1997 Ford Explorer complaints

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS JUMPING AND CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS AT VARIOUS TIMES. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON LATER MODEL/ YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DIRVING 25-35 MPH. VEHICLE HAD NO POWER/ BRAKES. VEHICLE COASTED TO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER CAR. *AK

FUEL FILLER DOES NOT HAVE A GROUND STRAP WHICH CAUSED A BUILD UP OF STATIC ELECTRICITY AND RESULTED IN A FIRE.

UPON PURCHASE IN JUNE 1997, THROTTLE STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE PLATE ONCE IN APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 1997. THE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE PLATE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD IN APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 1998. IN JUNE 1999, THE THROTTLE HAS AGAIN BEGUN TO STICK AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 72,000 MILES, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE STILL JUST REPLACING THE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

RECALL NOTICE SENT TO CONSUMER (97V074/98R03), HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES REPAIR DUE TO STATE IN WHICH CONSUMER LIVES DOES NOT MATCH DESCRIPTION ON RECALL. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AT ALL, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH COMPUTER SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE NO POWER/NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

THE THROTTLE BODY DESIGN ON 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0 LITRE SOHC ENGINE STICKS OR BINDS IN A CLOSED POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, THE BIND WILL RESULT IN NO GAS TO THE ENGINE. THEN THE BINDING STOPS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OFTEN AT SPEEDS HIGH ENOUGH TO CHIRP THE TIRES. THIS CAN BE A DANGERIOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. *AK

COMING TO STOP, APPLYING FOOT ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FOWARD, ENGINE WILL REV UP. CONSUMER MUST REAPPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

THERE IS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THERE IS NO FIX RIGHT NOW. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE. THEY CAN NOT GUARENTEE ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPEN AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 70 MPH, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND UNWANTED SPEED. CONSUMER THEREFORE HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, CONSUMER AWAITING SERVICE FROM MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IN ADDITION TO THE LOCKS UNLOCKING WHILE VEHILE IS UNATTENDED, THE LOCKS SPORATICALLY CLICK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE LOCKS DON'T LOCK IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE SUV IS PUT IN GEAR, THEY LOCK SOMETIMES UP TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AS OCCUPANT(S) OF VEHICLE ARE NOT SAFE FROM OUTSIDE GOINGS ON UNLESS VEHICLE IS LOCKED. IN ADDITION, THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM WITH INSURANCE IF VEHICLE IS STOLEN BECAUSE IT IS UNLOCKED. PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY.

ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE VIBRATING IN FRONT, VIBRATION WOULD COMMENCE WHENEVER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHENEVER TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS,CONDITION STILL UNRESOLVED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED, HAD DEALER CHECK VEHICLE AND FOUND THE CV SOLENOID, FTP SENSOR AND THE O2 MONITOR WERE BAD. *JG

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, POWER STEERING MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN TURNING. WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING FLUID. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, EXPLORER RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T PREVENT CONSUMER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND FALLING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, ALTHOUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID. *AK *ML

WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER COULDN'T STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING BRAKES, AND HE HAD TO MOVE THE PAWL TO NEUTRAL AND TURN SWITCH OFF. *AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE ENTIRE KEYLESS ENTRY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE STARTER KEPT TURNING OVER AND OVER, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. *YH

IN FEBRUARY 1998 THE NUMBER 40 AND 50 BEGAN TO DIM IN THE SPEEDOMETER. THE DIMMING HAS SPREAD TROUGHOUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1998. THE NEW ONE IS WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD. AT THE PRESENT TIME ALL NUMBERS IN THE SPEEDOMETER ARE EITHER DIM OR DO NOT LIGHT UP. THE PROBLEM HAS SPREAD TO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CONTROLS ON THE DOOR, AND THE RADIO. CONTROLS THT DO NOT LIGHT UP AT ALL ARE POWER WINDOW ADJUSTER ON DOOR, KNOB TO TURN ON LIGHTS, GAUGES FOR CONTROLLING THE LIGHT FOR OFF, LOW, OR HIGH, AND THE KNOB TO ADJUST DIMNESS OF INSTRUMNET CLUSTER. FORD HAD AN ENGINEER TO LOOK AT MARCH 31, 1999. HE CONCLUDED NO REAPIRS WERE NEEDED. THE PROBLEM WORSENS DAILY. I AM NOW GOING THROUGH A CASE WITH A DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. IF THAT FAILS I WILL HAVE TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS. RENTAL VEHICLES I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPNAY CONTINUES TO STATE THEY HAVE SEEN NO OTHER VEHICLE PRODUCED BYTHEM WITH THIS PROBLEM. YOUR DATABASE SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED DUE TO THIS VEHICLE FAILURE. *AK

