1997 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK GAUGE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, THE CONTROL ARMS, THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11414983

Incident

Jul 13, 2020

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT WHEN IT GETS WARM EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF

NHTSA ID

11327709

Incident

Jun 7, 2020

Mileage

23,000 mi

I HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FIRE, THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOME AND THEN IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DRIVEWAY. MY UNCLE SON SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM WHEN THEY HEARD THE CAR ALARM AND LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW TO SEE CLOUDS OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUCK. MY SON ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT IT WAS TO INTENSE, MY SON CALLED 911. THIS WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CAR. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT SAY WHAT CAUSED THIS FIRE. THE TIRES EVEN MELTED. ALL SEVERE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT, THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS FIRE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR PHOTOS. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT I NEED TO MAKE SURE NO FAMILIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503052

Incident

Mar 14, 2013

SINCE THE EXPLORER WAS 5 YEARS OLD THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS STARTING TO SETTLE/ BE LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNTIL IT WAS SO BAD THE SHOP STATED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS, SHOCKS AND STABILIZER AND *** THE REAR WAS ALSO LOWER THAN THE FRONT. SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SHOCKS AND SEVERAL SUSPENSION PARTS TO TRY TO LEVEL THE VEHICLE BACK TO NORMAL. NOW WITH THE ENGINE BLOWN THE TRUCK AGAIN WAS SETTLING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TOWARD THE REAR!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10499338

Incident

Feb 3, 2010

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND JUST QUIT. WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY *AGAIN* AND FOUND OUT THAT *2 (TWO)* TIMING CHAINS WENT OUT. THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPED IN TWO AND THE PASSENGER SIDE (REAR) HAD OVER 1 1/2 INCHES OF PLAY IN IT AND OBVIOUS STRETCHING OF THE TIMING CHAIN. THE FRONT BROKEN ONE TOTALED THE ENGINE, ALL TENSIONERS, SPACERS ETC WERE NOR IN PIECES LYING IN THE ENGINE. AND GUESS WHAT TO REPLACE THE REAR TIMING CHAIN YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE VEHICLE! THANKS AGAIN FORD!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10499337

Incident

Feb 14, 2013

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD MISFIRE AND SEEM AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10381267

Incident

Feb 9, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES ERUPTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10345627

Incident

Jul 22, 2010

Mileage

190,000 mi

ENGINE REVVS AND VEHICLE IS THRUSTED FORWARD AT TOP SPEED FROM DEAD START OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND ON THIS PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332042

Incident

May 21, 2010

Mileage

193,000 mi

1997 FORD EXPLORER FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER STARTED MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER BELIEVES FORD SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST. *KB

NHTSA ID

10323131

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

1997 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC, MY ENGINE IS MAKING A TERRIBLE RATTLE SOUND WHILE RUNNING, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY THAT ITS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS, AND THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP OWNERS TO GET THIS REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248975

Incident

Nov 16, 2008

Mileage

127,000 mi

FORD 4.0L SOHC TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. CURRENTLY MY TIMING CHAINS ARE STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE PLASTIC TENSIONERS BREAK, LEADING TO CHAIN SLACK, AND EVENTUALLY, BREAKAGE. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT AS OF YET, THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THEM IS TO BUY $500-$600 WORTH OF PARTS AND TOOLS, REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE CAR AND REPAIR AND REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS AND GUIDES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239660

Incident

Jun 25, 2008

Mileage

153,000 mi

MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT CHAIN WAS BROKEN OR LET GO. I WAS ADVISED BY FORD THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY EVERYONE WHO OWNED THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PARTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND THEY ONLY TOLD THE FORD DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND NOT THE PUBLIC. AND THEY ALSO PURGED ALL THE "OLD RECORDS" AS THEY CALL THEM AND CANNOT TELL IF THEY NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY HACKETTSTOWN FORD WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE SALES MANAGERS WIFES CAR AND IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE., I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE ARE OVER 5 MILLION FORD EXPLORERES AND MERCURY SUV STILL ON THE ROAD. THERE IS NO WAY A CONSUMER CAN TELL IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN YOUOR VEHICLE JUST DIES, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS OR EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM OR ARE STILL DRIVING THESE VEHICLES AND WONT KNOW UNTIL IT HAPPENS. IT COST ME $14,999 WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND IT COST ME OVER $6,000. FOR A NEW ENGINE. WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR US? IF I WAS TOLD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED I WOULD HAVE IT ONLY COST ABOUT $100.00 TO PULL THEY ENGINE DOWN TO THE CAM SHAFT CHAIN AND CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAD MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY FOUR MECHANICS WHO KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. PLEASE HELP ME AND THE PUBLIC WITH THIS PROBLEM, I AM DISABLED AND HAD TO BORROW THE MONEY FOR THE ENGINE AND WILL HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY BACK FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. I COULDN'T BUY A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE FITS ME PERIFECT BECAUSE OF HAVING 35 SURGERIES FROM A AUTO ACCIDENT IN 1974.IF I SEE ANOTHER EXPLORER I STAY FAR AWAY FROM IT. . THE FUNNY THING IS WHEN YOU CALL FORD IN DETROIT THEY ASK YOU HOW MANY FORDS YOU HAVE PURCHASED IN YOUR LIFETIME AND WOULD YOU EVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219630

Incident

Oct 6, 2007

Mileage

68 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED OVER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER AND DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT FELT THAT A LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10207660

Incident

Sep 26, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, RAISED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,200.

NHTSA ID

10198612

Incident

Aug 4, 2007

Mileage

15,200 mi

ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE. FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE HAD TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. WHEN DECELERATING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WOULD ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISE ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS NOT DOWN SHIFTING. FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. ENDING UP HAVING TO HAVE A MECHANIC REBUILD TRANSFER CASE, COST ALMOST $1000.00. NOW FIVE MONTHS LATER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON. REPLACED SENSORS AND SPARK PLUG ON #4 CYLINDER TWICE. THIS WILL BE REPLACEMENT NUMBER 3 FOR SPARK PLUG IN FOUR MONTH PERIOD. MECHANICS CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184970

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO START UP THE 1997 FORD EXPLORER SINCE 02/09/07. THE CONTACT HAD REPLACED THE STARTER, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THEY PULLED THE FRONT END OF THE MOTOR AND NOTICED SOMETHING SNAPPED AND WAS SITTING IN THE PAN. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN ON THE INTERNET AND HAD NOTICED THAT OTHER EXPLORERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 98000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10182813

Incident

Feb 9, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

WHEN I STOPPED USING MY AC AND TURNED ON THE HEAT IN MY 97 FORD EXPLORER ALL I GET IS COLD AIR. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL HEAT SETTINGS INCLUDING DEFROST. I TALKED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MAN THERE SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE BLEND DOOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $800-1000 TO REPAIR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET AS I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH SPARE CASH FOR THIS REPAIR. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE 116,000 MILES ON IT BUT I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THIS OUT ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH 95-99 EXPLORERS. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD ON THIS? *JB

NHTSA ID

10173306

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

115,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE IDLED ERRATICALLY. WHILE TRAVELING AROUND CURVES OR DOWN HILLS, AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE HAS NEVER COMPLETELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE DUPLICATED. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

NHTSA ID

10158152

Incident

May 24, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

ENGINE CRANK BROKE OFF AT PULLEY. NO PREVIOUS WARNING, IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. 110 MILES ON ENGINE AT TIME OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DEALERSHIP LAUGHED AT REQUEST FOR REPAIRS, "WARRANTY EXPIRED". I PAID FOR NEW "REBUILT ENGINE" COST= $3000.00. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132540

