1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF VERY POOR DESIGN; THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL - IT IS A SIMPLE PART, SUBJECTED TO VERY MINOR LOADS. WORSE, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MUST BE DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE IT, AND RATHER THAN REPLACING JUST THE BLEND DOOR (A LITTLE FLAPPER THAT CONTROLS THE MIX OF HOT AND COLD AIR), YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER PLENUM ASSEMBLY.*AK

I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND THE TIRE THREAD CAME APART ALOT. ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE EXPLORER AND ALMOST GOT KILLED ON SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD'S 800 NUMBER AS A COMPLAINT. I TOLD THE LADY ON THE PHONE THAT THIS CAR WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT I WAS GOING TO RETURN IT TO MY FINANCE COMPANY. I WAS VERY FREIGHTEN AND UPSET BECAUSE ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN COULD HAVE DIED.THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TIRES.THE TIRES WERE CONSTANTLY THREADING.IN EARLY 2000 I RETURNED THE EXPLORER BECAUSE I FEARED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SAFETY. NLM (TIRESIZE: P22570R15S)

TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH BROKE, COLD AIR WAS BEING DISTRIBUTED. CONSUMER UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD.*AK *YH

A/C QUIT WORKING, WENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE A/C ACCUMULATOR HAS RUST HOLES IN IT .THE FOAM AROUND IT KEPT THE ACCUMULATOR WET AND CAUSED IT TO RUST THROUGH. LETTING OUT THE FREON.WHAT IF ALL EXPLORER'S DO THIS ? IF I HAD KNOWN THE DAY IT WAS BOUGHT. IT WAS GOING TO DO THIS , I WOULD HAVE PULLED THE FOAM OFF. IT RUSTED BECAUSE OF THE WAY FORD WRAPPED IT.THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. JUST LOOK AT ALL THE FREON THAT IS GOING TO BE LOST IN THE AIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTREST ; TIM CARGLE. *AK

WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE VEHICLE HESITATES TO START.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE ON PASSENGER SIDE, CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN AND COULD NOT GET OUT, SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE CHILD; IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR 2 HOURS. *TT

THE THROTTLE CABLE ON OUR EXPLORER SNAPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING PUT ON CRUISE CONTROL; THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. OUR 19 YR. OLD DAUGHTER PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT COULD ONLY GET THE CAR DOWN TO 55 MPH. SHE WAS WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE DULLES ACCESS RD BUT WAS ABLE TO GRAB HER CELL PHONE AND CALL 911. THEY ASKED HER IF SHE COULD GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD (WHICH SHE MANAGED TO DO) AND TOLD HER TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. SHE FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANY ONE OR ANYTHING...A MIRACLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR SUFFERED $3500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. FORD HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.*AK

SEAT BELT LOCKED UP ON PASSENGER'S SIDE,HAD TO CUT BELT TO REMOVE INFANT. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING.*AIK

DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

LAST DAY OF RECALL..... ACCORDING TO NEWSPAPER..... UNABLE TO FIND DEALER WHO CAN REPLACE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

I CHECKED AIR PRESSURE ON ALL 4 TIRES AT 4PM THAT AFTERNOON BEFORE GETTING ON FREEWAY TO BE SURE THEY WERE AT THE MANUFACTURE'S SPEC. STAMPED ON EACH TIRE. THE TIRE TREAD DETACHED FROM THE TIRE ITSELF WHICH STILL HELD AIR AND REMAINED ON THE RIM. FIRESTONE DENIES TIRE DEFECT. NLM (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIPO396 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)