1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY HEARD A LOUD NOISE , LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO AN ENBANKMENT HITTOING A TREE.*AK

MICHELIN, 17, TIRE INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. VEHICLE ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE STEERING COLUMN KNUCKLE THAT HOLDS THE TWO-PIECE COLUMN TOGETHER (UNDER THE DASH) WAS IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED OR MANUFACTURED. ONE OF TWO ASSEMBLY PINS WAS MISSING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FREE-SPIN, RESULTING IN COMPLETE STEERING LOSS.*AK

SEALANT USED AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DISSOLVING AND CAUSINGT WATER TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK UPON ACCELERATION, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAS REPLACED PEDAL.*JB *SLC

TRANSFER CASE BEARING BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SHIMMERING AND SHAKING, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. AFTER REPAIRS, MAIN DRIVESHAFT BEARING FAILED WITH SAME RESULT.*AK

FORD HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND STILL IS DOING NOTHING TO APPEASE THEIR CUSTOMERS. MINE IS STUCK BLOWING COLD AIR, SO SHOULD I NEED IT TO DEFOG OR DEFROST MY WINDOWS DURING A RAIN OR SNOWSTORM (OF WHICH WE HAVE MANY IN MINNESOTA) I CANNOT. I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PART FAILING AND COMPLAINTS WRITTEN TO FORD ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL FORD MODELS, YET THEY REFUSE TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.*AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WELDS BROKE AND THE PEDAL SHIFTED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE CRUISING AT 55/60 ON HIGHWAY. WHEN I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I COULDN'T APPLY THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS N THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, RELEASE THE BRAKE AND KICK THE GAS PEDAL OUT FROM UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***762252

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS STIFF, AND CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A TURN FELT LIKE WHEELS WERE GOING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT FRONT AND REAR SENSOR IN TRANSFER CASE HAD GONE BAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON MAY 4TH PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1995 THRU 1999 EXPLORERS AND 1997-99 MOUNTAINEERS, BUILT THROUGH 4/98 WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR WHICH BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND PREVENTS TEMPERATURE REGULATION . FORD REVISED THIS PLENUM USING NYLON AS A REINFORCEMENT , WHICH IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IS A CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.*AK