1996 Ford Explorer Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 0%of 1,450 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the engine of the 1996 Ford Explorer, 0% of the 1,450 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I purchased this Explorer the first year that the v-8 was available. The exhaust manifold fractured 4 times during the 12 years that I had the vehicle. The part cost over $300 and was on national backorder for over a year, so I had my nephew (certified welder) weld the piece together and reinstalled by an auto mechanic. My nephew stated that when you have pot-metal welded to steel, it will always fracture, so this part was never manufactured correctly. …”
NHTSA complaint #11046568, filed 2017-11, 5,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10563623, filed 2014-02, 149,000 milesEngine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 14% |
| 2025 | 8 | 7% |
| 2024 | 1 | 5% |
| 2023 | 10 | 9% |
| 2022 | 30 | 11% |
| 2021 | 50 | 11% |
| 2020 | 117 | 9% |
| 2019 | 19 | 6% |
| 2018 | 96 | 13% |
| 2017 | 241 | 14% |
| 2016 | 382 | 16% |
| 2015 | 227 | 13% |
| 2014 | 198 | 12% |
| 2013 | 225 | 10% |
| 2012 | 79 | 10% |
| 2011 | 83 | 7% |
| 2010 | 14 | 12% |
| 2009 | 4 | 12% |
| 2008 | 21 | 14% |
| 2007 | 28 | 13% |
| 2006 | 58 | 9% |
| 2005 | 17 | 3% |
| 2004 | 44 | 3% |
| 2003 | 22 | 2% |
| 2002 | 49 | 1% |
| 2001 | 6 | 2% |
| 2000 | 9 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 0% |
| 1998 | 6 | 0% |
| 1997 | 4 | 0% |
| 1996 | 2 | 0% |
| 1995 | 2 | 0% |
| 1993 | 1 | 0% |
| 1992 | 3 | 0% |
Other parts of the 1996 Ford Explorer
570 complaintsVehicle speed control
148 complaintsBrakes
132 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
120 complaintsSuspension
97 complaintsEngine cooling
81 complaintsSeat belts
78 complaintsBody and structure
63 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
47 complaintsAir bags
41 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology