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1996 Ford Explorer acceleration complaints

Page 3 of 6: complaints 41 to 70 of 148, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 1996 Ford Explorer acceleration problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Jul 16, 2003 · Acceleration, Transmission · 153,000 miles · GA

While driving vehicle suddenly hesitated to accelerate, transmission had gone bad, per dealership.

Filed Apr 29, 2003 · Acceleration · PA

While driving 55 MPH the gas pedal fell off.

Filed Mar 5, 2003 · Acceleration · 129,891 miles · IA

Upon accelerating past a vehicle to change lanes, accelerator pedal became stuck against floor. Brakes were able to slow vehicle down but problem still existed. Engine had to be shut off to prevent fatal damage due to engine over revving after being put into neutral. New problem was posed as power brakes were not functional once engine was off. Able to finally get vehicle to a safe stop due to light traffic. Contacted nearby dealership and they suggested hitting the pedal to break loose. After several tries vehicle returned to normal. Drove very cautiously home.

Filed Sep 30, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

Consumer states, while driving and applying the ABS brakes system take longer to stop and always remain the light on. Also has problem with sudden accelaration. Dealer has been notified. Nlm

Filed Jul 9, 2002 · Acceleration · MA

While driving throttle pedal will stick and vehicle will accelerate. Could have caused an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.

Filed Feb 20, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · NC · 1 injury

Lawyer patricia kaufmann on behalf of client states, the vehicle in question accelerated unexpectedly and failed to brake while traveling down a steep grade. *jg (attorney on behalf of client)

Filed Dec 3, 2001 · Acceleration · AZ

While accelerating on interstate 17 to pass a truck, the entire gas pedal assembly separated from the firewall of vehicle, causing a sudden loss of power and a near-collision.

Filed Dec 2, 2001 · Acceleration · AK

Accelerator sticks while driving requires placing vehicle in neutral and pulling accelerator pedal to correct - can be very dangerous in traffic with inexperienced driver.

Filed Sep 28, 2001 · Acceleration · IL · crash · 1 injury

While parking the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated and crashed into a guardrail. Upon impact, both air bags did deploy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. *ak one person was injured in the accident.

Filed Sep 17, 2001 · Acceleration · MA

Throttle increases on its own at any given time. Most recently at a stop in traffic. Must apply brakes hard to some what control vehicle and shift to neutral or park. Then release brake for throttle control to return to idle.

Filed Aug 28, 2001 · Acceleration · NY

While driving under normal operating conditions engine surged and would not decelerate. Consumer put vehicle in neutral, and was able to stop vehicle. Dealership has examined vehicle, and has informed consumer that this vehicle was not included in recall 97v074000 due to VIN. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

Filed Jul 12, 2001 · Acceleration · CA · crash

Consumer was traveling 65mph on highway and accelerated into another lane. Accelerator pedal was stuck all the way to the bottom of floor. There was a loud streaking noise, and both feet were on the brake. She was able to pull over to the shoulders, and vehicle had to be towed.

Filed Jul 4, 2001 · Acceleration · TX

The accelerator stuck ,causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

Filed Jun 26, 2001 · Acceleration, Brakes · GA · crash

While driving at ga400, noticed that vehicle can not be slowed down after applying brake pedals several times. Notice that the RPM is increasing. Fearing that since there is not way to slowing down the car,I shifted to the gear to neutral and exit at holcomb bridge exit. Since the speed is still at 70mph, the car hit the enbankment, went down the grassy area and (ffg is what I can remember happened)and hit a water run-off/ditch, did a spin and came up and stop at the grassy area. I was able to turn off of the engine when I came back to senses and ran to the closest gas station (chevron) to call aaa. The tow truck operator noticed that when he restarted the engine, it was roaring at 5000rpm. Towed it to ford dealer/service at mansell road, was told 2-days later that they have inspect linkage for binding and trottle body for binding, but did not find any problem, and since they can not reproduce the situation, there is nothing they can do but to bring it back when it happened again??? I feared for the next time that it happened, lifes would be affected.

Filed Apr 16, 2001 · Acceleration · PA

Sticking throttle body, causes gas pedal to stick after park. Identical to ford recall of sohc engine, however ford recall does not cover this engine (4.0l push rod v6). Sticking pedal cured by replacing defective throttle body. Ford will not recall throttle body for this engine. Sticking pedal caused "sudden acceleration" from stop, resulting in close call backing into shopping center store front. Ford should recall this defective throttle body, all services have been performed since new at ford dealer. Throttle body was cleaned by dealer in december 2000.

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

Accelerator pedal got stuck for 4th time. Problem stated a year in a half ago. Consumer was traveling 60mph and accelerator pedal got stuck. Consumer tried brakes, almost standing with both feet on them, and they wouldn't work. Consumer pressed down on accelerator pedal to see if she could get it unstuck and accelerator pedal lifted and became normal. Consumer is currently insisting that ford take a look at problem. Dealer is telling consumer that she needs to buy a new vehicle. Office of chairman of board is who the consumer is dealing with it currently.

Filed Mar 16, 2001 · Acceleration · OR

Vehicle was showing same problems as stated in recall 97v074000 concerning throttle body sticking. Consumer informed that vehicle was not a part of recall due to VIN.

Filed Feb 20, 2001 · Acceleration · PA

Vehicle will accelerate on its own, accelerator sticks, please add additional information.

