1997 Ford Explorer complaints

CONSUMER CANNOT PUT A CAR SEAT IN THE MEDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A MIDDLE SEAT BELT. *MJS

THE TREAD PORTION OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, CONSUMER HEARD SOMETHING POPPING. THEN NOTICED A GAS SMELL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS LATER OTHER MOTORIST WAS SIGNALING FOR CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. PULLED OVER AND FOUND ENGINE ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY DO NOT DO FIRE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AKTHE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER FIRE RELATED FAILURE. *NLM

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE OR LEAVING VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START, AND THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. (FUEL LINES/FITTINGS).

THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON AND OFF, AND FROM TIME TO TIME DRIVER FEELS A SMALL VIBRATION. *AK

ENGINE TURNS AND VEHICLE MOVES ON SLIGHT INCLINE WITH ENGINE OFF AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FIRST GEAR. RESULTING IN CRASH.

ON A LOCAL STREET GOING 25 MPH APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR THEN SOMETHING CLICED AND JETISONED WITH SPEED. VEHICLE ENDED UP BETWEEN 2 TREES AND OVERTURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. *AK

AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED.

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98-S-09 AND NHTSA RECALL 98V-60, FUEL LINE, WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME . *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V06000), ALTERNATOR. TOOK VEHICLE IN AS REQUESTED. MECHANIC TIGHTENED BOLTS. DOES NOT HAVE THE NEW, REVISED BOLTS. WOULD NEED TO ORDER THE REVISED BOLTS FOR VEHICLE. *AK

SPARE TIRE SIZE IS INSUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLE.

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPUTER FAILED.

BRAKES FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION RUNNING, THE GEAR POPPED OUT OF PARK AND TOOK OFF IN DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE TRUCK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TRUCK HIT A MAIL BOX, AND THE HOOD AND FENDER WERE DENTED. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY.

BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE AFTER GAS PEDAL STUCK. VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. *AK

FORD WAS NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM (ENGINE CUT OUT AND OR STALLED UPON MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION, ON MOST OCCASIONS FROM A STOP) WITH VEHICLE AFTER 5-6 REPAIR ATTEMPTS ON PARTS LISTED ABOVE. VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BY FORD WITH A 1998 EXPLORER THAT TURNS OUT TO BE EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 1997 EXPLORER DID.

REAR SEAT FAILS TO STAY IN A DOWNRIGHT POSITION. KEEPS FLIPPING UP FOR NO REASON. DOES NOT STAY LOCKED IN PLACE. CHILD SAFETY SEAT CAN NOT BE PLACED ON THAT REAR SEAT. *AK

VELOCITY CENSORS IN BRAKES FAILED.

STARTED APPLYING BRAKES AFTER GOING 30MPH. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. REARENDED SEVERAL VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. PRIOR TO IMPACT, CV JOINT MADE KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE FOR KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

BACK SEATS DO NOT HAVE A LOCK DOWN MECHANISM TO SECURE THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FOLDING SEATS, RESULTING IN INCIDENTS WHERE CHILDREN HAVE WERE INJURED DUE TO SEATS FLIPPING UP UNEXPECTEDLY.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A CRACKING NOISE, DRIVESHAFT FAILED, AND THEN BECAME UNABLE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS FIXED IT. *AK

HEAD LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT WIRE EXPOSED AND LOOSE IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW AND ICE BUILDUP OF ICE OCCURS ON THE WIRES, THEN THE WIRES BREAK, CAUSING SUDDEN OUTAGE, WIRE NEED TO BE REROUTED.

THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING AND DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEM WITH GETTING PART FROM DEALER BACAUSE OF BACK ORDERS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH AFTER LEAVING FROM A GAS STATION, SMELLED SOMTHING BURNING. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. WHEN PARKED VEHICLE ON THE BANK PARKING AFTER COMING FROM INSIDE, FOUND HER VEHICLE ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS VERY SENSITIVE STEERING WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH OR MORE.

REAR SEATS NOT DESIGNED TO LOCK DOWN.

DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED TOO HIGH ON ALL FORD TRUCKS CAUSING BLINDNESS PROBLEMS FOR OTHER DRIVERS.

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH.

AS BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SLOWED AND THEN PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

HISSING/WHISTLING NOISE UNDER VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO 4- WHEEL DRIVE. CANNOT DRIVE ON DRY PAYMENT WHEN IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE. VHEICLE IS HEAVY GOING FOR STEERING. DEALER RESET COMPUTER & COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS AND CAUSES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO A DIRTY THROTTLE ASSEMBLY.

PCM SENSOR FAILED.

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DOOR CONTROL PANEL CONTINUALLY.

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT IDLE IN DRIVE OR PARK AT 625 RPMS. DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM PER FORD, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REMAINS.

DESIGN OF HEADLIGHTS CAUSING IRRITATION AND POOR VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVER'S, REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT DOWN.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.

A WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTIN GIN A COLLISION/ FATALITY AND SIX INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, DID NOT MOVE, CAUSING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WHEN VEHICLE IS GOING DOWNHILL. IT ACCELERATES.

AIR DEFLECTOR INSTALLED OVER BACK WINDOW IS DAMAGING HINGES ON WINDOW.

BOLT HOLDING STEERING COLUMN TOGETHER FELL OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE WHEELS.

BRAKES: BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKY NOISE, PADS AND ROTORS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED WITHIN A YEARS TIME. *AK

WHEN CHANGING GEAR INTO REVERSE DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION WILL CAUSE A TEN SECONDS DELAY, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR. DEALER HAS REBUILT TRANSMISSION, NOW SAYING THIS IS NORMAL WITH VEHICLE. *AK

COMPLETE BLOWOUT OF LEFT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN HE BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES, THE THROTTLE WILL GO UP AND THE BRAKES WILL GO FLAT, CONSUMER WAS THEN SITTING WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES DOING 2000 RPM'S, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN HE MOVES HIS FOOT THE THROTTLE GOES DOWN. CONSUMER HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS, HE HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SIX RECORDED TIMES, AND MANY TIMES UNRECORDED. DEALERSHIP--NEILL SANDLER--FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY--OF 3699 AIRPORT HIGHWAY, ALCOA, TN.--423-970-2500. *AK