1996 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

Your vehicle caught fire under the hood on the driver's side about 15 minutes after you parked it and turned it off. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the driver's side front tire and eventually the entire engine before firefighters extinguished it. This indicates a serious electrical or fuel system failure that caused the fire.

Your transmission struggles to shift from first to second gear when accelerating—the engine revs high but the car won't move forward until you ease off the gas and try again, sometimes taking multiple attempts. You're also experiencing rough acceleration in higher gears, and recently had difficulty engaging any gear at all. Additionally, your speedometer and odometer aren't working, your power seats are stuck halfway, and your side mirrors don't function, which you've correctly identified as safety concerns.

Your Explorer won't start normally—it just makes a buzzing sound when you turn the key. A mechanic was able to start it by using a screwdriver to bypass a component under the hood on the driver's side. However, once started this way, the ignition key won't turn off and spins a full 360 degrees without engaging anything, forcing you to disconnect the battery to shut the engine off. This likely involves replacing or repairing the starter motor and ignition switch.

Your driver-side front seat belt won't stay connected to the buckle. Your door locks won't lock properly, and the key only works in them sometimes. Additionally, your driver-side exterior door handle recently stopped opening the door. These issues affect your safety and vehicle access.

All four of your car's windows intermittently stop working and won't move up or down, whether the engine is running or off. This happens randomly without any pattern. The issue likely involves the window motor switches or electrical connections that need to be inspected and repaired.

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEATER. HE WALKED TO HIS MAILBOX AND RETURNED TO FIND SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE CONSOLE. HE RETRIEVED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO DOUSE THE FIRE. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND UNDERNEATH CAUGHT FIRE AND HE BELIEVED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASHBOARD MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FIRE, BUT HE DID CONTACT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

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

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

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

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

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

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

CENTER CONSOLE WITH COMPUTER INFO DISPLAY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING INTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHIN ELECTRIAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO MALFUNCTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WOULD START TO SHIMMY. THEN WOULD DIE OUT. MANAGED TO PULL OVER. WOULD WAIT APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HR & RESTART VEHICLE. THEN, IT WOULD STALL OUT AGAIN. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP IN CINCINNATI TO CHECK IT OUT. ALSO, IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND AT EITHER DEALERSHIP BY MECHANICS. *AK

THIS M/V HAS BEEN WORKED ON AT LEAST 15-20 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEGINING CAR WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN BROS WHILE UNDER WARRENTIE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE 7-2000 THIS CAR WAS AT TWO DEALERS AND THE COST CLOSE TO $800,00 CAR STILL HAS SAME PROBLEMS. STALLS THE PAST WEEK THIS CAR HAS ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS AS THE CAR HAS STALLED WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN INTO ON COMING LANES. CAR STALLS AND EVERY THING GOES DEAD. SINCE AUGUST THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON AT SHIRETOWN FORD INC 147 SAMOSET ST PLYMOUTH MA #02360 STILL WAITING FOR PHONECALL TO BRING CAR BACK AGAIN WHAT CAN I DO. *AK

REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT COSTCO AFTER TREAD COMMING OFF FRONT TIRES EXPOSING METAL, SPARE TIRE STILL A FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS LOSS IS SIMILIAR TO ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THIS LOSS IS VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE LOSSES IN THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND CAN NOT VERIFY THIS, THIS SAME PART IS USED IN THIS VEHICLE, THE BRONCO AND THE EXPEDITION. PLEASE CONTACT JOHN REUTTER FOR FURTHER DETAILS WHEN NEEDED. 727-848-3923

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STARTED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. I GOT PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS BURING TOO HOT FOR ME TO GET CLOSE, THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS TOO LATE, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AND HAD NO WORK DONE TO IT AT ALL AND IT JUST BLEW UP ON ME. I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME BEFORE BEING SEVERELY BURNED MYSELF. I DID PURCHASE A 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE SELLING DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHIHC WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, HENSE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I NOW FIND MYSELF WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURY, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KILLED ME AND THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *AK

I HAVE A MAJOR SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IF THE DOOR IS SHUT IT WILL NOT IDLE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WILL JUST DIE. (LEAVING YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION) CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEMMON.

HEADLIGHTS INITIALLY FAILED TO COME ON, THEN CAME ON WHEN DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, THEN FAILED WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMPS ON ROAD, THEN AGAIN WHEN TURN SIGNALS WERE USED.

CONSUMER STARTED THE TRUCK UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. HE NOTICED SMOKE CMMING FROM UNDER NEATH THE HOOD. *AK

ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE INTERIOR SYSTEMS CONSOLE.

ELECTRICAL FIRE BROKE OUT IN CENTER CONSOLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.

HORN FAILED.

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT.

ENGINE STALLS AT IDLE, DUE TO ON-BOARD COMPUTER.

BATTERY LEAKED ACID ON TO EVAPORATION VALVE AND CAUSED CORROSION.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE ENGINE. *AK

FIRE BURNED CENTER OF CONSOLE, WHEN BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED FIRE WENT OUT. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD AND ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT 40MPH WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO HWY, DLR JUST PRIOR REPLACED ENGINE WITH MFR'S NEW ENGINE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS CONSUMER PULLS THE PLUG ON THE MIRROR, THINKS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, BUT NO ONE WILL HELP. *AK

813-972-7100 X7271: IDLE DROPS BELOW ZERO; ENGINE SHIMMIES, THEN STALLS IN TRAFFIC; INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, MOSTLY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. TT