Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10017037May 5, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
FORD EXPLORER HEATER PLENUM/ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING THIS PAST WINTER. CLIMATE CONTROL IS STUCK ON COLD AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER. DURING A ROAD TRIP TO A NEARBY CITY EARLY THIS SPRING I WAS BARLEY ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE ICE AND FOG ON MY WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT BY FORD AND DEALERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IN CONTACTING SEVERAL SEATTLE-AREA DEALERS, ALL REFUSED TO FIX AS A SAFETY PROBLEM, SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS ABSURD FOR A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED WITH FAULTY DESIGN AND PARTS THAT CAUSES SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IN MANY OLDER EXPLORERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018021May 1, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BECAUSE SHE MOVED BUT THE MAIL WAS LATER ROUTED TO HER. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016767April 30, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
1997 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM HAS BROKEN, PREVENTING THE SYSTEM FROM REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016808April 30, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016653April 28, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IDLE NOT RETURNING AFTER CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. CRUISE CONTROL KEPT ACCELERATING. MY THREE CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR, WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL, AT THAT POINT THE BRAKES WORKED. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN TRYING TO START CAR AGAIN, ENGINE REVVED TO THE POINT WHERE IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015875April 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 4/1/03 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ON 4/14/03 CONSUMER ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE IGNITION. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, HEARD A THUMP, AND NOTICED THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015575April 10, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014226April 10, 2003
VISIBILITY
MY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE BLEND DOOR INSIDE THE PLENUM CHAMBER IS BROKEN AND NO LONGER MOVES (ON FULL HEAT). THE NEW PLENUM CHAMBER NOW CONTAINS A NYLON DOOR IN STEAD OF PLASTIC. THIS LOOKS LIKE FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD STYLE DOORS BUT WILL NOT GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE ON REPAIRS. THE COST OF REPAIR IS STEEP! I WAS QUOTED $108.00 FOR THE PLENUM CHAMBER AND $598.00 TO INSTALL IT. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THE PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO ME, IN FACT THE DEALER I PHONED HAD JUST SOLD A REPLACEMENT PLENUM THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WAS WAITING FOR ONE TO ARRIVE TO FILL THERE STOCK. WHEN A DEALER STOCKS A PART THERE USUALLY IS A LARGE DEMAND FOR IT! *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015462April 8, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VENTS WHICH RELEASED COLD AND HOT AIR INTO THE VEHICLE WAS BROKE, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015110April 3, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#98V06000- FUEL SYSTEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012451March 25, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
CONSUMER INDICATED THE GAS TANK CAP WAS NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009725March 17, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR IS MADE OF WEAK MATERIAL AND IS PRONED TO SHATTER INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM HEAT ASSEMBLY. *TT *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010077March 6, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN TURNING DIALS ON HEATER UNIT FROM HOT OR COLD THE UNIT ONLY BLEW HOT AIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009964March 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008944February 20, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WHICH CAUSED A NOISE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007645February 17, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET - LEAKING ANTI FREEZE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006773February 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT BACK TO AUTO, ITS STUCK ON AUTO LOW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005010January 31, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEAT RECLINER LEVERS BREAK OFF. BACK SEAT PASSENGER(S) MUST CLIMB OVER SEAT TO ENTER OR EXIT. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY EXITING VEHICLE. THE CHEAP METAL PART THAT FRACTURED IS ATTACHED TO A $70.00 PART THAT WITH LABOR WOULD BE $240.00 FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSEENGER REPAIR. THIS IS MORE THAN INCONVENIENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004558January 24, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004594January 24, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAR DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT, HAD PANEL REPLACED STILL NO HEAT. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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