1997 Ford Explorer complaints

TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES IS SEPARATING. THERE ARE CRACKS ALL AROUND CASING NEAR THE WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE OR TIRES TO RETAILER. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15 , DOT CODE VN. *AK

BROKEN AIR BLEND DOOR, CAUSING NO HEAT FOR DEFROSTERS OR HEATER. *AK

I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE MY CHILD FROM HIS SEAT BELT. WHEN EVERYONE ELSE FAILED TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE CHILD, I CARRIED THE VEHICLE (WITH THE CHILD STILL CONSTRAINED) TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER'S BODY SHOP HAD TO REMOVE THE BOLTS FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE TO RELEASE THE CHILD. IF THERE HAD BEEN AS ACCIDENT AND A FIRE, THE CHILD WOULD HAVE PERISHED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR RELEASE.*AK

ALL FOUR OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235-75-R15 TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHERE THE TREAD AND THE TIRES COMES TOGETHER, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

CONSUMER HAS A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR MIDDLE, WHEN A PERSON SITS NEXT TO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND BUCKLES THEIR SEAT BELT, THE RELEASE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE RESTRAINT AND THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT PREVENTS ACCESS TO THE RELEASE, IN AN EMERGENCY THE RELEASE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO AND THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT RELEASES CHANGED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

THE LAST REPAIR WAS A THIRD TIME THE FRONT END SEAL HAVE FAILED. THE SERVICE DEALER CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTENDENT STATE THAT HE HAD SIX EXPLORERS THAT MORNING FOR THE SAME FAILURE. FORD MOTOR CO. COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH INFROMATION REGARDING IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

SEE DESCRIPTION FROM ANOTHER DISSATISFIED OWNER AT ODI ID: 702324. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I WAS DRIVEWAY DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 MPH. CAR STARTED SHIFTING LEFT TO RIGHT EXCESSIVELY. I HAD ALSO HEAR A PIECE OF METAL HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY RUCK. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CHECKED SUSPENSION AND FOUDN STABILIZER BAR HANGING LOOSE. ON RIGHT SIDE. I CHECKED DRIVERS SIDE AND FOUND THAT STABILIZER BAR LOOSE WITH MISSING COMPONENTS AND SLIGHTLY RUSTED. HAD PROBABLY BEEN LOOSE FOR SOME TIME. BOTH ARE CURRENTLYCOMPLETELY DISCONNECTED.

TREAD SEPARATION ON INSIDE OF TIRE - STEEL BELT EXPOSED. OBSERVANT MOTORIST AT GAS STATION NOTED THE PROBLEM. TIRES OUT OF LINE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES AND HAD ALIGNMENT AT 20,691 MILES. WAS AT DEALERSHIP ON 11/3/00 AT 33011 MILES AND NO ONE NOTICED THE PROBLEM. LEASED VEHICLE WITH END OF CONTRACT 7/31/01. WANT OUT OF CONTRACT NOW. SEEING DEALER ON 12/11/00 TO DISCUSS AND TRY TO GET SATISFACTION OF TIRE REPLACEMENTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY137 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

SERIOUS NOISE PROBLEM AT RIGHT FRONT END DURING ANY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. UNSURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CURRENTLY CONCERNED TO TRAVEL ANY LENGTHY DISTANCE.*AK

ALL THESE TIRES SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING. ISSUE RATHER THAN A DESIGN ISSUE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ONE TIRE CAME APART AND CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). NLM

WHENEVER PLACING CCS SEAT IN MIDDLE OF BACK SEAT, AND WHOEVER SITS ON EITHER SIDE OF SEAT WILL BE TRAPPED. PUSH RELEASE BUTTON ON THE CCS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON REGULAR SEATBELTS, AND CONSUMER CAN'T GET HER HANDS BETWEEN BUTTONS. *AK

THRED SEPERATED FROM TIRES ,BUT WAS INFORMED IT WAS NOT ONE ON RECALL (TIRESIZE: 175-70R-15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175-70R-15 )

