1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE WAS FROZEN. YH

FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES SHE CAN FEEL EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S WHEEL COLLASPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. *AK

BOTH BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ONE. A FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD NUMEROUS PARTS TO CORRECT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS NEWER MODEL HAS A FEATURE WHERE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN SPEED(5MPH?). I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE DOORS AND IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING THEM. IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THIS PROBLEM WOULD DELAY THE TIME THAT THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT COULD BE SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.. *AK

GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES (P235R15) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE VERY FIRST TIME I WENT TO USE THE SPARE TIRE ON THIS 97 EXPLORER THE WINCH FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ALL FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, TIRES WERE BADLY DAMAGED, FIRESTONE WILL NOT HONOR REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST. *CJ

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH SNOW ON PAVEMENT CONSUMER HEARD NOISE UNDER VEHICLE. ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING TRUCK TO ROLLOVER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WE (HERNDON, VA RESIDENTS - JANE, MY SON TJ-15, MY DAUGHTER BOBBIE-13, AND I) WERE RETURNING FROM SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH JANE'S SISTER, ANNE, AND OUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, JACK, IN DETROIT. WE DEPARTED FROM FARMINGTON HILLS MI (DETROIT) AT 9:30AM IN A LIGHT SNOW. IT WORSENED AS WE GOT INTO OHIO, BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEARED AND IN SOME AREAS WERE SALTED. MOST TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN ONE LANE, THE FAR RIGHT ONE CLOSEST TO THE SHOULDER. THAT IS WHERE I WAS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER WE STARTED THE TRIP I HEARD A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES FROM UNDER THE CAR. MY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV), A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, HAS A SERIES OF SETTINGS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE (4WD), I.E., AUTO 4WD, 4WD HIGH, AND 4WD LOW. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THE NOISE TO BE THE CAR SHIFTING FROM 2WD TO 4WD AS IT SENSED THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I ATTEMPTED TO SET IT TO 4WD, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. SINCE THE NOISE DID NOT STOP I SET IT BACK TO THE SETTING I HAD IT IN MOST OF THE TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 1PM, I AM CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LOCKING THE WHEELS, WHICH PUT ME INTO A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN THE CAR ROLLED OVER, WENT IN AND OUT OF A DITCH (LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD) ON ITS SIDE, AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED RIGHT SIDE UP WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR POINTED DOWNWARD INTO THE DITCH TOWARD THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT SUBURBAN COLLISION CENTER, 1151 WEST BAGLEY ROAD, BUREA, OH 44017 (440) 243-5533. *AK

TENSIONER PLASTIC PIECE WICH SUPPORTS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK