1996 Ford Bronco vs 1996 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Bronco | 1996 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 81 | 1,450 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 89 | 238 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 198 |
| Fire reports | 23 | 37 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–14 | 14–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 120,000 mi | 121,881 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Bronco | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 4 | 570 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 148 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 | 120 |
| Power Train | 8 | 120 |
| Suspension | 5 | 97 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 81 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 78 |
| Structure | 3 | 63 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Electrical failures | 5 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 60 |
| Stalling | 0 | 35 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 17 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 15 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 8 |
1996 Ford Bronco
1996 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Bronco vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.