1996 Chevrolet Explorer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Explorer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes228.6%
- Driver assistance228.6%
- Engine114.3%
- Tires & wheels114.3%
- Visibility114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT CAUSE. *JB
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. BRAKES WERE WARPED AFTER SLAMMING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AT HIGH SPEED BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE WOBBLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED, BUT DEALER SAID IT AFFECTED SAFETY OF VEHICLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, AND TURN VEHICLE OFF TO STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CLIP FELL OFF AND INTANGLED WITH THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING THE VAN TO TAKE OFF OUT OF CONTROL. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-85 JUST NORTH OF ATLANTA. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS 70 MPH. THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE TREAD CAME OFF OF IT. THE TIRE BLEW A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE GUARD RAIL WHICH WAS ON THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HIT THE GUARD RAIL, CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THEN IT JUMPED OVER THE GAURD RAIL. THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES AND HIT SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A TREE APROXIMATELY 73 FROM WHERE IT ORIGINALLY STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WHERE BOTH INJURED AND WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TO BE TOTALED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .