1997 Ford Explorer complaints

FIRST EVIDENCE OF NOISE REPORTED TO DEALER ON 7/22/98. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. NOISE BECAME UNBEARABLE AND ENGINE BEGAN LOSSING POWER. TOOK IT TO DEALER ON1/2/01 AND FOUND OUT THE FRONT CAM TENSIONER DISINTEGRATED CAUSING SEVERE METALIC NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BANKSTON FORD SUPPOSIDLY DID THE WELL KNOWN RECALL. MY PAPERWORK SHOWS THEY REPLACED THE TENSIONER CASSETTE AND CHANGED THE OIL. I OBTAINED THEIR OWN PROCEEDURES FOR THIS ISSUE BECAUSE MANY ENGINES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO THE PIECES OF THE BROKEN TENSIONER CLOGGING OIL PASSAGES AND DESTROYING THE ENGINES. THE INSTRUCTIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED INCLUDED INSPECTING THE HEADS FOR CLOGGED PASSAGES AND OTHER THINGS. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE THEN, BUT THEY MADE ME TAKE IT. AS SOON AS I LEFT DEALER, THE NOISE WAS BACK. CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID TO GIVE IT A WEEK AND SEE IF IT GOES AWAY. IT GOT WORSE AND I BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR TENSIONER (THE ONE NOT COVERERED BY THEIR RECALL SINCE IT REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENGINE. SAME PART- SAME DEFECT, BUT NOT COVERED DUE TO COST). SINCE FORD WAS LOSING TOO MUCH MONEY ON THEIR DEFECT REPLACING ENGINES, THEY STOPPED HELPING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE DEALER OFFERED A $500 AND 75,000 MILE WARRANTEE DEALER CONCESSION, BUT I EXPECTED IT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THE DEFECTIVE PART RUINED THE ENGINE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED, OR AT LEAST REPAIRED PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN AT A STAND-STILL FOR ALMO

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRACKET FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. GAS CABLE WAS PULLED TO IDLE CAR OFF ROAD. THE PEDAL WAS BOLTED BACK ON BY AUTO BODY SHOP BUT IS NOT GUARANTEED TO HOLD. *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN I LIFTED OFF OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC, THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO STICK AND REV THE ENGINE AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SPEED OF THE ENGINE IT TOOK LONGER TO SLOW DOWN, AND I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME AND AT LEAST ONCE WITH MY WIFE OVER A 3 YEAR PERIOD. THE OCT 15TH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE FAILED COMPLETELY. *BF THERE WAS NO WARNING. *SC *JB

SPARE TIRE IS STORED UNDERNEATH REAR OF CAR SECURED BY A WINCH AND CABLE WHICH RUSTED AND BROKE, DROPPING SPARE TIRE TO GROUND, CREATING A HIGH SPEED HAZARD FOR TRAFFIC FOLLOWING ME.*AK

IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE WHEN ON THE FREEWAY. THE FRONT END HAS BEEN DONE AND THE TIRES REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES, CUTS, AND WHIP LASH. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AWAITING A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND ALMOST ROLLED OVER WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL OFF THE GROUND.*AK

MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND BY READING MANY MESSAGE BOARDS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD HAS RECALLED THIS ITEM ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT ALL. I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD WOULD ACTUALLY USE A PLASTIC INTAKE ON ANYTHING. I BELIEVE IT IS A BREAK DOWN IN JUDGEMENT AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY1997 FORD EXPLORER FOR TWO YEARS, THE SAME PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. IT BECOMES SULIGISH ON THE ON SET, THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. 12 TIMES NOW I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, 3 TIMES I HAVE DONE FUEL ENJECTION CLEANS, 2 TIMES I HAVE CHANGED THE O2 SENSOR. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS THAT SPEAK OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

THE VEHICLE STABILIZER BOLT SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE VEHICLE ROLLS. A RECALL(00V-402000) WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *LA *SC

SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS ENGAGED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO FLIP OVER. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEN TWO SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT THE RESPONDED WITH A LETTER WHICH SAID " SORRY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AT THIS TIME." *NM

