1996 Chevrolet Blazer vs 1996 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 Chevrolet Blazer | 1996 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,153 | 1,450 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 49 | 238 |
| Investigations | 7 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 158 | 198 |
| Fire reports | 32 | 37 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–18 | 14–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 84,000 mi | 121,881 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Blazer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 14 | 570 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 420 | 120 |
| Suspension | 149 | 97 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 149 | 81 |
| Visibility | 182 | 47 |
| Power Train | 96 | 120 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 28 | 148 |
| Electrical System | 62 | 47 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 71 | 17 |
| Rust / corrosion | 46 | 15 |
| Stalling | 21 | 35 |
| Overheating | 18 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 17 | 60 |
| Steering problems | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 8 |
| Shifting problems | 8 | 0 |
1996 Chevrolet Blazer
1996 Ford Explorer
Compare all Chevrolet Blazer 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.