One problem related to coolant leaking has been reported for the 1996 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I have researched and found numerous complaints about blown or leaking head gaskets on the 1996 Ford Explorer, and that is my complaint is. I have a 1996 Ford Explorer XLT with 66,000 miles is gararged year round and is maintained regularly and is only driven by my wife localy back and forth to work approximatly 10-20 miles a day I feel that there is no way I should have both head gaskets leaking coolant with realitivly low mileage for the year. There is definatly a problem here and feel that this needs to be investigated further by Ford, I was also speaking with a gentleman at a local auto parts store (where I work part time ) and he is having the same problem with his 1998 Ford Explorer XLT, both engies involved are the 4. 0 v6. I hope Ford will do what is nesesary to rectify this problem not only for myself but for others that will ultimatly hit them quite hard in the pocketbook for work done at a sevice center. I do not want to drive the vehicle untill I find out what can be done by Ford but have to in order to get my wife back and forth to work, I do not know if anything can be done to seal the problem without taking the heads off and replacing the gaskets. I have checked into what the cost would be and have been told anywhere from $1,200-$1,500 dollars,a bill I cannot afford. It is a shame because we love the vehicle and have had a number of Ford products but are seriously considering trading it in on another brand of vehicle.