1996 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

WHILE DRIVING IN "D" IN FIRST TO SECOND IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING AND WILL REV HIGH RPMS AND SOMETIMES DO ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING WHEN DRYING TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS I DE ACCELERATE AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGINE THEN FINALLY IT WILL CATCH AND GO IN TO 2ND AND PROCEED TO 3RD AND THEN 4TH AND THEN 5TH ,4TH AND 5TH WHEN ACCELERATING SOUNDS VERY ROUGH WHEN ACCELERATING LIKE IT'S TRYING TO HARD TO DRIVE, LATELY IT JUST THE OTHER DAY I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT TO GO IN TO D TO 1ST 2ND 3RD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WAS NOT WANTING TO CATCH HAD T OK TRY 3-6 TIMES DE ACCELERATING AND ACCELERATING TO TRY TO GET IT TO GO FINALT IT CAUGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SO I STOPPED AT THE PARTS STORE HAD THEM DO A SCAN AND THE ONLY CODE THAT CAME UP WAS P1701 THEY LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH TROUBLE IN REVERSE WITCH IN REVERSE HAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT IT AND ALSO A LITTLE SCARED TO DRIVE IT WHEN THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND IF IT WON'T ENGAGE IN TO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING WHEN IN D THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ALSO THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK WAS TOLD IT WAS VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR SO I REPLACED IT STILL HAD ISSUE SO I REPLACED THE ODOMETER SPIRAL GEAR HOPEFULLY IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM ALSO THE BACK SEAT DOUBLE SIDE WOULD NOT GO DOWN FIXED IT AFTER PULLING IT APART AND DRILLING ANOTHER HOLE INTO THE SPRING LOADED CIRCLE THAT HAS A TENCHENER ON IT FIXED THAT ....AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEATS JUST STOPPED MOVING ABOUT HALF WAY SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO REACH THE PEDAL AND THE AUTOMATIC SIDE MIRRORS DON'T WORK EATHER ONE AND THE ALL FUSES ARE GOOD THEAS ARE ALL SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE ME CONCERNED SINCE IT'S ALL I HAVE SO ANYTHING OR ANYWHERE I CAN TAKE IT OR DO TO IT PLEASE CONTACT ME SO IT CAN GET FIXED ASAP FOR THE SHIFTING ISSUE. TY

NHTSA ID

11309404

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

Mileage

180,770 mi

ALL FOUR WINDOWS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. CANNOT GO UP OR DOWN. DOESNT HAVE A PREFERENCE AS TO WHEN, HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF OR ON.

NHTSA ID

11123521

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY FORD EXPLORER BY TURNING THE KEY IT WOULDN'T START IT WOULD MAKE A SLIGHT BUZZ BUT THAT WAS IT, SO I GOT ONE OF THE MECHANIC TO ASSIST ME AT MY JOB. HE TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS GOOD, BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WAS WORKING. SO HE STARTED THE SUV BY PUTTING THE KEY IN THE START POSITION AND PLACING A SCREWDRIVER ACROSS THIS ONE PART MOUNTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. WHEN MY HUSBAND RETURNED FROM OUT TOWN I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE EXPLORER AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED, SO HE STARTED IT THE SAME WAY THAT THE MECHANIC DID. HOWEVER; THIS TIME HE WASN'T ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THE KEY JUST TURNS A FULL 360 DEGREE IN THE CHAMBER AND MAKES NO CONNECTION WITH ANYTHING. HE END UP DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE EXPLORER. THIS IS AN 1996 EDDIE BAUER EDITION. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF SO HOW DID YOU FIX IT AND THE COST? PLEASE REPORT THE SITUATION TO NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631100

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

231,381 mi

15 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND GETTING OFF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ONFIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRE EXPANDED QUICKLY CAUGHT DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE AND MOVED ON TO THE ENTIRE MOTOR BEFORE THE FIREFIGHTERS CAME AND STOPPED THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563623

Incident

Feb 8, 2014

Mileage

149,000 mi

DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED. DOOR LOCKS BROKEN (WILL NOT LOCK), AND LOCK KEY WORKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, DRIVER-SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RECENTLY (1/15/2114) WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562244

