1996 Ford Explorer Structure Problems
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 1996 Ford Explorer, 4% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 123,743 miles. The words owners use most often: “door handle” (11% of reports).
- 63structure complaints
- 123,743median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 60%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Door handle: mentioned in 7 of 63 complaints (11%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 12 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 63 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury.
Ford Explorer structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 7 | 7% | 1,600 |
| 2023 Explorer | 10 | 9% | 10,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 11 | 4% | 39,000 |
| 2021 Explorer | 24 | 5% | 61,500 |
| 2020 Explorer | 45 | 4% | 40,302 |
| 2019 Explorer | 150 | 50% | 63,125 |
| 2018 Explorer | 288 | 39% | 60,950 |
| 2017 Explorer | 657 | 39% | 76,000 |
| 2016 Explorer | 591 | 24% | 82,750 |
| 2015 Explorer | 410 | 23% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 276 | 16% | 92,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 439 | 20% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 144 | 17% | 96,500 |
| 2011 Explorer | 110 | 9% | 101,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 6,900 |
| 2009 Explorer | 2 | 6% | 105,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 7,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 11 | 5% | 80,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 11 | 2% | 19,695 |
| 2005 Explorer | 151 | 30% | 77,300 |
| 2004 Explorer | 426 | 33% | 72,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 354 | 31% | 70,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 486 | 15% | 66,400 |
| 2001 Explorer | 29 | 8% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 29 | 3% | 93,310 |
| 1999 Explorer | 47 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 48 | 2% | 112,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 50 | 3% | 84,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 63 | 4% | 123,743 |
| 1995 Explorer | 39 | 5% | 112,762 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The liftgate assist gas cylinder bracket on the right hand bodyside outer panel was incorrectly welded.
Risk: The gas cylinder bracket may not properly support the liftgate increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will reinforce the bracket attachment with two pop rivets.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Sudden unintentional acceleration: on three different occasions, from years 1998-2015. The first incident occurred in town, 1998. I had to apply the emergency brake to disengage the surging accelerator. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer, who could find nothing wrong. Perhaps a floor mat…
When ever i go over a bump or a dip in the road. Something (sway bar) seems as if it something is cracked and the tire axes is about to fall off in the middle of the road. *tr
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
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Ford Explorers have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about structure for the 1996 Ford Explorer (4% of the 1,450 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Explorer structure?
Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do structure problems start?
The median reported mileage is 123,743 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about structure problems on the 1996 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “door handle”, in 7 of 63 complaints.
Other 1996 Ford Explorer problems
See all 1996 Ford Explorer problems or structure problems across all Explorer years.