1997 Ford Explorer complaints

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

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

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. *ET

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

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

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

REAR RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERAPLE. THE RESTRAINTS WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS BENE NOTIFIED. *AK

A/C SERVICE PLENUM PLASTIC DOOR BROKE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH STRONGER NYLON BLEND DOOR AS PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. PART NUMBER F87Z-1847-DA. CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE INTAKE GASKETS ARE LEAKING, CAUSING AIR TO ENTER INTO THE CYLINDER, RESULTING IN ENGINE IDLING ERRATICALLY AND EVENTUALLY NO START. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH HEARD LOUD NOISE, LEFT REAR WHEEL FROZE. VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT OVER 2 LANES & THEN RIGHT OVER 2 LANES. SPUN AROUND & WAS FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WENT BACKWARDS & HIT A CULVERT. TOOK OFF & WAS AIR BORNE. LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. UNLOCKED SEAT BELT & CRAWLED OUT. POLICE AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE ARRIVED. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED & WRAPPED AROUND AXLE. VEHICLE TOTALED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE RADIAL AXT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRES AND NO OFFER OF SETTELEMENT FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *YH

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF AND KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE VALVE COVER TENSIONER. COULD SMELL OIL BURNING PRIOR TO PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS OF TIMING CHAIN. *AK

REAR BRAKES ARE SHOT AND THE SEAT HANDLE IS BROKEN. MY DEALER SAYS THAT VEHICLE IS NOT COVER UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT, THERE IS A TSB # 98-25-15 FOR THE SEAT HANDLE, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY BRAKES OR REAR ROTORS ARE WARPED. ALREADY THEY DID REPLACETHE FRONT ONES AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THE REAR AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEY DID NOT. NOW I AM THE ONE WHO HAS TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF THEM. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM TAHT ALL THERE IS TO IT. HOPE I HERE FROM SOME ONE BUT I DOUGHT IT. *AK

AUTOMOBILE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED FORWARD AND HIT A POLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE EXHAUST GAS SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED PREMATURALY.*AK

COMING OUT OF GARAGE SMELLED FUEL. POPPED THE HOOD, AND COULD SEE GAS SQUIRTING OUT OF CARBURETOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.*AK

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL OFF, CATCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE WELD TO THE FIREWALL BROKE. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, CONSUMER COULD NOT TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. GAS PEDAL WENT INVOLUNTARILY TO THE FLOOR, AND CAR ACCELERATED FROM 68 MPH TO 85 MPH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN IN ORDER TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *ML

TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT TRAVELING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-60 MPH, NO PULLING POWER IN GEAR.*AK

RECALL REPAIR DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. (98S09) *MJS

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING. THEN, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHEN THE PEDAL STOPPED STICKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY VALVE WAS STICKING WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP THE LIP ON THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOTH INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

4 WHEEL DRIVE STUCK IN LOW. IF SWITCHED OUT OF LOW THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES FROM BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AXEL SO THE VEHICLE JUST STOPS. EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS ON DASH INDICATE THE VEHICLE IS IN 4 WHEEL HIGH THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN 4 WHEEL LOW. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE USED 4 WHEEL LOW. WITH THE SNOW THIS WEEK I USED 4 WHEEL LOW TO GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT GO MORE THEN 3 FEET FORWARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK. NOTHING I DID WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I KNOW FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FEAR HERE IS THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM COMPLETELY DISENGAGES AND MY VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY IS PUT AT RISK AS OTHERS COME UP ON US AT SPEED. THANKS FOR THE SITE. KEVIN

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE WAS FROZEN. YH

FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES SHE CAN FEEL EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S WHEEL COLLASPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. *AK

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

GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES (P235R15) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

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 )

FIRESTONE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *SLC

ALL FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, TIRES WERE BADLY DAMAGED, FIRESTONE WILL NOT HONOR REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST. *CJ

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

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

THROTTLE STICKING AT ACCLERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK

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

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL, DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTIFY CONSUMER OF RECALL (99V-062). MJS

VEHICLE REVVED AND SPEEDED UP ON ITS OWN .THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, RESULTING IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. *AK

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

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

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 70MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

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

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK

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

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

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 HESITATI

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

INTERMITTENTLY VARIOUS COMPONENTS WILL BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO A DEFFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE ROOF RACK RIPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE THUMB SCREWS DESIGNED TO LOOSEN THE CROSSBAR VIBRATED LOOSE COMPLETELY. *MJS