Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#9004530September 18, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN SEAT BELT BUTTON IS PUSHED TO DISENGAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752313September 18, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE ORIGINAL DRYER UNIT WAS WRAPPED WITH A PIECE OF RUBBER. THIS PART, AS A NORMAL PART OF IT'S OPERATION WILL SWEAT. THIS PIECE OF RUBBER HELD THE CONDENSATION TO THE UNIT AND CAUSED THE DRYER TO RUST. THE REPLACEMENT PART DOES NOT HAVE THIS RUBBER WARPPING. I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#563022September 12, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DUE TO CRACKS AROUND THE TREAD IN DEC 2000, HOWEVER IN MAY 2001 THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE RECALLED AND CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, BUT IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896228September 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GROANING SOUND AND PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD BOTH FRONT CALIPER AND PADS REPLACED. BUT, STILL MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER SHOP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA, IS IT NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PART TO GO OUT UNDER 40,000 MILES. *AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562899September 4, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE TIRE BLEW OUT BEFORE THE RECALL.(FIRESTONE TIRES)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562867September 4, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CRANKSHAFT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING, AS THE CRANKSHAFT FELL OUT IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOCKUP RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE NOT STEERING OR BRAKING VERY WELL. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751543September 2, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
NEW ENGINE NEEDED. I HAVE HAD FORD REPLACE THE CAM TENSIONERS, ONLY TO HAVE HAD IT FAIL NOW FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 8 MOS. I AM GOING TO REQUEST THE ENGINE BE REPLACED AT DEALER COST, AS IT WAS A RECALLED PART. THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 72K MILES BACK IN JAN 0F '01. I NOW HAVE 90K AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCURRED. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER REALLY CORRECTED, SO ITS MY OPINION THAT FORD IS OBLIGATED TO CORRECT THIS. WAS TOLD ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. HAVE HAD A CONSTANT 'TICKING' SINCE PURCHASED. NOW VERY LOUD CLATTERING AND 'RAPPING' NOISES IN TIMING CHAIN AREA. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE 6 CHAINS ON THIS ENGINE AND THEY ONLY REPLACED THE FRONT, SAYING IF THE BACK ONES ARE BAD, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED...AND THAT THAT IS THE PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENTS HAVE GONE BAD AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751511September 1, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD DEFINITELY HAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. IS THE NHTSA GONNA DEAL WITH IT OR, ARE WE GOING TO WAIT TILL WE HAVE ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE ISSUE. MY EXPLORER HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN SEVERE SKIP/MISS FOR THE PAST 2-MONTHS. AT FIRST INDICATION....I SCHEDULED IT IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER (ROCHESTER AUTO COLLECTION - A DIVISION OF FORD), WHO DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDED NEW IGNITION WIRES. (MIND YOU, THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42,000 ORIGINAL MILES, AS I BOUGHT IT NEW). THREE HUNDRED BUCKS LATER, I NOTICE THE VEHICLE PERFORMING NO BETTER ON THE DAY I PICKED IT UP. SO....WE SCHEDULE A SECOND VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT, THEY "DINK AROUND" WITH THE THROTTLE. AGAIN, THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED IT WAS NO BETTER. SO....IN WE GO FOR A THIRD VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT I AM ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS BROKEN OFF AND THAT THEY WILL NEED TO PULL THE ENGINE OUT TO REPAIR. SO, WE SCHEDULE THAT 3-DAY SERVICE VISIT. AND HERE I AM TODAY.....AFTER HAVING PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, AND NOW IT IS WORSE!! THIS IS A $30,000 VEHICLE WITH 43,000 MILES THAT RUNS WORSE THAN MY SON'S '95 CAVALIER. AS I REVIEW THE DATABASE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOTE MANY, MANY ISSUES RELATING TO THIS TIMING BELT TENSIONER. SO......WHEN IS THE NHTSA GONNA STEP UP TO THE PLATE, AND MAKE FORD GET THEIR "DUCKS IN A ROW" AND FIX THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, BETWEEN THE TIRE INCIDENT AND THEN THIS, I SINCERELY DOUBT I WILL EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895605August 31, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
