1997 Ford Explorer complaints

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO A LEAK FROM THE FUEL LINE. A SPARK TOUCHED SOME OF THE WIRES, CAUSING A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE WIRES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ENTIRE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED, CAUSING A COLLISION TO OCCUR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

REAR DOOR LOCKS WON'T UNLOCK UNLESS YOU USE UNLOCK BUTTON ON FRONT DOOR FIRST. CHILD SAFETY DOOR LOCK WON'T DISENGAGE ON LEFT REAR DOOR, SOMEONE HAS TO OPEN LEFT REAR DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. KEYLESS CONTROL WILL NOT UNLOCK EITHER IF RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK GETS HUNG UP. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET REPAIRED, BUT HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION EXCEPT ONCE IN 1997. I SELDOM HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK, BUT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ANYONE IN THE REAR COULD NOT GET OUT. I JUST WANT THE DOOR LOCKS FIXED. THERE ARE SOME SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA, IDI ID 702648, 827786, 829733, 537402, 538918, AND 530692. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS TO THE POINT WHERE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT FOOT BEHIND THE PEDAL TO RELEASE IT FROM THE FLOOR. EVEN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT WILL NOT DECREASE SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IN EARLY MARCH OF 1997 THE FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT IN LOUISVILLE, KY FLOODED. THIS PLANT PRODUCES FORD EXPLORERS, MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS, AND FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCKS. FORD ESTIMATED THAT "APPROXIMATELY 2000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED." FORD ALSO STATED THAT "NONE OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLES WILL BE SHIPPED TO DEALERSHIPS." NOT TRUE. I BOUGHT ONE OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLES AT DON REID FORD IN MAITLAND, FLORIDA. DON REID FORD FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE MATERIAL FACT THAT MY TRUCK HAD BEEN FLOODED AND CLEANED AS A RESULT OF THE FLOOD. MY GUESS IS THAT FORD SOLD ALL OR MOST OF THE 2000 DAMAGED VEHICLES. MY TRUCK IS RUSTING, ON THE BUMPER AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. I ALSO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. I ASSUME THAT THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE DAMAGED VEHICLES MIGHT BE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, OR OTHER UNEXPLAINED PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE FLOOD, WHICH COULD POSE SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE OWNERS DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE FLOODWATERS OF KENTUCKY. MY GUESS IS THAT FORD HAS SECRET WARRANTIES FOR THESE CARS.

THE BACK UP LIGHTS GO OUT. THE FUSE HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS THE BACK UP LIGHTS & REAR DEFROSTER ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER. *AK

PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SPORADIC AND INITIALLY, APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. LAST INCIDENT CAUSED ENGAGING OF PARKING BRAKE, SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING OFF IGNITION.

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN LAST 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DOOR CAME OPEN I FELL OUT OF IT, AND HURT MY BACK, AND CAN NOT STAND FOR ANY LENTGH OF TIME. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ITS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AND I E-MAILED YOU IN JANUARY AND I SHOULD OF HEARD SOMETHING FROM YOU BEGINNING OF FEBUARY. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU WHY? THANK YOU NEDRA J. OSSO

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH HEARD SOME NOISE AND THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF.WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP, THE VEHICLE WON'T START. *AK

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GUAGES PROPERLY, ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURRED BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1997 UNTIL NOVEMBER 1998 WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO FORD PER A LEMON LAW SETTLEMENT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDED LACK OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER, ERRATIC IDLE AND THROTTLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION PER YOUR INVESTIGATION.

EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY FORD EXPLORER, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS IN THE OFF POSITION. AS A RESULT, I HAVE TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER, AND SOMETIMES I GO FLYING OUT THE DRIVEWAY. I SPOKE WITH DELACY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL YET ON THE VEHICLE AND SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID TO DO IT AND ANYWAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

EACH TIME I START THE VEHICLE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT STICKS. THEN IT IS NECESSARY TO STEP ON IT EVEN HARDER. IT EVENTUALLY CATCHES AND THEN I SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD (DEPENDING ON WHETHER I AM IN DRIVE OR REVERSE). THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I MUST WAIT UNTIL MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMES UP TO GET IT FIXED. IN THE MEANTIME, I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS? MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

ENGINE O-RINGS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FAULTY CAUSING CONTINUED ENGINE STALLING.

ANECDOTAL DESCRIPTION EMAILED TO NHTSA WEBMASTER 5 MINUTES AGO

WHILE DRVING AT 35MPH AND COMING TO A LIGHT CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP. VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP, THE PEDAL WAS NORMAL AND GAVE NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD AND FIRST STARTED, GAS PEDAL WILL STICK AND HAS TO BE PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE. THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ONCE AND SEEMED TO CORRECT PROBLEM FOR A YEAR. PROBLEM NOW BACK, IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD AS GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE VEHICLE AFTER FIRST STARTED. *AK

PLEASE AD VIN #. CONSUMER DRIVING AND WHEN SHE TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR FROZE IN THE UP POSITION. DEALERSHIP---ODANIEL FORD---SERVICE--748-6260, SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF THOSE COMPLAINTS AT THIS DEALERSHIP.

