1996 Ford Explorer vs 1998 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Explorer | 1998 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,450 | 1,959 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 238 | 349 |
| Investigations | 3 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 198 | 181 |
| Fire reports | 37 | 102 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–18 | 14–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 121,881 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 570 | 696 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 148 | 281 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81 | 189 |
| Power Train | 120 | 103 |
| Suspension | 97 | 111 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 120 | 86 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 114 |
| Visibility | 47 | 108 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 60 | 71 |
| Stalling | 35 | 133 |
| Brake problems | 17 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 55 |
| Electrical failures | 9 | 13 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 16 |
1996 Ford Explorer
1998 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Explorer 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.