1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE REAR LIFT GATE DOOR IS TEARING AWAY FROM THE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE LIFT GATE DOOR HINGE ON THE LEFT SIDE (DIRVERS SIDE). THE DOOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM TO CLOSE AND WAS AJAR FROM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD COME ON ALL THE TIME, AND OF COUSE THE NUMBEROUS TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULD NEVER "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". NOW IT IS BEYOND THE POINT OF AJUSTMENT. THE WHOLE LIFTGATE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIAMETLY $1,200. IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD AS I HAVE TO PULL OUT THE FUSETO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT, IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS AJAR. WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE TO STOP TO PUT THE FUSE BACK IN AND DRIVE WITHT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON, WHICH IS VERY HARD TO SEE. ALSO FUMES COME IN FROM THE EXHAUST SO I CAN'T GO FOR LONG TRIPS N IT. IF I DIDN'T LIKE THE CAR SO MUCH I WOULD TRADE IT IN, BUT I REALLY LOVE MY EXPLORER EXCEPT FOR THIS DEFECT IN CONSTRUCTION. (IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT.) I AM TAKING IT IN TO BE FIXED NEXT WEEK.*AK

1997 FORD EXPLORER. WITH MALFUCTION CAR WOULD NOT STOP FAST IDELLIG AFTER AFER USING CRUISE CONTROL. COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP CAUSED THE BRAKES TO CATCH FIRE AD BURN. DUE TO TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR AT A SLOW SPEED. TILL I WAS AT ASAFE AREA WERE I COULD ABTAIN HELP.*AK

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK ON MY WAY HOME. I HAD DRIVEN 12 MILES WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD BY THE STEERING COLUMN. I PULLED OVER AND BY THE TIME I GRABBED MY LAPTOP AND WALKED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE TO CALL FOR HELP THE TRUCK WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND WAS ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNDT TRUCK, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. I ALSO STILL HAVE THE BURNDT TRUCK. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THERE WAS A FAULT SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH ON THIS FIRE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PICTURES OR THE VEHICLE THAT CAN BE ARRANGED. *AK

HEATER IN VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE DURING A SLEET AND ICE STORM. HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED CAUSING ONLY COLD AIR TO BLOW OUT OF HEATER AND DEFROSTER, WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. HEATER BOX AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED THAT COST ME $700.00. 8NM

THE HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL FAILSEDTO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE SWAY BAR LINKS WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

TRANSFER CASE HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION THERE WAS A SAFETY NOTICE FROM FORD, BUT NO RECALL. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE THIRD EXPLORER THEY HAD FIXED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN A WEEK.*AK

I HAVE TWO 1997 FORD EXPLORERS (AN XLT AND AN EDDIE BAUER) BOTH VEHICLES HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LATCHES AND POWER LOCKS. OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO INOPERABLE HANDLES AND/OR LOCKS. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR FRACTURED. RECALL 00V402000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.....SWAY BAR BROKE IN JULY 2004. CAR FELT LIKE BOAT WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN JANUARY 2005. *AK

REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS; THROTTLE BODY PLATE AND CAM CHAIN GUIDE ON MOTORS. *BF THE ENGINE THROTTLE PLATE STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WARMING THE VEHICLE ON A COLD DAY. RECALL #00V422000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE STARTER DID NOT KICK IN PER INVOICE. *SC