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

VEHICLE IS HIGHLY SUSPECTED OF HAVE THE ODOMETER TAMPERED WITH BY DEALER. MECHANICS HAVE CLAIMED ACTUAL MILEAGE AT TIME OF SALE WAS PROBABLY 172,428 INSTEAD OF 72,428. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535188

Incident

Jan 4, 2013

Mileage

72,600 mi

APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AFTER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM DEALER, IT WAS NOTED THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, NONE OF THE WINDOWS IN THE TRUCK WOULD OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN WINDOWS IF NEEDED FOR ESCAPE (DOORS IN PASSENGER SECTION OF TRUCK DID NOT WORK EITHER. SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT). *TR

NHTSA ID

10535187

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

72,444 mi

APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AFTER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS NOTICED PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE BACK SEATS OF THE CAR COULD NOT OPEN THEIR DOORS. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE LOOKED AT AND RESET, BUT DOORS STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUR SAFELY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535183

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

72,444 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE TOO DIM. THE GAS CAP WAS NOT SECURE ON THE TANK AND DID SHE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE GAS CAP ON TIGHT. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT ADDED TO THE POLLUTION. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 09V399000,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTEAD OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10316850

Incident

Aug 17, 2009

Mileage

157,000 mi

1996 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES.

NHTSA ID

10304185

Incident

Feb 2, 2010

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILS, RESULTING IN TURN SIGNAL STAYING IN THE ON POSITION AND RESULTS IN WIRE SHORTAGE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD I NOT MANUALLY PUSHED THE SWITCH OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRE WITHIN SECONDS. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, IN 2006. THAT SWITCH ALSO FAILED, BUT I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12/12, SO I CANNOT HAVE IT REPLACED FOR FREE. SINCE IT IS FAULTY, (NOT CAUSED BY THE DRIVER) AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND GET THIS HANDLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10302342

Incident

Jan 25, 2010

Mileage

163,000 mi

ON MONDAY DEC 22 I DROVE MY EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER TO WORK PARKED IT AND WENT ON WITH MY DUTIES AT WORK WITHIN 5 MIN A RESIDENT PULLS UP TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS ON FIRE .THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND COMPLETELY BURNED THE WHOLE VEHICLE I AM LOOKING FOR A ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THIS THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252694

Incident

Dec 22, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

RUNNING TAILLIGHTS BECOME DIM THEN FAIL COMPLETELY WITH THE SMELL OF BURNT WIRING, COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VICINITY. ON BOARD COMPUTER SHOWS NO FAILURE AND FRONT RUNNING/MARKER LIGHTS STILL OPERABLE. NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172657

Incident

Jun 2, 2006

Mileage

73,852 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED IN 02-05 THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CONSUMER REPORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10137219

Incident

Feb 3, 2005

1996 EDDIE BAUER, FORD EXPLORER..THE VEHICLE HAS OPERATED FINE FOR THE PAST YEAR, BUT IN JUNE THE WIPERS, WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND SOME INTERIOR SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, THEN COME BACK ON, THEN LOCK UP AGAIN. AFTER TALKING TO MY DEALER, THEY TELL ME IT LIKELY THE GEM GOING OUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE ON 1999 MODELS, BUT THAT IT DIDN'T COVER 1996'S. I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF OTHER 1996 OWNERS AND HAVE VISITED A NUMBER OF EXPLORER SITES ONLINE AND EVIDENTLY THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE NHTSA RECALL FOR THE 1999'S IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING...IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE GEM IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART AND MY MECHANIC SAYS IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WENT OUT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT AND IS KEPT IMMACULATE, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS MAKING ME SERIOUSLY QUESTION PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE GIVEN ALL THE ELECTRONIC GARBAGE THAT IS PLACED ON THEM NOWADAYS. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT, JUST TELLING ME THAT IT ISN'T A RECALLED ITEM AND THEREFORE ISN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138932

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

94,000 mi

1996 FORD EXPLORER HAD SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE WHILE PARKED AND UNATTENDED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 8 HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134425

Incident

Aug 26, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED INSIDE THE PARKING LOT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110896

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

Mileage

174,056 mi

1996 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - CD CHANGER, CD PLAYER FAULT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049472

