1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE TRUCK'S OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED AND THE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE TRUCK FAILED TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND THE # 3 CYLINDER MISFIRED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. *AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT WAS LOOSE AND ROCKED. THE DEALER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. RECALL 03V281000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE HIGH BACK SEAT, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK *SCC *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 98060000 CONCERNING FUEL LINE RUPTURE; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, THE CONSUMER CONNECTED THE CABLE TO THE FUEL LINE BRACKET. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL BRAID TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO RUPTURE. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO FIRST AND REVERSE. IT EXHIBITS TYPICAL PREMATURE SLAVE CYLINDER FAILURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND ENGAGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED BUT WASN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

THE DIAL THAT CONTROLS THE HOT/COLD FEATURE OF THE HEATING/AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT IN MY 1997 EXPLORER MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN TAKEN IN TO DEALER THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM IN EXPLORERS AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE WAS CONCERNED WITH IT HAPPENING IN HIS MOTHER'S CAR. *AK

LOSS OF REVERSE. FAILURE OF BEARING RACE ABOVE VALVE BODY CAUSED FLUID TO BE PORTED TO BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE DRIVE AT SAME TIME. WHEN REVERSE WAS SELECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL IN REARWARD DIRECTION TWO TO THREE FEET BEFORE BINDING AND ALL MOTION CEASED. DRIVE FORWARD WAS NOT ADVERSELY EFFECTED BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT AT THE COST OF $2800. WITH ONLY 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I OPTED FOR A SECOND OPINION. A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE "EXPLODER" TRANSMISSION AND COMPLETELY REBUILT THE UNIT FOR HALF THE FORD REPLACEMENT COST. *LA

TEMPERATURE CONTROL BLEND DOOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. STUCK ON COLD. UNABLE TO DEFROST AND DEFOG WINDOWS. *LA

HEATER BLEND DOOR HAS BROKEN, SO DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. DIFFICULTY SEEING OUT FRONT WINDOW IN COLD WEATHER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, FOR WHICH I WAS QUOTED A $900 REPAIR. *LA