Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#889700June 4, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION
CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER BECAUSE WHEN MAKING TURNS VEHICLE FELT SHAKY, LIKE IT WOULD ROLL OVER. CONSUMER HAD TO MAKE TURNS AT CRAWLING SPEED. DEALER FOUND SWAY BAR MISSING FROM VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SWAY BAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT AFFECTED. *AK RECALL NUMBER IS 00V402, CONSUMER STATES SWAY BAR BLEW OUT FROM VEHICLE CAUSING A HUGE BANG AND VEHICLE TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889709June 4, 2001
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER CHANGED LANES, AND STREERING WHEEL WENT TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/ MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#746263June 1, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BY FORD OR THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561412May 31, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CONSUMER STATES AFTER VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THE LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK, LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND STAY ON, AND THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF AT ALL HOURS, POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746225May 31, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION INSIDE EDGE OF TIRE, CRESCENT SHAPE ABOUT SIZE OF 1/2 FRISBEE, DOWN TO STEEL BELT, ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF TIRE ADDITIONAL TREAD SEPARATION BUT NOT DETACHED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889446May 31, 2001
TIRES
TIRE SIZE P25570R16, DOT#W2CUBX197 ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, MAKING A TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE ROCKED. CONSUMER PULLED INTO TIRE SHOP, AND WAS TOLD BY TIRE EXPERT THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATED IN 3 DIFFERENT SPOTS, AND IT WAS NOT A NORMAL SEPARATION. *AK TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, CONSUMER STATES FORD IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY SHE HAS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745997May 28, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH OR LESS I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND HEARD A VERY LOAD BANG. THE FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DROPPED, THE VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE OPPOSING LANE AND TEND TO ROLL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I QUICKLY STOPPED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TORSION BAR AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE. HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST. THE REPAIR COST ME $171.67. DUE TO THEIR REFUSAL TO COVER A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND OTHER MEDIA COVERAGE OF EXPLORER PROBLEMS, I SOLD THE VEHICLE THIS WEEK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745788May 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THIS VEHICLE HAS A EMMISIONS RELATED TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. IT EFFECTS THE THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGAGING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 17, 1999 WITH 22,941 MILES AND AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2000 WITH 32,304 MILES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC AND SINCE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS COME ON THAT THE FORD DIVISION WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS FORDS PROBLEM NOT MINE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNDER MUCH STRESS DAILY AND FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE REPAIR AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. FORD MADE THE FAULTY VEHICLE AND I SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. LET ME ADD TORRINGTON FORD WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THIS NOR WILL THEY TOUCH THIS VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL BE OF MY CHOICE AND I WANT A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE THE REPAIR IS BEING MADE. I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND THE PINION SEAL. THIS VEHICLE IS FAULTY AND IT WILL NOT BE AT MY EXPENSE. THANK YOU, [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888908May 22, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTION MODULE HAS WORN OUT. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS "DEFECTIVE" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745682May 22, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, AS DESCRIBED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS 00M12, 01M01, 12150, 6926. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CLAIM IT IS. WHEN MINE FAILED, I WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER FOLLOWING BEHIND ME DUE TO INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. FORD SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO ISSUE A GENERAL RECALL ON ALL SUCH ENGINES WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888729May 21, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO BACK TIRES AND PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE AROUND THE RIM AREA ARE CRACKED. CONSUMER HAS A 1997, FORD, EXPLORER WITH ORIGINAL TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 42,000.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888755May 21, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
00 020/TREAD SEPARATION: LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, WITH DRIVER ONLY IN A 1997, FORD, EXPLORER; UNAWARE OF ORIGINAL OR AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT; TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT# W2HL1PY077. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRES WERE NOT COVER UNDER RECALL. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745622May 21, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
APPROX 1 MONTH AGO, VEHICLE FAILED JUST AFTER LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE MAIN FUSE CONTROLLING ALL DRIVE-TRAIN COMPONENTS, INCLUDING COMPUTER, FUEL INJECTORS, TRANSMISSION, ETC. THE DEALER ( HARRIS FORD) COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE AFTER TWO DAYS OF INVESTIGATION. I WAS RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH TWO EXTRA 30 AMP FUSES (AND A $500 BILL) IN CASE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. APPROX. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE AGAIN DIED, THIS TIME IN PORTLAND, OR. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY, SINCE ALL POWER WAS LOST WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A PORTLAND DEALER FOR THE PAST WEEK, AGAIN WITH NO EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN, AND I HAVE AN ESP, FORD NOR ITS DEALERS WILL COMMIT TO COVERING REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEED OF 60 OR 70 MPH, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR, POTENTIALLY WITH FATAL INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745647May 21, 2001
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE CRANK/DRIVE SHAFT COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF AND FELL OUT WITH THE PULLEY STILL ATTACHED. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND THREE OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED HE COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888750May 21, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS STARTING TO ACCELERATE ALMOST REACHING SPEED OF 25-30MPH WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF DUE TO CRANKSHAFT THAT FELL OFF. NO PRIOR WARNING . DEALER HAS TO REPLACE MOTOR, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888514May 17, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 15MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P25570R16, FDOT W2CU1PX. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888334May 16, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
PASSENGER'S REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE EVEN WITHOUT CHILD PROOF LOCK ON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888245May 15, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PIN AND BOLT THAT CONNECT TIE ROD TO FRONT END FELL OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK TIRE BLEW IN DRIVEWAY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888133May 14, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TWO FRONT INNER TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK ALSO, THE OUTER TIE RODS FAILED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745295May 14, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN FEBRUARY THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CAME INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING FROM THROUGH IT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, CAUSING THE MAJORITY OF MY INJURIES. I HAD SEVERAL LACERATIONS ON MY CHEEKS, CHIN AND MOUTH. MY UPPER LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY JAW. ALL OF THESE INJURIES WERE CAUSED WHEN MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AS THE AIRBAG COVER POPPED BACK AND THE AIRBAG WAS INFLATING. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT MY JAW PERMENANTLY INJURED. I AM AN 5' 5 1/2" TALL AND DO NOT SIT PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW WITH THE DESIGN OF THE AIRBAG.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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