1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WAS CHECKING THE OIL & NOTICED FLUID LEAKED ONTO GARAGE FLOOR. CHECKED CLOSELY & LEAK WAS COMING FROM MASTER CYLINDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. NEEDED CABLE CHANGE (2/24/98). CONSUMER STATED ACCELERATOR CABLE HAS BEEN CHANGED.*JB

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THEY CHARGED ME ALL FOUR TIMES AND IT TURNS OUT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE NOT THE RECALL TIRES BUT I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THEM (AT MY OWN COST) AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE NOW (LAST TWO WEEKS). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL THE WILDERNESS BRAND TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED? THEY CLEARLY ARE DEFECTIVE! IF IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THEN WOULD'NT EVERY PLANT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN PROBLEM? IF IT IS A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE THAN WOULD'NT THAT ALSO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OTHER PLANTS, COMPANIES LIKE FIRESTONE WRITE ONE SET OF PROCEDURES FOR SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS OF TIRES. THEY DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR EACH PLANT! THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE SEPARATE PROCEDURES FOR THE SAME BRAND OF TIRES. YOU GUYS DROP THE BALL, AND NOW WE ARE PAYING FOR IT!!!!*AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY426 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DOOR CLOSING IMPROPERLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND CODITION STILL OCCURRING. *AK

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION RUNNING, THE GEAR POPPED OUT OF PARK AND TOOK OFF IN DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE TRUCK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TRUCK HIT A MAIL BOX, AND THE HOOD AND FENDER WERE DENTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO A LEAK FROM THE FUEL LINE. A SPARK TOUCHED SOME OF THE WIRES, CAUSING A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE WIRES. *AK

TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED(AT OWNER'S EXPENSE), PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (00T-005) DUE TO REPEATED TIRE FAILURES IN LESS THAN 13,000 MILES. OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE. *CJ

BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE AFTER GAS PEDAL STUCK. VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. *AK

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPUTER FAILED.

LEFT SIDE REAR DOOR IS INOPERATIVE, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN WHEELS MADE A THUMPING NOISE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN TURNING WHEELS. HAD TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

WHEN MAKING PANIC STOPS PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR BUT HITS ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS CAUSED BRAKES & WHEELS TO SQUEAK. LOCATION OF BRAKE & ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

SEAT LATCH METAL BROKE OFF FROM THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT IS UNUSUABLE. INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DUE TO ENGINE SENSOR FAILURE. *YC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH AFTER LEAVING FROM A GAS STATION, SMELLED SOMTHING BURNING. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. WHEN PARKED VEHICLE ON THE BANK PARKING AFTER COMING FROM INSIDE, FOUND HER VEHICLE ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKES FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

THE AIR RIDE WILL RAISE THE BACKEND 10-12" FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE TO THE TOP OF THE WHEELWELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 70+MPH AND MAKES THE VEHICLE BUCK VIOLENTLY AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 8+TIMES FOR REPAIR AND THEY'VE REPLACED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CONTROL PANEL LAST MONTH AND IT'S GONE UP 5 TIMES SINCE THEN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN EACH TIME IT HAPPENS BECAUSE MY SERVICING DEALER, JOHN MARKEL FORD, SAID IT MUST STILL BE RUNNING FOR THEM TO GET CODES FROM THE COMPUTER AND SOMETIMES IT RAISES UP AFTER I TURN THE KEY OFF. THEY ARE UNABLE TO "DOCUMENT" THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T REPRODUCE IT SO THE ZONE REP WON'T REPLACE IT. HE'S OFFERED $1500 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE BUT THAT'S IT. *AK

THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP OVER 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS FOR THE PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT FIXED YET. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY WERE TO CALL LAST WEEK FOR THE FLIGHT RECORDER BOX TO BE USED I CALLED THEM TODAY THEY STATE IT WILL BE NEXT WEEK. I AM VERY TIRED OF TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *AK

STARTED APPLYING BRAKES AFTER GOING 30MPH. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. REARENDED SEVERAL VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. PRIOR TO IMPACT, CV JOINT MADE KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE FOR KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

RR TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT APPX 55 MPH. NO INJURIES. REPLACED WITH RECALLED TIRE VDHL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH GOODYEAR, AS OF 8/28/00. WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR 1 TIRE. HAVE REMAINING 3 TIRES IN POSSESSION. BELIEVE THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. ALL SHOW CRACK ALONG TREAD NEAR STEELBELT LINE. BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. I HAVE ORIG 3 TIRES AND PHOTOS OF TIRE THAT SEPERATED. (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY476 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP TO 6000RPM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE IF THE VEHICLE BRAKES WEREN'T ACTIVATED. DEALER REPACED THE SENSOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS COMES OPEN WHEN MOING SPEEDS FROM2 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMAPNY, NOW FOR THE 4 TIME WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE SAME DOOR. A FRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2 FORD EXPLORES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-70-15 )

