1996 Ford Explorer Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 1,450 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Ford Explorer overview page.
What owners report
“VEHICLE FIRE, ORIGINATING IN THE DASH AREA. ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE.”NHTSA complaint 518852 — filed 08/15/1997
“THE CONSUMER WENT TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKED POSITION WHEN THE SHIFT GEAR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE.C ONSUMER KEPT MOVING THE GEAR…”NHTSA complaint 812294 — filed 05/15/1997
“TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR FORWARD WHEN GOING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE AND FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE.”NHTSA complaint 509795 — filed 10/17/1996
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Ford Explorer have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Ford Explorer: 78 of 1,450 complaints on file (5.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1996 Ford Explorer have in total?
1,450 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 197 involved a crash, 37 involved a fire, 347 reported injuries, and 51 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
