1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *AK

CANNOT ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM - ALWAYS BLOWS COLD AIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED THE WRONG PARTS AT TIME OF PRODUCTION. THE PART FAILS AND THEN YOU CANNOT ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE - IT ALWAYS BLOWS COLD AIR. THIS, IT SEEMS TO ME, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR IN COLD CLIMATES. *LA

CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ALARM CHIMED, INDICATING THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR. DRIVER GOT OUT TO CHECK THE DOORS. HEARD SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE GEAR WAS ENGAGING. THEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CONSUMER GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT WAS DRAGGED 300 FEET BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP BY SLAMMING INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.*AK

THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY POPPED INTO 4X4 MODE WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *NLM THE VEHICLES WIPERS ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ALL THESE FAILURES WERE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY GEM MODULE. THE MODULE HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA. *TS *NLM

IN A ROLL OVER CRASH CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS KILLED DUE TO REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISCONNECTING, AND SHE WAS EJECTED FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD.*AK

DEFROSTER DOES NOT DEFROST/DEFOG WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE HEAT/AC BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN. COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD EXPLORERS. FORD IS REMISS IN NOT RECALLING THE VEHICLE TO FIX THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 062 00, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGED, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED THREE TIMED. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FELL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER ACROSS THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA# 03-V-281-000 ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. THE CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *PH

CONSUMER STATES REAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK DUE TO LATCHES BREAKING. DOOR LATCHES HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES.*AK