Filed Jan 31, 2001 · Acceleration, Fuel system · IA

Fuel pump broke. There was a recall for this problem, but this vehicle was not affected by recall although it has same problem. *ak with cruise control engaged, vehicle won't stop unless consumer stomped on gas pedal several times, consumer states the gas pedal seemed stuck and acceleration wouldn't stop.

Filed Jan 9, 2001 · Acceleration, Brakes · NY · crash · 2 injuries

This vehicle experienced uncontrolled (runaway) acceleration after driving approximately 40 miles at highway speeds in 20 degree f temperature. Upon exiting the interstate highway, I proceeded through the first light (green) with out needing to brake or stop. The second (immediate) light was also green and I proceeded through it with slight acceleration (no braking). The next light was red with a line of cars waiting to proceed and I applied the brakes. At that point, the car started to slow and then began to accelerate and was at wide open throttle within a second or so. I braked as hard as I could and moved the shift lever to neutral as fast as possible, but the vehicle had enough momentum to crash into the rear car in line, which, in turn crashed into the vehicle ahead of it. Both other drivers were injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance. This accident is covered in the brighton, ny police report #100220. I contacted ford motor co. After exploring the federal safety agency database and discovering the federal safety agency campaign 97v07400. My vehicle, according to ford customer service was not recalled under this campaign, although the criteria described in the federal safety agency campaign summary appear to be met by my vehicle. Note: I am very sure that I did not mistakenly apply the accelerator pedal rather than the brake pedal.

Filed Jan 9, 2001 · Acceleration · NY · 2 injuries

The vehicle experienced sudeen acceleration while consumer was braking to stop at a red light, this caused the consumer to rear end another vehicle which was stopped, consumer found recall 97v‑074 which speaks of the same failure but the consumer was denied recall due to VIN. Nlm

Filed Dec 30, 2000 · Acceleration · CA

This is the second time subject vehicle has suddenly accelerated to full throttle after an initial start from being stopped, I.e., at a stop light. Ford claim floor mat interference. After some investigating I have discovered one common denominator between this incident and the 60+ similar compliants on the federal safety agency web site. This is a life threatening situation.

Filed Dec 20, 2000 · Acceleration, Brakes · IL

Consumer was driving at 55 MPH on expressway when vehicle started to accelerate on its own , reaching speeds of 90 MPH . Consumer put both feet on brake pedal, but vehicle did not stop. Consumer had to shift into neutral and turn off ignition, and it took about 2 miles before vehicle stopped.

Filed Dec 20, 2000 · Acceleration, Transmission · NJ

Uncontrolled rapid acceleration. Only stop by set tronsmission in neutral and/or punch down on gas pedal. Happened 3 times to date.

Filed Dec 19, 2000 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

Acceleration continued after releasing pedal. Occurred while in the process of making a left-hand turn, and pressed down on brake fully with no effect. Engine still 'revved' at full throttle, with brake at full pressure, causing a squealing turn. Only after shifting to neutral did engine stop racing and acceleration stop. This occurred to a lesser degree a week or two earlier, but could not definitively identify if acceleration problem at that time.

Filed Dec 2, 2000 · Acceleration · CA

My vehicle has been inspected many times, with no success in solving the problem. Upon starting the vehicle, the car dies. It acts as though it is not getting enough gas. During the first few occurrences the car would run fine after I revved the engine a few times. However, for the past several months (and presently) the problem does not go away after the engine is revved nor does it make it very easy to drive. Once I take my foot off of the pedal and the RPM's decrease, the car dies on me...whether it be in the middle of a intersection or any place.

Filed Nov 14, 2000 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash

Accelerator pedal is too close to brake pedal one inch away. The master cylinder developed a leak allowing the brake peddle to travel past the accelerator pedal, because the accelerator pedal is so close the incidence of hitting both pedals becomes greater as it was with my vehicle. We had come to an almost complete stop then the 1996 explorer accelerated into the vehicle in front of us. Simple fix bend the accelerator arm away from the brake peddle. On 98 explorer's the accelerator pedal is three inches away indicating ford discovered the problem, fixed in later models, but failed to notify 96 explorer owners or their dealers.

Filed Oct 31, 2000 · Acceleration · NC

While trying to pass other vehicles consumer's vehicle started accellerating. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further inofrmation.

Filed Oct 11, 2000 · Acceleration · IL

Vehicle experiencing problem with sudden acceleration. On two separate occasions vehicle experenced a sudden acceleration while driving at 35 MPH. Was able to gain control by shifting out of gear. Notified dealer and manufacturer, and both replied that vehicle was not covered under a recall.

Filed Sep 26, 2000 · Acceleration · IL

The throttle body failed (reportedly) causing the car to unexpectedly and uncontrollably accelerate - refusing to decelerate. This "aggressive" failure scared the hell out of me. I had to react and take the care out of gear - since it continued to accelerate at a speed of 47-55 MPH as I tried to brake. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to react quickly - although I just missed tail-ending cars on two occasions when this occured at a high rate of speed. The cost of repairs was about $480. Ford motor claims they have no similar complaints and no recall on failed throttle bodies on explorers. Similar claims were made about firestone tires on explorers and 133 people have died before there was a recall. My staff maintains a large municipal fleet and have never encountered such a dangerous/aggressive failure that cause an automobile to fail or perform just the opposite of how its suppose to. This failure, which occured on two occasions within 3 weeks could have resulted in fatalities. I'm not happy - and not even sure that the part replaced is the sole cause of the problem.

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