1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT TRACKS AND ANCHORS. WHEN THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BACK SEAT TILTED UP AND THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED INTO THE AIR. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER JAMMED HER HEAD AGAINST THE CEILING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ON 2-DOOR MODEL. *AK

EARLY IN 1998 CONSUMER SAW OIL IN DRIVEWAY, SHE TOOK VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE IN FEBRUARY. A WEEK LATER THE OIL SPOT WAS BIGGER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER IN JUNE 98, AND THEY SAW NO LEAK. THE OIL LEAKS GOT BIGGER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS THREE TIMES. BANNER FORD--1665 SCOTT BLVD. DECATUR, GA---404-633-4005. VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING OIL TODAY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD/ ICY WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS FROZE, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND AN ACCIDENT. *AK.ET.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DOOR CLOSING IMPROPERLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND CODITION STILL OCCURRING. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND NOTICED ENGINE SMOKING. DEALER NOTICED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE THE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

1) THROTTLE CABLE BINDS UP. WHEN IT BREAKS FREE IT ADDS 1,000 RPM TO ENGINE SPEED. MOST PRONOUNCED AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY AND DEACTIVATING CRUISE WITH BRAKE PEDAL. ALMOST REARENDED CAR IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 2) SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP. RESTRAINS PASSENGER TO THE POINT OF PAIN. VERY DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. RETRACTOR REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY.

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IN A PANIC STOP SITUATION, THE DRIVERS FOOT WILL DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY AND AT THE SAME TIME OPEN THE THROTTLE OVER HALFWAY, ENGINE REVS TO NEARLY 3,000 RPM. I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED THIS TRUCK ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IF ONE IS A RIGHT FOOT HEEL AND TOE BRAKE OPERATOR WITH A NORMAL SIZE ADULT SHOE, THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW.

BROUGHT VEHICHLE INTO DIFFERENT FORD DEALER TO COMPLAIN OF NOISE, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE AIR PRESSSURE VALVE AND TO WAIT TILL IT GOT LOUDER TILL THEY WOULD FIX, ONE WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEY SAY IT IS A CRACKED DRUM AND REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION...NEVER HAD AN AIR VALVE PROBLEM

THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES AND AT 30,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY FORD I NEEDED AN AIR INDUCTION CLEANING. AT 37,000 MILES I NOW HAVE THE SAME GAS PEDAL PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN.

WHEN FILLING TANK WITH GASOLINE, IT DOES NOT TAKE THE LAST 4 GALLONS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS DUE TO PRESSURE FROM THE GAS VAPORS. IF FILLING VEHICLE VERY SLOWLY, GASOLINE WOULD TAKE. 98 MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, OWNER BELIEVES FORD TO CORRECT THE 97 MODEL. *AK.ET.