1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDEL STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. PH

HEATER RUNS AT FULL HEAT NO MATER WHAT TEMPERATURE SELECTED. *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 DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING VEHICLE STARTS SMOKING UNDER HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

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

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

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. THEY SENT THE GMC DEALER A NEW HARNESS WHICH STILL WAS NOT THE RIGHT ONE. THE GMC DEALER THEN BUILT A HARNESS FOR MY VEHICLE TO GET ME HOME AS I HAD BEEN STRANDED IN MONTANA FOR THREE WEEKS AT THIS POINT LIVING IN MOTEL ROOMS WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN. AT THIS POINT FORD IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOW MY VEHICLE IS AT THE FORD SERVICE CENTER IN TEMECULA CA AND THERE CONT. TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HELP PLEASE THIS IS AN EXTREME DANGER!!*AK

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING, THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*SCC

1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED TWO FAILURES OF THE BRAKE LINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BOTH FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY CORROSION. *JB

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

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

THROTTLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE.*AK

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.

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAR DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT, HAD PANEL REPLACED STILL NO HEAT. TS

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

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 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

HEATER BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT CHANGE POSITIONS. IT IS STUCK IN THE POSITION ONLY GIVING ME AIR CONDITIONING FULL TIME. NO MATTER WHERE THE DIAL ON THE DASH IS TURNED THE HEAT REFUSES TO ACTIVATE. THROUGH A QUICK SERIES OF ODD WEATHER OCCURRENCES I FOUND MY WINDSHIELD COVERED IN A LAYER OF ICE THAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED SINCE THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ON THE DEFROSTER. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION. I HAVE NO OPTION NOW BUT TO HAVE THE HEATER PLENUM REPLACED AT A COST $1010. *NM

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

WHILE DRIVING IGINITION LOCKS UP. *AK

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

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

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

DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE SEIZING OD BRAKE CALIPERS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IF SO, IT SEAMS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

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

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

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

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

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

REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE AND IT IS NOT THE CHILD DETERRENT LEVER ON DOOR, HEATING SYSTEM OVERRIDES A/C HEATER SOMETIMES DOSEN'T WORK. RECLINE LEVER BROKE OFF. *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

MY EXPLORER ONLY PRODUCES WARM AIR FOR HEAT AND DEFOGGING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS TOO HOT TO WANT OR NEED WARM AIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS IT IS THE BLEND DOOR & ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED. I SAY IT DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE, THEY DISAGREE. NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DEFOGG A WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NLM

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

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ACCELLERATED OUT OF CONTROL. MY BRAKES & OTHER COMPONANTS BROKE IN MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP. LUCKILY I DID NOT CRASH, FLIP OR RUN SOMEONE OVER AS IT TOOK SEVERAL MILES TO STOP. I WAS TOWED TO FREEDOM FORD IN BEACON, NY WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE FORD AIR FILTER BROKE AND WEDGED THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I INCURRED BRAKE DAMAGE, TOWING, TRAVEL EXPENSES, AND SUBSEQUENT THRODDLE REPAIRS DONE AT PLEASANTVILLE FORD IN PLEASANTVILLE, NY.

TAILGATE WHILE IN LIFTED POSITION FELL/FAILED DUE TO LEFT REAR BRACKET COMING OFF, CAUSING MINOR INJURY TO OWNER. CHILD ALMOST INJURIED DUE TO BRAKET FAILURE. *AK