Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10029738July 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029745July 21, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029771July 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO INSPECTION STATION AND DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE TIMING BELT WAS MAKING NOISE. DEALER STATED IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1500.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026215July 18, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE A SCREW DRIVER TO PRY IT OPEN. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029354July 16, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN OCCUPANT. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED MASSIVE HEAD INJURIES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10027208July 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO DECREASE IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE HAD BLOWN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025900July 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE IN MY 1997, FORD\EXPLORER(PURCHASED USED, IN JUNE OF 1999) CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS (FOR DIAGNOSIS) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, AND THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THE TIMING SYSTEM, AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD, THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CASETTE HAD WENT AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM AND THAT OWNERS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME $4500.00 FOR A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE-REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BEYOND THE MILAGE OF THE SERVICE BULLETEN. AFTER PAYING $28,000.00 FOR A VEHICLE, AS A CONSUMER I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BE SUBJECT TO REPETITIVE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR SELF, FAMILY AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT (1997 EXPLORER), AND THEN TOLD THAT I MUST PAY THE AMOUNT IT WOULD COST FORA DOWN PAYMENT ($4500.00) ON A NEW VEHICLE, JUST TO KEEP MY INVESTMENT SAFELY ON THE ROAD. EVERYTIME I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF MY FINANCES AND DIGNITY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR REPAIRS OF THIS CAR, WHEN FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE MANUFACTURED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR DEFECTS THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.MERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURERS WANT TO KNOW WHY THE AMERICAN CITIZEN HAS STOPPED BUYING AMERICAN CARS? WELL THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. WE WANT TO GET WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR ($28,000.00 WORTH)!! AND FORD AUTO MANUFACTURER, IS NOT GIVING US WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR... INSTEAD THEY ARE TAKING US TO THE CLEANERS FINANCIALLY.. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025484July 6, 2003
TIRES, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
RIGHT REAR WHEEL DETACHED FROM 1997 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER ON FREEWAY NEAR RAWLINS WYOMING ON 7-3-03 THE RATE OF SPEED WAS APPROX. 70 MPH THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED ABOUT 4000 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I WITNESSED THE INSTALLER TORQUE THE LUGNUTS TO SPECS.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025467July 5, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL AND DRIVER SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017220July 3, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM *TS *SCC *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10026174June 30, 2003
STEERING
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING BOLTS ARE LOSE AND IT IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024813June 24, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS SPEED CONTROL AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 062 001, BUT IT'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021041June 4, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN MANY OCCASIONS I HAD TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR HAD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. MY GAS PEDAL HAS GOTTEN STUCK TOO MANY TIMES. WELL TODAY WAS THE BEST OF ALL. MY CAR FELT FOR A FEW DAYS THAT IT DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE PEDAL. I TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND SEE WHAT THE MATTER WAS. NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH THE CAR BY THE MECHANIC. WELL, TODAY I FOUND OUT WHAT THE MATTER WAS. AS I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO MY SON'S DAYCARE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAME OFF THE FLOOR. I HAD NO PEDAL. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND INDEED THE CABLE AND PEDAL WERE LAYING ON THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE MECHANIC BY TRYING THE CAR TO MOVE. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CABLE SNAPPED AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020887June 2, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I HAVE TO PUSH EXTRA HARD ON THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE IT FEELS STUCK. WHEN AND WHEN THE PEDAL FINALLY GETS LOOSE, THE CAR ACCELERATES ABRUBTLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021709May 28, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN UNSAFE SPEED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020218May 20, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE LOUD NOISE, THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL NOTICE WAS PROBABLY MAILED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018834May 17, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
PREPARING TO BRAKE FOR A CORNER ON A RAINY NIGHT, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED THE WHEELS AND SLID ME INTO AN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE ONCOMING VEHICLE SWERVED AND AVOIDED A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ME. ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER DOWN THE ROAD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AGAIN AS I TURNED INTO MY DEVELOPMENT AND AGAIN I SLID. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED THROUGH ITS LIFE AND HAS A LITTLE OVER 52,000 MILES ON IT. I COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW HAD I NOT BEEN A SLOWER HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018670May 14, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
INVALID DESIGN OF PLENUM DOOR LEADS TO PART FAILURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE SETTING. CONDITION CAUSES INABILITY TO CONTROL INSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AND POSSIBLY FAILURE OF DEFROST/DEFOGGING SYSTEM (SAFETY ISSUE). COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE ($500 TO $1000) DUE TO THE NEED TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE AIR CHANNEL (BECAUSE PLENUM DOOR ITSELF CANNOT BE PURCHASED/INSTALLED ALONE). *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018641May 13, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
SAFETY COMPLAINT INVOLVING A STUCK ACCELERATOR ON A 97 FORD EXPLORER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A COUNTY ROAD, WHILE TRAVELING A 50 MPH, WHEN A ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AS IT APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO APPLY BRAKES FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOP IT BY SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE. SEARCHING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, I REACHED FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH WAS LOOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY DANGLED IN MY HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTH COUNTY FORD, VISTA CA., WHERE IT WAS REVEALED THAT"BROKEN ACCELERATOR BRACKET WELDS" WERE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS THEN REPAIRED AT A COST OF $132.89. ON MONDAY MAY 12 AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY MAY 13, I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER SERVICE (800) 392-3673, TO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND TO REQUEST A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE "INCIDENT" WOULD BE REPORTED TO THEIR ENGINEERING DIVISION, BUT SINCE THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS ON CASES SUCH AS THIS, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. I CERTAINLY TAKE EXCEPTIONAL TO THEIR FINDING AND EXPRESSED MY DISAGREEMENT. THEREFORE, I REQUEST YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THIS INCIDENT AS I FEEL THERE IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO HELP DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT I AM DUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017133May 6, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
MY EXPLORER ONLY PRODUCES WARM AIR FOR HEAT AND DEFOGGING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS TOO HOT TO WANT OR NEED WARM AIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS IT IS THE BLEND DOOR & ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED. I SAY IT DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE, THEY DISAGREE. NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DEFOGG A WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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