Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#868641August 24, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 40 AND SUDDENLY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH, AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK THE ROAD WAS WET WITH LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868615August 24, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER HAS A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER. ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE 31,000 MILES ON THEM. TIRES SIZE IS P235/75R15, AND DOT # VNHL. THERE WAS ABOUT 3/4 INCHES OF SEPARATION & CRACKING DOWN ON SIDEWALL TO FLAT TREAD. IN & OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728759August 23, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THESE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FORD EXPLORER TIRES WITH 31,000 MILES. THESE TIRES ARE NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. THESE TIRES ALL SHOW VERY OBVIOUS SEPERATION CRACKING AROUND THE CIRCUMFERANCE OF THE TIRE ABOUT 3/4" DOWN FROM THE FLAT OF THE TREAD. THE CRACKS ARE ON BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE, MANAGER SHANE MCGRANE, WHO AGREED THE TIRES DID NOT LOOK QUITE RIGHT, BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING SAYING THAT HE IS A INDEPENDANT DEALER FOR FIRESTONE AND SINCE THE TIRES ARE NOT LISTED AS RECALL, FIRESTONE WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM. I THEN CONTACTED THE DICK WITHAM FORD DEALERSHIP, SHOWED THEM THE TIRES, SERVICE MANAGER, BRANT WALTERS, WHO LOOKED AT THE TIRES, AGREED THEY DID NOT LOOK QUITE RIGHT. WITHAM FORD DECIDED THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, AS THE TIRES WERE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT FIRESTONE. I CALLED AND TALKED WITH THE IOWA DISTRICT FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE, HAROLD LEE, WHO WAS REALLY TOO BUSY TO TALK TO ME. HE REFERED ME TO HIS EMPLOYEE LARRY DESALVO, 319-388-6017, WHO HAS REFUSED TO RETURN MY PHONE MESSAGE CALLS. IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AND TELL THEY HAVE SEPERATION CRACKS, NOT WEATHER CHECKING, AND DO NOT LOOK RIGHT, HOWEVER BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE ARE PASSING THE BUCK. THESE TIRE I BELIEVE MAY ALSO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TREAD SEPERATES I AM ASKING YOUR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868477August 23, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE 00020: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 35MPH & TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD, WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. CHECKED THE TIRE & FOUND TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARTATED. STILL HAD THE TIRE FOR THE LAWYER. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 WITH 25,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728656August 22, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
RUBBER SEAL ON FUEL TANK CAP FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK CAP $110. SEAL ON CAP WAS TORN. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE VECHILE WAS UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728662August 22, 2000
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE. VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS, TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. AAA RESPONDED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE, PA STATE TROOPERS ALSO RESPONDED DUE TO (DANGEROUS) LOCATION OF VEHICLE, MOTHER TRAVELING ALONE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728664August 22, 2000
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE. VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS, TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. AAA RESPONDED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE, PA STATE TROOPERS ALSO RESPONDED DUE TO (DANGEROUS) LOCATION OF VEHICLE, MOTHER TRAVELING ALONE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728665August 22, 2000
TIRES
AFTER ABOUT 40000 MILES ON THE TIRES I STARTED HAVING TROUBLES STEERING THE CAR. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS ALWAYS OKAY. I WAS HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE THAT I WORE SOME OF THE COVERING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. FINALLY MY FORD DEALER SAID IT LOOKED AS IF I WAS HAVING TREAD SEPERATION. HE SHOWED ME AND I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. HE SAID TREAD SEPERATION WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TIRES EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED HIM WHERE IT WAS STARTING TO COME OFF. HE CHECK THE ALIGNMENT, CHANGED IT A LITTLE AND SWITCHED MY FRONT TIRES-LEFT TO RIGHT. IT FELT OKAY, BUT I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I HEARD SO I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER AND HAD HIM REPLACE THE TIRES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, BUT IF I HADN'T TAKEN ACTION THERE COULD HAVE BEEN. FIRESTONE IGNORED MY COMPLAINT AND DISAVOWED THE PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: VD-- TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728687August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT DISINTEGRATED WHERE THE TIRE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868341August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AFTER SEEING THE INFORMATION FOR RECALL, CHECKED THE TIRES AND FOUND OUT THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS AND STARTED SEPARATING, EXCEPT THE LEFT REAR. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868321August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00020, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT-W2HL, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING TREAD ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE SEPARATED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868290August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TREAD ON THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A 1997, EXPLORER. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WLDERNESS HT, P22570RI5, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT WITH 36,800 MILES. OWNER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH FIRESTONE AT THE CUSTOMER'S SERVICE NUMBER.*AK DOT #W2UU1P0187, 2 TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ONE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868263August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FRONT LEFT TIRE WHICH WAS AN FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT P23575R/15 HAD THREE LOOSE BELTS COMING OUT OF IT. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868303August 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS/AT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE. SIDEWALL PEELED OFF JUST LIKE A BANANA. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN WHERE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75/15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#554590August 21, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT TWO OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES HAD CRACKS AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE (DOT CODE W2HL), CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW NON-FIRESTONE TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMWNT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728513August 21, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NEED TO SECURE CUSTODY OF VEHICLE LEFT IN TEXAS - PLEASE CONTACT US( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#728521August 21, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE A BIG QUESTION CONSERNING THE 4.0 SOHC "PLASTIC" CAM TENSIONER. I HAVE HAD MY EXPLORER IN A LOCAL SHOP FOR 4 WEEKS "DIAGNOSING" ME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. TODAY I FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A TOTALLY WRECKED 48,000 MILE ENGINE DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD INSTALLS PLASTIC CAM TENSIONERS FROM THE FACTORY ONLY TO REPLACE THEM LATER WITH STEEL UNITS. I ALSO FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE FOR THE LOW, BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE OF $5400. MY GOD THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. THERE ARE 4 EXPLORERS IN MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM BEGINNING TO SEE A TREND HERE! COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S UP WITH THESE ENGINES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE NEW ENGINE, WHICH IS A 2000 MODEL, "HAS BEEN REDESIGNED".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728529August 21, 2000
TIRES
A 4INCH CHUNCK OF TREAD WAS MISSING, AND THE TREAD AROUND AREA WAS LOOSE. IT LOOKED LIKE A RETREAD COMING APART.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX137 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728545August 21, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRES WERE ORIGINAL, 48,000 MILLES VEHICLE IN VIRGINIA. TREAD SEPERATED ON ONE TIRE. I REPLACED 4 TIRES ON JULY 28, 2000 JUST BEFORE THE MAJOR RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: VNHI TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728574August 21, 2000
TIRES
SIDEWALLS CRACKED ON ALL FOUR TIRES, WAS TOLD BY FIRESTONE TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND WHEN I WENT TO FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THE TIRES WERE FOUND TO BE UNSAFE,THE BEST THEY COULD DO IS TAKE THE MILAGE INTO CONSIDERATION AND PRORATE A NEW SET OF TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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