Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
WHEN BACKING UP, THE GAS PEDAL MAY STICK. YOU MUST TAP THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE IT. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE MAY LURTCH FORWARD AND IF YOU'RE ON AN INCLINE IT MAY ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE ENGAGING.
GAS PEDAL STICKS.
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. ALSO, THE REAR SEAT BOTTOMS DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION, CAUSING PASSENGERS FALL WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING VEHICLE. SEAT BOTTOM FLIPS FORWARD WHEN WEIGHT IS POSITIONED ON THE FRONT EDGE.
WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN THROUGH PUDDLES, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN BUT THE POWER STEERING CEASES TO OPERATE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES FAIL. THIS LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO MINUTES.
PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACT AND LOCKS RESTRAINING NORMAL PASSENGER MOVEMENT.
RACK AND PINION STEERING TOO SENSITIVE AND TOO TIGHT, CAUSING LACK OF STEERING CONTROL (WANDERS).
TRANSMISSION LEAKED ON THE CONVERTER CAUSING FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 25-3M MPH IN RAIN, AND AFTER ENGAGING 4-WHHEL DRIVE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ON ITS TOP.
DASH PANEL WILL GO OUT. HEADLIGHTS WILL STAY ON , BUT TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT. DEALER HAS TRIED 4 TIMES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK PROPERLY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, BUT THEN DEFECT WILL REOCCUR. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
RECALL 97V074000. THE DEALER HAS NO PARTS. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE AFTER STARTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. *AK
BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.
JACK HANDLE BREAK BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE BEND WHERE THE MOST PRESSURE IS WITH WHITE METAL.
CHILD GOT HAND STUCK IN SEAT WHILE PLAYING WITH THE CONTROL BUTTONS, THE CHILD SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 97V-074 000 AND THE DEALER HAD TRUCK FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THIS TRUCK. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ABOUT 30 MPH AND UPON MAKING A GRADUAL STOP THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REPLACED FUEL GAUGE SENDIN GUNIT/AIR BYPASS VALVE/ WATER PUMP/SEAT RELEASE/PASSENGER'S DOOR AND COMPUTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT, OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THEN OIL WAS LEAKING AGAIN AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED, DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE CONSUMER'S EXPLORERE WITH A 1998 MODEL. RACK AND STEERING WAS REPLACED, DUE TO LOST FLUID IN FRONT END. SEAT BRACKET FAILED. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE INCREASED ITS SPEED TO 85 MPH AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED, UNTIL AFTER HAVING TO PRESS BRAKES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT CURVE THE DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP IN THE AIR. HAD A ROLLOVER AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THE LEAF SPRING BROKE DUE TO THE OCCUPANT'S DRIVING. *AK
EMMISSION/EXHAUST CONTROL SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
REAR VIEW MIRRORS CREATE POOR VISIBILITY.
PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS GET TIGHT AND DOES NOT RELEASE TO THE POINT THAT THE PASSENGERS CAN'T MOVE. CONSUMER HAS ALMOST HAD TO CUT SEAT BELT TO RELEASE CHILDREN.
ELECTRICAL FIRE ORIGINATING BEHIND RADIO SECTION OF DASH.
SEAT BELT WHEN WORN CUTS ACROSS DRIVER'S NECK AND RUBS SIDEWAYS. *AK
GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION OR WARNING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE GOING UP A HILL OR AT A RIGHT SIDE TILT, VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. *AK
ENGINE STALLS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 70 MPH THE GAS PEDAL BROKE, CAUSING OWNER NOT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. DEALER NOTED THAT SHOULDER BOLT WHICH HOLDS GAS PEDAL IN PLACE BROKE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE SHOULDER BOLT DID BREAK THE SHOULDER BOLT IS THREADED, DUE TO THE PEDAL ACTION, SHOULDER BOLT WORKED LOOSE ALLOWING THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO FALL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER VEHICLE.*JB
CONSUMER WAS GOING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, MERGED INTO LANE WHEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED/NO MOTION, BUT ENGINE WAS STILL ON/RUNNING/AND IN GEAR. PUSHED PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, HEARD NOISE, NO RESPONSE. GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BY THE HEAD LIGHTS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS REASON DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER PUT AUTOMOBILE ON CRUISE CONTROL MODE AND IT TOOK OFF, CAUSING AUTOMOBILE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER STATES WHEN TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD NOT LET HER. HAD TO TURN AUTOMOBILE OFF AFTER RUNNING OFF ROAD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL STILL ACCLERATE. ONE TIME, THE ONLY TIME, THE VEHICLE WILL STOP IS SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE THROTTLE 97V-07 000. DEALER SAYS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK FORD REPLACED VEHCLE. *SLC
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE THROTTLE STICKING AND THE ENGINE SURGING AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT).
BRAKE LOST 3 TIMES WHERE THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. THE BRAKES SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT TOOK A LONG TIME TO STOP. FELT LIKE A LOSS OF POWER IN THE BRAKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH OWNER WAS IN DIRECT FRONTAL CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERS. *AK
DRIVING 68MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY. SLOWED DOWN FOR 1ST EXIT & VIBRATIONS DECREASED; BUT STARTED UP AGAIN. TOOK TO MECHANIC AT GAS STATION TO CHECK OUT & INFORMED WAS DRIVESHAFT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. *AK *JB
RECALL # 97V074000, DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THE COST. DEALER STATED THAT RECALL NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. *AK
EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, NOT ALLOWING CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID AN AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF HIM , RAN UP ON THE CURB AND HIT REAR END OF AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF HIM. *AK
APPIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED. THE BRAKE PEDALAND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW CAN ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTEAD THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK
THE BUMPER HOLE IS TOO LARGE TO ACCOMMODATE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION ON SHANK DIAMETER. *AK
DRIVING 35 MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD, TURNING CORNER WHEN VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WEARING SEAT BELT. VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED BACK ONTO 4 WHEELS. VEHICLE TOWED TO RENTAL AGENCY DUE TO BEING TOTALED. DRIVER HAS BROKEN RIBS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS DRIVER SLAMS ON THE PEDAL VERY HARD. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
SEAT BELTS: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ,VEHICLE AHEAD OF US SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP I HIT BRAKES AND MY NEPHEW CAME FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. THERE IS NO CLIP TO LOCK THE BELT INTO.
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. (ATTORNEY OF CLIENT)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL KEEPS STICKING AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO STOP IT. WHEN ITS IN PARK THE ENGINE KEEPS REVVING. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →