1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

IS THIS LEGAL TO SELL A VEHICLE NEW OR USED WITH SERIOUS SAFETY RECALLS, THEY HAVE JEOPORDIZED MY SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. SUDDEN ENGINE ACCELERATION AND TACHOMETER RE-LINE AT PASSING GEAR. SHIFTING INTO LOW GEAR PRIOR TO 1800RPMS. ENGINE NOISE AT START UP. OVERHEATING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, I.E. TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. IDLES AT 1200.RPMS AND FLUCTUATES. WHAT ETHICS DO THESE DEALER POSSESS AND DO THEY NOT SAFETY INSPECT THEM PRIOR TO SALES, THEY LET ME DRIVE OFF THE LOT. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR THE FAILED PARTS AFTER PURCHASING IT ON NOVEMEBER 1,2000. I HAVE FIRESTONE AT TIRES YET TO BE INSPECTED.

BOTH REAR DOOR HINGES, LEFT AND RIGHT ARE BROKEN. CONSUMER UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING ANDCROSSING LANES HAD TO STEP ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD STUCK WHILE DRIVING. THIS INCREASED SPEED OF VEHICLE WHILE GOING 60MPH. WAS TRYING STOP VEHICLE BY STEPPING ON BRAKES. BUT, VEHICLE HIT A BUILDING, TIRES WERE STILL SPINNING AFTER IMPACT. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

SINCE OWNERSHIP TIRES WEAR OUT EASILY, FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND ROTATED AND ALSO LOOSE AIR, WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TIRE SEPARATION, ALL 4 (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15) TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, CONSUMER FELT THAT FIRESTONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBILE FOR TIRES, BUT ONLY THE SPARE TIRE QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL. *JB

FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING FUEL. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED FUEL LINE, AND CHARGED CONSUMER APPROXIMATELY $300. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. THEN, STOPPED AND FOUND THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS OUT OF ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, AND ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH COULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING OIL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT NO REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAD FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS TIRES ON TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON FREEWAY. CONSUMER DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, JUST HEARD A BIG BANG.*AK

TIRE SIZE P25570R16, DOT#W2CUBX197 ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, MAKING A TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE ROCKED. CONSUMER PULLED INTO TIRE SHOP, AND WAS TOLD BY TIRE EXPERT THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATED IN 3 DIFFERENT SPOTS, AND IT WAS NOT A NORMAL SEPARATION. *AK TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, CONSUMER STATES FORD IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY SHE HAS. *SLC

FAILURE OF SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 50-55 MPH, CAUSED HOOD TO OPEN, AND ALMOST CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE BRACKET WHICH ATTATCHES THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FIREWALL OF THE VEHICLE SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS ATTATCHED BY 3 SMALL SPOT WELDS WHICH I FEEL IS INSUFFICIENT TO HOLD THIS BRACKET IN PLACE.*AK

WITH 7/32" TREAD DEPTH REMAINING, TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRE FOR YOUR EXAMINATION SHOULD YOU DESIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

I WAS CHANGING LANES TO ALLOW ON TRAFFIC TO GET ON. WHEN MY TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL HAVING A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT!*AK (TIRESIZE: 2457516AT)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2457516AT )

WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD CAME ON, HUMMING SOUND, HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN.*AK

THE TREADS OF TWO TIRES FAILED 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED (FIRESTONE). NLM

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT VEHICLE IS MAKING A HUMMING. WHEN MAKING A TURN FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO TURN OVER. WHEN TAKING OFF CONSUMER CAN FEEL A HARD BANG ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH GAS PEDAL SNAPPED OFF, ALL THREE WELDS HOLDING GAS PEDAL SNAPPED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO MAKE A STRANGE VIBRATION WHENEVER SHE WOULD REACH SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED BY TECHNICIAN THAT ONE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(P235/75R15) HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER'S TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL BUT SHE WAS ASSURED 3 MONTHS PRIOR THAT TIRES WERE FINE AND THEY PASSED INSPECTION. *JB

ABS BRAKES SYTEM WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION THROUGH DRY WEATHER ANY TIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*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

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH AND STALLED. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALER WHO FOUND CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. CRANK PULLEY HAD BROKEN OFF ENGINE. NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

I WAS INSPECTING AND ROTATING MY TIRES AND NOTICES THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS RIPPING AT THE RIM. THIS COULD HAVE FAILED DURING OPERATION AND HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I EMAILED GOODYEAR ON THIS ISSUE AND ASKED HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THE TIRE STILL ON THE RIM AND HAVE PHOTOS WHICH COULD BE EMAILED. PLEASE ADVISE. I WOULD LIKE TO BUY NEW TIRES ASAP. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ENGINE. LATER ON, PROBLEM REOCCURRED AGAIN. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN FEBRUARY THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CAME INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING FROM THROUGH IT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, CAUSING THE MAJORITY OF MY INJURIES. I HAD SEVERAL LACERATIONS ON MY CHEEKS, CHIN AND MOUTH. MY UPPER LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY JAW. ALL OF THESE INJURIES WERE CAUSED WHEN MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AS THE AIRBAG COVER POPPED BACK AND THE AIRBAG WAS INFLATING. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT MY JAW PERMENANTLY INJURED. I AM AN 5' 5 1/2" TALL AND DO NOT SIT PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW WITH THE DESIGN OF THE AIRBAG.*AK

