Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 1, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Explorer Van Ford Explorer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, engine and brakes categories.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Feb 2003. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 1997 Explorer Van Ford Explorer
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Feb 2003
2
2
Mar 2003
2
4
Jul 2003
1
5
Sep 2003
2
7
Nov 2003
1
8
Apr 2004
1
9
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Tires & wheels222.2%
Engine222.2%
Brakes111.1%
Powertrain (other)111.1%
Visibility111.1%
Interior & seats111.1%
Fuel system111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1997 FORD EXPLORER, BOUGHT AS A PROGRAM VEHICLE (RETURNED) WITH 40,000 MILES.EHICLE NOW HAS 103,000 EASY MILES. MOSTLY SITS IN CARPORT. NOT DRIVEN DAILY. VECHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS 1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, HAVE REPLACED )2 SENSOR TWICE. CAME BACK ON SHORTLY AFTER. RUNS ROUGH IN THE MORNING. 2. BLEND DOOR FAILED (THIS CAUSES EITHER WARM OR COOL AIR TO BLOWN INTO THE VEHICLE), RENDERING EITHER AC OR HEATER INOPERABLE. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, WHEN DEFROSTER IS NEEDED QUICKLY. FORD DEALER SAID FORD USED DEFECTIVE PART, NOW HAS NEW AND IMPROVED BLEND DOOR. ESTIMATED COST $574.00 3. SPARE TIRE WINCH FAILED AFTER 1 USE. 4. THROTTLE BODY FAILED (RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, HAD REPAIRED AT DEALER, FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER).THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO DEPRESS, CAUSING OPERATOR TO STEP HARDER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH DANGEROUSLY. 5. TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES, INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC (WHOM I TRUST) STATED SHOP MANUAL SAID ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVED AND HEAD REMOVED TO REPAIR. ESTIMATED COST $1000.00 LOOKED INTO ENGINE SWAP, EST. COST $1500.00 6. SEAT RECLINIING HANDLE (TO RECLINE SEAT) SIMPLY BROKE OFF, WAS NOT EVEN IN USE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10064332
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 2003
IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS WAS AFTER SENSORS WERE REPLACED THE FIRST 4 TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALMOST CONSTANTLY SINCE THE PURCHASE IN JUNE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER AND FORD WOULD NOT RECALL THEM FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT. I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE REPAIRS TO A DEFECTIVE PART OR PARTS. FORD SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY. [XXX]. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10047380
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
83,000 mi
Filed Sep 30, 2003
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR BLEND ON MY VEHICLE. FORD STATES THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, ANY WEBSITE YOU GO TO THAT HAS FORD OWNERS ON IT HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TRACED ALL VACUUM LINES, CHECKED THE HEATER COR ETC. THE BLOWER THROWS OUT COLD AIR ONLY. FORD WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1,100 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I WILL NOT PAY THIS AMOUNT. I PLAN ON CONSULTED WITH MY FAMILY ATTORNEY, AND POSSIBLY SEE IF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CAN BE FILED. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR BLEND, AND DENY ANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ID
10040940
Incident
Sep 12, 2003
Mileage
93,800 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
REAR END COLLISION- AT 35-40MPH THE DRIVER SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK & THE BACK OF THE SEAT WENT TO A RECLINING POSITION. I RECEIVED A CONTUSION ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS FOR ABOUT 50 FT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE PERSON BEHIND ME HIT A SPEED BUMP I HAD JUST GONE OVER.
NHTSA ID
10040841
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Mileage
98 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 23, 2003
THE SPARE TIRE ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF I HAD BEEN GOING DOWN A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THE SPARE IS STORED UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH A CABLE WHICH SNAPPED, DROPPING THE TIRE INTO THE ROAD. FORD DOES NOT THINK I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10028966
Incident
Jun 2, 2003
Visibility
Filed Mar 17, 2003
HEATER AND DEFROSTER ON MY LOW MILEAGE FORD EXPLORER NO LONGER BLOWS WARM AIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND I HAVE NO WAY OF DEFOGGING MY WINDSHIELD. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO TAKE MY FAMILY ON EXTENDED TRIPS. I FEEL STRONGLY THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT (POORLY DESIGNED OR IMPROPER FACTORY INSTALLATION OF THE "BLEND DOOR"), BUT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FORD WANTS $1200.00 TO FIX THIS DEFECT WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. FORD HAS A REDESIGNED PART, BUT WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10010569
Incident
Feb 12, 2003
Mileage
68,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2003
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ZERO THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM WORK ONE MORNING AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND ENDED UP RUNNING IT. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10010508
Incident
Mar 6, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 17, 2003
4WD LOW AND HIGH LIGHT ILLUMINATED / SIX TIMES FLASHING EVERY THREE MINUTES. WHILE IN REVERSE THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER/BANG. FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGING INTO DRIVE.
NHTSA ID
10007634
Incident
Apr 15, 2000
Mileage
43,000 mi
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.