1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THERE IS A CONSTANT RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE LEVELED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE AND CROSSED THE STREET ONTO THE NEIGHBORS PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIAMATELY 500 FEET BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. (CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY AND THE VEHICLE) THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION ON THE PART OF THE EXPLORER AND THAT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. *SCC

ON SLIGHT INCLINES VEHICLE ROLLS EITHER UP OR DOWN HILL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON SLIGHT INCLINE, VEHICLE ROLLS EITHER UP OR DOWN HILL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED. *SLC

THE AC ACCUMULATOR HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE ACCUMULATOR HAS A THERMAL WRAP-AROUND BLANKET AND EVIDENTLY EXCESS MOISTURE IS TRAPPED BETWEEN IT AND THE ALL-STEEL ACCUMULATOR. REMOVING IT EASILY EXPOSES THE RUST.*AK

A/C WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID ACCUMULATOR WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (QUOTED $895). THIS PART RUSTS BECAUSE IT IS WRAPPED IN FOAM. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996-1998 EXPLORERS. THE 1999 AND LATER MODELS DO NOT HAVE THE WRAPPING ON THE ACCUMULATOR.*AK

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. *MJ

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C-HEATER THAT RESULTS IN A FAILURE TO DEFOG/DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.

I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE AIR BLEND DOOR / HVAC SYSTEM AT A SAFETY LEVEL DUE TO THE FACT THIS THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

CONSUMER HAS 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT SIZE R25570R16 (DOT # W2101FX067) TIRES LEAKING AIR. THESE TIRES WERE INVOLVED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 01T006000. FORD REFUNDED TWO TIRES AS PART OF REFUND PROMOTION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE FOR THE 2 REMAINING TIRES. *TT