JOHN SEEGERS. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) DOT VNHL, EXPERIENCED THUMPING NOISES AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH, INSPECTED TIRES AND FOUND CRACKING, TREADS WERE BEGINNING STAGES OF SEPARATION ON ALL 4 TIRES, CONSUMER WENT TO FIRESTONE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO LOOK AT TIRES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER WENT IN TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED, CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TIRES WERE NOISY AND STARTING TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE MECHANIC INSPECTED TIRES, AND FOUND TIRES TO BE CRACKING BETWEEN THE CLEATS ON ALL 4 TIRES WHICH MEANS TREAD SEPARATION WAS IN ITS BEGINNING STAGES, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) ALTHOUGH TIRES NOT A PART OF RECALL. *JB

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE ENGINE SIEZED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONLON-COLLINS FORD IN CRYSTAL LAKE, IL WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $4,500. I REPORTED THE MATTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY AND NO RECALL NOTICES OR SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO DISCUSS BEARING ANY PART OF THE COST FOR REPAIRS OR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES SUCH AS TOWING OR RENTAL OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE REPAIRS ARE UNDER WAY. A CRANKSHAFT SHOULD NEVER BREAK AND ONE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT EXPECT IT TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 52,000 SUBURBAN MILES. IN MY OPINION, THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURED AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE CRANKSHAFT ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP QUITE ABRUPTLY. THE MOTOR MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. THIS IS A PART FAILURE THAT PLACES INDIVIDUALS AT CONSIDERABLE RISK. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED IN RELATIVELY HEAVY TRAFFIC, E.G. FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH OR HIGHER, THERE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES AND PROBABLY FATALITIES. TO DATE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY STEADFASTLY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND, FURTHER, REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN PAYING FOR ANY PORTION OF THE NECESSARY REPAIRS OR ASSOCIATED COSTS SUCH AS TOWING BILLS AND CAR RENTALS WHILE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. *AK ALSO SEE 560357.

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED, ENGINE SEIZED AND CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. (CHECK ODI # 740940) *JB

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P23575R15 DOT W2HL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEWOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL AND RUNNING BOARD, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

PE00 030 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, AND SAW THAT LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P2357515, DOT W2HLIPY037 . FIRESTONE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK TIRE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

AFTER BUYING VEHICLE, FOUND OUT THAT SPARE (P255/70R15) TIRE IS A DIFFERENT SIZE THAN REGULAR TIRES (P255/70R16) ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT IS UNSAFE IN CASE OF REPLACING TIRES WITH SPARE ONE.*AK *SLC

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON AN ICY ROAD AT NIGHT BETWEEN DRIGGS, IDAHO AND VICTOR, IDAHO. I CLICKED THE DIMMER WHEN THEY WENT OUT, AND TRIED TO PUT THE DIMMER LEVER INTO ANY OTHER POSITION AND THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. I HELD THE DIMMER SWITCH UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE "BRIGHT" FLASHER POSITION AND THEY CAME ON, BUT BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO THAT THEY FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS AT ME. I DROVE THIS WAY TO MY HOME ABOUT SEVEN MORE MILES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! BROADWAY FORD (66 MI FROM OUR HOME) CHARGED US $134.41 TO REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH THEY THINK CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND I UNDERSTAND FORD RANGERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

GAS PEDAL STICKS INTERMITTANTLY,

VEHICLE HAS FOUR DOORS, DOORS IN REAR WILL NOT OPERATE UNLESS UNLOCKED DOORS FROM INSIDE. WHEN OPERATING FROM OUTSIDE TOO OPEN, DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEARATE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DOORS WILL NOT OPERATE UNLESS CONSUMER IS OUTSIDE TO OPEN THEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BY FORD OR THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN AND CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THEN ONCE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY PULL IT BACK UP. *AK

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE REAR DOOR LATCH STOPPED WORKING FROM THE INSIDE. MY CHILD WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO EXIT AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I BELIEVED THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT ON THE DOOR HANDLE TO PULL IT TOO HARD TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK. THE HANDLE IS NO LONGER FLUSH WITH THE DOOR, IT EXTENDS OUT A LITTLE. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I WAS SPEAKING TO MY SONS PRESCHOOL TEACHER, WHO ALSO OWNS A FORD EXPLORER (1996) AND SHE TOO SAID THAT SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER BACK HANDLE. TODAY I TALKED WITH ANOTHER EXPLORER OWNER (1997) WHO SAID THAT RECENTLY, IN THE SAME WEEK, BOTH DOOR HANDLES IN THE REAR HAD BROKE IN THE SAME MANNER. OUR CONCERN IS FOR OUR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO IN THE EVENT NEED TO GET OUT THEIR DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY, WOULD BE UNABLE, UNLESS SOMEONE OPENS FROM THE OUTSIDE.*AK

BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. NO FIRE OR INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP, BUT BRAKES DID NOT WORK, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPING DISTANC. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE THE SAME DAY.*AK

SAME PROBLEM AS IN RECALL 98V060000, JUMP STARTING. CONSUMER JUMPED STARTED VEHICLE, AND FUEL LINES BLEWOUT. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15) FAILED, CONSUMER NOTICED A CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING, STEEL WEBBING VISIBLE, SLIGHT RAISED EFFECT IN TIRE, AND THE BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR POPPING NOISE COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION.*AK

FAULTY GEM MODULE CAUSED MALFUNCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, 4X4, LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS. NLM

WHILE MAKING A STOP WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES. *AK THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STEERING MECHANISM HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *YH

FRONT BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICANT. NEW BALL JOINTS DO NOT REQUIRE LUBRICATION. MECHANIC REFUSES TO REPLACE OLD BALL JOINTS WITH NEWER BALL JOINTS.*AK