1997 Ford Explorer complaints

WHILE DRIVING CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF. VEHICLE THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AS OF YET. *AK *TT

CRANCKSHAF/PULLEY DISCONNECTED FROM ENGINE. *AK

FRONT SWAY BAR BROKE, COULD PUNCTURE TIRE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION*AK

THROTTLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE.*AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LEANS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TOOK TO FORD, AND THEY WELDED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. *AK CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REFUND. *YH

GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SQUEAKING NOISE WOULD COME FROM FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE HAS BEEN SOUNDING DIFFERENT SINCE THROTTLE RECALL OOV422000 WAS DONE IN DECEMBER OF 2001. WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT,VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER SUV GOING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. THE BACK SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT APPARENTLY BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND WENT TO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION,PROVIDING NO SUPPORT. AS A RESULT, MY WIFE SUSTAINED NECK AND LOWER BACK INJURIES (HERNIATED DISKS) AMONG OTHER INJURIES. HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED REGARDING THE SEAT FAILING TO HOLD UP AND PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT DURING A SEVERE REAR END COLLISION?*AK

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF VERY POOR DESIGN; THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL - IT IS A SIMPLE PART, SUBJECTED TO VERY MINOR LOADS. WORSE, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MUST BE DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE IT, AND RATHER THAN REPLACING JUST THE BLEND DOOR (A LITTLE FLAPPER THAT CONTROLS THE MIX OF HOT AND COLD AIR), YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER PLENUM ASSEMBLY.*AK

MY COMPLAINT DEALS W/ A CARSEAT SWING SHIELD ARM THAT BROKE WHILE TAKING MY SON OUT OF THE SEAT. THE CARSEAT IS AN EVENFLO HORIZON I PRODUCT.*AK

I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND THE TIRE THREAD CAME APART ALOT. ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE EXPLORER AND ALMOST GOT KILLED ON SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD'S 800 NUMBER AS A COMPLAINT. I TOLD THE LADY ON THE PHONE THAT THIS CAR WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT I WAS GOING TO RETURN IT TO MY FINANCE COMPANY. I WAS VERY FREIGHTEN AND UPSET BECAUSE ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN COULD HAVE DIED.THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TIRES.THE TIRES WERE CONSTANTLY THREADING.IN EARLY 2000 I RETURNED THE EXPLORER BECAUSE I FEARED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SAFETY. NLM (TIRESIZE: P22570R15S)

TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH BROKE, COLD AIR WAS BEING DISTRIBUTED. CONSUMER UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD.*AK *YH

BALL JOINTS AGAIN ON 3/15/02. *AK

A/C QUIT WORKING, WENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE A/C ACCUMULATOR HAS RUST HOLES IN IT .THE FOAM AROUND IT KEPT THE ACCUMULATOR WET AND CAUSED IT TO RUST THROUGH. LETTING OUT THE FREON.WHAT IF ALL EXPLORER'S DO THIS ? IF I HAD KNOWN THE DAY IT WAS BOUGHT. IT WAS GOING TO DO THIS , I WOULD HAVE PULLED THE FOAM OFF. IT RUSTED BECAUSE OF THE WAY FORD WRAPPED IT.THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. JUST LOOK AT ALL THE FREON THAT IS GOING TO BE LOST IN THE AIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTREST ; TIM CARGLE. *AK

WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE VEHICLE HESITATES TO START.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE ON PASSENGER SIDE, CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN AND COULD NOT GET OUT, SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE CHILD; IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR 2 HOURS. *TT

THE THROTTLE CABLE ON OUR EXPLORER SNAPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING PUT ON CRUISE CONTROL; THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. OUR 19 YR. OLD DAUGHTER PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT COULD ONLY GET THE CAR DOWN TO 55 MPH. SHE WAS WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE DULLES ACCESS RD BUT WAS ABLE TO GRAB HER CELL PHONE AND CALL 911. THEY ASKED HER IF SHE COULD GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD (WHICH SHE MANAGED TO DO) AND TOLD HER TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. SHE FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANY ONE OR ANYTHING...A MIRACLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR SUFFERED $3500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. FORD HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.*AK

DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

SEAT BELT LOCKED UP ON PASSENGER'S SIDE,HAD TO CUT BELT TO REMOVE INFANT. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING.*AIK

WHILE DRIVING IGINITION LOCKS UP. *AK

LAST DAY OF RECALL..... ACCORDING TO NEWSPAPER..... UNABLE TO FIND DEALER WHO CAN REPLACE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

I CHECKED AIR PRESSURE ON ALL 4 TIRES AT 4PM THAT AFTERNOON BEFORE GETTING ON FREEWAY TO BE SURE THEY WERE AT THE MANUFACTURE'S SPEC. STAMPED ON EACH TIRE. THE TIRE TREAD DETACHED FROM THE TIRE ITSELF WHICH STILL HELD AIR AND REMAINED ON THE RIM. FIRESTONE DENIES TIRE DEFECT. NLM (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIPO396 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

HEATER PLENUM HOT/COLD AIR BLEND; DOOR BREAKS, CAUSING NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR HEATER & DEFROSTER. *AK

MECHANISM WHICH HOLDS SPARE TIRE HAD TO BE CUT BEFORE CONSUMER COULD USE TIRE. ALSO ,WRONG JACK WAS WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS THE CRANKSHAFT. THE CRANKSHAFT HAD A CRACK HALF WAY THROUGH WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE DUE TO WEATHERING ON THE AREA. *JG

MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK IN THE REAR END WHICH I ASSUMED WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSFER CASE. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSFER CASE HE THEN FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR. I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THIS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE HAD ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN HIS SHOP AT THE SAME TIME. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY DENY EVER HAVING THIS PROBLEM OR HAVING ANY DEALERSHIPS REPORTING THIS TYPE OF DEFECT.*AK

THROTTLE GETS STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STARTING UP AGAIN, CONSUMER WILL HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATEING.*AK

IN MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY HEAT AND POOR VISIBILITY TO DRIVE. CONSUMER FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA SB618546 RELATING TO THE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AKJG

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSFER CASE IN THE FRONT AND REAR FELL OUT, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY, THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY SOLD.*JG

I HA D A WARRANTY THROUGH FORD MOTOR CO. THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT NOR WILL THE DEALERSHIP I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS LOUD METALLIC RATTLING NOISE THEY (THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE WRITERS) SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BACK IN OCTOBER IT WAS NOT NEARLY A HALF A YEAR LATER THERE WAS ENOUGH ENGINE DAMAGE THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY STATES "IF THE FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IT WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD FREE OF CHARGE ANY OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE CLEARLY RESULTING FROM A WORN OR BROKEN FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS ALSO COVERED BY THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE" AGAIN THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE IS NOT BEING HONORED BY FORD OR THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE REGARDING FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES BUT BY RESEARCHING FOUND OUT THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT LOOKED SUSPICIOUS, THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AT AN OUTSIDE TIRE DEALER, WHEN THE CLAIM WAS SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT IT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ONE DAY AFTER THE NON, 15TH DEADLINE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES). NLM

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH FRONT AXLES FAILED IN THE SAME WAY: THE RUBBER SLEEVE SPLIT ALLOWING GREASE TO COME OUT CAUSING THE MOVING METAL PARTS TO DISINTEGRATE. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T DRIVE OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, ALTHOUGH I WOULD EXPECT AN ALL WHEEL DROVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO W/OUT DAMAGE TO THE AXLES. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE AXLES ON THREE EXPLORERS IN TWO MONTHS IN AN AREA WITH A SMALL POPULATION SEEMS MORE THAN COINCIDENCE. *SCC

DRIVERS DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY, GASKET CYLINDER FRONT COVER, TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, RT BANK EXHAUST MANIFOLD; THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, BUT NEW ONES MOUNT EVERY WEEK. NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, BEING CHECKED TOMORROW. *AK

BRACKET ATTACHED TO FIRWALL BY THREE SMALL RIVETS. RIVETS BROKE LOOSE, PEDAL BECAME INOPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *AK

ALLDATA.COM AND OTHER SITES SHOW A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR/MODEL FOR THE FRONT SWAY BAR. HOWEVER, UPON NUMEROUS REQUESTS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT SAID DEALER, THEY SAY IT DOESN'T AFFECT OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. BUT, OUR VEHICLE'S SWAY BAR HAS BEEN MAKING A POPPING/SQUEEKING NOISE ALMOST SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. WE WANT FORD TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT, BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR YARD , THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED WORKING. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICE. WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS SHEARED OFF . FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT ADMIT ANY EQUIPMENT FAULT, LEAVING ME WITH A $4200.00 PRICE TAG TO GET IT FIXED.. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CRANKSHAFTS DO NOT JUST SHEAR OR BREAK OFF BY OTHER MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. LOOKING AT YOUR SITE HAS SHOWN ME THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED CASE AND IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY FORD. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY.THANK YOU.*AK

UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, THERE WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (NO OTHER SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION MENTIONED) THAT WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER REPLACED WITH 4 NEW TIRES, HOWEVER, AFTER REPLACEMENT, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE RECALLED, CONUMER SUBMITTED REFUND FORM, BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING REVVING AND STALLING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE CORRECTED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED TEMPORARILY TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN IN CONSULTATION WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINEERS. CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SEVERAL UNEXPECTED SURGES IN THE ENGINE REVS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. *SCC

ENGINE ACCELERATED DURING BRAKING TO A STOP. UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITH BRAKES.

CONSUMER STATED AS HE LEANED BACK IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, THE BACK OF THE SEAT FELL ONTO THE REAR SEAT, CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT BACK UP BY USING THE SEAT HANDLE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE LATCH HOLDING THE SEAT BACK IN PLACE HAD LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD/DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHY ALL FRONT END PARTS FAILED/DEALER STATES IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH 1997 VEHICLE/ OTHER EXPOLOER OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH HAVE SIMILAR FRONT END PROBLEMS / I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH DESIGN OR PARTS USED IN FRONT END AND ABS SYSTEM

VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A "GRINDING" NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING AND STOPPING. A DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM TRANSFER CASE, V8 ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF A PLASTIC PART ON THE HEATER DOOR THAT FAILS AFTER TO MUCH USE. THE PART HAS TO BE REPLACE BY A PART CALLED THE ACTUATOR VALUE.FORD MUST HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT HAS A REPLACEMENT PART ALREADY TO GO WHEN THE PART FAILS. (NYLON BLEND DOOR AND PLENUM #F87Z-18471-DA.) THE PROBLEM BEENING THAT IT COST $784.40 IN LABOR TO PUT THE PART IN. IF FORD NEW IT HAD THIS PROBLEM , WHY WASN`T IT ON A RECALL LIST TO REPLACE???*AK

THE SWAY BAR LINKS BROKE PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER WAS SENT A CHECK FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS, HOWEVER THE LEFT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED DUE TO THE LINKS BREAKING WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT AS WELL.*YH

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE DASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED IT SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW ON ITS 3RD ENGINE. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING HORN IT DID NOT SOUND OFF . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A BEAR WAS IN THE LANE, SHE HIT THE BEAR AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB