1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

VEHICLE HAD A TIRE BURST WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR AWHILE AND WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR A SEVERAL DAYS. SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL BILLS, EXTENDED THERAPY NOR FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A TIRE. *PH

LAST FALL WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A "BURNING RUBBER SMELL" COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. IT ONLY SEEMD TO MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 60 MPH. WHEN WE DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS AT THE POSTED RATE OF SPEED, WE FOUND THERE WAS NO SMELL WHATSOEVER. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC CHECK THINGS OUT AND LATER OUR LOCAL TIRES PLUS, IN BOTH INSTANCES NOTHING WAS FOUND. TODAY WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK IT OUT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. THIS WORRIES US, FOR RECENTLY ON THE LOCAL NEWS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CAR FIRES AND I JUST HAPPENED TO VIEW ONE OF THE VIDEOS THAT SHOWED ONE OF THE VEHICLES ON FIRE. IT WAS A FORD EXPLORER AND THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU FIND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. P.S. THE WHEEL IS FINE.*AK

THERE SEEMS TO BE A BURNING RUBBER SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. *JB

ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM I WAS PULLING MY WIFE'S 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING STALL. I HAD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ROAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAINST MY BRAKING. I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL IT STRUCK A CAR OPPOSITE MY PARKING STALL. I PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED MY RIGHT FOOT POSITION AND CONFIRMED THAT I WAS ONLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR ROLLED BACK A COUPLE OF FEET. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND BACKED THE CAR UP ANOTHER 3 FEET. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS NOT RECURRED BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT AGAIN. *JB

CONSUMER IS A VICTIM OF ODOMETER FRAUD, ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT'S UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH EXHAUST SYSTEM, BALL JOINT, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *CB

REPLACEMENT TIRES P23575R15 105S ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, THERE'S VIBRATION FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE.*AK THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES UNDER THE FIRESTONE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE BALANCED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND ONLY HAD THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GOODYEAR REPLACE THE FAULTY TIRE AT NO COST TO HIM. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT GRINDING NOISE AND PULSING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, DEALERSHIP ADDED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE PARTICULAR MODEL. *LA *MR

THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED OPERATING AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE HEATING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS GONE BAD IN MY 97, 4WD, FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT HAS 93,000 MILES, IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 58,000 MILES. THIS IS DUE TO A MAUNFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR CONSIDERATION AS A NATIONAL RECALL OR COVERED BY FORD AS A OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN UNREPAIRED THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY FORD. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC 4WD SYSTEM SELECTS 4WD ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING SHARP TURNS CAUSING THE GEARS TO BIND, INTERMITTENTLY - ABOUT HALF THE TIME. HOWEVER THE SAME "AUTOMATIC" 4WD SELECTION DOES NOT RESULT IN 4WD WHEN WHEELS ARE SLIPPING. IN FACT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 4WD WHEN "AUTO" IS SELECTED SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY RANDOM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID "IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." I AM ABOUT TO REWIRE THE SYSTEM TO A MANUAL SELECTOR AS I AM NOW ON MY OWN WITH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. HOWEVER FORD HAS SEEN THE LAST OF MY MONEY. *CB