Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10144114December 1, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND IT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND THEN CAME TO A STOP WHEN PLACED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT OCCURRED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. AGAIN THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD AND THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED COLD IT WOULD NOT STAY ON AND IDLED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND IDLE PROBLEM WERE DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE SENSOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE VALVE ASSEMBLY BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140471October 21, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: THE CONTACT STATE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIR UNDER NHTSA RECALL 98V060000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S09 BEFORE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE ON JANUARY 9, 2001. SHE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE ON JANUARY 24, 2005. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE HAD DONE SO HE SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND TWO HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. THEY HAD THE FUEL LINE REPLACED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 15, 2005. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. AFTER EXAMINING THE FUEL LINE HE FOUND THERE WERE TWO HOLES IN THE EXACT SAME SPOTS. SHE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138501October 4, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I THINK THE REAR DOOR OF FORD EXPLORERS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE REAR DOOR AT THE TOP IS STARTING TO COME APART. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT ON FORD EXPLORERS BY A FORD BODY SHOP. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? I HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS OCCURS BECAUSE THE SHEET METAL USED ON THE DOOR IS SO THIN THAT IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR DOOR THAT GOOD.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137139September 20, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED POWER OUTAGE TO OVERHEAD TEMPERATURE/DIRECTION DISPLAY. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THE TECH ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER,INDICATED THAT SPARKS AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THIS IS THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND DEATH. THIS CRUISE CONTROL IS THE SAME ONE THAT HAS SPARKED A LARGE RECALL FROM FORD BUT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ELECTED NOT TO INCLUDE THE EXPLORER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137140September 20, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE OUT OF CONTROL, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING CHALLENGED ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WAS TOLD IT WILL IT IS DUE TO DEFECT IN THE AIR BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136991September 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED AROUND THE WIRING HARNESS IN AND AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHEN MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE I LOST MY BRAKES INSTANTLY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137760September 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED TWO FAILURES OF THE BRAKE LINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BOTH FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY CORROSION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135848September 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
DT: 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER STATES THE FOUR WHEEL/ TWO WHEEL LIGHTS ARE FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THE ONLY WAY ONE CAN TELL THIS HAS HAPPENED IS FROM THE POPPING AND CRACKING NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CUMBERLAND FALLS FORD TWICE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SWITCH. THE TRANSFER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLOWS DOWN WHEN IT GOES INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135326September 5, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE KNOW OF THE EXPEDITION HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THIS WAS CAUSING FIRES TO START WITH THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD THIS DID NOT INVOLVE THE EXPLORER. I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THERE COULD BE A CONNECTION. WE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE BUT I FELT THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. I ALSO FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA EACH TIME THE FORD EXPLORER HAS TO REPAIR CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES TO HELP DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT IS WIDESPREAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135257September 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE FAILURE LEAVING PERSONNEL RESIDENCE (NOTED ABOVE). REAR STEAL BRAKE LINE BURST LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND DE-MOBILIZING BRAKE SYSTEM (PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE). LEAK WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE AND SPARE TIRE. BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AWAY. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE LINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133442August 12, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A DEFECT IN THE DEFROSTER AND DEFOGGER SYSTEM. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN PLASTIC DOOR IN THE A/C/HEATER PLENUM. THIS CREATED A CONDITION OF FOGGING THE WINDSHIELD UNCONTROLLABLY AND IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS VISION. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132515August 11, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT OR ENTERING RAMPED DRIVEWAYS AT AN ANGLE, VEHICLE ROCKED SIDE-TO-SIDE MORE THAN NORMAL, WITH AN OCCASIONAL "CLUNK". INSPECTION REVEALED A BOLT HOLDING THE ANTI-ROLL BAR TO THE UPPER CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED AND FAILED, RENDERING THE ANTI-ROLL BAR NON-FUNCTIONAL. GIVEN THE PROPENSITY OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER IF DRIVEN IMPROPERLY, THIS FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK / DECREASES THE ROLLOVER THRESHOLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132540August 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CRANK BROKE OFF AT PULLEY. NO PREVIOUS WARNING, IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. 