WHEN VEHICLE IS SITTING OR MOVING THERE IS A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS AT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A CAM CHAIN GUIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHANIN, ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751309August 28, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AN UNKNOWN CAUSE LEAD TO THE HEAD GASKET CRACKING AND THE CYCLINDERS BLOWING-OUT ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 46M MILES AND THE RETURN OF A LEASE ORIGNATED WITH THE DELAERSHIP THAT SOLD THE SAME VEHICLE TO US. THIS WAS FORD CERTIFIED LEASE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD, WHICH MEANS IT SUPPOSEDLY WNET THROUGH THE HIGHEST INSPECTION UPON IT BEING TURNED IN FROM THE LEASE. THE VEHICLE BROKE-DOWN ON 8/12/01 ON BUSY INTERSTATE 84 AT THE JUCTION OF THE MERGE OF INTERSTATE 91 AND 84, STRANDING MY WIFE ( WHO WS DRIVING) BETWEEN TWO HEAVILY USED HIGHWAYS. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INHERENT DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. ACORDIG TO THE DEALERSHIP A THEIR FORD REPRESENTATIVE, TARYN, STATED FORD REFUSES TO PAY FANY PART OF THE REPAIR BECUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED AND WE DID NOT DO OUR SERVICE (OIL CHANGES) WITH THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH WE DID DO SO AT OTHER PLACES. WE WANT FORD AND THE DELEARSHIP TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562718August 27, 2001
SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED A MAJOR SHIMMY WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE RESULTING IN FRONT TIRES MAKING NOISE. THE CAUSE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE A MISSING PART CALLED A CAMBER KIT. THE CONSUMER WANTS A REFUND FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895188August 27, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL IT WAS STUCK ,CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO GAIN ANY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751095August 24, 2001
TIRES
TREAD SEPARATION - TIRES REPLACED BY DEALER MIKE DAVIDSON FORD, JACKSONVILLE, FL. FIRESTONE CONTACTED - STATED THAT TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL - ONLY SUBJECT TO STANDARD WARRANTY; REQUESTED THAT TIRE THAT FAILED BE SHIPPED TO FIRESTONE, NORCROSS, GA FOR INSPECTION. WITH THIS TIRE FAILURE, I HAD 4 TIRES REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIPO237 TIRESIZE: P225-70R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894996August 23, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THROTTLE STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED RECALL 00V422000 ON THIS VEHICLE. AK THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES DID STOP THE VEHICLE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895009August 23, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE STALLED AT 25 MPH, ALSO , WHEN GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP RPMS WENT UP TO 4000-5000. MECHANIC THOUGHT VEHICLE STALLING WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562634August 22, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE CONSUMER REPLACED FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND REQUESTED FIRESTONE TO REIMBURSE HER FOR TIRES PURCHASED, BUT FIRESTONE REJECTED THE REQUEST, FIRESTONE STATED THAT CONSUMERS TIRES WERE NOT APART OF THE SAFETY RECALL AND ALSO THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1,2000, FIRESTONE TIRE SIZE 235/75R15. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894967August 22, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHEN TURNING THERE WOULD BE MOANING NOISES. NO EFFECT ON STEERING ABILITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRST DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE. AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS INFORMED INNER TIE ROD WAS CAUSING MOANING NOISES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894968August 22, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR THROTTLE WOULD STICK WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED. PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, AND THEN LEAVING. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER , AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THROTTLE CABLE WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894812August 21, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR HANDLES ON FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750577August 16, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY(OVER 36,000 MILES) SO WE HAD OUR REGULAR MECHANIC REPAIR, BUT WE ASKED TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM (ONLY 11/2 YEARS& APPROX 8000 MILES LATER)WAS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. THIS TIME WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND THAT FORD HAD MADE AN UPGRADE, BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ENACTED. AGAIN WE ASKED TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART (BOTH ARE FORD PARTS#13K359). IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CLAIM, PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE ON HOME PHONE, OR CONTACT DIANE RUTT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9-5 AT 717 336-7534.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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