Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#8023144November 21, 2002
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HER SON 11 YEARS OLD GOT THE REAR SEAT BELT TANGLE AROUND HIS NECK AND BODY AND STARTING TO TIGHT AROUND HIS NECK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022584November 12, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEEN IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS PRESENT TIME. MR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769498November 9, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO UNHOOK WITH JUST A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF FORCE. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE BELT WOULD COME LOOSE ON OCCASION, I THOUGHT THIS WAS DO TO MY FAILURE TO PROPERLY HOOK THE BELT INTO THE BUCKLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A GRADUAL FAILURE OF A CRITICAL SAFETY ITEM, THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME WOULD HAVE FAILED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER IN A CRASH AS IT WOULD HAVE FAILED TO HOLD THE SEATBELT. THE DANGER OF THIS IS THAT AFTER IT FAILS, IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT, WHICH COULD PUT THE DRIVER AT DANGER AS THEY WON'T KNOW THE SEATBELT WON'T STAY CONNECTED IN A CRASH. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART IN MY POSSESSION, I WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU IF YOU REQUEST ME TO. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769009October 28, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD WAS WILLING AND ACTUALLY PAID THE REPAIR BILL OF $800+ DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. 25,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM ARISES. I'VE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567958October 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING, THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8021420October 23, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768746October 22, 2002
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
LOSS OF DRIVE ACCOMPANIED BY A RATCHETING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE DURING COAST OR DECELERATION OR WHEN IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEACHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE NET I HAVE FOUND MANY WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THE TRANSFER CASE MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3000.00. THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF GEARS MAGIZINE HAS AN ARTICLE ON PAGE 64 THAT ADDRESS THE CAUSE AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. AND STATES THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. HOWEVER THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT IT IS CHEAPER AND MORE EFFICIENT TO BUY A NEW UNIT. YOU WOULD THINK THAT A PROBLEM LIKE THIS SHOULD AT LEASED BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8021167October 18, 2002
STRUCTURE
DOOR COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE HEATER AND THE AIR CONDITIONER, MADE OF PLASTIC IS BROKE, CAUSING NOT TO HAVE A HEATER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUED. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8021039October 17, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#0V422000 THROTTLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020304October 7, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768076October 3, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING WHEN I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I COULD SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN SOMEWHAT BY AGGRESSIVELY APPLYING THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD JUST GET ME SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE UNTIL I WOULD RELEASE THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SPEED UP AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A FAIRLY BUSY STRETCH OF INTERSTATE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I LUCKILY DID NOT HAVE A NEED TO STOP QUICKLY WHILE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. I TRIED HITTING THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP STICKING IN THE "WIDE OPEN" POSITION. I EVEN TRIED MANIPULATING THE CRUISE CONTROL (WHICH WAS OFF). AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, I STARTED TRYING TO THINK OF A QUICK GAME PLAN TO GET OUT OF THIS POTENTIAL DISASTER. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AND THAT I DID NOT HAVE OTHERS IN THE CAR DURING THIS NIGHTMARE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FIND A SHOULDER WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. AS I SAID, THE ROAD WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITH A SEMI-TRUCK NOT FAR BEHIND ME. I PULLED TOWARD THE SHOULDER AND PUT THE CAR INTO "NEUTRAL". THE RPM'S, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING EXTREMELY HIGH FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, MOVED EVEN HIGHER AT THIS POINT. THE RPM'S WERE PEGGED TO THE TOP OF THE GAUGE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. AS SOON AS I FELT I WAS OFF OF THE ROADWAY ENOUGH, I TURNED THE KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A HORRIBLE BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THIS INCIDENT, BUT I AM ALSO VERY WORRIED ABOUT COLLATERAL DAMAGE THAT THIS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED. I FEEL THAT THIS CAUSED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR TO THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ON TOP OF ALL OF THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, THE EXPERIENCE WAS SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. MY WIFE REFUSES TO EVEN GET IN THE CAR AT THIS POINT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE DOESN'T WANT MY KIDS TO RIDE IN IT EITHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020171October 3, 2002
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HAD COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES. NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#767962October 1, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS FAILURE--DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHEN DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767837September 28, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR CAUSES UNCONTROLLED WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND ICING. VISIBILITY IS OFTEN REDUCED TO ZERO. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767807September 27, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TIRES WERE CUPPING AT 29,000 MILES IN SEPT. 01. DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED AND VEHICLE ALIGNED. CUPPING HAS RETURNED 12 MO AND 8,000 MILES LATER. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY A NON-REFUNDABLE "DIAGNOSTIC" CHARGE. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767736September 25, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILED TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE BLEND DOOR TO BE BROKEN LEAVING ME WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINSHIELD OR REGULATE HEAT /COOL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I LIVE IN A CLIMATE THAT HAS SNOW /ICE AND COLD AS WELL AS HOT TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES A NEARLY $1000.00 FIX TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FORD DESIGN ISSUE AND A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018241September 9, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TRANFER CASE WILL LOCK UP FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. SEE SERVICE BULLENTIN 99-14-2. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017885September 4, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES, AND NO ONE COULD FIND OUT WHY THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE IN DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO GOODYEAR, SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND SET OF BRAKE PADS AND SHOES PUT ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017894September 4, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN STARTING CAR A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017897September 4, 2002
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING 20MPH HEARD GRINDING NOISE, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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