1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, DEALER STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE 5 DIFFERENT TIRE BRANDS TO CHOOSE FROM, HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO GET THE REPLACEMENT TIRES THE BRANDS WERE DOWN TO 2 AND THERE WERE NO ALL TERRAIN TIRES LIKE THE ONES CURRENTLY ON THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES SHOULD BE THE SAME TYPE AND QUALITY OF TIRES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. *SLC

CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, DEALER REFUSED TO REFUND THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. NLM

CONSUMER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BUT ARE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. NLM

WAS WASHING VEHICLE & NOTICED CRACKS ON ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CRACKS ARE LOCATED WHERE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. TOOK TO DEALER & INDICATION WAS THAT TIRES WHICH WERE NOT AFFECTED DUE TO BEING MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15 WITH 39,000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005 (FIRESTONE RADILA ATX TIRES), CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) HAD A CUT LINE APPEARING COMPLETELY AROUND EACH TIRE AND THAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF TREAD SEPARATION, ONLY THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE UNDER RECALL 00T005, THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE IN THE SAME SHAPE (INCLUDING SPARE), BUT DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR TIRES NOT UNDER RECALL. *TT

TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE RUBBER NEAR THE LUGS. BEEN TO 3 FIRESTONE DEALERS TO HAVE THEM CHECKED FOR SAFETY. FIRST DEALER SAID "DRY ROT". SECOND DEALER SAID "OZONE CRACKING". THIRD SAID "ALL TIRES WITH LARGE LUGS ON SUV'S GET THAT CRACKING". THESE ALL SOUND LIKE B.S. TO ME! SHOULDN'T THESE TIRES BE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE ALSO BEFORE ONE COMES A PART AND CAUSES DAMAGE/INJURY? I LEASE THIS VEHICLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS! PLEASE ADVISE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

LEFT REAR TIRE WOULD LOSE AIR ALONG WITH THE OTHER TIRES. LEFT REAR TIRE WAS ONLY THE ONE THAT HAD CRACKS ALL AROUND TIRES, NEAR THE TREAD & CASING. WOULD HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM TIRES WHEN DRIVING. TAKING VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER TO CHECK & HAVE EXCHANGE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, DOT VNHL P235/75R15 WITH 39,000 MILES.*AK TWO OR THREE TIRES HAD SEPARATION CRACKS ALONG EDGE OF THE TREAD AND SIDE WALL. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH & HEARD A THUMP NOISE BEFORE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF. LOOKED AT A RECAP TIRE. IT HIT THE SIDE FENDER WELL. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED AT THE TIME. DO NOT HAVE THE TIRE. HAD PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON IN ITS PLACE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 WITH 100,000 MILES.*AK

WE HAVE BEEN TO TWO FORD DEALERS, FIRESTONE AND NO ONE WILL COMPLY TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS TO AND FROM WORK WITH THESE TIRES ON IT. FORD SEEMS TO PASS THE BUCK TO FIRESTONE AND VICE VERSA. SUPPOSIDLY IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE FRIENDS IN SHOPS AND ARE REPLACE ALL TIRES ON THE EXPLORER. GETTING NO SATIFACTION IN DEALERS IN FLA. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FAULTY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. NLM

CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TWO OF THEIR FIRESTONE TIRES AND DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL AND SHAKE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *SLC

TIRE PLACARD IS NOT REQUIRED IN SUV'S, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE SUV TO A SHIPPING COMPANY OR AN INSPECTION STATION TO GET THE VEHICLE'S CORRECT WEIGHT. *CJ

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005). OWNER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ

FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES CAUSE A VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER AND A CONSTANT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS DONE BUT TO NO AVAIL, AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P265 75 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL AND VIBRATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *SLC

HELP! I HAVE A REPORT THAT SAYS THERE IS OVER 2 MILL CLAIMS ON THIS TIRE. STILL NO RECALL. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE THESE TIRES RECALLED. WHO CAN I TALK TO? THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP AND FIRESTOME FABRICATED A STORY TO ME! SINCERELY TAMMY FORRESTER 949-587-3299 THANKS*****AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TIRES WERE CUPPED AND MADE THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EVENTHOUGH THE TIRES HAD PLENTY TREAD THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE EDGES OF THE TIRES AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE EXPOSED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAULTY TIRES. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION AND NOISE WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THESE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED OTHER REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED FLAT TIRES ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FIRST TIRE WENT FLAT ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00T005 AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO ONE FLAT AND TREADWEAR AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS. *MJS

THERE IS METAL FATIGUE OF DOOR PANEL AT HINGE AT THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE COMPANY SAYS THE DOOR HAS TO BE REPLACED, THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED AS A FIX WOULD FURTHER FATIGUE THE METAL. THE BENDING OF THE METAL IS TAKING PLACE WHERE THE HINGE ATTACHES AND IS BENDING THE PANEL UP SO THAT WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, THE BENT BODY WORK ACTS AS A SCOOP, DRAWING RAIN WATER, AIR AND, I ASSUME, EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I COMPLAINED TO FORD AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL COVER APPROX. $1,000 OF THE $1300 ESTIMATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER GENEROUS THAT MAY BE, I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAN IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY AFFECT MANY MORE THAN JUST MY UNIT. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR....THE EARLIEST I CAN GET AN APPT. IS 12/11. THE DEALER HAS BEEN MOST COOPERATIVE IN THIS BUT THE EXPENSE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR IS LARGE AND, IN MY ESTIMATION, SHOULD BE 100% COVERED BY THE COMPANY. JM. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AND JERKS FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (00T-005), HOWEVER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DRY ROT AND SEPARATION PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *MJS

