VehicleVerdict

1996 Ford Explorer brakes problems

The 1996 Ford Explorer has 149 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

149

Brakes complaints

8%

Share of year

29

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Explorer brakes complaints by model year310 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 1 complaints1988: 1 complaints1990: 2 complaints1991: 151 complaints1992: 142 complaints1993: 276 complaints1994: 310 complaints1995: 94 complaints1996: 149 complaints1997: 106 complaints1998: 102 complaints1999: 89 complaints2000: 72 complaints2001: 37 complaints2002: 136 complaints2003: 49 complaints2004: 54 complaints2005: 18 complaints2006: 41 complaints2007: 12 complaints2008: 8 complaints2009: 2 complaints2010: 15 complaints2011: 29 complaints2012: 20 complaints2013: 40 complaints2014: 27 complaints2015: 32 complaints2016: 19 complaints2017: 22 complaints2018: 10 complaints2019: 5 complaints2020: 83 complaints2021: 22 complaints2022: 14 complaints2023: 6 complaints2025: 13 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Explorer brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“TRUCK WAS IN PARK. PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, TRUCK IMMEDIATELY MOVED FORWARD WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, AT APPROX 2- 5 MPH. PUSHED CONTINUALLY HARDER ON BRAKE WITH NO RESPONSE. LIFTED FOOT COMPLETELY OFF BRAKE AND PUSHED AGAIN, THEN TRUCK STOPPED. WENT THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR IN THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 7, 2003 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1996 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 149 complaints about the 1996 Ford Explorer brakes — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.