1997 EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC PURCHASED IN 1999.MADE KNOCKING NOISE WENT TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD MY MOTOR WAS PULLED AND TENSIONER (PULLEY, CAM TENSIONER) WAS REPLACED.AFTER RECIEVING NOTIFICATION FROM FORD OF "IN WARRANTY" SERVICE BULLETIN,DIFFERENT DEALER SAID IT HADNT BEEN REPLACE OR DOCUMENTED BY PREVIOUS SERVICE.SO,IT WAS SUPPOSEDLEY REPLACED AGAIN (2 TIME).STILL MAKING THE NOISE AFTER SO LONG, AND TOLD SEVERAL TIMES "WE CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG" KEPT DRIVING.NOW, I AM IN DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT 10TH TIME AND MY TESNIONERS,POSSIBLY MY TIMING CHAIN,AND POSSIBLE OTHER COMPONENTS (HOPEFULLY NOT MOTOR)NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN(3TIME,MORE DAMAGE)??!!THIS TIME THERES NO WARRANTY OR REASON WHY I SHOULDENT "HAVE TO PAY" SO IT IS COSTING ME $1600 SO FAR...POSSIBLY MORE IF THERE WAS MORE DAMAGE.THIS MUST BE DOCUMENTED BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED IN GOOD FAITH AND NUMEROUS,TIRING EFFORTS TO REPAIR THIS FROM DAY ONE!DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MOTOR IN NEAR FUTURE LIKE OTHERS.*AK

I HAD PURCHASED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM MK AUTO IN AUBURN, CA AND THE CAR FAX I RECIEVED SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS AND NO ACCIDENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER FROM MK AUTO ASSURED ME MANY TIMES THAT THE FEHICLE WAS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. THE DAY AFTER I BAUGHT THE VEHICLE IT BROKE DOWN IN ME. MK AUTO TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES IN HOPES THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT NEVER DID. 10 MONTHS LATER THE CAM CHAIN GUID BROKE IN THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND AND I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE HAD BEEN 13 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE I NEVER KNEW ABOUT. THIS CAR IN VERY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND I AM OUTRAGED I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED! I HAVE NOW TRIED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR, BUT THE FORD EXPLORER IS WORHT SO LITTLE AND NOW I HAVE SO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUATY ITS HARD.......I FINALLY FOUND A CAR, BUT AM PAYING DEARLY FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE EXPLORER WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR LOT OF A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH!*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A GULLY FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEAREED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO LOCK. THE LATCH PLATE DID NOT LOCK IN THE BUCKLE. THIS RENDERED THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SWAY BAR SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

HEATER BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT CHANGE POSITIONS. IT IS STUCK IN THE POSITION ONLY GIVING ME AIR CONDITIONING FULL TIME. NO MATTER WHERE THE DIAL ON THE DASH IS TURNED THE HEAT REFUSES TO ACTIVATE. THROUGH A QUICK SERIES OF ODD WEATHER OCCURRENCES I FOUND MY WINDSHIELD COVERED IN A LAYER OF ICE THAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED SINCE THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ON THE DEFROSTER. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION. I HAVE NO OPTION NOW BUT TO HAVE THE HEATER PLENUM REPLACED AT A COST $1010. *NM

WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. WAS ABLE TO ROLL OVER TO SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO REACH UNDER THE DASH AND PULLED ON THE PEDAL TO DRIVE. APPARENTLY THE WELDS (3) FAILED (TORE OUT). I REPAIRED IT BY DRILLING OUT HOLES AND SCREWING THE BRACKET BACK TO THE FIREWALL. *AK

1997 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF FROM FIREWALL. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HAD TO REACH UNDER DASH TO GRASP THROTTLE LINKAGE TO GET OFF ROAD. (THANKFUL MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING AT THE TIME). *AK

WHILE HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *LA

ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING IN THE SNOW, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING AND HITTING A GUARD RAIL, A MAIL BOX AND ROCKS. *AK WHEN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. *JB

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. REAR WINDOW WOULD BE ROLLED DOWN SO THAT DRIVER CAN ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK

FORD EXPLORER 1997 XLT 4 DOOR 4.0L Y AIR BLEND DOOR IS NO LONGER WORKING SUCH THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IS PERMANENTLY ON HOT AND WITH A 9 MONTH BABY THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT WE CANNOT COOL THE CAR TO THE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE DURING SUMMER. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS FIXED IN LATER MODELS WITH REVISED SYSTEM PART #F87Z-18471-DA. *AK

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT OFF AT 45 MPH. HAD TOWED AND WAS TOLD CRANKSHAFT BROKE. FORD KNOWS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAS ACTUALLY REPLACED SOME BUT AS MORE ARE BREAKING, REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. HAD THIS HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND WHILE TRAVELING RT. 95 THIS COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1997/1998 FORD EXPLORER CRANKSHAFT PROBLEMS. *JB

FORD DID NOT APPLY NHTSA RECALL 98V060 PROPERLY TO MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER VIN [XXX]. THE DO NOT GROUND WARNING WAS APPLIED TO THE INCORRECT BRACKET. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE, I USED THE FUEL LINE BRACKET SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING LABEL. THE BRAIDED FUEL LINE COVERS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE OF FUEL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. FORD CLAIMS THE RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH SHOW IT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO THE 300, 000+ VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS RECALL DONE. SUMMARY 1.THE WARNING LABEL WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CORRECT BRACKET WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER THE RECALL 2.THERE IS NO LABEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INDICATING THAT THE REVISED ALTERNATOR BOLT IS A JUMP START GROUND LOCATION 3.FORDS POSITION IS THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE PROPERLY. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THEY WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. 4.THIS SITUATION POSES AN IMMINENT DANGER TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND BYSTANDERS. 5.THERE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. 6.FORD SHOULD PROVIDE A LABEL INDICATING THAT THE ALTERNATOR BOLT IS A GROUND LOCATION AND THEY SHOULD CHECK VEHICLES THAT WERE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL TO ENSURE THAT THE LABELS WERE PROPERLY APPLIED. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *PH *MR

MY HEATER "SPLITTER DOOR" FAILED TO RELEASE HEAT ABOUT 4 MO. AGO AND IS STILL BRIKEN. I HAVEN'T HAD THE 700.OO TO FIX IT. *AK

BLEND DOOR FAILURE ON AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE. REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $700. THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL BUT IS NOT. *JB

EGR VALVE FAILED AT COST OF OVER $250. THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND IS COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I REQUESTED WARRANTY STATUS FOR THIS PART FROM FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER IN LETTER OF 7/17/03 WITH 76,172 MILES ON VEHICLE. INITIAL "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" FOR THIS FAILURE WAS AT ABOUT 66,000 ON 8/30/02. FORD DID NOT ANSWER MY INQUIRY, INSTEAD REFERRING ME TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS IN INDIA, AGAINST MY WISHES. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO RECLINE/ADJUST THE SEAT. THE SEAT RECLINING HANDLE SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE HEAT ACTUATOR "BROKE" AND ELIMINATED ANY HEAT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *AK

PATHFINDER LUXURY SUV P235/75R15 105S TIRES PURCHASED IN 6/03. THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED IN 8/03 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. THE SECOND WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE DURING TIRE ROTATION IN 12/03. THE THIRD FAILED ON 3/12/04 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD. OUTER SIDEWALL WAS COMPLETELY SPLIT BELOW THE TIRE SHOULDER. *AK

IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED IN 1998 AND I TOOK IT TO LES PINKAM LINCOLN MERCURY IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY FOR REPAIR. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE BLEND AIR DOOR HAD BROKEN AND IT WOULD COSTS $800 TO REPAIR IT. THINKING HE WAS LYING, I TOOK IT TO BILL COLLINS FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KY. AGAIN, THE SAME RESULTS AND REPAIR ESTIMATE. TECHNICIANS AT BOTH PLACES, TOLD ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY HAD LES PINKAM REPAIR IT. IT SEEMS THAT FORD WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DASH TO REPAIR IT, MUCH CONTINUE WITH A DESIGN WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS. YEARS LATER AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. IN ADDITION I CAME ACROSS TSB ARTICLE NUMBER 98-23-20 IN MY SEARCHES, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE ARTICLE AT YOUR WEB-SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE AND FINALLY REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I COULDN'T SEE REPAIRING IT A THIRD TIME WHEN A FORD TECHNICIAN AND PRIVATE YARD COULDN'T FIX IT. BOTH TIMES WITHIN 13 MONTHS AFTER REPAIR, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY COMPLETELY FAIL AND TACH OUT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I COULD GET IT TO DO IT WITH A FORD TECHNICIAN AND HIS CODE SENSOR PLUGGED IN. THIS HAS COME CLOSE TO HAVING ME GET REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE 65, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS IN CRUISE CONTROL. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD C

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AT 55-60 MPH A TIRE FELL OFF. CONSUMER SAW THE TIRE ROLL DOWN THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT, CALLED AAA, AND HAD TIRE REPLACED. *AK

THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY HEATER...EVER TRY TO DEFROST A WINDOW WHEN IT IS MINUS 5 WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON..? THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS! *AK

VEHICLE HAD A TIRE BURST WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR AWHILE AND WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR A SEVERAL DAYS. SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL BILLS, EXTENDED THERAPY NOR FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A TIRE. *PH

LAST FALL WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A "BURNING RUBBER SMELL" COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. IT ONLY SEEMD TO MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 60 MPH. WHEN WE DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS AT THE POSTED RATE OF SPEED, WE FOUND THERE WAS NO SMELL WHATSOEVER. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC CHECK THINGS OUT AND LATER OUR LOCAL TIRES PLUS, IN BOTH INSTANCES NOTHING WAS FOUND. TODAY WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK IT OUT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. THIS WORRIES US, FOR RECENTLY ON THE LOCAL NEWS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CAR FIRES AND I JUST HAPPENED TO VIEW ONE OF THE VIDEOS THAT SHOWED ONE OF THE VEHICLES ON FIRE. IT WAS A FORD EXPLORER AND THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU FIND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. P.S. THE WHEEL IS FINE.*AK

THERE SEEMS TO BE A BURNING RUBBER SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. *JB

CONSUMER IS A VICTIM OF ODOMETER FRAUD, ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT'S UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH EXHAUST SYSTEM, BALL JOINT, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *CB

REPLACEMENT TIRES P23575R15 105S ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, THERE'S VIBRATION FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE.*AK THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES UNDER THE FIRESTONE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE BALANCED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND ONLY HAD THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GOODYEAR REPLACE THE FAULTY TIRE AT NO COST TO HIM. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT GRINDING NOISE AND PULSING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, DEALERSHIP ADDED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE PARTICULAR MODEL. *LA *MR

TYPE "E" MOTOR FAILURE AT ONLY 90,000 MILES RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT MOTOR. *AK

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS GONE BAD IN MY 97, 4WD, FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT HAS 93,000 MILES, IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 58,000 MILES. THIS IS DUE TO A MAUNFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR CONSIDERATION AS A NATIONAL RECALL OR COVERED BY FORD AS A OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN UNREPAIRED THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY FORD. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC 4WD SYSTEM SELECTS 4WD ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING SHARP TURNS CAUSING THE GEARS TO BIND, INTERMITTENTLY - ABOUT HALF THE TIME. HOWEVER THE SAME "AUTOMATIC" 4WD SELECTION DOES NOT RESULT IN 4WD WHEN WHEELS ARE SLIPPING. IN FACT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 4WD WHEN "AUTO" IS SELECTED SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY RANDOM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID "IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." I AM ABOUT TO REWIRE THE SYSTEM TO A MANUAL SELECTOR AS I AM NOW ON MY OWN WITH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. HOWEVER FORD HAS SEEN THE LAST OF MY MONEY. *CB