1997 Ford Explorer complaints

INVALID DESIGN OF PLENUM DOOR LEADS TO PART FAILURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE SETTING. CONDITION CAUSES INABILITY TO CONTROL INSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AND POSSIBLY FAILURE OF DEFROST/DEFOGGING SYSTEM (SAFETY ISSUE). COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE ($500 TO $1000) DUE TO THE NEED TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE AIR CHANNEL (BECAUSE PLENUM DOOR ITSELF CANNOT BE PURCHASED/INSTALLED ALONE). *NLM

SAFETY COMPLAINT INVOLVING A STUCK ACCELERATOR ON A 97 FORD EXPLORER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A COUNTY ROAD, WHILE TRAVELING A 50 MPH, WHEN A ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AS IT APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO APPLY BRAKES FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOP IT BY SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE. SEARCHING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, I REACHED FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH WAS LOOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY DANGLED IN MY HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTH COUNTY FORD, VISTA CA., WHERE IT WAS REVEALED THAT"BROKEN ACCELERATOR BRACKET WELDS" WERE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS THEN REPAIRED AT A COST OF $132.89. ON MONDAY MAY 12 AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY MAY 13, I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER SERVICE (800) 392-3673, TO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND TO REQUEST A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE "INCIDENT" WOULD BE REPORTED TO THEIR ENGINEERING DIVISION, BUT SINCE THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS ON CASES SUCH AS THIS, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. I CERTAINLY TAKE EXCEPTIONAL TO THEIR FINDING AND EXPRESSED MY DISAGREEMENT. THEREFORE, I REQUEST YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THIS INCIDENT AS I FEEL THERE IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO HELP DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT I AM DUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT. *JB

MY EXPLORER ONLY PRODUCES WARM AIR FOR HEAT AND DEFOGGING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS TOO HOT TO WANT OR NEED WARM AIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS IT IS THE BLEND DOOR & ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED. I SAY IT DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE, THEY DISAGREE. NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DEFOGG A WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NLM

FORD EXPLORER HEATER PLENUM/ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING THIS PAST WINTER. CLIMATE CONTROL IS STUCK ON COLD AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER. DURING A ROAD TRIP TO A NEARBY CITY EARLY THIS SPRING I WAS BARLEY ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE ICE AND FOG ON MY WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT BY FORD AND DEALERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IN CONTACTING SEVERAL SEATTLE-AREA DEALERS, ALL REFUSED TO FIX AS A SAFETY PROBLEM, SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS ABSURD FOR A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED WITH FAULTY DESIGN AND PARTS THAT CAUSES SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IN MANY OLDER EXPLORERS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BECAUSE SHE MOVED BUT THE MAIL WAS LATER ROUTED TO HER. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. *NLM

1997 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM HAS BROKEN, PREVENTING THE SYSTEM FROM REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE.

FRONT TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT. *JB

IDLE NOT RETURNING AFTER CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. CRUISE CONTROL KEPT ACCELERATING. MY THREE CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR, WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL, AT THAT POINT THE BRAKES WORKED. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN TRYING TO START CAR AGAIN, ENGINE REVVED TO THE POINT WHERE IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 4/1/03 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ON 4/14/03 CONSUMER ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE IGNITION. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, HEARD A THUMP, AND NOTICED THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED. *NLM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED. *JB

MY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE BLEND DOOR INSIDE THE PLENUM CHAMBER IS BROKEN AND NO LONGER MOVES (ON FULL HEAT). THE NEW PLENUM CHAMBER NOW CONTAINS A NYLON DOOR IN STEAD OF PLASTIC. THIS LOOKS LIKE FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD STYLE DOORS BUT WILL NOT GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE ON REPAIRS. THE COST OF REPAIR IS STEEP! I WAS QUOTED $108.00 FOR THE PLENUM CHAMBER AND $598.00 TO INSTALL IT. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THE PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO ME, IN FACT THE DEALER I PHONED HAD JUST SOLD A REPLACEMENT PLENUM THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WAS WAITING FOR ONE TO ARRIVE TO FILL THERE STOCK. WHEN A DEALER STOCKS A PART THERE USUALLY IS A LARGE DEMAND FOR IT! *NLM

