1997 Ford Explorer Powertrain (other) Problems

THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS INEFFECTIVE SERVICE BY AAMCO THAT LED TO FAILURE OF A TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE. AS YOU SEE BY THE ATTACHED LETTER, I VOICED CONCERN ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR AND ALL AAMCO SUGGESTED WAS TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE INEFFECTIVE SERVICE. I REQUESTED THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AAMCO CENTER, BUT YOUR RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE CENTER THAT I ALREADY HAD DOUBTS ABOUT. LET ME SET THE SCENARIO AGAIN. ?WITH INITIAL GRINDING SOUNDS AND LACK OF REVERSE, I TOOK TO CLINTON TRANSMISSIONS IN 2011 AND THEY INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL 2012. ?IN 2012, I CALLED THE WALDORF AAMCO CENTER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT MAY NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION AND TO LET THEM LOOK AT IT. IT WAS TOWED IN AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE BUT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BAD. ?ALL TOTALED, I PAID $1534.76 FOR TRANSFER CASE, $430.03 FOR PARTS, AND $600 FOR LABOR. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER SERVICES THAT THE CENTER SAID I NEEDED. ?THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TWICE FOR AN OD LIGHT THAT CAME ON AS SOON AS I LEFT THE CENTER. THEY SEEMED UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ?I FELT CONCERN FOR THE PERIOD I WAS DRIVING AND WROTE CORPORATE TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. ?EARLIER THIS YEAR WHILE DRIVING TO SOUTH CAROLINA, THE GRINDING SOUND STARTED AGAIN AND REVERSE WENT OUT. I NOTIFIED CORPORATE AND THE WALDORF CENTER AND WAS TOLD TO GO TO THE NEAREST AAMCO. ?I WENT TO THE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA AAMCO AND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, TOLD ME THE SAME THING THAT THE CLINTON TRANSMISSION TOLD ME IN 2011. THE TRANSMISSION HAD INTERNAL DAMAGE AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. ?I LEFT THE VEHICLE IN COLUMBIA AND HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. WITH THESE FACTS IN MIND, AAMCO CAN SURELY SEE WHERE INEFFECTIVE SERVICE LED TO A SAFETY FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548626

Incident

Jul 11, 2013

Mileage

155,000 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

WE MAINTAINED OUR VEHICLES REGULARLY, AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE NOT 8 MONTHS AGO NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SPENT $2400 FOR A REBUILD. SHOP STATES THIS MODEL IS A PIECE OF [XXX], AND THE HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY FROM FORDS POOR ENGINEERING ON THIS MODEL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10499335

Incident

Feb 24, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

AFTER TURNING A CORNER AT LESS THAN 15 MPH A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE RACED BUT STOPPED MOVING. TRIED ALL GEARS AND AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BROKE.I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499333

Incident

Oct 7, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE RPMS TO INCREASE CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.

NHTSA ID

10489470

Incident

Oct 11, 2012

Mileage

256,000 mi

I KEPT HEARING THE GEARS SPINNING WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES. ACCORDING TO MY TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, THE TRANSFER CASES WERE NOT BUILT RIGHT IN THIS YEAR OF EXPLORER. HE SAYS HE SEES THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME AND IS UNSURE WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292593

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE WAS SPLIT IN HALF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10268415

Incident

May 5, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

TRANSFER CASE FAILED WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEMS. WHEN TAKEN APART BY TECH. IT LOOKED PERFECTLY FINE. MUST HAVE COMPLETE REPLACE OF TRANSFER CASE, CAN'T JUST CHANGE PARTS. MSN AUTO-TECS BRINGS UP A NUMBER OF MECHANICS WHO FOUND SAME PROBLEMS. FORD HAS BUILT BETTER AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT BUT NEVER NOTIFIED ANYONE OF THIS PROBLEM. SOME MECHANICS SAY THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE BROUGHT IN WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NEVER ENGAGED THEIR 4X4.

NHTSA ID

10071321

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009964

Mileage

61,000 mi

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING WHEN I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I COULD SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN SOMEWHAT BY AGGRESSIVELY APPLYING THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD JUST GET ME SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE UNTIL I WOULD RELEASE THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SPEED UP AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A FAIRLY BUSY STRETCH OF INTERSTATE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I LUCKILY DID NOT HAVE A NEED TO STOP QUICKLY WHILE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. I TRIED HITTING THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP STICKING IN THE "WIDE OPEN" POSITION. I EVEN TRIED MANIPULATING THE CRUISE CONTROL (WHICH WAS OFF). AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, I STARTED TRYING TO THINK OF A QUICK GAME PLAN TO GET OUT OF THIS POTENTIAL DISASTER. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AND THAT I DID NOT HAVE OTHERS IN THE CAR DURING THIS NIGHTMARE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FIND A SHOULDER WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. AS I SAID, THE ROAD WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITH A SEMI-TRUCK NOT FAR BEHIND ME. I PULLED TOWARD THE SHOULDER AND PUT THE CAR INTO "NEUTRAL". THE RPM'S, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING EXTREMELY HIGH FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, MOVED EVEN HIGHER AT THIS POINT. THE RPM'S WERE PEGGED TO THE TOP OF THE GAUGE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. AS SOON AS I FELT I WAS OFF OF THE ROADWAY ENOUGH, I TURNED THE KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A HORRIBLE BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THIS INCIDENT, BUT I AM ALSO VERY WORRIED ABOUT COLLATERAL DAMAGE THAT THIS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED. I FEEL THAT THIS CAUSED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR TO THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ON TOP OF ALL OF THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, THE EXPERIENCE WAS SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. MY WIFE REFUSES TO EVEN GET IN THE CAR AT THIS POINT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE DOESN'T WANT MY KIDS TO RIDE IN IT EITHER.

NHTSA ID

768076

Incident

Oct 3, 2000

TRANSFER CASE BEARING BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SHIMMERING AND SHAKING, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. AFTER REPAIRS, MAIN DRIVESHAFT BEARING FAILED WITH SAME RESULT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010529

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH FRONT AXLES FAILED IN THE SAME WAY: THE RUBBER SLEEVE SPLIT ALLOWING GREASE TO COME OUT CAUSING THE MOVING METAL PARTS TO DISINTEGRATE. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T DRIVE OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, ALTHOUGH I WOULD EXPECT AN ALL WHEEL DROVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO W/OUT DAMAGE TO THE AXLES. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE AXLES ON THREE EXPLORERS IN TWO MONTHS IN AN AREA WITH A SMALL POPULATION SEEMS MORE THAN COINCIDENCE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

564500

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003706

Incident

Feb 5, 2002

THE SWAY BAR LINKS BROKE PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER WAS SENT A CHECK FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS, HOWEVER THE LEFT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED DUE TO THE LINKS BREAKING WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT AS WELL.*YH

NHTSA ID

564170

Incident

Jul 3, 2000

GETTING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT OF CAR BEGAN EXCESSIVE VIBRATING (SHAKING AND SPUTTERING). CAR CUT OFF AT SIDE OF ROAD. TOWED TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SYMPTOMS AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM (AFTER 4 DAYS). ON DAY 4 THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVESHAFT WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE AND STILL MAINTAINS A CONSTANT VIBRATING ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN FIRST EPISODE. CAR STILL HAS TROUBLES AT 70-75 MPHS.*AK

NHTSA ID

757111

Incident

Nov 8, 2001

AFTER THE CAR WAS BROKEN ON HIGHWAY 20 WEST, :MAKING A LOT OF NOISE [ SOUND LIKE THE FLAT , BUT LUCKY, THE TIRES ARE GOOD ] . THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND STOP NEAR THE EXIT , ABOUT 1 MILE TO THE " MILLBURY FORD DEALER ". , L LOOKED DOWN UNDER THE CAR : SEEING THE AXLE WHICH CONNECTED TO THE REAR DIFFDERENTIAL ASSEMBLY BY THE "U JOIN " WAS BROKEN , IT PULL APART , AND DROP ON THE GROUND . THEN CALL A TOW-TRUCK , AND A POLICEMAN STOPPED BY FOR GUIDING THE TRAFFIC TO AVOID ,PREVENT ACCIDENT ..ETC.. FOR SAFETY .*AK

NHTSA ID

756396

THIS VEHICLE HAS A EMMISIONS RELATED TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. IT EFFECTS THE THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGAGING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 17, 1999 WITH 22,941 MILES AND AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2000 WITH 32,304 MILES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC AND SINCE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS COME ON THAT THE FORD DIVISION WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS FORDS PROBLEM NOT MINE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNDER MUCH STRESS DAILY AND FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE REPAIR AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. FORD MADE THE FAULTY VEHICLE AND I SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. LET ME ADD TORRINGTON FORD WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THIS NOR WILL THEY TOUCH THIS VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL BE OF MY CHOICE AND I WANT A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE THE REPAIR IS BEING MADE. I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND THE PINION SEAL. THIS VEHICLE IS FAULTY AND IT WILL NOT BE AT MY EXPENSE. THANK YOU, [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

745788

Incident

May 23, 2001

THE CRANK/DRIVE SHAFT COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF AND FELL OUT WITH THE PULLEY STILL ATTACHED. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND THREE OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED HE COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

745647

Incident

May 17, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND ODOMETER WILL STAY STUCK IN PLACE.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT. *JB

NHTSA ID

886310

Incident

Apr 17, 2001

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID

560445

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

THE LAST REPAIR WAS A THIRD TIME THE FRONT END SEAL HAVE FAILED. THE SERVICE DEALER CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTENDENT STATE THAT HE HAD SIX EXPLORERS THAT MORNING FOR THE SAME FAILURE. FORD MOTOR CO. COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH INFROMATION REGARDING IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

737745

Incident

Oct 15, 2000

CONSUMER HAD SEEN LEFT FRONT TIRE SHOW INITIAL SEPARATION. CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS THE AXLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

867229

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN LET GO THE GAS PEDAL, ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP. ALSO, CV JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT HAD SEPARATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

862484

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AT ALL, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

841476

Incident

Dec 12, 1997

PINION SEAL LEAKING.

NHTSA ID

607021

Incident

Nov 13, 1997