Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#748266July 11, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ONE YEAR AGO I REPLACED FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WHICH WERE SHOWING VISIBLE SEVERE TREAD SEPARATION WITH NEW BFGOODRICH (MICHELIN) TIRES. TODAY I NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE SUFFERING FROM TREAD SEPARATION IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER AS THE FAILED FIRESTONES. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FAILED TIRES IF THEY WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANKS, MATTHEW A. TRESKOVICH. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892285July 10, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE HAD SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CAMSHAFT HAD FAILED. PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891838July 2, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND VEHICLE DROPPED TO RIGHT SIDE. DEALER IS REPLACING BROKEN RIGHT TIE ROD. IN OCT 1997, LEFT TIE ROD HAD BROKEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747690July 2, 2001
TIRES
ON 6/30/01 THE TIRE TREAD ON THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) REAR TIRE OF OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE TIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED WHILE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AND CHANGED DIRECTION MULTIPLE TIMES. BOTH PEOPLE WERE IN THE FRONT SEATS AND WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. ONE PERSON HIT HER HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW AND IS NOW EXPERIENCING NUMBNESS IN ONE OF HER HANDS AND OTHER AREAS. BOTH PEOPLE SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND SPRAIN TYPE OF INJURIES. THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS DUE ONLY TO THE LOCATION OF THE ROAD AND THE TIME AT WHICH THE TREAD SEPERATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. IF THE TREAD HAD COME OFF THE TIRE 5 SEC. EARLIER MUCH MORE SERIOUS INJURY AND PROBABLY DEATH WOULD HAVE RESULTED AS THE VEHICLE WAS CROSSING A BRIDGE WITH A LOW GUARD RAIL. IF THE TIRE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A RAOD WITH ANY HEAVIER TRAFFIC PRESENT A COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE AS THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM LANE TO LANE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE IT CAME OFF IN ESSENTIALLY 1 PIECE AND IN 1 ROTATION OF THE TIRE. THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WAS NEARLY INSTANTANEOS. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS A RESULT OF THE TREAD SEVERING CABLES, BENDING THE BODY AND UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AS WELL AS SHATTERING THE TAIL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN FROM LAS VEGAS, NV TO VISIT REALITIVES NEAR TEHACHAPI, CA. THE TIRE FAILURE HAPPENED AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HWY. 58 APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES OUTSIDE OF TEHACHAPI, CA. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT LEFT LAS VEGAS. UPON STOPPING, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS BEGINING TO SEPERATE FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AS WELL. IF IT HAD BEEN THE FRONT RATHER THAN THE REAR TIRE THAT FAILED FIRST, OR IF BOTH HAD FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, A ROLLOVER AND VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY HAPPENED.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75/R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#891093June 25, 2001
SUSPENSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 40 TO 50MPH, WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#890869June 21, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE SCISSORS TO CUT SEATBELT OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK ALSO, THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY UNIT FAILED AND THE BACK SEAT LATCH WAS MISSING. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561705June 20, 2001
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
CONSUMER STATES THE ROUTING OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF EXPLORER'S IS NO MORE THAN 1/16 OF AN INCH FROM THE TIRE AND IN SOME CASES THE CABLE RUBS AGAINST THE TIRE AND CAUSES A BLOWOUT. *SLC CONSUMER FEELS THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPS WHEN THE LEFT BRAKE CABLE IS INSTALLED, THE CABLE HAS TO LOOP OVER VERY CLOSE TO THE TIRE, IF THE CABLE SAGS A LITTLE, IT WILL TOUCH THE TIRE, WHEN IT TOUCHES THE TIRE, THE DOWNWARD NOTATION AT THE POINT OF CONTACT IT WILL PULL THE CABLE FURTHER DOWNWARD INCREASING THE CONTACT, CONSUMER ALSO STATES TIRE PRESSURE OF 26 PSI OR LESS WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747067June 19, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890520June 18, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TRI-LAKE FORD TO HAVE RECALL 00V402000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. BUT, DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT BUY VEHICLE FROM THAT DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890529June 18, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER WAS STARTING VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM WITH A TOXIC SMELL. THERE WERE NO FLAMES. STARTED IT AGAIN, AND IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. THERE WAS A SMALL MINI EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH HOOD. DEALER STATED THAT UPER INTAKE HAD BLOWN TO PIECES. UNDETERMINED OF THE CAUSE, BUT ASSUMING A MISSED FIRE. *AK RIGHT REAR GASKET INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE FAN BELT WERE REPLACED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561627June 15, 2001
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
THE PARKING CABLE HAD FLIPPED OVER AGAINST THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING WEAR AND A CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746761June 13, 2001
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
I PURSHASED A FORD EXPLORER SPORT 4X4 WITH 16 INCH TIRES AND I WENT TO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE SPARE TIRE IS ONLY A 15 INCH SO I CALLED THE DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK THEM WHY I RECIEVED A 15 INCH TIRE AS A SPARE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS O.K. TO USE A 15 INCH TIRE UNTIL I COULD HAVE MY OTHER TIRE FIXED IN CASE OF A FLAT.I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WRONG AN A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD BE O.K. SO I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THAT WAS TRUE IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THAT IS SAFE OR NOT YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT [email protected]. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890354June 13, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH AND WHEN MAKING A TURN COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. CONSUMER SAID IT IS JUST LIKE RECALL 00 V 402 000 SWAY BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746731June 12, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
30 MPH, CAMSHAFT BREAKS. DEALER SAYS NEW ENGINE REQUIRED, $4500 EST. FORD CONTACTED AND OFFERS $2000 ASSISTANCE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES B/C THE FORCEFUL STOP CAUSED BY ENGINE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS OR OTHER VEHICLE DUE TO SKIDDING. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR ON A VEHICLE, IS OBVIOSLY A FORD DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001902June 11, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD IS AWARE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM, THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM BEING A WORN OR BROKEN CAM CHAIN GUIDE WHICH CREATES A NOISY SYMPTOM WHICH MY VEHICLE HAS, THEN FORD SHOULD BE WILLING, IF NOT LIABLE, TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890095June 11, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP CONSUMER APPLIES ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE HESITATES, HAS VERY LITTLE POWER. CONSUMER HAS TO ALMOST FLOOR IT TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE. RPM'S WILL BE HIGH, BUT SPEED IS VERY SLOW. THIS HAPPENS 4-5 TIMES A WEEK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 8-9 TIMES IN LAST YEAR AND A HALF, CANT' FIND CAUSE. DEALER TOOK MOTOR APART, FOUND NOTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889879June 6, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE FIREWALL, CONSUMER LOST USE OF ACCELERATOR. COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS ON A MAIN HIGHWAY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889891June 6, 2001
STEERING
WHEN TRUNING THE STEERING IT WOULD GET HARD IN DIFFERENT PLACES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889668June 4, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN AND CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THEN ONCE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY PULL IT BACK UP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889675June 4, 2001
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT VEHICLE IS MAKING A HUMMING. WHEN MAKING A TURN FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO TURN OVER. WHEN TAKING OFF CONSUMER CAN FEEL A HARD BANG ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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