1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, DID NOT MOVE, CAUSING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WHEN VEHICLE IS GOING DOWNHILL. IT ACCELERATES.

BOLT HOLDING STEERING COLUMN TOGETHER FELL OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE WHEELS.

WHEN CHANGING GEAR INTO REVERSE DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION WILL CAUSE A TEN SECONDS DELAY, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR. DEALER HAS REBUILT TRANSMISSION, NOW SAYING THIS IS NORMAL WITH VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES: BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKY NOISE, PADS AND ROTORS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED WITHIN A YEARS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN HE BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES, THE THROTTLE WILL GO UP AND THE BRAKES WILL GO FLAT, CONSUMER WAS THEN SITTING WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES DOING 2000 RPM'S, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN HE MOVES HIS FOOT THE THROTTLE GOES DOWN. CONSUMER HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS, HE HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SIX RECORDED TIMES, AND MANY TIMES UNRECORDED. DEALERSHIP--NEILL SANDLER--FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY--OF 3699 AIRPORT HIGHWAY, ALCOA, TN.--423-970-2500. *AK

WHEN BACKING UP, THE GAS PEDAL MAY STICK. YOU MUST TAP THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE IT. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE MAY LURTCH FORWARD AND IF YOU'RE ON AN INCLINE IT MAY ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE ENGAGING.

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. ALSO, THE REAR SEAT BOTTOMS DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION, CAUSING PASSENGERS FALL WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING VEHICLE. SEAT BOTTOM FLIPS FORWARD WHEN WEIGHT IS POSITIONED ON THE FRONT EDGE.

WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN THROUGH PUDDLES, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN BUT THE POWER STEERING CEASES TO OPERATE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES FAIL. THIS LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO MINUTES.

RACK AND PINION STEERING TOO SENSITIVE AND TOO TIGHT, CAUSING LACK OF STEERING CONTROL (WANDERS).