WHEN STARTING COLD ENGINE RACES AND GAS PEDAL STICKS, I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT DOESN`T HAPPEN UNLESS ITS 50 DEG OR LESS, ENGINE ALSO ALMOST STALLS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE NOT RELATED TO ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK *ML

VEHICLE DRIFTS OR FLOATS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.MOST NOTICEABLE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER -IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END WAS GOING IN TWO DIRECTIONS AT ONCE. THEN IT PULLS TO RIGHT AND IF YOU OVERCORRECT IT, THEN IT WILL PULL TO LEFT DRAMATICALLY. SITUATION IS LIKE A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN OPPOSING POLES.THIS VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF " FRONT END" PROBLEMS FROM ORIGINAL OWNERS AND MYSELF DATING BACK TO 10-23-1996. TSB # 98-3-11 ISSUED FEB 98, SPEAKS OF DRIFT/PULL WITH TIRE WEAR AS I HAVE NOW. PROBLEM CAN POSSIBLY RESULT IN HIGH SPEED ROLLOVER ON INETRSTATE DUE TO OPERATOR ATTEMPTING TO COMPENSATE FOR DRIFT/PULL. THE CORRECTION MAY BE SUCH AS TO CREATE A CATASTROPHIC SHIFT IN CENTER OF GRAVITY, CAUSING ROLLOVER. *AK

PINION SEAL LEAKING.

FRONT SEAT TRACK FAILED.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. *YC

BATTERY CABLE MISALIGNED,DEALER MADE LOCATION CORRECTION.MGM

SPARK PLUG FAILED. *YC

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DUE TO ENGINE SENSOR FAILURE. *YC

INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

BRAKE LAMP AND FOG LAMP FAILED. MJS

EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE TUBE FAILED. *YC

OIL PUMP FAILED. *YC

WATER PUMP LEAK. *YC

ROCKER ARM COVER OUT OF ORDER.

BACK SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. YH

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. YH

MAUFACTURES SHOULD ALERT CUSTOMERS THAT USING A FUEL NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CALIFORNIA EMISSION COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.YH

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING GAS THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE SEAT ROCKS FORWARD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

ELECTRICAL FAILURES CONTINUALLY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY PCM MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURES.

THE REAR DOOR LOCKS BIND UP WHENEVER A REAR PASSENGER ATTEMPTS TO OPEN A DOOR WITHOUT THE DRIVER DEPRESSING DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON MANUALLY. ONCE LOCKS BIND UP, THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN DOOR IS FROM EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. REAR PASSENGERS ARE ESSENTIALLY TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL DOORS ARE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. IT APPEARS THAT LOCKS ARE MALFUNCTIONING SOMEWHAT LIKE THE CHILD DOOR LOCK PROTECTION SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD LOCKS ARE NOT ENGAGED. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD WHICH TRAPS A PERSON IN THE REAR SEAT. IF THERE WERE A FIRE, ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF EMERGENCY, THEY COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR SEAT. DEALER CLAIMS NOT A PROBLEM; THAT THIS HOW LOCKS WERE DESIGNED, BUT REFUSED TO PUT ON REPAIR SLIP STATING ONLY "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE". HELP! HELP! HELP! FORD HAS A PROBLEM HERE AND IT NEEDS A NHTSA DIRECTED RECALL TO GET THEM TO PROPERLY CORRECT IT. IN YOUR DATA BASE THERE ARE NUMEROUS SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH REAR DOOR LOCKS. THIS IS A MAJOR CATASTROPHY JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK

ONGONING PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM VAPOR LEAKAGE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. VEHICLE HAVE BEEN INSPECTED / REPAIRED, BUT VAPOR LEAKEGES STILL EXIST. NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

ENGINE STALLS AND ALMOST QUITS ENTIRELY DURING ACCELERATION. MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS 50 - 55 MPH. MAY BE IN CONJUCTION WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE LEFT (DURING LANE CHANGE ON THE FREEWAY.)

ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT AFTER STOP. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. TAKEN IN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO CAN NEVER REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. STALLING PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON AMONG PEOPLE WITH 4.0 SOHC ENGINE (BASED ON INTERNET DISCUSSION). TRUCK WAS BOUGHT/REGISTERED UNDER MY WIFE'S NAME: KATHLEEN.

THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS COMES OPEN WHEN MOING SPEEDS FROM2 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMAPNY, NOW FOR THE 4 TIME WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE SAME DOOR. A FRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2 FORD EXPLORES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-70-15 )

VEHICLE IS NOT CONSITENT SWITCHING IN/OUT OF OVERDRIVE/4 WD -STICKS-FORD DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM.

WHEN ACCELERATING TO TURN LEFT WITH MY S.O.H.C V6 EXPLORER, THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES CUT OUT AND ALMOST STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH CARS BEARING DOWN ON ME. IT GOES FOR 2 SECONDS AND THEN CUTS OUT FOR 2 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HEAT OUTSIDE, BUT IT HAPPENED THIS JANUARY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TURNING LEFT UNDER QUICK ACCELERATION. HAS HAPPENED WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS TO NEARLY FULL. I DID A SEARCH IN DEJANEWS AND FOUND APPROX. 20 OTHER SIMILAR CASES. IT IS VERY SCARRY TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE ALMOST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS COMING AT YOU. IT HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SUMMER OF 97, 3 TIMES IN THE SUMMER OF 98 AND ONCE IN JANUARY 99.

GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK, WILL NOT GO DOWN , CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP STEPPING ON PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY PEDAL WILL GO DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT TRACKS AND ANCHORS. WHEN THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BACK SEAT TILTED UP AND THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED INTO THE AIR. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER JAMMED HER HEAD AGAINST THE CEILING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ON 2-DOOR MODEL. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

EARLY IN 1998 CONSUMER SAW OIL IN DRIVEWAY, SHE TOOK VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE IN FEBRUARY. A WEEK LATER THE OIL SPOT WAS BIGGER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER IN JUNE 98, AND THEY SAW NO LEAK. THE OIL LEAKS GOT BIGGER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS THREE TIMES. BANNER FORD--1665 SCOTT BLVD. DECATUR, GA---404-633-4005. VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING OIL TODAY. *AK