WAS DRIVING AND CAR STOPPED WITH A CLICKING SOUND. NO PRIOR WARNING WITH ENGINE LIGHTS, ETC. DEALER CLAIMS FAILURE TO CHANGE OIL RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AND FORD ALSO DENIED CLAIM TO REPLACE SAID ENGINE. *AK

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH BRAKES BEING APPLIED, AND WITHOUT DRIVER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM MUFFLER AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH HER FOOT ON TH BRAKES, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY DRIVER. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED. THE ONLY WAY THE CAR COULD BE CONTROLLED WAS BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND COASTING TO THE SIDE. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND FATALITIES. *AK

MULTI-PURPOSE DIRECTIONAL SWITCH, DOES NOT OPERATE THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS PROPERLY, HOWEVER, THE SIGNALS WORK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH ONCE BEFORE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT STOP SIGN WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. TIMING CHAIN BROKE. CONSUMER WAS HEARING POPPING NOISE FOR YEARS, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY NEVER WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE. *AK

THE DESIGN OF PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE, CAUSING ACCELERATION, ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISION. *YC

UPON TOUCHING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATRED, CAUSING A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

ACCELERATOR IS STICKING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE A VERY LOUD NOISE. THERE IS A NOISE LIKE METAL PIECE OF OBJECT IS HANGING FROM VEHICLE. *AK

TAIL PIPE IS SEPARATING FROM MUFFLER, AND THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THERE IS METAL TYPE OF NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER. CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES THERE IS SOME METAL UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT IS MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. *AK

NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR THIS VEHICLE. AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD . VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HAVE HAD A INTERMITTENT VALVE TAP SINCE A RECALL WAS DONE ,IT'S GETTING PROGRESSLY WORSE. DEALER HAS REPLACED TAPPETS ONCE AND THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THINKING IT WAS THAT .NOW I SEE TWO TSBS' NHTSA #SB051948 AND #SB051128 AND WAS WONDERING IF THEY MIGHT APPLY AND CAN I DO ANYTHING TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ? THANKYOU FOR ANY HELP ,SHANNON

REPEATED FAILED ATTEMPS TO CORRECT PING/TICK WHEN ENGINE IS BELOW 30 DEGREES F

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO FAILURE OF A BROKEN THROTTLE RETURN SPRING. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS

UPON STARTING THE EXPLORER FUEL GAUGE DROPS DOWN FROM HALF TANK TO EMPTY. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS REPLACED IN MARCH OF 99, AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ON 4/1//99. CONUSMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL PUMP DRIVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE(FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN #97B12). MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY.

THE THROTTLE IS STICKING IN THE CLOSED POSITION. CONSUMER MUST PRESS HARD ON PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO UNSTICK WHICH THEN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. *AK

WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED DEFECTIVE ENGINE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD NO ANTI-FREEZE. RECEIVED ANOTHER ENGINE OFF MANUFACTURING LINE. ENGINE LASTED 2 WEEKS. HAD PAID HALF. THE 3RD ENGINE REPLACED FREE. THERE IS SOME STALLING IN THIS ENGINE AS WELL. *AK

WHEN PUTTING GAS INTO THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF AND THE GAS WILL SPILL OUT. IT TAKE'S FIVE TIMES AS LONG TO GET GAS INTO TANK. *AK

THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL ON '97 EXPLORERS (NHTSA #9054 & 9047). FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE; HOWEVER, MY CAR SUFFERS FROM THE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS. HOW DO I MAKE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM. (99V-062001) DENIED REPAIR.

WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND VEHICL IS AT A STOP, DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE HARD TO GET INTO TRAFFIC THE ENGINE WILL STALL OR HESITATE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH SAME COMPLAINT, DEALER COMPLIES ,HAS ACKNOWLEDGED FORD HAS PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE THAT SEEMS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST YEAR, AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. INVESTIGATION CONTROL NUMBER WAS ISSUED #118268BH (11/30/98). RAMP FORD HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US IN THIS MATTER, BUT IT SEEMS THAT FORD HAS NOT PROVIDED THE DEALERSHIP WITH A WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. ALSO CAUSED THE HOUSE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP OVER 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS FOR THE PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT FIXED YET. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY WERE TO CALL LAST WEEK FOR THE FLIGHT RECORDER BOX TO BE USED I CALLED THEM TODAY THEY STATE IT WILL BE NEXT WEEK. I AM VERY TIRED OF TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *AK