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD AND FIRST STARTED, GAS PEDAL WILL STICK AND HAS TO BE PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE. THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ONCE AND SEEMED TO CORRECT PROBLEM FOR A YEAR. PROBLEM NOW BACK, IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD AS GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE VEHICLE AFTER FIRST STARTED. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN LAST 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DOOR CAME OPEN I FELL OUT OF IT, AND HURT MY BACK, AND CAN NOT STAND FOR ANY LENTGH OF TIME. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ITS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AND I E-MAILED YOU IN JANUARY AND I SHOULD OF HEARD SOMETHING FROM YOU BEGINNING OF FEBUARY. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU WHY? THANK YOU NEDRA J. OSSO

PE00-020; P25570R16 WITH 6,000 MILES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD EXPLORER, 1997. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BLEWOUT, AND NOTICED OUTER EDGE OF TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE, DID NOT ASSIST DEALER, AND CHARGED CONSUMER FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70/R16 *MW

SINCE NEW, THE TIRES IN QUESTION HAVE BUBBLES ON EVERY SIDEWALL. AND THE TIRES ARE ALREADY CRACKING.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON SECOND OCCASSION, TOOK TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS 4 TIMES BEFORE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH.

FREEZING RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE A TRIP OCCURED, WIPERS STOPPED WORKING 20 MILES INTO A 130 MILE TRIP AND REFUSED TO WORK REST OF TRIP. REQUESTED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ROTH FORD IN PETERSBURG, WV TO ENLARGE WINDSHIELD WIPER STORAGE AREA DRAIN HOLE. DEALER REFUSED, SAID THAT AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAD CALL IN WITH WIPERS FROZEN. DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, I TRIED TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK. THEY WOULD BARELY MOVE, BUT WOULD NOT OPERATE. AFTER VEHICLE SAT IN AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR 10 DAYS, WIPERS WORKED. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN A RECENT NEWSPAPER ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION, SO EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT PRUSUE IT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER OR WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER, I WANTED TO INFORM NHTSA THAT IT IS PROBABLY MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN THE 35 INCIDENTS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.

HEAD LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT WIRE EXPOSED AND LOOSE IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW AND ICE BUILDUP OF ICE OCCURS ON THE WIRES, THEN THE WIRES BREAK, CAUSING SUDDEN OUTAGE, WIRE NEED TO BE REROUTED.

EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY FORD EXPLORER, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS IN THE OFF POSITION. AS A RESULT, I HAVE TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER, AND SOMETIMES I GO FLYING OUT THE DRIVEWAY. I SPOKE WITH DELACY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL YET ON THE VEHICLE AND SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID TO DO IT AND ANYWAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GUAGES PROPERLY, ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST.

WHEN PUTTING GAS INTO THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF AND THE GAS WILL SPILL OUT. IT TAKE'S FIVE TIMES AS LONG TO GET GAS INTO TANK. *AK

THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING AND DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEM WITH GETTING PART FROM DEALER BACAUSE OF BACK ORDERS.

CONSUMER CANNOT PUT A CAR SEAT IN THE MEDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A MIDDLE SEAT BELT. *MJS

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN HE BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES, THE THROTTLE WILL GO UP AND THE BRAKES WILL GO FLAT, CONSUMER WAS THEN SITTING WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES DOING 2000 RPM'S, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN HE MOVES HIS FOOT THE THROTTLE GOES DOWN. CONSUMER HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS, HE HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SIX RECORDED TIMES, AND MANY TIMES UNRECORDED. DEALERSHIP--NEILL SANDLER--FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY--OF 3699 AIRPORT HIGHWAY, ALCOA, TN.--423-970-2500. *AK

ENGINE O-RINGS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FAULTY CAUSING CONTINUED ENGINE STALLING.

PCM SENSOR FAILED.

AS BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SLOWED AND THEN PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE.

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON IDLING, CONSUMER NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, BUT HAS NOTICED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. *AK *ML

PE00-020; AFTER HAVING A BLOWOUT ON LEFT REAR TIRE A TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT FOUR OF TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS P235/75R15 ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997. *AK THE RECALL WAS ISSUED TWO YEARS LATER AFTER THE TIRE BLOW OUT BUT THE CUSTOMER WANTS REFUND FOR BUYING REPLACEMENTS. *YH

PE00 020; TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK UP. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT TIRES WILL PERFORM WITH LESS INFLATION OF TIRE FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE. THERE ARE STRESS MARKS ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE MARKINGS. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P2357515. HE HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*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 COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD ALMOST COMPLETELY TACK OUT BEFORE I COULD HIT THE BRAKE PEDALS TO DIS-ENGAGE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I'VE SPENT ALMOST $6000 IN REPAIRS SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD IT IN FOR MANY RECALLS. ALL I'VE EVER GOT OUT OF FORD OR THE DEALERS IS, SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WERE PRETTY SCARY. *JB

COMPLETE BLOWOUT OF LEFT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH.

BOLT HOLDING STEERING COLUMN TOGETHER FELL OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE WHEELS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO 4- WHEEL DRIVE. CANNOT DRIVE ON DRY PAYMENT WHEN IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE. VHEICLE IS HEAVY GOING FOR STEERING. DEALER RESET COMPUTER & COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AT ALL, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 25-3M MPH IN RAIN, AND AFTER ENGAGING 4-WHHEL DRIVE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ON ITS TOP.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH THERE WAS A LOUD POP, THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT.

CAR SURGES OUT OF CONTROL REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR AND WITHOUT WARNING.