1997 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT WHEN IT GETS WARM EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD MISFIRE AND SEEM AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES ERUPTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

ENGINE REVVS AND VEHICLE IS THRUSTED FORWARD AT TOP SPEED FROM DEAD START OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND ON THIS PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND ACCIDENT. *TR

1997 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC, MY ENGINE IS MAKING A TERRIBLE RATTLE SOUND WHILE RUNNING, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY THAT ITS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS, AND THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP OWNERS TO GET THIS REPAIRED. *TR

FORD 4.0L SOHC TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. CURRENTLY MY TIMING CHAINS ARE STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE PLASTIC TENSIONERS BREAK, LEADING TO CHAIN SLACK, AND EVENTUALLY, BREAKAGE. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT AS OF YET, THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THEM IS TO BUY $500-$600 WORTH OF PARTS AND TOOLS, REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE CAR AND REPAIR AND REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS AND GUIDES. *TR

DRIVING ALONG EVERYTHING IS FINE, LOSE POWER PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE I SEE BLACK SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES, COULDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE OF POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS. WENT TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND KICKED MY WAY OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MINUTES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. *TR

MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT CHAIN WAS BROKEN OR LET GO. I WAS ADVISED BY FORD THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY EVERYONE WHO OWNED THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PARTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND THEY ONLY TOLD THE FORD DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND NOT THE PUBLIC. AND THEY ALSO PURGED ALL THE "OLD RECORDS" AS THEY CALL THEM AND CANNOT TELL IF THEY NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY HACKETTSTOWN FORD WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE SALES MANAGERS WIFES CAR AND IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE., I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE ARE OVER 5 MILLION FORD EXPLORERES AND MERCURY SUV STILL ON THE ROAD. THERE IS NO WAY A CONSUMER CAN TELL IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN YOUOR VEHICLE JUST DIES, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS OR EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM OR ARE STILL DRIVING THESE VEHICLES AND WONT KNOW UNTIL IT HAPPENS. IT COST ME $14,999 WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND IT COST ME OVER $6,000. FOR A NEW ENGINE. WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR US? IF I WAS TOLD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED I WOULD HAVE IT ONLY COST ABOUT $100.00 TO PULL THEY ENGINE DOWN TO THE CAM SHAFT CHAIN AND CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAD MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY FOUR MECHANICS WHO KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. PLEASE HELP ME AND THE PUBLIC WITH THIS PROBLEM, I AM DISABLED AND HAD TO BORROW THE MONEY FOR THE ENGINE AND WILL HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY BACK FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. I COULDN'T BUY A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE FITS ME PERIFECT BECAUSE OF HAVING 35 SURGERIES FROM A AUTO ACCIDENT IN 1974.IF I SEE ANOTHER EXPLORER I STAY FAR AWAY FROM IT. . THE FUNNY THING IS WHEN YOU CALL FORD IN DETROIT THEY ASK YOU HOW MANY FORDS YOU HAVE PURCHASED IN YOUR LIFETIME AND WOULD YOU EVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED OVER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER AND DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT FELT THAT A LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, RAISED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,200.

THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO THE FAN SHIELD. THE FORD MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. IT WAS GOOD THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 30MPH AT THE TIME OR IT WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGHT THE FAN ITS SELF. IT COULD HAVE HAD MANY CONSEQUENCES. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO START UP THE 1997 FORD EXPLORER SINCE 02/09/07. THE CONTACT HAD REPLACED THE STARTER, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THEY PULLED THE FRONT END OF THE MOTOR AND NOTICED SOMETHING SNAPPED AND WAS SITTING IN THE PAN. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN ON THE INTERNET AND HAD NOTICED THAT OTHER EXPLORERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 98000 MILES.*AK

ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE. FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE HAD TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. WHEN DECELERATING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WOULD ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISE ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS NOT DOWN SHIFTING. FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. ENDING UP HAVING TO HAVE A MECHANIC REBUILD TRANSFER CASE, COST ALMOST $1000.00. NOW FIVE MONTHS LATER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON. REPLACED SENSORS AND SPARK PLUG ON #4 CYLINDER TWICE. THIS WILL BE REPLACEMENT NUMBER 3 FOR SPARK PLUG IN FOUR MONTH PERIOD. MECHANICS CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY. *JB

WHEN I STOPPED USING MY AC AND TURNED ON THE HEAT IN MY 97 FORD EXPLORER ALL I GET IS COLD AIR. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL HEAT SETTINGS INCLUDING DEFROST. I TALKED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MAN THERE SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE BLEND DOOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $800-1000 TO REPAIR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET AS I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH SPARE CASH FOR THIS REPAIR. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE 116,000 MILES ON IT BUT I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THIS OUT ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH 95-99 EXPLORERS. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD ON THIS? *JB

THE ENGINE ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DESTROYED MY VEHICLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE IDLED ERRATICALLY. WHILE TRAVELING AROUND CURVES OR DOWN HILLS, AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE HAS NEVER COMPLETELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE DUPLICATED. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

1997 FORD EXPLORER, 5.0 L ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR'S ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY RACES TO THE POINT THAT ITS BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD IT BACK. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN BACKING FROM A COLD START AND SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE EFFECT IS LIKE BEING SLAMMED INTO BY A LARGE VEHICLE. IT ALMOST KILLED MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER AND ME EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN IT HAPPENED AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT FELT LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR, BUT IT WAS THE ENGINE PULLING ITS OLD TRICK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ONE YEAR AGO HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE PCV VALVE AND HE REPLACED THE VALVE. THE CAR THEN BEHAVED FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WITH MY WIFE AT THE WHEEL, THE CAR, IN REVERSE, RACED OUT OF OUR GARAGE INTO THE STREET. IT WAS UNSTOPABLE. LATER IT DID THE SAME THING, WHILE IN DRIVE, AT INTERSECTIONS. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT THEN HAPPENED TO ME AND MY DAUGHTER AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO TESTED IT FOR A WEEK WITHOUT RESULTS.

AIR BLEND DOOR FAILURE. I ONLY HAVE HOT AIR.

THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING INVOLVES A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT (4.0L-5SPD-NON-AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL)--THE TEMP IS NOT CONTROLLABLE AND REMAINS HOT ALL THE TIME EXCEPT FOR MAX A/C--THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO COMMONLY INVOLVE BUT IS NOT NECCESSARILY LIMITED TO THE BLEND DOOR, BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR AND HEATER BOX--TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHER OR INJURIES CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANT NON THE LESS . *AK

I BOUGHT THE EXPLORER LAST APRIL AND THE A/C WORKED FINE, BUT WHEN WINTER GOT HERE THE HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW WARM AIR. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THERMOSTATE AND LOOKED AT OTHER THINGS, BUT COULD NOT FIX IT. I THEN TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER 97 FORD EXPLORER--AND IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR. THAT THE DOOR WAS A FACTOR DEFECT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $650.00 TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPLACED, AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT IS STUCK ON A/C AIR AND YOU CAN NOT DEFROST YOUR WINDSHILD WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND RESTRICTS VISION OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN FOGGED OR ICED WHICH COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE A BAD WRECK.