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

96 FORD EXPLORER: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE WEEK LATER, BATTERY STALLED AND REQUIRED A JUMP, THE POWER LEVELS READ NORMAL. I CHECKED THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX AND THE FUSES DID NOT MATCH OWNER'S MANUAL. TWO PARTS SHOPS ADVISED THIS COULD TRIGGER FIRE, OR A DEVICE TO MALFUNCTION. PER FORD OWNER'S MANUAL, AIRBAG & ATBS IMPACTED. I REPLACED THE FUSES TO MATCH THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE SHOP, THAT WORKED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EARLIER. THE OWNER PULLED AN ALL DATA SCHEMA, WHICH IS QUITE DIFFERENT. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ELECTRICAL SCHEMA IS CORRECT - THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE OTHER SHOPS REFERRED TO, OR ALL DATA? IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, 60A VS 30A FUSES, DIFFERENT BLANK RELAYS, ETC. IF THE FORD MANUAL IS CORRECT, AND I FOLLOW THE ALL DATA SCHEMA, IT COULD TRIGGER FIRE OR MALFUNCTION. VICE VERSA, WOULD BE BAD ALSO. EITHER WAY, CONSUMERS SHOULD BE ALERTED? EITHER TO INCORRECT ELECTRICS IN THE FORD MANUAL, OR TO AN INCORRECT ALL DATA SCHEMA USED BY MECHANICS? (I HAVE ASKED FORD, ALSO, FOR A REPLY.) ALSO - THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BUT NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. THE FIRST TIME, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR, AND IT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF. HE STATED THIS WARNING LIGHT WAS INSIGNIFICANT, AND REFERRED ONLY TO EMISSIONS STANDARDS. (NO VISIBLE EMISSIONS). I NOTE THAT - PER THE OWNERS MANUAL AGAIN - THIS WARNING LIGHT CAN ALSO BE TRIGGERED BY A MONITORING, GPS, OR ALARM DEVICE BEING INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. IF I CAN FIND NO OTHER CAUSE, HOW WOULD I CHECK FOR THIS, AND DO YOU HAVE OTHER RECORDS OF THIS BEING THE CAUSE? THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO AN ISSUE, LAST SPRING. IN APRIL 02, THE FORD DEALER IN ORLANDO REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL, AND THE VALVE ASSEMBLY-THRO. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO AN ISSUE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE; DEALER REPLACED SENSOR ASSEMBLY-EGR, THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY. IS THERE AN ASSOCIATED RECALL, OR DOES THIS FIT OTHER PATTERN? THANKS! *JB

NHTSA ID

10016434

Incident

Apr 23, 2003

CENTER CONSOLE WITH COMPUTER INFO DISPLAY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10003373

Incident

Dec 25, 2002

Mileage

86,568 mi

AFTER DRIVING 1-2 HOURS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON DURING HOT WEATHER AND TURNING VEHICLE OFF, AND RETURN VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER SOON AFTER ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT FINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016490

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED ( SIDEWALL FAILURE), THERE WAS GOOD TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A AFTER MARKET ALARM SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED BY TAPPING IN TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS FOR POWER. DEALER FAILED TO MENTION ANY ALARM SYSTEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: P2257015)

NHTSA ID

752471

Incident

Aug 20, 2001

CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.*JB

NHTSA ID

785478

Incident

Apr 1, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. RPM GOES BELOW 500 AND WILL STALL. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, HOWEVER ON NUMEROUS INTERNET SITES HAVE FOUND INFORMATION RELATING TO A FAULTY IGNITION DEVICE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR, DEALER SAID HAD TO BRING VEHICLE IN WHEN PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. STILL NO ANSWER AND CANNOT FIND OUT IF THE RECALL IS BEING ENFORCED.*AK

NHTSA ID

744762

Incident

Apr 30, 2001

LOW BEAM ON HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON. OTHER LIGHTS WORKING. CONTACTED MANFACTURER AND INFORMED NO RECALLS. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND LOW BEAM WAS REPAIRED. INFORMED HAD A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRING. MECHANIC COULD SMELL BURNING WIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID

884047

Incident

Mar 5, 2001