Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#720924April 3, 2000
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
THE AIR RIDE WILL RAISE THE BACKEND 10-12" FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE TO THE TOP OF THE WHEELWELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 70+MPH AND MAKES THE VEHICLE BUCK VIOLENTLY AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 8+TIMES FOR REPAIR AND THEY'VE REPLACED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CONTROL PANEL LAST MONTH AND IT'S GONE UP 5 TIMES SINCE THEN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN EACH TIME IT HAPPENS BECAUSE MY SERVICING DEALER, JOHN MARKEL FORD, SAID IT MUST STILL BE RUNNING FOR THEM TO GET CODES FROM THE COMPUTER AND SOMETIMES IT RAISES UP AFTER I TURN THE KEY OFF. THEY ARE UNABLE TO "DOCUMENT" THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T REPRODUCE IT SO THE ZONE REP WON'T REPLACE IT. HE'S OFFERED $1500 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE BUT THAT'S IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551623March 30, 2000
TIRES
THE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#859471March 30, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MEHICANIC IS HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO GET PART IN BECAUSE FORD IS REDESIGNING THE PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720569March 25, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE "TICKS" PRIMARILY AT COLD STARTUP. PROBLEM BECOMING MORE PREVELANT HOWEVER, NOW IT OCCURS ALSO AT A WARM STARTUP. ENGINE ALSO "HISSES" AT LOW SPEEDS TO IDLE. REAR END LEAKS FLUID AND ALSO SHUDDERS AT HIGH SPEEDS. "CLUNKING" NOISE OFTEN HEARD AND FELT FROM REAR END WHEN VEHICLE STOPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720505March 23, 2000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCK SYSTEM ON BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE FAILED SUCH THAT NEITHER DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF REAR PASSENGERS MUST EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720515March 23, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN 4 TIMES - SOME PARTS REPLACED -DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONTACTED NOT RESOLVED. VEHICLE 4- WHEEL DRIVE LOW AND HIGH LIGHTS BLINK WHILE DRIVING THEN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. AFTER YOU TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART THE SYSTEM RESETS AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE WORKS. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE DANGERIOUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK AND THIS WOULD ALSO PROBABLY INCLUDE AUTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE FOR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720437March 21, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1-21-00 TOOK CAR INTO MAGIC FORD IN SANTA CLARITA, CA. FOR WARRANTY WORK, REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WAS INFORMED BY TIM HEMING THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS WERE BAD. ABOUT $1500.00 TO FIX. I ASKED IF IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM. HE SAID NO, BUT I CAN CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GUIDE TO SEE IF I CAN GET FINACIAL HELP. I DID AND THEY SAID NO. 1-27-00 I HAD MY OWN SERVICE TECH. PICK UP CAR AND START THE REPAIRS. 2-1-00 MY SERVICE TECH., KEN WAGNER LIC.#0706-121676 INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS WERE BROKEN AND SUCKED UP IN THE ENGINE AND DESSTROYED THE ENGINE. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED FROM SOME KIND OF PLASTIC MATERIAL TO METAL. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE DEALER HE ORDERED THE PARTS FROM HAS ORDERED 104 OF THEM. THE DEALER IS ANTELOPE VALLEY FORD LANCASTER, CA. THE COST TO BUY AND INSTALL THE NEW ENGINE WAS $4000.00 I HAD TO PAY TO KEN WAGNER. I THINK THAT DO TO THE FACT THAT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AND SO MANY ARE BEING ORDERED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720315March 19, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
4-WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#720317March 19, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
- WHEEL DRIVE HIGH AND LOW ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#858739March 17, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR BRACKET THAT HOLDS ONTO FIREWALL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE 2 SPOT WELDS WHICH WERE THE SIZE OF AN ERASER TIP ON FIREWALL. DEALER REPAIRED BRACKET BY RE-SPOT WELDING THE BRACKET. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720263March 17, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR HANDLE MACHANISM HAS FAILED ON EACH OF THE REAR DOORS. A PLASTIC PIECE BROKE OFF THE MECHANISM. THIS RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, INHIBITING EGRESS OF ANY PASSENGERS DURING AN EMERGENCY. BOTH FAILED MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACE BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AT OUR EXPENSE. REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO US BOTH TIMES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OUR TYPE OF VEHICLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN A TIMELY MANNER TO GET THIS DOOR OPENING REPLACED. WE HAD OUR BROKEN PART REPLACED TODAY. FORD PART # F77Z-7821818-AAJ IS THE ONE THAT WAS MOST RECENTLY REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858686March 16, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN FLORIDA IN THE PASSING LANE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING. CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, FLIPPED OVER INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN , AND WAS TOTALLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE AGENCY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858372March 13, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EA99001, THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARD. ALSO, WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, IT WILL STALL OUT WHEN PLACING IT IN GEAR. OWNER THINKS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719834March 8, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
MY '97 EXPLORER SPORT MAKES A DIESELY NOISE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD ENTHUSIASTS MESSAGE BOARDS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE AND IT HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. I'VE HEARD BELT TENSIONER, CAT CONVERTER, HEAT SHEILD, LIFTERS , BEARINGS, ARM ROCKERS, AND EVEN ROD KNOCK. IVE ALSO HEARD THERE WAS A BATCH OF '96- EARLY '98 EXPLORES MADE TYPICALLY THE SOHC. I WANT SOME ANSWERS. I AM FED UP WITH HAVING UNNECESSAY REPAIRS DONE TO MY TRUCK. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#784538March 2, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. *ET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719510March 1, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857554February 25, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FUEL VAPOR SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH, AND DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857298February 22, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON IDLING, CONSUMER NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, BUT HAS NOTICED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857336February 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 ON A CLEAR DAY/NO RAIN, AND TRAVELING ON THE INSIDE LANE, REAR LEFT TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND ROLL OVER. LEFT REAR TIRE NEVER DEFLATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT. ONE CHILD CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *MJS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#857346February 22, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERAPLE. THE RESTRAINTS WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS BENE NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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