Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10089030September 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE HAD MY1997 FORD EXPLORER FOR TWO YEARS, THE SAME PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. IT BECOMES SULIGISH ON THE ON SET, THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. 12 TIMES NOW I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, 3 TIMES I HAVE DONE FUEL ENJECTION CLEANS, 2 TIMES I HAVE CHANGED THE O2 SENSOR. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS THAT SPEAK OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089095August 17, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083275August 16, 2004
SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE STABILIZER BOLT SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE VEHICLE ROLLS. A RECALL(00V-402000) WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *LA *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086140August 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051619July 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS ENGAGED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO FLIP OVER. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEN TWO SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT THE RESPONDED WITH A LETTER WHICH SAID " SORRY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AT THIS TIME." *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10082788July 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1997 EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC PURCHASED IN 1999.MADE KNOCKING NOISE WENT TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD MY MOTOR WAS PULLED AND TENSIONER (PULLEY, CAM TENSIONER) WAS REPLACED.AFTER RECIEVING NOTIFICATION FROM FORD OF "IN WARRANTY" SERVICE BULLETIN,DIFFERENT DEALER SAID IT HADNT BEEN REPLACE OR DOCUMENTED BY PREVIOUS SERVICE.SO,IT WAS SUPPOSEDLEY REPLACED AGAIN (2 TIME).STILL MAKING THE NOISE AFTER SO LONG, AND TOLD SEVERAL TIMES "WE CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG" KEPT DRIVING.NOW, I AM IN DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT 10TH TIME AND MY TESNIONERS,POSSIBLY MY TIMING CHAIN,AND POSSIBLE OTHER COMPONENTS (HOPEFULLY NOT MOTOR)NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN(3TIME,MORE DAMAGE)??!!THIS TIME THERES NO WARRANTY OR REASON WHY I SHOULDENT "HAVE TO PAY" SO IT IS COSTING ME $1600 SO FAR...POSSIBLY MORE IF THERE WAS MORE DAMAGE.THIS MUST BE DOCUMENTED BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED IN GOOD FAITH AND NUMEROUS,TIRING EFFORTS TO REPAIR THIS FROM DAY ONE!DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MOTOR IN NEAR FUTURE LIKE OTHERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080973July 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAD PURCHASED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM MK AUTO IN AUBURN, CA AND THE CAR FAX I RECIEVED SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS AND NO ACCIDENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER FROM MK AUTO ASSURED ME MANY TIMES THAT THE FEHICLE WAS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. THE DAY AFTER I BAUGHT THE VEHICLE IT BROKE DOWN IN ME. MK AUTO TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES IN HOPES THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT NEVER DID. 10 MONTHS LATER THE CAM CHAIN GUID BROKE IN THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND AND I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE HAD BEEN 13 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE I NEVER KNEW ABOUT. THIS CAR IN VERY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND I AM OUTRAGED I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED! I HAVE NOW TRIED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR, BUT THE FORD EXPLORER IS WORHT SO LITTLE AND NOW I HAVE SO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUATY ITS HARD.......I FINALLY FOUND A CAR, BUT AM PAYING DEARLY FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE EXPLORER WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR LOT OF A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081566July 8, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A GULLY FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080339July 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEAREED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079290June 16, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO LOCK. THE LATCH PLATE DID NOT LOCK IN THE BUCKLE. THIS RENDERED THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075711June 4, 2004
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SWAY BAR SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073217May 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT CHANGE POSITIONS. IT IS STUCK IN THE POSITION ONLY GIVING ME AIR CONDITIONING FULL TIME. NO MATTER WHERE THE DIAL ON THE DASH IS TURNED THE HEAT REFUSES TO ACTIVATE. THROUGH A QUICK SERIES OF ODD WEATHER OCCURRENCES I FOUND MY WINDSHIELD COVERED IN A LAYER OF ICE THAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED SINCE THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ON THE DEFROSTER. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION. I HAVE NO OPTION NOW BUT TO HAVE THE HEATER PLENUM REPLACED AT A COST $1010. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073077May 24, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. WAS ABLE TO ROLL OVER TO SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO REACH UNDER THE DASH AND PULLED ON THE PEDAL TO DRIVE. APPARENTLY THE WELDS (3) FAILED (TORE OUT). I REPAIRED IT BY DRILLING OUT HOLES AND SCREWING THE BRACKET BACK TO THE FIREWALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073020May 23, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1997 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF FROM FIREWALL. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HAD TO REACH UNDER DASH TO GRASP THROTTLE LINKAGE TO GET OFF ROAD. (THANKFUL MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING AT THE TIME). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072524May 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS DUE TO COOLANT LOSS AND THE TEMPARATURE GUAGE READING COOL. ON EACH OCCASSION THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. THE LAST TIME WAS JUST PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT IT BE TESTED AND CHECKED THOUROUGHLY BECASUE I DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE AN ENGINE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. SHORTLY AFTER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME DIFFICULTY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE GARAGE AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND WERE LEAKING. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE REQUESTED THAT I BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR TESTS. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND THAT COOLANT WAS ENTERING THE CYLINDERS. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4600.00. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067340May 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065067April 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING IN THE SNOW, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING AND HITTING A GUARD RAIL, A MAIL BOX AND ROCKS. *AK WHEN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071783April 28, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. REAR WINDOW WOULD BE ROLLED DOWN SO THAT DRIVER CAN ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066431April 19, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FORD EXPLORER 1997 XLT 4 DOOR 4.0L Y AIR BLEND DOOR IS NO LONGER WORKING SUCH THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IS PERMANENTLY ON HOT AND WITH A 9 MONTH BABY THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT WE CANNOT COOL THE CAR TO THE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE DURING SUMMER. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS FIXED IN LATER MODELS WITH REVISED SYSTEM PART #F87Z-18471-DA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066424April 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT OFF AT 45 MPH. HAD TOWED AND WAS TOLD CRANKSHAFT BROKE. FORD KNOWS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAS ACTUALLY REPLACED SOME BUT AS MORE ARE BREAKING, REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. HAD THIS HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND WHILE TRAVELING RT. 95 THIS COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1997/1998 FORD EXPLORER CRANKSHAFT PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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