Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#717184January 11, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ONE. A FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD NUMEROUS PARTS TO CORRECT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS NEWER MODEL HAS A FEATURE WHERE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN SPEED(5MPH?). I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE DOORS AND IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING THEM. IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THIS PROBLEM WOULD DELAY THE TIME THAT THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT COULD BE SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558717January 8, 2000
TIRES
GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES (P235R15) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558748January 3, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALL FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, TIRES WERE BADLY DAMAGED, FIRESTONE WILL NOT HONOR REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST. *CJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558621January 3, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716798January 3, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VERY FIRST TIME I WENT TO USE THE SPARE TIRE ON THIS 97 EXPLORER THE WINCH FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854585December 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH SNOW ON PAVEMENT CONSUMER HEARD NOISE UNDER VEHICLE. ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING TRUCK TO ROLLOVER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716658December 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE (HERNDON, VA RESIDENTS - JANE, MY SON TJ-15, MY DAUGHTER BOBBIE-13, AND I) WERE RETURNING FROM SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH JANE'S SISTER, ANNE, AND OUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, JACK, IN DETROIT. WE DEPARTED FROM FARMINGTON HILLS MI (DETROIT) AT 9:30AM IN A LIGHT SNOW. IT WORSENED AS WE GOT INTO OHIO, BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEARED AND IN SOME AREAS WERE SALTED. MOST TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN ONE LANE, THE FAR RIGHT ONE CLOSEST TO THE SHOULDER. THAT IS WHERE I WAS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER WE STARTED THE TRIP I HEARD A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES FROM UNDER THE CAR. MY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV), A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, HAS A SERIES OF SETTINGS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE (4WD), I.E., AUTO 4WD, 4WD HIGH, AND 4WD LOW. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THE NOISE TO BE THE CAR SHIFTING FROM 2WD TO 4WD AS IT SENSED THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I ATTEMPTED TO SET IT TO 4WD, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. SINCE THE NOISE DID NOT STOP I SET IT BACK TO THE SETTING I HAD IT IN MOST OF THE TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 1PM, I AM CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LOCKING THE WHEELS, WHICH PUT ME INTO A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN THE CAR ROLLED OVER, WENT IN AND OUT OF A DITCH (LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD) ON ITS SIDE, AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED RIGHT SIDE UP WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR POINTED DOWNWARD INTO THE DITCH TOWARD THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT SUBURBAN COLLISION CENTER, 1151 WEST BAGLEY ROAD, BUREA, OH 44017 (440) 243-5533. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#716428December 25, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STICKING AT ACCLERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854231December 21, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TENSIONER PLASTIC PIECE WICH SUPPORTS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549789December 16, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL, DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTIFY CONSUMER OF RECALL (99V-062). MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854047December 14, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE REVVED AND SPEEDED UP ON ITS OWN .THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, RESULTING IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853731December 6, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE BODY PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. A SERVICE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED . DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE SERVICE RECALL; HOWEVER IT HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED 2 TIMES SINCE THE RECALL, AND 3 TIMES PRIOR TO THE RECALL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853655December 3, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT FENDER AREA. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED OF VEHICLE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853548December 1, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 70MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715184November 23, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP THE TRUCK GOING AT ONLY 30 MPH AS I APPROCHED A STOP SIGN. I WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN.IMMEDIATLY AFTER PULLING OVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO CHECK THEM AND THEY WORKED FINE.THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.,OTHER THAN TO HAVE THE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING WORN LOW .HOWEVER I DONT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE PADS OR SHOES BUT POSSIBLE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM OR ITS COMPONENTS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ALL OF A SUDDEN DIDN'T WORK AND THEN WORKED AGAIN IMMEDIATLY THEREAFTER.THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS IF FLUID WAS LOST AND THERE WAS NO GRINDING FROM THE PADS OR SHOES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THAT LOW.THE BRAKES JUST FAILED TEMPORARILY AND LUCKLY I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT AM AFRAID THAT IF HAPPENS AGAIN I MAY NOT BE SO LUCK NEXT TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549628November 22, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FAILED DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEMS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGH AND MAKE ALOT OF NOISE UPON STARTUP AND WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853191November 22, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715065November 20, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD POWERTRAIN SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WITH A STEEP GRADE. AUTO ENGINE BRAKING CONTROL WAS LOST WITH LOUD GEAR TEARING SOUNDS. VEHICLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY ENCREASED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL DURING CURVED DOWN-HILL SETION OF THE ROAD. HEAVY APPLICATION OF BRAKES KEPT US FROM SLIDING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE FORD GEM CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSTRUCTING THE TRANSMISSION "TRANSFER" CASE TO RELEASE/ENGAGE IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DESTROY THE POWERTRAIN AND DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE FROM THE POWERTRAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714846November 16, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE- VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING KNOCKING/TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT 30000 MILES, TOOK INTO DEALER TO REPORT IT, AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS. NOISE WAS AT START UPS AND AFTER VEHICLE HAD SET FOR BRIEF TIME. NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND LONGER IN DURATION, TOOK BACK INTO DEALER AT 35000 MILES, AGAIN, THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS-NORMAL NOISE. AT 41900 MILES, VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE, NOISE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND METALLIC IN NATURE. TOOK TO DIFFERENT DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1997/98 EXPLORERS WITH 4.0SOHC ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURES. MOST WERE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SENT ENTIRE ENGINE BACK TO MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR. NOW MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REAPAI COST ME $700.00. THE VEHICLE WENT BACK 3 DAYS LATER WITH SAME PROBLEM, ANOTHER $300.00. I FEEL THAT I REPORTED MY PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY AND THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. I ALSO THINK THATFORD IS FULLY AWARE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE 4.0 SOHC ENGINES AND THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER DEFECTS. I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY DEALERS AND INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WHO HAVE STATED THE DEFECT IS NOT ISOLATED. HAD MY FAMILY AND I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS THING WENT BAD AND THE ENGINE QUIT,THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, IT IS TOO WIDESPREAD AND FORD CERTAINLY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT AND COMPENSATE CONSUMERS WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH THIS. FUEL SYSTEM- THERE IS ALSO A HESITATION/STALLING THAT OCCURS ON SAME VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN INTO TEH DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO FIX, BUT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO INTERSECTIONS OR TURNING AT TRAFFICE LIGHTS. MY WIFE HAS HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES DUE TO THIS. AGAIN, THIS APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD WITH THIS 4.0 SOHC ENGINE. PLEASE LET'S HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. FORD'S ARMY OF ENGINEERS SURELY ARE AWARE THIS EXISTS. MARK DITTO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#850882November 10, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FRONT END VIBRATION . PROBLEM OCCURRED AT TAKE OFF OR SLOW DOWN SPEED. BEEN INSPECTED BY THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. ALSO RESURFACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer