1997 Ford Explorer complaints

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HAD COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES. NLM

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING WHEN I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I COULD SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN SOMEWHAT BY AGGRESSIVELY APPLYING THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD JUST GET ME SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE UNTIL I WOULD RELEASE THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SPEED UP AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A FAIRLY BUSY STRETCH OF INTERSTATE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I LUCKILY DID NOT HAVE A NEED TO STOP QUICKLY WHILE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. I TRIED HITTING THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP STICKING IN THE "WIDE OPEN" POSITION. I EVEN TRIED MANIPULATING THE CRUISE CONTROL (WHICH WAS OFF). AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, I STARTED TRYING TO THINK OF A QUICK GAME PLAN TO GET OUT OF THIS POTENTIAL DISASTER. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AND THAT I DID NOT HAVE OTHERS IN THE CAR DURING THIS NIGHTMARE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FIND A SHOULDER WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. AS I SAID, THE ROAD WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITH A SEMI-TRUCK NOT FAR BEHIND ME. I PULLED TOWARD THE SHOULDER AND PUT THE CAR INTO "NEUTRAL". THE RPM'S, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING EXTREMELY HIGH FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, MOVED EVEN HIGHER AT THIS POINT. THE RPM'S WERE PEGGED TO THE TOP OF THE GAUGE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. AS SOON AS I FELT I WAS OFF OF THE ROADWAY ENOUGH, I TURNED THE KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A HORRIBLE BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM

I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS FAILURE--DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHEN DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MR

THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR CAUSES UNCONTROLLED WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND ICING. VISIBILITY IS OFTEN REDUCED TO ZERO. MR

TIRES WERE CUPPING AT 29,000 MILES IN SEPT. 01. DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED AND VEHICLE ALIGNED. CUPPING HAS RETURNED 12 MO AND 8,000 MILES LATER. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY A NON-REFUNDABLE "DIAGNOSTIC" CHARGE. TS

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILED TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE BLEND DOOR TO BE BROKEN LEAVING ME WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINSHIELD OR REGULATE HEAT /COOL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I LIVE IN A CLIMATE THAT HAS SNOW /ICE AND COLD AS WELL AS HOT TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES A NEARLY $1000.00 FIX TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FORD DESIGN ISSUE AND A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. NLM

TRANFER CASE WILL LOCK UP FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. SEE SERVICE BULLENTIN 99-14-2. *AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES, AND NO ONE COULD FIND OUT WHY THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE IN DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO GOODYEAR, SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND SET OF BRAKE PADS AND SHOES PUT ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK

WHEN STARTING CAR A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH HEARD GRINDING NOISE, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10MPH HEARD GRINDING NOISE, SAID IT SOUNDES IS IF IT WASCOMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN STARTING THE CAR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD.*AK

HEATER RUNS AT FULL HEAT NO MATER WHAT TEMPERATURE SELECTED. *AK

THIS HEATER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE ONLY HOT AIR WILL EXIT THE VENTS, WHICH LEADS TO A FOGGY WINDSHIELD. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD HAS A TSB FOR IT, 99-8-8 AND 97-24-25.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DEFOGGER/DEFROSTER WILL NOT OPERATE AS BLEND DOOR IS STUCK ON AIR CONDITIONER. *AK

ABS WOULD ENGAGE DURING NORMAL BRAKING AND ON DRY PAVEMENT. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT TO WOULD BE HARD TO KEEP CHILD SEAT LOCKED IN PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING VEHICLE STARTS SMOKING UNDER HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM ENGINE. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN. FORD TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS PART. IT WAS A FAILED TIMING CHAIN GUIDE. THEY ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING IT FOR FORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. ENTIRE ENGINE MAY NEED REPLACED.*AK

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE JUMPED STARTED FUEL LINE BEGAN TO LEAK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

THE KEYLESS NUMBER PAD ON VEHICLE QUIT WORKING, THEN THE REMOTE FOR ANTI THEFT SYSTEM QUIT WORKING AND FINALLY THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS QUIT WORKING

TIMING CHAIN WAS MAKING A RATTLE NOISE AND WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A SAFETY RECALL .*AK

WHILE ON VACATION FROM CALIFORNIA GOING TO MONTANA I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 7% GRADE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, OUR TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SPIN AND WE LOST ALL FOWARD/BACKWARD PROPULSION. UPON CONTACTING THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, THEY STATED THE O-RINGS ON OUR NEW TRANSMISSION FILTER WERE BROKEN. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THEM AND CHARGED US 200+ DOLLARS (WE HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NO O-RINGS ON THE TRANSMISSION FILTER FOR THIS MAKE AND MODLE OF VEHICLE) THE PROBLEM REOCCURED WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS. FORD THEN STATED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, IN THE TOWN WE WERE IN ON VACATION, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PUT ONE IN. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GMC DEALER WHO PUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING THE INSTRUCITON AND RECOMMENDATION FROM FORD AT A COST OF $2700. THE GMC DEALER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING A SUITABLE PLACE TO ATTACH THE OVERDRIVE WIREING TO THE NEW TRANSMISSION. FORD TALKED THEM THROUGH IT AND I AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE ON OUR WAY HOME (AFTER FLYING MY HUSBAND HOME WHO HAD TO RETURN TO WORK). WE WERE HEADED OUT OF TOWN AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SPIN AGAIN. WE WERE TOWED BACK TO THE GMC DEALER WHO CONTACTED THE FORD TECHS. THE FORD TECHS. STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HARNESS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT ON OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECT AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND EVENTUALLY EVERYTHING LOCKS UP. THEY STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT HASN'T YET. THE

WHILE TRAVELING 10-15MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CONSUMER WAS TURNING LEFT APPROCHING HER DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RACK AND PINION PART OF THE STEERING UNIT FAILED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *SCC

THERE IS A CONSTANT RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE LEVELED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE AND CROSSED THE STREET ONTO THE NEIGHBORS PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIAMATELY 500 FEET BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. (CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY AND THE VEHICLE) THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION ON THE PART OF THE EXPLORER AND THAT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. *SCC

ON SLIGHT INCLINES VEHICLE ROLLS EITHER UP OR DOWN HILL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON SLIGHT INCLINE, VEHICLE ROLLS EITHER UP OR DOWN HILL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED. *SLC

THE AC ACCUMULATOR HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE ACCUMULATOR HAS A THERMAL WRAP-AROUND BLANKET AND EVIDENTLY EXCESS MOISTURE IS TRAPPED BETWEEN IT AND THE ALL-STEEL ACCUMULATOR. REMOVING IT EASILY EXPOSES THE RUST.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A/C WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID ACCUMULATOR WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (QUOTED $895). THIS PART RUSTS BECAUSE IT IS WRAPPED IN FOAM. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996-1998 EXPLORERS. THE 1999 AND LATER MODELS DO NOT HAVE THE WRAPPING ON THE ACCUMULATOR.*AK

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. *MJ

I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE AIR BLEND DOOR / HVAC SYSTEM AT A SAFETY LEVEL DUE TO THE FACT THIS THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C-HEATER THAT RESULTS IN A FAILURE TO DEFOG/DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.

CONSUMER HAS 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT SIZE R25570R16 (DOT # W2101FX067) TIRES LEAKING AIR. THESE TIRES WERE INVOLVED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 01T006000. FORD REFUNDED TWO TIRES AS PART OF REFUND PROMOTION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE FOR THE 2 REMAINING TIRES. *TT

MICHELIN, 17, TIRE INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. VEHICLE ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY HEARD A LOUD NOISE , LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO AN ENBANKMENT HITTOING A TREE.*AK

THE STEERING COLUMN KNUCKLE THAT HOLDS THE TWO-PIECE COLUMN TOGETHER (UNDER THE DASH) WAS IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED OR MANUFACTURED. ONE OF TWO ASSEMBLY PINS WAS MISSING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FREE-SPIN, RESULTING IN COMPLETE STEERING LOSS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SEALANT USED AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DISSOLVING AND CAUSINGT WATER TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK UPON ACCELERATION, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAS REPLACED PEDAL.*JB *SLC

TRANSFER CASE BEARING BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SHIMMERING AND SHAKING, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. AFTER REPAIRS, MAIN DRIVESHAFT BEARING FAILED WITH SAME RESULT.*AK

FORD HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND STILL IS DOING NOTHING TO APPEASE THEIR CUSTOMERS. MINE IS STUCK BLOWING COLD AIR, SO SHOULD I NEED IT TO DEFOG OR DEFROST MY WINDOWS DURING A RAIN OR SNOWSTORM (OF WHICH WE HAVE MANY IN MINNESOTA) I CANNOT. I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PART FAILING AND COMPLAINTS WRITTEN TO FORD ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL FORD MODELS, YET THEY REFUSE TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.*AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WELDS BROKE AND THE PEDAL SHIFTED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE CRUISING AT 55/60 ON HIGHWAY. WHEN I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I COULDN'T APPLY THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS N THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, RELEASE THE BRAKE AND KICK THE GAS PEDAL OUT FROM UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***762252

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS STIFF, AND CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A TURN FELT LIKE WHEELS WERE GOING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT FRONT AND REAR SENSOR IN TRANSFER CASE HAD GONE BAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON MAY 4TH PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1995 THRU 1999 EXPLORERS AND 1997-99 MOUNTAINEERS, BUILT THROUGH 4/98 WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR WHICH BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND PREVENTS TEMPERATURE REGULATION . FORD REVISED THIS PLENUM USING NYLON AS A REINFORCEMENT , WHICH IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IS A CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.*AK

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ENGINE JUST DIED AND I LOST STEERING POWER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND THAT IT WAS UNREPAIRABLE, AND THAT MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IF I HAD BEEN TRAVLING AT A HIGH RATED SPEED I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THAT PIECE BREAKING OFF.*AK

HEATER DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR,.DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK