ON IT? *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2004
Mar 2003

THE RECALL COMPONET REGARDING THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK FAILED FOUR TIMES. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2003
Nov 2002

CONSUMER STATED PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WILL PASS THE INFORMATION TO THE ENGENIEERS BUT HAS BEEN 8 DAYS AND HE HAS NOT HEARD ABOUT THEM. *TS THE RUBBER BOOTS FELL APART CAUSING DIRT AND WATER TO ENTER THE BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS CONDITION. HOWEVER A MONTH HAS PASTED AND CONSUMER HAS YET TO HEAR FROM MANUFACTURE. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
May 2002

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS MY EXPLORER SEEMS TO HAVE LOST IT'S HANDLING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE SWAY AND TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2002
Jan 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE FRONT SWAYBAR LINKS, BUT HAD PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF YET AND TO RETURN A LATER TIME. *JG

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Jan 2002

VEHICLE WOULD START VIBRATING AT 40 MPH OR LESS. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICTO CHECK. MECHANIC INDICATED ONE BOLT WAS MISSING, AND OTHERS WERE HALFWAY OUT OF SUSPENSION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2002
Dec 2001

RECALL 00V402000/STABILIZER BAR LINK STUB: DRIVER'S SIDE STUB BROKEN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15-20 MPH; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO HIM ON THIS PROBLEM ? *AK BOTH LINK STUBS HAD BEEN REPLACED. *YH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2000
Aug 2001

NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION(CREEKING & POPING),VEHICLE STEERING IS ERATIC, TENDS TO OVERSTEER. LOCAL FORD DEALER PERFORMED SWAY BAR RECALL ON 02/12/01. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFO. ON THIS PROBLEM. CAN I GET HELP FROM FORD? WHAT. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Jul 2001

THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED A BANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, THIS PROBLEM OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-402. NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 1999
Apr 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V402000) CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO HIS OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE WORK, CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE SERVICE INVOICE AS WELL AS RECALL NOTIFICATION INTO DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY THAT THE PROPER REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE, CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE PAPERWORK WOULD BE PROCESSED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT CONSUMER NEVER HEARD BACK FROM DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS NOT PROCESSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED ON THE INVOICE, CONSUMER THEN WENT BACK TO HIS MECHANIC AND OBTAINED THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS NEEDED, CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD NOW PROCESS REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST BUT WAS NOT SURE IF MANUFACTURER WOULD APPROVE REQUEST EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONSUMER IS SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH REIMBURSEMENT IF DENIED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2001
Feb 2001

CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR A RECALL REPAIRS ON SWAY BAR, UPON RECEIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND, AND HARD TO STEER WHEEL.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2001
Feb 2001

CONSUMER HAD FOUND A SAFETY NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER THAT VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED WITH SWAY BAR PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, COULD FEEL VEHICLE WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE. THEN, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR CHECK UP, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TAKEN CARE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THEY FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. *AK DEALER SENT CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2001
Feb 2001

SWAY BAR LINK FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL 00V402, HOWEVER WHEEL BEARING ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FIRST FAILURE PRIOR TO THE RECALL, CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING IF THE SWAY BAR LINK BREAKING CAUSES THE WHEEL BEARING TO GO OUT ALSO. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2000
Jan 2001

REAR SWAY BAR LINKS BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Jan 2001

OWNER DEMANDED VEHICLE AFTER WAITING 2 1/2 HOURS TO HAVE RECALL (00V-402)WORK PERFORMED, OWNER WAS NOT TOLD JOB WAS COMPLETED, OWNER DROVE 31 MILES TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY FIRST DEALERSHIP. CJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2000
Dec 2000

FRONT STABILIZER LINKAGE HAD TO BE REPAIRED. AFTED CONSUMER HEARD A SNAP, A MINUTE LATER, CAR WENT TO SHOULDER LIKE A BIG WIND HAD PUSHED IT. VEHICLE STARTED TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH, AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 1999

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1996 Ford Explorer has 68 Suspension complaints on file. 7 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.