THE VENTS WHICH RELEASED COLD AND HOT AIR INTO THE VEHICLE WAS BROKE, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#98V06000- FUEL SYSTEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

CONSUMER INDICATED THE GAS TANK CAP WAS NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *JB

TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR IS MADE OF WEAK MATERIAL AND IS PRONED TO SHATTER INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM HEAT ASSEMBLY. *TT *NLM

CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN TURNING DIALS ON HEATER UNIT FROM HOT OR COLD THE UNIT ONLY BLEW HOT AIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB *TT

THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

THE SWAY BAR BROKE, WHICH CAUSED A NOISE.*JB

HEAD GASKET - LEAKING ANTI FREEZE

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT BACK TO AUTO, ITS STUCK ON AUTO LOW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

SEAT RECLINER LEVERS BREAK OFF. BACK SEAT PASSENGER(S) MUST CLIMB OVER SEAT TO ENTER OR EXIT. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY EXITING VEHICLE. THE CHEAP METAL PART THAT FRACTURED IS ATTACHED TO A $70.00 PART THAT WITH LABOR WOULD BE $240.00 FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSEENGER REPAIR. THIS IS MORE THAN INCONVENIENCE.

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAR DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT, HAD PANEL REPLACED STILL NO HEAT. TS

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED DOWN STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. ENGINE MADE A "THUNK" NOISE AND WENT INTO A "NO START" CONDITION. MY '97 EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SNAPPED CRANKSHAFT. AT 103K MILES THE DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS ANY SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND EMPHATICALLY STATED THAT THEY'D NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED CUSTOMER REQUEST THAT THEY REVIEW NHTSA WEBISTE FOR HISTORY OF PRIOR REPORTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO LAST 100K MILES BUT THAT MIGHT BE EXTENDED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THIS CUSTOMER ASKED IF ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 100K MILES WAS AN EXPECTED EVENT AND THE DEALER REPEATED THAT IT COULD BE. FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP. THE ZONE MANAGER WOULD NOT MEET TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER PAID $4,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER KEPT THE BROKEN SHAFT WHICH SHOWS MULTIPLE INTERNAL SURFACE TEXTURES. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT A RESPONSE ON THIS SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING ISSUE FROM FORD. OTHER WEBSITES REPORT FORD EMPLOYEES AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, LOOSELY REFERRED TO AS A "STACKING OF TOLERENCES" WHEREBY THE TOLERENCES EXERT PRESSURE ON THE CRANKSHAFT JUST BEHIND THE KEY WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE DAMPNER. THIS IS REPORTEDLY NOT A CONDITION THAT THE OWNER CAN PREVENT, DIAGNOSE OR OTHERWISE BE AWARE OF UNTIL THE CRANKSHAFT BREAKS. FORD REPORTEDLY CANNOT MAKE A PRIOR DETERMINATION EITHER, SEEMINGLY LEAVING IT T

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BACK TIRES TO LOCK UP AND SKID. CONSUMER HAD A COLLISION AS A RESULT.*JB

BROKEN CRANKSHAFT ON A 97 FORD EXPLORER.CRANK BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH. ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE QUIT.FORD DEALER CONFIRMED CRANK WAS BROKEN AND NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $4400.00.

ENGINE IDLE SURGES WITHOUT WARNING AT STOP SIGNS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED FIVE ACCIDENTS. IT SURGES BEWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BLOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED HAS HAD TO REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. SWITCH CONTROLS FUNCTIONS OF HEAD LIGHTS, WIPERS, HIGH/LOW BEAMS, ETC. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN THAT FILLED UP THE ENTIRE CABIN. HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID A COLLISION.

NHTSA#00-V-402-000 SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISKS OF A CRASH. CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH, THE SWAY BAR LINK BOLTS WERE BROKEN, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED, IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL, DUE TO THE VEHICLE YEAR. THE LINK BOLTS ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDES WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE BOLTS WERE IN BAD SHAPE. SCC

THE LEND DOOR IS BROKEN...FORD KNOWS THAT THEY PUT FAULTY BLEND DOORS IN AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM! HOW DO I DEFROST MY WINSHIELD WITH A/C???? IS A FROSTED WINSHIELD NOT A HAZARD???? THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY!

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDEL STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. PH

WITH HEATER FAILURE FROST BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. DT

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK WHEN APPLIED TO PASS ON AN INCLINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS DEALERSHIP REMOVED THROTTLE CABLE AND FOUND FRAYED FRAGMENTS INSIDE CABLE COVERING. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS CONDITION HOWEVER, VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH HOOD LATCH. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. *TT

THE A/C AND HEAT WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE BLEND AIR DOOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FORD FOUND THAT THEY INSTALLED THE WRONG BLEND AIR DOOR ACUATOR DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TS SCC

FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX VIA RECALL. THIS FAILURE COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS DURING WINTER CONDITIONS. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS AND HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE WAY THIS DOOR IS CONSTRUCTED. DT

VEHICLE SEEMS TO GO THROUGH HEADLIGHT AND FOG LAMP BULBS RATHER QUICKLY. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMPS ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP A SECOND TIME. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FOG LAMPS TWICE. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS OUT AGAIN. DT

DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR IS GOING OUT. THE MOTOR SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN, AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN OPERATING. DT

ENGINE IS A 1997 4.0L SOHC. THERE IS A VERY NOTICIBLE MISS IN THE TIMING AT IDLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL, IT BUCKS AND SHUDDERS THE WHOLE TRUCK, BUT THE IDLE SPEED NEVER VARIES MORE THAN 100 RPM. HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 1991 EXPLORER 4.0L. DEALER RAN ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE ENGINES. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CONSUMER STATES "THERE WAS A SUDDEN BIG BANG AND THEN SOUND LIKE A MACHINE GUN". CONSUMER TRIED TO KEEP DRIVING, WHEN A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE REAR. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER STATES TRANSFER CASE HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HER SON 11 YEARS OLD GOT THE REAR SEAT BELT TANGLE AROUND HIS NECK AND BODY AND STARTING TO TIGHT AROUND HIS NECK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEEN IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS PRESENT TIME. MR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO UNHOOK WITH JUST A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF FORCE. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE BELT WOULD COME LOOSE ON OCCASION, I THOUGHT THIS WAS DO TO MY FAILURE TO PROPERLY HOOK THE BELT INTO THE BUCKLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A GRADUAL FAILURE OF A CRITICAL SAFETY ITEM, THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME WOULD HAVE FAILED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER IN A CRASH AS IT WOULD HAVE FAILED TO HOLD THE SEATBELT. THE DANGER OF THIS IS THAT AFTER IT FAILS, IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT, WHICH COULD PUT THE DRIVER AT DANGER AS THEY WON'T KNOW THE SEATBELT WON'T STAY CONNECTED IN A CRASH. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART IN MY POSSESSION, I WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU IF YOU REQUEST ME TO. DT

FORD WAS WILLING AND ACTUALLY PAID THE REPAIR BILL OF $800+ DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. 25,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM ARISES. I'VE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY. DT

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. MR

THE CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING, THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*SCC

LOSS OF DRIVE ACCOMPANIED BY A RATCHETING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE DURING COAST OR DECELERATION OR WHEN IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEACHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE NET I HAVE FOUND MANY WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THE TRANSFER CASE MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3000.00. THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF GEARS MAGIZINE HAS AN ARTICLE ON PAGE 64 THAT ADDRESS THE CAUSE AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. AND STATES THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. HOWEVER THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT IT IS CHEAPER AND MORE EFFICIENT TO BUY A NEW UNIT. YOU WOULD THINK THAT A PROBLEM LIKE THIS SHOULD AT LEASED BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. DT

DOOR COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE HEATER AND THE AIR CONDITIONER, MADE OF PLASTIC IS BROKE, CAUSING NOT TO HAVE A HEATER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#0V422000 THROTTLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR.