1997 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT ENGAGE TO THE LOCK POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11020608

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

285,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BOLTS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEATS TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AS 330,000.

NHTSA ID

10504528

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE DRIVER SEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SEAT WAS DETACHED FROM THE BASE AND CAUSED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 1/19/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10398035

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

FAR LEFT DASH LIGHTS AND LIGHTS BEHIND INDICATORS ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE IN 1998; THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN SOMETIME AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THE SOUND SYSTEM AMPLIFIER GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO DISCERNIBLE CAUSE; THIS HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS; THE DEALER SAYS IT WOULD COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE AMPLIFIER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224359

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE 4X4 ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10217244

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE LOCK STICKS AND WILL ONLY OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCK ITSELF IS NOT WORKING AND WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHES THE UNLOCK CONTROL ON THE DOOR PANEL, IT FAILS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. SHE IS CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,299 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,299.

NHTSA ID

10211036

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

Mileage

167,299 mi

MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A LOCAL RESTAURANT WHEN I WAS ALERTED THAT THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CALLED. BLACK SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE SLIGHTLY OPENED WINDOWS WHEN I APPROACHED THE SUV AND ULTIMATELY PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. CLOSER EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE CAME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. ONE OF THE FIREMEN ON THE SCENE SPECULATED THAT THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE POWER SEAT OVERHEATED AND STARTED THE FIRE. MY FIRST CALL WAS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WOULD SEND ME A LETTER IN THE MAIL. THIS LETTER CAME A WEEK LATER AND EXPLAINED THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ASSIST ME WITH MY LOSS , THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, SO THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME. MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK CARE OF ME AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL ALSO "TAKE CARE OF FORD" TO RECOUP THEIR LOSS . I AM FORTUNATE THAT A YOUNG CHILD OR ONE OF OUR FAMILY PETS WERE NOT IN THE CAR. ANY THOUGHTS I MAY HAVE HAD ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER FORD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THOUGHTS ABOUT THERE CUSTOMER DIS-SERVICE AND THE LACK OF CONCERN OVER A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEIR BEST SELLING SUV'S. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186815

Incident

Mar 25, 2007

Mileage

103,000 mi

BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ON 97 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING $1000 TO FIX IT BECAUSE DASH BOARD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO FIX IT. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT ON RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171956

Incident

Oct 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD MELTED IN THE INTERIOR DASH PANEL AREA. NO FIRE WAS SEEN. AFTER NEW WIRING WAS INSTALLED, THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10167501

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

98,197 mi

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS AUTO, IT SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. WE HAVE TO LOOP THE DRIVER SIDE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL OF THESE MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND SEAT BELTS ARE MANDATORY BY LAW. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE? THE LEFT TURN INDICATOR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR YEARS. IT MAKES A ZZZZ SOUND AND NO LONGER WORKS. I AM ALSO DOWN TO ONLY ONE DOOR THAT THE KEY WORKS ON. THAT IS THE BACK LIFT. THE DOOR KEY HAD NOT WORKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FOR YEARS, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT. I HAVE THE SAME HEAT PROBLEM THE OTHERS ARE HAVING. YOU EITHER GET FULL ON HEAT AND HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND OFF WHEN IT GETS TOO HOT OR YOU GET PARTIAL AC, ALWAYS A LITTLE WARM. BOTH THE AC AND HEAT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SWITCH SOMEWHERE. AND NOW THE REASON I'M WRITING IS I HAVE MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FUSES AND SOLINOIDS HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT, THERE ARE NO LONGER LIGHTS IN THE DASH AREA. THE LIGHTS ON ALARM (DING DING DING DING) REMAINS ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, THE KEYS OUT AND THE DOOR SHUT WHICH HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY COMPLETLY. I HAVE JUMPED STARTED IT TWICE AND NOW IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL LOOKED AT. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ANYONE ELSE IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO FORD. NOT ONLY CAN I NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNSAFE TO USE IT. I NEED 4WHEEL DRIVE JUST TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN WINTER AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THE INCIDENT DATE I LISTED BELOW IS FOR THE TIME THE SEATBELT STARTED TO FAIL COMPLETLY. WE WERE ON A VACATION TRIP!

NHTSA ID

10129981

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

(1) CRUISE CONTROL, NORMAL USEAGE (2) WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CONTROLLING ACCEL, COAST, RESUME, ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HOT. FURTHERMORE, APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE TIME, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN THE COAST BUTTON IS DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN TWO NEAR MISSES, WITH TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. (3) THE FAILURE STILL EXISTS, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR TWO MONTHS. I HAD CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP FULLY EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AND PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

10114597

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

66,241 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK ON MY WAY HOME. I HAD DRIVEN 12 MILES WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD BY THE STEERING COLUMN. I PULLED OVER AND BY THE TIME I GRABBED MY LAPTOP AND WALKED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE TO CALL FOR HELP THE TRUCK WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND WAS ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNDT TRUCK, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. I ALSO STILL HAVE THE BURNDT TRUCK. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THERE WAS A FAULT SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH ON THIS FIRE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PICTURES OR THE VEHICLE THAT CAN BE ARRANGED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108101

Incident

Jul 25, 2001

I HAVE TWO 1997 FORD EXPLORERS (AN XLT AND AN EDDIE BAUER) BOTH VEHICLES HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LATCHES AND POWER LOCKS. OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO INOPERABLE HANDLES AND/OR LOCKS. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105689

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

Mileage

131,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089095

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. REAR WINDOW WOULD BE ROLLED DOWN SO THAT DRIVER CAN ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071783

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO RECLINE/ADJUST THE SEAT. THE SEAT RECLINING HANDLE SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063461

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE AND IT IS NOT THE CHILD DETERRENT LEVER ON DOOR, HEATING SYSTEM OVERRIDES A/C HEATER SOMETIMES DOSEN'T WORK. RECLINE LEVER BROKE OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052552

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT WAS LOOSE AND ROCKED. THE DEALER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. RECALL 03V281000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE HIGH BACK SEAT, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10048046

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FELL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER ACROSS THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040494

NHTSA# 03-V-281-000 ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. THE CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID

10039900

Incident

Sep 12, 2003

CONSUMER STATES REAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK DUE TO LATCHES BREAKING. DOOR LATCHES HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038324

DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WAS BROKEN AND THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT DOESN'T WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10034600

AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL AND DRIVER SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025467

Incident

Jul 5, 2003

SEAT RECLINER LEVERS BREAK OFF. BACK SEAT PASSENGER(S) MUST CLIMB OVER SEAT TO ENTER OR EXIT. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY EXITING VEHICLE. THE CHEAP METAL PART THAT FRACTURED IS ATTACHED TO A $70.00 PART THAT WITH LABOR WOULD BE $240.00 FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSEENGER REPAIR. THIS IS MORE THAN INCONVENIENCE.

NHTSA ID

10005010

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK WHEN APPLIED TO PASS ON AN INCLINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS DEALERSHIP REMOVED THROTTLE CABLE AND FOUND FRAYED FRAGMENTS INSIDE CABLE COVERING. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS CONDITION HOWEVER, VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH HOOD LATCH. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. *TT

NHTSA ID

8023739

Incident

Nov 22, 2002

Mileage

81,000 mi