1997 Explorer Van Ford Explorer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Explorer Van Ford Explorer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A AWD WITH APPX 75,000/MI AND THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT COST $4,700.00. I DO NOT OR HAVE BEEN ROUGH WITH THIS VEHICLE. NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY... AND MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A AWD WITH APPX 75,000/MI AND THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT COST $4,700.00. I DO NOT OR HAVE BEEN ROUGH WITH THIS VEHICLE. NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY... AND MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .