1996 Ford Explorer vs 1996 Ford Windstar
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 Explorer | 1996 Ford Windstar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,450 | 1,386 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 238 | 177 |
| Investigations | 3 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 198 | 60 |
| Fire reports | 37 | 45 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–18 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 121,881 mi | 86,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Windstar |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 570 | 20 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81 | 470 |
| Power Train | 120 | 322 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 120 | 218 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 148 | 82 |
| Suspension | 97 | 111 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 83 |
| Structure | 63 | 37 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 60 | 23 |
| Stalling | 35 | 37 |
| Brake problems | 17 | 31 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 28 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 52 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 20 |
1996 Ford Explorer
1996 Ford Windstar
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Windstar 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.