1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

FUEL FILLER DOES NOT HAVE A GROUND STRAP WHICH CAUSED A BUILD UP OF STATIC ELECTRICITY AND RESULTED IN A FIRE.

UPON PURCHASE IN JUNE 1997, THROTTLE STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE PLATE ONCE IN APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 1997. THE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE PLATE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD IN APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 1998. IN JUNE 1999, THE THROTTLE HAS AGAIN BEGUN TO STICK AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 72,000 MILES, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE STILL JUST REPLACING THE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

RECALL NOTICE SENT TO CONSUMER (97V074/98R03), HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES REPAIR DUE TO STATE IN WHICH CONSUMER LIVES DOES NOT MATCH DESCRIPTION ON RECALL. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH COMPUTER SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE NO POWER/NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *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

THE THROTTLE BODY DESIGN ON 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0 LITRE SOHC ENGINE STICKS OR BINDS IN A CLOSED POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, THE BIND WILL RESULT IN NO GAS TO THE ENGINE. THEN THE BINDING STOPS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OFTEN AT SPEEDS HIGH ENOUGH TO CHIRP THE TIRES. THIS CAN BE A DANGERIOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. *AK

COMING TO STOP, APPLYING FOOT ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FOWARD, ENGINE WILL REV UP. CONSUMER MUST REAPPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

THERE IS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THERE IS NO FIX RIGHT NOW. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE. THEY CAN NOT GUARENTEE ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPEN AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 70 MPH, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND UNWANTED SPEED. CONSUMER THEREFORE HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, CONSUMER AWAITING SERVICE FROM MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IN ADDITION TO THE LOCKS UNLOCKING WHILE VEHILE IS UNATTENDED, THE LOCKS SPORATICALLY CLICK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE LOCKS DON'T LOCK IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE SUV IS PUT IN GEAR, THEY LOCK SOMETIMES UP TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AS OCCUPANT(S) OF VEHICLE ARE NOT SAFE FROM OUTSIDE GOINGS ON UNLESS VEHICLE IS LOCKED. IN ADDITION, THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM WITH INSURANCE IF VEHICLE IS STOLEN BECAUSE IT IS UNLOCKED. PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY.