Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10065788April 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FORD DID NOT APPLY NHTSA RECALL 98V060 PROPERLY TO MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER VIN [XXX]. THE DO NOT GROUND WARNING WAS APPLIED TO THE INCORRECT BRACKET. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE, I USED THE FUEL LINE BRACKET SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING LABEL. THE BRAIDED FUEL LINE COVERS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE OF FUEL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. FORD CLAIMS THE RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH SHOW IT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO THE 300, 000+ VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS RECALL DONE. SUMMARY 1.THE WARNING LABEL WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CORRECT BRACKET WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER THE RECALL 2.THERE IS NO LABEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INDICATING THAT THE REVISED ALTERNATOR BOLT IS A JUMP START GROUND LOCATION 3.FORDS POSITION IS THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE PROPERLY. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THEY WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. 4.THIS SITUATION POSES AN IMMINENT DANGER TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND BYSTANDERS. 5.THERE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. 6.FORD SHOULD PROVIDE A LABEL INDICATING THAT THE ALTERNATOR BOLT IS A GROUND LOCATION AND THEY SHOULD CHECK VEHICLES THAT WERE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL TO ENSURE THAT THE LABELS WERE PROPERLY APPLIED. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066938April 8, 2004
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *PH *MR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064314April 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY HEATER "SPLITTER DOOR" FAILED TO RELEASE HEAT ABOUT 4 MO. AGO AND IS STILL BRIKEN. I HAVEN'T HAD THE 700.OO TO FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062714March 20, 2004
EQUIPMENT
BLEND DOOR FAILURE ON AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE. REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $700. THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL BUT IS NOT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062715March 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
EGR VALVE FAILED AT COST OF OVER $250. THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND IS COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I REQUESTED WARRANTY STATUS FOR THIS PART FROM FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER IN LETTER OF 7/17/03 WITH 76,172 MILES ON VEHICLE. INITIAL "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" FOR THIS FAILURE WAS AT ABOUT 66,000 ON 8/30/02. FORD DID NOT ANSWER MY INQUIRY, INSTEAD REFERRING ME TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS IN INDIA, AGAINST MY WISHES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063461March 18, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO RECLINE/ADJUST THE SEAT. THE SEAT RECLINING HANDLE SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062095March 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE HEAT ACTUATOR "BROKE" AND ELIMINATED ANY HEAT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062040March 12, 2004
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
PATHFINDER LUXURY SUV P235/75R15 105S TIRES PURCHASED IN 6/03. THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED IN 8/03 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. THE SECOND WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE DURING TIRE ROTATION IN 12/03. THE THIRD FAILED ON 3/12/04 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD. OUTER SIDEWALL WAS COMPLETELY SPLIT BELOW THE TIRE SHOULDER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060649March 7, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY
IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED IN 1998 AND I TOOK IT TO LES PINKAM LINCOLN MERCURY IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY FOR REPAIR. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE BLEND AIR DOOR HAD BROKEN AND IT WOULD COSTS $800 TO REPAIR IT. THINKING HE WAS LYING, I TOOK IT TO BILL COLLINS FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KY. AGAIN, THE SAME RESULTS AND REPAIR ESTIMATE. TECHNICIANS AT BOTH PLACES, TOLD ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY HAD LES PINKAM REPAIR IT. IT SEEMS THAT FORD WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DASH TO REPAIR IT, MUCH CONTINUE WITH A DESIGN WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS. YEARS LATER AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. IN ADDITION I CAME ACROSS TSB ARTICLE NUMBER 98-23-20 IN MY SEARCHES, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE ARTICLE AT YOUR WEB-SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE AND FINALLY REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I COULDN'T SEE REPAIRING IT A THIRD TIME WHEN A FORD TECHNICIAN AND PRIVATE YARD COULDN'T FIX IT. BOTH TIMES WITHIN 13 MONTHS AFTER REPAIR, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY COMPLETELY FAIL AND TACH OUT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I COULD GET IT TO DO IT WITH A FORD TECHNICIAN AND HIS CODE SENSOR PLUGGED IN. THIS HAS COME CLOSE TO HAVING ME GET REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE 65, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS IN CRUISE CONTROL. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD ALMOST COMPLETELY TACK OUT BEFORE I COULD HIT THE BRAKE PEDALS TO DIS-ENGAGE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I'VE SPENT ALMOST $6000 IN REPAIRS SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD IT IN FOR MANY RECALLS. ALL I'VE EVER GOT OUT OF FORD OR THE DEALERS IS, SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WERE PRETTY SCARY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061401March 4, 2004
TIRES
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AT 55-60 MPH A TIRE FELL OFF. CONSUMER SAW THE TIRE ROLL DOWN THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT, CALLED AAA, AND HAD TIRE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060082March 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY HEATER...EVER TRY TO DEFROST A WINDOW WHEN IT IS MINUS 5 WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON..? THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061125February 23, 2004
TIRES
VEHICLE HAD A TIRE BURST WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR AWHILE AND WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR A SEVERAL DAYS. SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL BILLS, EXTENDED THERAPY NOR FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A TIRE. *PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10058379February 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
LAST FALL WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A "BURNING RUBBER SMELL" COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. IT ONLY SEEMD TO MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 60 MPH. WHEN WE DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS AT THE POSTED RATE OF SPEED, WE FOUND THERE WAS NO SMELL WHATSOEVER. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC CHECK THINGS OUT AND LATER OUR LOCAL TIRES PLUS, IN BOTH INSTANCES NOTHING WAS FOUND. TODAY WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK IT OUT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. THIS WORRIES US, FOR RECENTLY ON THE LOCAL NEWS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CAR FIRES AND I JUST HAPPENED TO VIEW ONE OF THE VIDEOS THAT SHOWED ONE OF THE VEHICLES ON FIRE. IT WAS A FORD EXPLORER AND THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU FIND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. P.S. THE WHEEL IS FINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058349February 17, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM I WAS PULLING MY WIFE'S 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING STALL. I HAD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ROAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAINST MY BRAKING. I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL IT STRUCK A CAR OPPOSITE MY PARKING STALL. I PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED MY RIGHT FOOT POSITION AND CONFIRMED THAT I WAS ONLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR ROLLED BACK A COUPLE OF FEET. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND BACKED THE CAR UP ANOTHER 3 FEET. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS NOT RECURRED BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10058373February 17, 2004
WHEELS
THERE SEEMS TO BE A BURNING RUBBER SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058093February 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CONSUMER IS A VICTIM OF ODOMETER FRAUD, ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT'S UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH EXHAUST SYSTEM, BALL JOINT, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017277February 10, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
REPLACEMENT TIRES P23575R15 105S ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, THERE'S VIBRATION FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE.*AK THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES UNDER THE FIRESTONE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE BALANCED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND ONLY HAD THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GOODYEAR REPLACE THE FAULTY TIRE AT NO COST TO HIM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057349February 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT GRINDING NOISE AND PULSING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, DEALERSHIP ADDED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE PARTICULAR MODEL. *LA *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056767February 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TYPE "E" MOTOR FAILURE AT ONLY 90,000 MILES RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT MOTOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057340February 2, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED OPERATING AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE HEATING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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