1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON ANY ROAD CONDITION, THE VEHICLE SWAYED VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED IN 2003. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V402000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT A DIAGNOSTICS TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED BEFORE ANY WORK WAS TO BE DONE. THE TEST SHOWED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE CAMBER CASTOR KIT WERE DAMAGED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AND BOTH REAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR HAD DIFFICULTIES CLOSING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH OFFERED $6000 FOR A TRADE IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DECLINED ALL REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/11/06. *JB

BRAKES FAILED WHILE BACKING UP DUE TO A HOLE RUSTED IN THE REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CALIPER TO THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER. LOST ALL BRAKING. TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE WHERE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON. THIS IS ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LINE ,WHICH HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST EXCEPT FOR THE CENTER AREA THAT IS HELD BY A RETAINING CLIP TO THE TOP OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A NORMAL EVENT AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WAS SURPRISED TO BE TOLD THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON! I HAD TO SPEND $283.00 PLUS A TOWING FEE TO HAVE A PROBLEM CORRECTED, THAT I FEEL IS A PREMATURE FAILURE. I AT FIRST EXPECTED TO FIND A BLOWN CALIPER OR A BRAKE HOSE SPLIT, NOT A RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE. I DO HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LINE IN MY POSSESSION. *JB

OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT COMPLETELY UP DESTROYING A 6000.00 STEREO SYSTEM, 2 SETS OF GOLF CLUBS, PART OF A DECK, AND PARTS OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NM

I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT. MY AC BLEND DOOR FAILED THIS WINTER. I CAN GET EITHER FULL HEAT OR FULL COLD AND NO IN BETWEEN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS COSTS ABOUT $1000 TO HAVE FIXED. IT IS A RIDICULOUS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN FAIRLY OFTEN IN FORD VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED. THANK YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A BRAKE FLUID LEAK THAT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. THERE WAS A RECALL #97V074000 PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER.

I SEE ALL OF THE RECALLS ON THE FORD EXPLORER DATE 1997 BUT I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 1997 AND THE ONLY RECALL NOTICE THAT I RECEIVED IS THE ONE FOR THE TIRES BACK IN 2000. I NEVER RECEIVED THE OTHERS AND I KNOW THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF ME OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR I GET NOTICES IN THE MAIL CONSTANTLY ABOUT SELLING IT BACK TO FORD. WHY ARE NOT MY SUSPENSION LINES OR GAS LINES BEING REPAIRED LIKE THE OTHER FORDS WITH THE 4.0 LITER ENGINE? *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE FUSES FOR THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND COMPASS BURNED OUT. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. WITH OUT REPLACING THE FUSE, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS INSPECTED, BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED TO BE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO SERVICE DEALER HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECENT FORD RECALL EXPANSION, WHICH THE CONTACT HEARD ABOUT ON THE NEWS, DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

I OWNED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. ON JULY 29, 2005 MY TRUCK WAS IN MY YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT HOME AT THE TIME. MY INSURANCE PAID A PORTION OF THE LOAN I STILL HAD ON THE VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR HAS NOT RECALLED 1997 EXPLORERS BUT HAVE 1998. THE FIRE REPORT ISSUED CLAIMS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

1997 FORD EXPLORER TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON I-16 WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF A COOPER FUTURA TIRE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL VEHICLE FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES THEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING ANOTHER FLIP THIS TIME TAIL OVER NOSE CAUSE ALL 4 KIDS TO BE THROWN OUT KILLING ONE ON IMPACT AND ANOTHER DIED 2 DAYS LATER FROM INJURIES IN HOSPITAL. *NM