TIRE THERD SPERATED FROM BODY OF TIRE (TIRESIZE: 235-75R-15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-75R-15 )

I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THESE TIRES DO NOT BELONG TO THE RECALL. I HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BY THE FIRESTONE DEALER. WHO SAID THEY WERE FINE. I KEEP THE PRESSURE IN THE TIRES ABOUT 30 PSI. ON THANSGIVING WEEKEND, WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD MY REAR TIRE SHREDDED. WE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF OUR VEHICLE BUT MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD EVENTUALLY. I CALLED FIRESTONE AND FORD AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED FORD, WHERE THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES AND ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING INFORMATION ABOUT INCEDENTS. FIRESTONE SAID THAT REAR TIRE FAILURES ARE COMMON , AND I SHOULD NOT BELIEVE IN THE HYPE ABOUT THE TIRES SINCE THEY ARE A SAFE PRODUCT. HE ALSO SAID TO ME THAT FORD EXPLORER'S HAVE A HIGH INCEDENCE OF TIRES FAILING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE, AND IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURENCE. EVENTUALLY AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE ONE TIRE FREE OF CHARGE.THIS WAS ONLY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT RETEMINE WHY THE TIRE HAD SHREDDED. IT LOOKED TO BE LIKE THE TRED SEPERATED IN ONE PORTION AND SUBSEQUENTLY TORE THE REST OF THE TIRE OFF. THE FIRESTONE GUY SAID IT WAS NOT THE "TYPICAL" TREAD SEPARATION. HE ALSO OFFERED TO REPLACE MY TIRES FOR ABOUT $500 IF I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THE CURRENT SET. AT THIS POINT I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. NIETHER FORD NOR FIRESTONE SEEM TO FEEL IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS MY FEARS. IS T

ALL 4 TIRES SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE RECALL. HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A SET OF GOODYEAR WRANGLER ATS. STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES AS I AM TRYING TO HEIGHTEN THE AWARENESS THAT THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS WITH THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE PLANTS OTHER THAN DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAVING DEFECTIVE TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY176 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF . DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WASHER WILL NOT SPRAY FLUID. SAFETY CONCERN AS VISIBILITY CAN BE IMPAIRED, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. HAVE SEEN FORD DISCUSSION GROUPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, POSSIBILITY RELATED TO EXCESSIVE GREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS OF THE WIPER AND WASHER SPRAY SWITCH. *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) ON VEHICLE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, HOWEVER THE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AT A PRO-RATED COST AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, THE FIRST FIRESTONE CENTER THE CONSUMER WENT TO STATED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS WITH THE TIRES, BUT TWO OTHER FIRESTONE CENTERS STATED OTHERWISE. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (00T-005), HOWEVER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DRY ROT AND SEPARATION PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *MJS

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AND JERKS FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

MY CLIENT WAS DRIVING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING MY CLIENT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75/R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

THERE IS METAL FATIGUE OF DOOR PANEL AT HINGE AT THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE COMPANY SAYS THE DOOR HAS TO BE REPLACED, THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED AS A FIX WOULD FURTHER FATIGUE THE METAL. THE BENDING OF THE METAL IS TAKING PLACE WHERE THE HINGE ATTACHES AND IS BENDING THE PANEL UP SO THAT WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, THE BENT BODY WORK ACTS AS A SCOOP, DRAWING RAIN WATER, AIR AND, I ASSUME, EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I COMPLAINED TO FORD AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL COVER APPROX. $1,000 OF THE $1300 ESTIMATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER GENEROUS THAT MAY BE, I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAN IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY AFFECT MANY MORE THAN JUST MY UNIT. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR....THE EARLIEST I CAN GET AN APPT. IS 12/11. THE DEALER HAS BEEN MOST COOPERATIVE IN THIS BUT THE EXPENSE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR IS LARGE AND, IN MY ESTIMATION, SHOULD BE 100% COVERED BY THE COMPANY. JM. *AK

THE DEALER REPLACED FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES WITH NEW ONES BUT THE TIRE VALVES ON TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKS CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE VALVE RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15, DOT VDHL). NLM

BELT FAILURE ON ALL FOUR TIRES . SPARE IS NEW/UNUSED. 'HAVE BEEN BABYING VEHICLE DRIVING HABITS. TREAD IS GOOD BUT VEHICLE WOBBLES EVEN AFTER AN ALIGNMENT AND REPEATED WHEEL BALANCING EPISODES. BELTS ARE SEPARATING. SINCE I HAVE FOUR USED AND ONE UNUSED...IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO USE THESE FOR INVESTIGATIVE TESTS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

1997, FORD, EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES SIZE P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL1PY027, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED TIRES WERE CRACKING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE SEPARATED, BUT CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK *SLC

CONSUMER FELT A KNOCKING NOISE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THEN, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A HUMP ON TIRES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING ON THREE TIRES. P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY406.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD ASKED FIRESTONE TO INCLUDE THE FAILED WILDERNESS AT TIRES IN THE RECALL LIST SINCE THEY ARE SIMILAR WITH ONES ON RECALL. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, CRACKING, AND VIBRATION, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO ONE FLAT AND TREADWEAR AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS. *MJS

ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED CRACKING, THE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *SLC

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (00T-005), HOWEVER CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO DEFECT. *MJS

THE VEHICLE STARTED VEERING TO THE LEFT EVEN WITH THE STEERING POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD,GENTLY TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT TO COUNTERACT, HOWEVER THIS HAD NO AFFECT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED OXYGEN SENSOR ERROR--COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHEN WEATHER GOT COLD. THE FORD SERVICE SAID THE THE AIR INTAKE VALVE GASKETS SHRANK AND WAS LETTING IN TOO MUCH AIR AND CARBON MONOXIDE INTO TO THE GAS TANK. I'VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH TRUCK UNDER 100,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLES ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND MOVE FORWARD ALTHOUGH CONSUMER FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, CONSUMER TOUCHED THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE TRUCK STARTED PUSHING IT FORWARD, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF VEHICLE TO STOP THE MOVEMENT. NLM

AFTER HEARING NEWS HYPE ABOUT TIRES & CHECKED THEM NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED OR SPLIT NEAR OR ON TREAD & SIDEWALL CASING. TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE RETAILER & WAS INFORMED TIRES WILL NOT BE EXCHANGED DUE TO NOT BEING ON RECALL. THERE WAS WEAR ON SIDEWALL & TREAD. HAS INVOICE WITH INFORMATION. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT WITH 40,000 MILES, P235/75R15, DOT W2H1. *AK *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) ARE CRACKING AROUND THE TREAD. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL) ON VEHICLE, THE TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING AND SMALL SLITS ON THE OUTER AND INNER SIDEWALLS, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE SYMPTOMS ON THESE TIRES ARE THE SAME THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH THE RECALLED TIRES. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED FLAT TIRES ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FIRST TIRE WENT FLAT ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00T005 AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE TIRES MADE NOISE AND DID NOT HANDLE WELL, THE CONSUMER TOOK TIRES TO BE CHECKED OVER AND WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE OKAY, THE CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH TIRES AND REPLACED THEM, NOW CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED RECALL LETTER AND HAS NO PAPER WORK THAT STATES WHETHER THE TIRES WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER IS STILL REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER NOTICED AN OBLONG WORN PLACE ON THE TREAD NEAR THE SIDEWALL THAT WORN DOWN TO THE CORD ON A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15), CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AND LATER RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE DOT#'S TO SEE IF THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, THE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THE DEALER ASSUMED THE OTHER TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION AND NOISE WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THESE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED OTHER REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

TIRES WERE CUPPED AND MADE THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EVENTHOUGH THE TIRES HAD PLENTY TREAD THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE EDGES OF THE TIRES AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE EXPOSED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAULTY TIRES. NLM

ENGINE IDLE IS ERRATIC WHEN ENGINE IS WARM, VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THIS COMPONENT HAS NOW FAILED TWICE. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM?