Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10003153January 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED DOWN STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. ENGINE MADE A "THUNK" NOISE AND WENT INTO A "NO START" CONDITION. MY '97 EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SNAPPED CRANKSHAFT. AT 103K MILES THE DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS ANY SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND EMPHATICALLY STATED THAT THEY'D NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED CUSTOMER REQUEST THAT THEY REVIEW NHTSA WEBISTE FOR HISTORY OF PRIOR REPORTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO LAST 100K MILES BUT THAT MIGHT BE EXTENDED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THIS CUSTOMER ASKED IF ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 100K MILES WAS AN EXPECTED EVENT AND THE DEALER REPEATED THAT IT COULD BE. FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP. THE ZONE MANAGER WOULD NOT MEET TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER PAID $4,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER KEPT THE BROKEN SHAFT WHICH SHOWS MULTIPLE INTERNAL SURFACE TEXTURES. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT A RESPONSE ON THIS SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING ISSUE FROM FORD. OTHER WEBSITES REPORT FORD EMPLOYEES AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, LOOSELY REFERRED TO AS A "STACKING OF TOLERENCES" WHEREBY THE TOLERENCES EXERT PRESSURE ON THE CRANKSHAFT JUST BEHIND THE KEY WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE DAMPNER. THIS IS REPORTEDLY NOT A CONDITION THAT THE OWNER CAN PREVENT, DIAGNOSE OR OTHERWISE BE AWARE OF UNTIL THE CRANKSHAFT BREAKS. FORD REPORTEDLY CANNOT MAKE A PRIOR DETERMINATION EITHER, SEEMINGLY LEAVING IT TO CHANCE WHETHER A VEHICLE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. CERTAIN ENGINE COMPNENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FAIL DURING ENGINE LIFE SUCH AS WATER PUMPS, ALTERNATORS AND SO FORTH BUT MAJOR COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT. FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY REVEALING THE DESIGN LIFE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. J.D. POWERS RELAYED TO THIS CUSTOMER THAT CRANKSHAFTS ARE ROUTINELY DESIGNED TO LAST 200 - 250K MILES, CONTRARY TO DEALER ASSERTATIONS. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002592January 13, 2003
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND OPTION WAS TURNED ON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AND TRANSMISSION STARTED CLUNKING ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003617January 13, 2003
PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BACK TIRES TO LOCK UP AND SKID. CONSUMER HAD A COLLISION AS A RESULT.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000986January 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BROKEN CRANKSHAFT ON A 97 FORD EXPLORER.CRANK BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH. ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE QUIT.FORD DEALER CONFIRMED CRANK WAS BROKEN AND NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $4400.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002455January 9, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE IDLE SURGES WITHOUT WARNING AT STOP SIGNS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED FIVE ACCIDENTS. IT SURGES BEWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000771January 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
I HAVE A GENERAL RECALL, I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, MY FRONT CAMSHAFT CHAIN GUIDE NEEDS REPLACING, I TOOK IT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED, HE TOLD ME MY VECHILE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY(102000), I NED HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002014January 3, 2003
TIRES
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BLOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001862January 2, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED HAS HAD TO REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. SWITCH CONTROLS FUNCTIONS OF HEAD LIGHTS, WIPERS, HIGH/LOW BEAMS, ETC. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN THAT FILLED UP THE ENTIRE CABIN. HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID A COLLISION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001674December 30, 2002
SUSPENSION
NHTSA#00-V-402-000 SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISKS OF A CRASH. CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH, THE SWAY BAR LINK BOLTS WERE BROKEN, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED, IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL, DUE TO THE VEHICLE YEAR. THE LINK BOLTS ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDES WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE BOLTS WERE IN BAD SHAPE. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000367December 26, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE LEND DOOR IS BROKEN...FORD KNOWS THAT THEY PUT FAULTY BLEND DOORS IN AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM! HOW DO I DEFROST MY WINSHIELD WITH A/C???? IS A FROSTED WINSHIELD NOT A HAZARD???? THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000176December 17, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023973December 9, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDEL STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770539December 6, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WITH HEATER FAILURE FROST BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023739December 4, 2002
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK WHEN APPLIED TO PASS ON AN INCLINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS DEALERSHIP REMOVED THROTTLE CABLE AND FOUND FRAYED FRAGMENTS INSIDE CABLE COVERING. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS CONDITION HOWEVER, VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH HOOD LATCH. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023555December 2, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE A/C AND HEAT WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE BLEND AIR DOOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FORD FOUND THAT THEY INSTALLED THE WRONG BLEND AIR DOOR ACUATOR DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TS SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770293December 1, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX VIA RECALL. THIS FAILURE COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS DURING WINTER CONDITIONS. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS AND HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE WAY THIS DOOR IS CONSTRUCTED. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770250November 29, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE SEEMS TO GO THROUGH HEADLIGHT AND FOG LAMP BULBS RATHER QUICKLY. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMPS ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP A SECOND TIME. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FOG LAMPS TWICE. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS OUT AGAIN. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770251November 29, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR IS GOING OUT. THE MOTOR SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN, AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN OPERATING. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770253November 29, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE IS A 1997 4.0L SOHC. THERE IS A VERY NOTICIBLE MISS IN THE TIMING AT IDLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL, IT BUCKS AND SHUDDERS THE WHOLE TRUCK, BUT THE IDLE SPEED NEVER VARIES MORE THAN 100 RPM. HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 1991 EXPLORER 4.0L. DEALER RAN ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE ENGINES. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023423November 27, 2002
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CONSUMER STATES "THERE WAS A SUDDEN BIG BANG AND THEN SOUND LIKE A MACHINE GUN". CONSUMER TRIED TO KEEP DRIVING, WHEN A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE REAR. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER STATES TRANSFER CASE HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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