Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#10217244February 4, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER, INTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE 4X4 ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216553January 30, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER HE OPENED THE HOOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 07V336000) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF JANUARY 30, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216378January 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER STARTED FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA AFTER PRACTICING FOOTBALL FOR 45 MIN IN THE SCHOOL. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE TIME FIRE MEN ARRIVED. THEY SAID IT WAS EITHER FUEL OR ELECTRICAL RELATED. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215179January 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ON MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2008, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I OPENED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE NEARBY HOUSE, MY SUV WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE SUV IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212810December 21, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1997 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL AND THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FUEL LEAK. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212425December 20, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON NOVEMBER 10TH I REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE ON MY 97 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SPARE TIRE THAT WAS UNDER THE TRUCK. ON DECEMBER 18TH ON MY WAY TO WORK TRAVELING SOUTH ON 95 AT APPROX. 5:40AM I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE, IT WAS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. A SECOND AFTER THE NOISE MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIPPING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MY TRUCK WAS TOTALED, BUT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE THROUGH THIS ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, WHICH I HAVE FOUND OUT HAD A RECALL ON IT BECAUSE OVER TIME WOULD FALL APART AND THE TREAD WOULD COME OFF THE TIRE CAUSING ACCIDENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY'S OR DEATH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10211036December 6, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE LOCK STICKS AND WILL ONLY OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCK ITSELF IS NOT WORKING AND WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHES THE UNLOCK CONTROL ON THE DOOR PANEL, IT FAILS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. SHE IS CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,299 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,299.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211060December 6, 2007
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE, THE BOTTOM METAL PLATE FOR THE JACK POPPED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN LIFTED FOR TEN MINUTES. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE JACK WAS USED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT MAKE A REPLACEMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 186,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207941November 5, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER AWD 5.0 LITER. THE SEAT BELT LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER HOLDS THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE AFTER I BUCKLE UP. IN ORDER TO DRIVE, I HAVE TO INSERT THE SEAT BELT INTO THE LATCH ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. WHEN I DO THIS THE SEAT BELT NOW CROSSES MY NECK, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. IT ALSO MEANS I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THE AUTO WITH A PASSENGER BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK. ON A NORMAL LATCH, I CAN PUSH DOWN THE RED RELEASE BUTTON AND CAN FEEL THE SPRING ACTION. ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE, THERE IS NO SPRING TENSION ON THE RED RELEASE BUTTON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207800November 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING ALONG EVERYTHING IS FINE, LOSE POWER PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE I SEE BLACK SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES, COULDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE OF POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS. WENT TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND KICKED MY WAY OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MINUTES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207616November 1, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING SERVICED FOR THE RADIO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207660November 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED OVER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER AND DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT FELT THAT A LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204110September 25, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER OF 1997 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAD A RECALL ISSUED IN 2001 FOR THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. NHTSA #00V-42200. MY EXPLORER WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (NOT BUILT IN ST. LOUIS OR LOUISVILLE) AND I NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH A STICKING ACCELERATOR. RESULT OF A WEB SEARCH ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO SEE IF A PROBLEM EXISTS FOR THIS CONDITION BECAUSE I FEEL I'M GOING TO CRASH INTO SOMETHING GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL. BY CALLING FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE. LINE TODAY I WAS TOLD THAT A FORD DEALER WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAD THE CUST. SERV. REP. MAKE AN "ON THE RECORD" OF MY CALL AND MY QUESTION IS THIS: IF THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IN 2001 FOR CERTAIN FACTORY BUILT EXPLORERS, WHY COULDN'T IT BECOME A FUTURE SAFETY ISSUE (IN 2007) IF THE VEHICLE (MINE) WAS BUILT IN ANOTHER FACTORY? COULDN'T THIS PROBLEM ARISE AT ANOTHER TIME, AS IT HAS WITH ME? THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS IDENTICAL TO EVERY WORD STATED IN THE RECALL. THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY IS INSTALLED ON MY EXPLORER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202478September 11, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRE FAILURE RESULTING IN A BLOWOUT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198612August 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, RAISED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198318August 2, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT LIFTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE HANDLE FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT RELEASE IT WOULD COST $280 TO REPAIR THE HANDLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,304. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194862June 28, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRST AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. SHE BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS A PART OF RECALL # 00V422000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193762June 19, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE 1997 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE CRUISE SWITCH LOCATED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192925June 11, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE RUSTED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINE, AND THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT LEAKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,663.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192477June 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO THE FAN SHIELD. THE FORD MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. IT WAS GOOD THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 30MPH AT THE TIME OR IT WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGHT THE FAN ITS SELF. IT COULD HAVE HAD MANY CONSEQUENCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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