1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE HOOD LATCH ON THE VEHICLE IS TOO WEAK RESULTING IN THE HOOD OPENING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE 1998 EXPLORER HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH, HOWEVER THE 1997 MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *MJS

WHILE COMING TO A STOP, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE REVVED AND WENT FORWARD. *AK

A YEAR AGO MY DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO CYCLE UP AND DOWN WITHOUT MY HELP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT BUT ONLY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. IT IS HARD TO TAKE IT IN WHEN IT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT STOPS AND DOES NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR A LONG TIME. AT TIMES IT WILL GO ON FOR 10 MINUTES. *AK

HAVE A SPLIT LOCATED BETWEEN THE CENTER TREAD THAT IS VERTICAL BETWEEN THE TREAD BUT NOT IN THE THICK PART OF THE TREAD. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING A CORNER GAS PEDAL WILL GET STUCK. ONLY WAY TO GET IT BACK UP IS TO BANG ON IT OR TURN OFF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY 6 WEEKS. *AK IT OCCURS BOTH ON DRIVING STRAIGHT AND TURNING CORNERS, AS WELL AS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS.. *YH

TIRES BUILT IN JOLIETE QUEBEC NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT ALL 4 SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AT TREAD/SIDEWALL MEETING POINT. FORD DEALER DETERMINED TIRES UNSAFE AND REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES W/O CHARGE AFTER FIRESTONE REFUSED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

AFTER SEEING BACK TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEPARATING TO THE POINT WHERE CONSUMER SEES WIRES IN TIRES, AND TREAD SEPARATING, CALLED DEALER OF FIRESTONE, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS TO SPEAK WITH DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED VEHICLE. ALSO, THAT IF HIS TIRE WAS NOT ON RECALL HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR REPLACEMENTS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE TRANSFER CASE MAKES A GRINDING SOUND, DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC

CONSUMER PURCHASED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AND REPLACED THEM WITH PATHFINDER RADIAL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

TWO TIRES FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO BALANCE EITHER ONE. INDICATED THAT PROBABLE CAUSE WAS BELT SLIP. DO NOT USE VEHICLE FOR OFF ROAD OR OTHER SEVERE SERVICE. (DOT NUMBER: VNCU IPX TIRESIZE: 255/70R16)