110 MILES ON ENGINE AT TIME OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DEALERSHIP LAUGHED AT REQUEST FOR REPAIRS, "WARRANTY EXPIRED". I PAID FOR NEW "REBUILT ENGINE" COST= $3000.00. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129950July 25, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE I15 INTERSTATE FREEWAY AND MAKING A MERGE ONTO CALIFORNIA STATE HIIGHWAY 78 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE BRACKET BROKE AWAY FROM THE ENGINE FIREWALL WHERE IT HAD BEEN SPOT WELDED. AFTER SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, I MANAGED TO PULL OFF OF THE FREEWAY. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION I SAW THAT THE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE BRACKET TO THE ENGINE FIREWALL HAD FAILED, ALLOWING THE BRACKET TO PULL AWAY FROM SUPPORT RENDERING THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE USELESS. AS OF TODAY, 7/25/2005, I HAVE NOT YET REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS I WANTED TO FIND OUT IF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON THE 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129981July 25, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS AUTO, IT SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. WE HAVE TO LOOP THE DRIVER SIDE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL OF THESE MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND SEAT BELTS ARE MANDATORY BY LAW. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE? THE LEFT TURN INDICATOR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR YEARS. IT MAKES A ZZZZ SOUND AND NO LONGER WORKS. I AM ALSO DOWN TO ONLY ONE DOOR THAT THE KEY WORKS ON. THAT IS THE BACK LIFT. THE DOOR KEY HAD NOT WORKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FOR YEARS, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT. I HAVE THE SAME HEAT PROBLEM THE OTHERS ARE HAVING. YOU EITHER GET FULL ON HEAT AND HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND OFF WHEN IT GETS TOO HOT OR YOU GET PARTIAL AC, ALWAYS A LITTLE WARM. BOTH THE AC AND HEAT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SWITCH SOMEWHERE. AND NOW THE REASON I'M WRITING IS I HAVE MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FUSES AND SOLINOIDS HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT, THERE ARE NO LONGER LIGHTS IN THE DASH AREA. THE LIGHTS ON ALARM (DING DING DING DING) REMAINS ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, THE KEYS OUT AND THE DOOR SHUT WHICH HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY COMPLETLY. I HAVE JUMPED STARTED IT TWICE AND NOW IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL LOOKED AT. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ANYONE ELSE IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO FORD. NOT ONLY CAN I NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNSAFE TO USE IT. I NEED 4WHEEL DRIVE JUST TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN WINTER AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THE INCIDENT DATE I LISTED BELOW IS FOR THE TIME THE SEATBELT STARTED TO FAIL COMPLETLY. WE WERE ON A VACATION TRIP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129098July 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT GET IT IN UNTIL SATURDAY FOR REPAIRS. TUESDAY THE VEHICLE CAUGHTON FIRE WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES , AND WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS MOST PROMINENT IN THE FRONT. THE FIRE DEPT CAME, AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE DASH AND HEAD AREA AND IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE ARE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS. NO OTHER INDICATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128857July 15, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE LATCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT IN MY 1997 FORD 4 DOOR 4X4 EXPLORER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128828July 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 FORD EXPLORER, 5.0 L ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR'S ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY RACES TO THE POINT THAT ITS BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD IT BACK. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN BACKING FROM A COLD START AND SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE EFFECT IS LIKE BEING SLAMMED INTO BY A LARGE VEHICLE. IT ALMOST KILLED MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER AND ME EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN IT HAPPENED AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT FELT LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR, BUT IT WAS THE ENGINE PULLING ITS OLD TRICK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ONE YEAR AGO HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE PCV VALVE AND HE REPLACED THE VALVE. THE CAR THEN BEHAVED FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WITH MY WIFE AT THE WHEEL, THE CAR, IN REVERSE, RACED OUT OF OUR GARAGE INTO THE STREET. IT WAS UNSTOPABLE. LATER IT DID THE SAME THING, WHILE IN DRIVE, AT INTERSECTIONS. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT THEN HAPPENED TO ME AND MY DAUGHTER AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO TESTED IT FOR A WEEK WITHOUT RESULTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128435July 12, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO STAY LATCHED, OR SOMETIMES BECOMES UNLATCHED WITH DRIVERS FORWARD BODY MOTION (EXTEND LINE OF SIGHT, CHANGE RADIO/CLIMATE SETTINGS, TURN ON LIGHTS, ETC.). AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT IS NOT A RELIABLE SAFETY RESTRAINT. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS FIND A REPLACEMENT PART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127885July 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, THE CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND THE MASTER BRAKE UNIT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ABOUT A WEEK AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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