1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT ANY SPEED OTHER THAN HIGH DIDN'T OPERATE NORMALLY. WHEN THE RAIN WAS HEAVY OR LIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATED ON HIGHER SPEEDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116000 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126000. *AK

FORD EXPLORER SPORT (1997, ~58700 MI) WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. A STOP WAS MADE AT A SHOPPING CENTER. UPON LEAVING THE SHOPPING CENTER THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AS AN ATTEMPT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WAS MADE. FORTUNATELY SWERVING AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES (OTHER THAN PARKING). HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS DRIPPING FROM AN AREA ABOVE THE REAR AXLE, DRIVER SIDE. THE ABRUPT LOSS OF BRAKES WITH NO WARNING COULD HAVE LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE WERE JUST PLAIN LUCKY. *JB

I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS ONE OF WHICH WHILE LOOKING ONLINE SEE THAT MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS ALSO SEEM TO HAVE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER BLEND BOX DOOR NOT WORKING AND BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN IN THE VENT POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT ONLY ON EXPLORER MODELS BUT RANGES, F150 AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THE REPAIR AS STATED ONLINE BY OTHERS AS WELL AS FROM THE DEALER IS OVER $1000.00. IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS GET STUCK ON OUR EXPLORER IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH SOMETIMES TAKES 10 TO 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL WORK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. A RECALL LETTER #[XXX] WAS RECEIVED REGARDING THE TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND DETERMINED THE TIRE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE ENGINE ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DESTROYED MY VEHICLE. *NM

I OWNED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. ON JULY 29, 2005 MY TRUCK WAS IN MY YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT HOME AT THE TIME. MY INSURANCE PAID A PORTION OF THE LOAN I STILL HAD ON THE VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR HAS NOT RECALLED 1997 EXPLORERS BUT HAVE 1998. THE FIRE REPORT ISSUED CLAIMS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

1997 FORD EXPLORER TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON I-16 WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF A COOPER FUTURA TIRE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL VEHICLE FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES THEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING ANOTHER FLIP THIS TIME TAIL OVER NOSE CAUSE ALL 4 KIDS TO BE THROWN OUT KILLING ONE ON IMPACT AND ANOTHER DIED 2 DAYS LATER FROM INJURIES IN HOSPITAL. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 V6 SOHC UPON ACCELERATION ON TO FREEWAY, THE GAS PEDDLE STUCK TO FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN ENGINE/SMALL FIRE,NO INJURIES THANK GOD, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP VEHICLE WAS TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK. THE FOOT BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE USELESS, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REVVING AT 75 MPH AT THE TIME TILL BROUGHT TO STOP THUS BLOWING A HUGE HOLE IN WALL OF ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $5000.00 TO FIX. FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH PEDAL AFTER DOING A DIAGNOSTIC. THIS THROTTLE WAS RECALLED A FEW YEARS AGO AND FORD CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED IT. *NM

SAFETY PROBLEM WITH BACK SEAT BELTS. WHEN ON VACATION WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM THE BACK SEAT BELTS LOCKING UP SEVERAL TIMES EACH DAY. THE SEAT BELTS ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES WOULD NOT RELEASE SO THEY COULD BE APPLY AROUND 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WE HAD TO PULL & YANK THE BELTS SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE BELTS TO RELEASE. THE SUV WAS OFF AND THE BRAKE WAS NOT APPLY AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM COULD DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USEAGE. *NM

TRANSFER CASE FAILURE WHEN TRANSFERRED FROM NORMAL OPERATION TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD INSTEAD OF IN FRONT OF MY HOME, I BELIEVE AN ACCIDENT MOST SURELY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THANK GOD I TESTED THE 4 WHEEL OPERATION BEFORE I TOOK A TRIP TO THE SNOW COUNTRY. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THOUSANDS OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE OWNERS ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND COMPLETELY IGNORANT OF THIS DANGER. *JB