Incident

Sep 27, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

1997 FORD EXPLORER, 5.0 L ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR'S ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY RACES TO THE POINT THAT ITS BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD IT BACK. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN BACKING FROM A COLD START AND SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE EFFECT IS LIKE BEING SLAMMED INTO BY A LARGE VEHICLE. IT ALMOST KILLED MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER AND ME EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN IT HAPPENED AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT FELT LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR, BUT IT WAS THE ENGINE PULLING ITS OLD TRICK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ONE YEAR AGO HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE PCV VALVE AND HE REPLACED THE VALVE. THE CAR THEN BEHAVED FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WITH MY WIFE AT THE WHEEL, THE CAR, IN REVERSE, RACED OUT OF OUR GARAGE INTO THE STREET. IT WAS UNSTOPABLE. LATER IT DID THE SAME THING, WHILE IN DRIVE, AT INTERSECTIONS. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT THEN HAPPENED TO ME AND MY DAUGHTER AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO TESTED IT FOR A WEEK WITHOUT RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

10128828

Incident

Jul 3, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

AIR BLEND DOOR FAILURE. I ONLY HAVE HOT AIR.

NHTSA ID

10122060

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

108,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE EXPLORER LAST APRIL AND THE A/C WORKED FINE, BUT WHEN WINTER GOT HERE THE HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW WARM AIR. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THERMOSTATE AND LOOKED AT OTHER THINGS, BUT COULD NOT FIX IT. I THEN TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER 97 FORD EXPLORER--AND IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR. THAT THE DOOR WAS A FACTOR DEFECT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $650.00 TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPLACED, AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT IS STUCK ON A/C AIR AND YOU CAN NOT DEFROST YOUR WINDSHILD WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND RESTRICTS VISION OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN FOGGED OR ICED WHICH COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE A BAD WRECK.

NHTSA ID

10116016

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

FORD EXPLORER 1997, CONSUMER PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE PRIOR TO FORD RECALL. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM FORD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10115004

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS; THROTTLE BODY PLATE AND CAM CHAIN GUIDE ON MOTORS. *BF THE ENGINE THROTTLE PLATE STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WARMING THE VEHICLE ON A COLD DAY. RECALL #00V422000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE STARTER DID NOT KICK IN PER INVOICE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10103915

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

FIRST EVIDENCE OF NOISE REPORTED TO DEALER ON 7/22/98. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. NOISE BECAME UNBEARABLE AND ENGINE BEGAN LOSSING POWER. TOOK IT TO DEALER ON1/2/01 AND FOUND OUT THE FRONT CAM TENSIONER DISINTEGRATED CAUSING SEVERE METALIC NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BANKSTON FORD SUPPOSIDLY DID THE WELL KNOWN RECALL. MY PAPERWORK SHOWS THEY REPLACED THE TENSIONER CASSETTE AND CHANGED THE OIL. I OBTAINED THEIR OWN PROCEEDURES FOR THIS ISSUE BECAUSE MANY ENGINES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO THE PIECES OF THE BROKEN TENSIONER CLOGGING OIL PASSAGES AND DESTROYING THE ENGINES. THE INSTRUCTIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED INCLUDED INSPECTING THE HEADS FOR CLOGGED PASSAGES AND OTHER THINGS. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE THEN, BUT THEY MADE ME TAKE IT. AS SOON AS I LEFT DEALER, THE NOISE WAS BACK. CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID TO GIVE IT A WEEK AND SEE IF IT GOES AWAY. IT GOT WORSE AND I BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR TENSIONER (THE ONE NOT COVERERED BY THEIR RECALL SINCE IT REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENGINE. SAME PART- SAME DEFECT, BUT NOT COVERED DUE TO COST). SINCE FORD WAS LOSING TOO MUCH MONEY ON THEIR DEFECT REPLACING ENGINES, THEY STOPPED HELPING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE DEALER OFFERED A $500 AND 75,000 MILE WARRANTEE DEALER CONCESSION, BUT I EXPECTED IT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THE DEFECTIVE PART RUINED THE ENGINE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED, OR AT LEAST REPAIRED PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN AT A STAND-STILL FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW WITH A NON-FUNCIONING VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AND THE DEALER NOW WANTS $5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100420

Incident

Jan 3, 2003

Mileage

15,743 mi