1996 Ford Explorer Vehicle Speed Control Problems
NHTSA component category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · 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 vehicle speed control 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
“UPON MAKING A STOP AND PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER…”NHTSA complaint 818670 — filed 11/10/1997
“WHILE PULLNG ONTO HIGHWAY, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL SECONDS LATER, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID/SPINOUT ONTO SHOULDER, HIT…”NHTSA complaint 816341 — filed 09/15/1997
“THE CRUISE CONTROL "FROZE" WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH AND NEITHER THE BRAKE PEDAL OR THE OFF BUTTON WOULD DEACTIVATE IT.”NHTSA complaint 521601 — filed 08/28/1997
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Ford Explorer have vehicle speed control problems?
Vehicle Speed Control is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Ford Explorer: 85 of 1,450 complaints on file (5.9%). 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 vehicle speed control category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
