1996 FORD EXPLORER Recalls — Canada & USA

The 1996 Ford Explorer has 6 recalls, the most serious being a throttle that can stick open in extreme cold, leaving the engine at high idle even after the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal. In very cold conditions, ice can form around the throttle plate after extended highway driving, causing the engine to hold a high idle or fail to return to normal when the accelerator is released. A related recall, limited to 5.0L engines in certain northern states, addresses the same type of runaway throttle concern; while the vehicle can be brought under control by braking or shifting to neutral, stopping distances may increase. On the suspension side, a front sway bar link can fracture, which affects how the vehicle handles through corners and reduces stability. There are also two structural recalls covering the same problem: a bracket holding the liftgate's gas cylinder strut has welds that may not hold, causing the strut to lose its support and the rear liftgate to drop unexpectedly on anyone nearby. A final compliance recall affects 4.0L-equipped models, where an incorrect fuel vapor valve was installed that allows evaporative emissions to exceed the legal standard.