WINDSHIELD WASHER WILL NOT SPRAY FLUID. SAFETY CONCERN AS VISIBILITY CAN BE IMPAIRED, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. HAVE SEEN FORD DISCUSSION GROUPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, POSSIBILITY RELATED TO EXCESSIVE GREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS OF THE WIPER AND WASHER SPRAY SWITCH. *AK

ALL 4 TIRES SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE RECALL. HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A SET OF GOODYEAR WRANGLER ATS. STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES AS I AM TRYING TO HEIGHTEN THE AWARENESS THAT THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS WITH THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE PLANTS OTHER THAN DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAVING DEFECTIVE TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY176 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

ONE TIRE CAME APART AND CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). NLM

ALL THESE TIRES SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING. ISSUE RATHER THAN A DESIGN ISSUE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR MIDDLE, WHEN A PERSON SITS NEXT TO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND BUCKLES THEIR SEAT BELT, THE RELEASE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE RESTRAINT AND THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT PREVENTS ACCESS TO THE RELEASE, IN AN EMERGENCY THE RELEASE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO AND THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT RELEASES CHANGED. *SLC

TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES IS SEPARATING. THERE ARE CRACKS ALL AROUND CASING NEAR THE WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE OR TIRES TO RETAILER. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15 , DOT CODE VN. *AK

A YEAR AGO MY DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO CYCLE UP AND DOWN WITHOUT MY HELP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT BUT ONLY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. IT IS HARD TO TAKE IT IN WHEN IT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT STOPS AND DOES NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR A LONG TIME. AT TIMES IT WILL GO ON FOR 10 MINUTES. *AK

THE HOOD LATCH ON THE VEHICLE IS TOO WEAK RESULTING IN THE HOOD OPENING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE 1998 EXPLORER HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH, HOWEVER THE 1997 MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *MJS

IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE HAS FAILED TWICE , ONLY LASTED ABOUT 20,000 MILES.THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT-S TIRES MAKING AN ODD NOISE, REPLACED TIRES DUE TO TIRES BEGINNING TO SPLIT, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT M6HLTB1R286. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE LEFT REAR GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER SHARPLY TO THE SIDE, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE COMPLETELY DISITEGRATED, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSENT. NLM

ALL 4 OF MY TIRES WERE BAD AT 44,000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/70/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/70/16 )

CALL RED HICKEY FOR IMPORTANT CAUSE FINDING OF TIRE WEAR IN SUSPENSION 828 253 4311 HE HAS INVESTIGATED IT ON MANY EXPLORERS. AS SOON AS YOU ROTATE YOUR TIRES THE TROUBLE STARTS. THE WEAR ON OUR VEHICLE AT BOTH FRONT IS NOT THE AIR PREASURE. HICKEY SAYS IT IS A FORD DESIGN FLAW KNOWN AND IGNORED FOR YEARS AND OVERLOOKED BY MOST SHOPS. HE IS IN THE ALLIGNMENT BUSINESS THE LAST 40 YEARS AND KNOWN AS AN EXPERT IN THE AREA FOR PROBLEMS OTHERS CAN'T FIX.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THE FIRESTONE TIRES DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER DOT NUMBER THEREFORE FIRESTONE/FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES, THE TIRES HAVE NOT FAILED. NLM

TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE ON OUTSIDE EDGE BUT I HAD IT REPLACED BEFORE FAILURE OCCURRED. TIRE MANUFACTURED AT WILSON, NC PLANT. I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS OF THE SAME SIZE. HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT SINCE CODE W2HL NOT IN RECALL. (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THE BRAKES DOES NOT STOP THE EXPLORER WITHIN ANY ALLOWED TIME, EVEN IF ONE SET OF WHEELS ARE ON DRY PAYMENT. I HAVE CLOSE TO 3 COLLISION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN THOUGH I DID EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SUPPOSE TO WITH ABS BRAKES. *AK

AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH WAS STUCK AND OWNER COULD NOT DEFROST WINDOWS, RESULTING IN DECREASED VISIBILITY. MECHANIC REPLACED BLENDER UNIT.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00T005, HOWEVER WHEN DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE FIRESTONE TIRES, THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALLED TIRES, THE CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

REAR TAILGATE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE CONSUMERS TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION THEREFORE THEY WERE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REINBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRE WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. NLM

NOV '00 - TRUCK WOULD NOT START, HAD TO GET JUMP START. TOOK INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. DIAGNOSIS - IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE REPLACED. DEC '00 - TRUCK WOULD NOT START, HAD TO JUMP START. TOOK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. DIAGNOSIS - GEM MODULE REPLACED. JAN '01 - TRUCK WOULD NOT START OR JUMP START. TOWED TO DEALER. DIAGNOSIS - CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR REPLACED. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THESE ALL WERE ELECTRONIC PARTS. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY WOULD FAIL WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. CURRENTLY, THE 4WD INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASH PERIODICALLY. LEFT VOICE MESSAGE WITH DEALER SERVICE ON 2/5 TO DISCUSS/FIX. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL AND POP. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE FOR SWAY BAR;HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AFTER 21/2 YEARS. *YH