1997 Ford Explorer Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND THE BLENDING CHAMBER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ UPDATED 07/12/13 *JS

NHTSA ID

10436121

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

Mileage

126,000 mi

WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE SUNROOF SHATTERED NOTHING BUT RAIN HAD FALLEN ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371778

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

HAVE EXPERIENCED PERIODS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THE CONTROL IS ON. HAS OCCURRED WHEN FIRST TURNING ON THE CONTROL AS WELL AS WHEN CHANGING FROM A DIFFERENT SPEED SETTING ON THE CONTROL. NO REGULARITY IN THE OCCURRENCE, SEEMS TO BE RANDOM. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP SINCE 2000. I WAS CHECKING THE DATABASE AND FOUND AN ENTRY ON THIS PROBLEM UNDER "DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS" SO I AM ADDING MY EXPERIENCE TO YOUR RECORDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317253

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER IS NOT WORKING. ITS A PROBLEM WHEN DEFROSTING, AND DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT DEFROSTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226059

Incident

Apr 25, 2008

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE HEATER BEING INOPERABLE, THE DEFROSTER DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10176236

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, NO HEAT WAS PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10175462

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

51,000 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

BOUGHT EXPLORER IN THE SUMMER OF 2006, WENT TO TURN ON THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS. THIS IS A 1997 EXPLORER THAT AFTER TALKING TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT THEY ALL DO BREAK AND THAT FORD HAS MADE A STRONGER BLEND DOOR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE AND THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPLACE FOR A COST OF 1200.00. AFTER SPEAKING TO FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND FINDING THE ARTICLE BY LARRY HAMMER OF MIGHTY AUTO PARTS I BELIEVE THAT FORD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS ADMITTED FACTORY DESIGN FLAW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171606

Incident

Oct 15, 2006

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1997 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER A FEW YEARS, I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT/DEFROST. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED TWICE COSTING AROUND $2000 TOTAL. ONCE AGAIN, I NO LONGER HAVE HEAT/DEFROST AND AM SCHEDULED FOR AN EVALUATION NEXT MONDAY. DURING SNOW AND RAIN, NOT ONLY ARE YOU MISERABLE BECAUSE OF THE COLD BUT IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CLEAR THE CONDENSATION OFF THE WINDOW TO HAVE COMPLETE VISIBILITY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10170675

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. THIS FAILURE DID NOT ALLOW PROPER DE-FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155997

Incident

Apr 18, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING IT IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. I ONLY HAD COLD AIR BLOWING ON MY WINDOWS. AFTER REVIEWING WEB SITES, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TOP PIECE OF MY HEATERS HOT AND COLD BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN. THE COST OF REPLACING THIS ONE PIECE OF PLASTIC IS AROUND $1000. FORD HAS A REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS NOW STRONGER, BUT FAILS TO REALIZE THE DEFECT IN THE OLDER DOORS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146639

Incident

Dec 25, 2005

Mileage

90,400 mi

TEMPERATURE OUT OF CONTROL, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING CHALLENGED ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WAS TOLD IT WILL IT IS DUE TO DEFECT IN THE AIR BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137140

Incident

Aug 31, 2005

Mileage

107,000 mi

1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A DEFECT IN THE DEFROSTER AND DEFOGGER SYSTEM. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN PLASTIC DOOR IN THE A/C/HEATER PLENUM. THIS CREATED A CONDITION OF FOGGING THE WINDSHIELD UNCONTROLLABLY AND IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS VISION. *SC

NHTSA ID

10133442

Incident

Jul 11, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE USING THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, BUT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN IN THIS WEEK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126814

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER THAT SINCE ITS BEEN PURCHASED THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEAT WERE ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT ITS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST EVERY FORD EXPLORER OUT ON THE ROADS TODAY. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME DUE TO WINDOW DEFROSTING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE BLEND DOOR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND WILL OPEN AND CLOSE AT ANY TIME. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW I CAN GET THIS LOOKED INTO. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY DONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

NHTSA ID

10120915

Incident

Aug 4, 2001

Mileage

67,000 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

HEATER IN VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE DURING A SLEET AND ICE STORM. HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED CAUSING ONLY COLD AIR TO BLOW OUT OF HEATER AND DEFROSTER, WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. HEATER BOX AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED THAT COST ME $700.00. 8NM

NHTSA ID

10107838

Incident

Dec 27, 2004

Mileage

83,986 mi

HEATER BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT CHANGE POSITIONS. IT IS STUCK IN THE POSITION ONLY GIVING ME AIR CONDITIONING FULL TIME. NO MATTER WHERE THE DIAL ON THE DASH IS TURNED THE HEAT REFUSES TO ACTIVATE. THROUGH A QUICK SERIES OF ODD WEATHER OCCURRENCES I FOUND MY WINDSHIELD COVERED IN A LAYER OF ICE THAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED SINCE THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ON THE DEFROSTER. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION. I HAVE NO OPTION NOW BUT TO HAVE THE HEATER PLENUM REPLACED AT A COST $1010. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073217

Incident

Mar 10, 2002

Mileage

107,654 mi

THE HEAT ACTUATOR "BROKE" AND ELIMINATED ANY HEAT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062095

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED IN 1998 AND I TOOK IT TO LES PINKAM LINCOLN MERCURY IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY FOR REPAIR. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE BLEND AIR DOOR HAD BROKEN AND IT WOULD COSTS $800 TO REPAIR IT. THINKING HE WAS LYING, I TOOK IT TO BILL COLLINS FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KY. AGAIN, THE SAME RESULTS AND REPAIR ESTIMATE. TECHNICIANS AT BOTH PLACES, TOLD ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY HAD LES PINKAM REPAIR IT. IT SEEMS THAT FORD WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DASH TO REPAIR IT, MUCH CONTINUE WITH A DESIGN WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS. YEARS LATER AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. IN ADDITION I CAME ACROSS TSB ARTICLE NUMBER 98-23-20 IN MY SEARCHES, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE ARTICLE AT YOUR WEB-SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE AND FINALLY REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM A SALVAGE YARD. I COULDN'T SEE REPAIRING IT A THIRD TIME WHEN A FORD TECHNICIAN AND PRIVATE YARD COULDN'T FIX IT. BOTH TIMES WITHIN 13 MONTHS AFTER REPAIR, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY COMPLETELY FAIL AND TACH OUT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I COULD GET IT TO DO IT WITH A FORD TECHNICIAN AND HIS CODE SENSOR PLUGGED IN. THIS HAS COME CLOSE TO HAVING ME GET REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE 65, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS IN CRUISE CONTROL. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD ALMOST COMPLETELY TACK OUT BEFORE I COULD HIT THE BRAKE PEDALS TO DIS-ENGAGE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I'VE SPENT ALMOST $6000 IN REPAIRS SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD IT IN FOR MANY RECALLS. ALL I'VE EVER GOT OUT OF FORD OR THE DEALERS IS, SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WERE PRETTY SCARY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060649

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY HEATER...EVER TRY TO DEFROST A WINDOW WHEN IT IS MINUS 5 WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON..? THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS! *AK

NHTSA ID

10060082

Incident

Feb 29, 2004

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS GONE BAD IN MY 97, 4WD, FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT HAS 93,000 MILES, IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 58,000 MILES. THIS IS DUE TO A MAUNFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR CONSIDERATION AS A NATIONAL RECALL OR COVERED BY FORD AS A OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN UNREPAIRED THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY FORD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055109

Incident

Jan 27, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi

HEATER/AC TEMPERATURE CONTROL. TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR IS STUCK IN THE POSITION FOR HEAT. HAVE TALKED TO DEALER THEY SAY INEXPENSIVE PART, LABOR FOR REPAIR IS ABOUT 7 HOURS TO BE CHARGED FOR. THIS DEALER HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FIXED SOME. CHECKED WITH OTHER DEALERS IN AREA, THEY GAVE SAME ANSWER AS TO COST AND COMPLAINTS. I AM TOLD THIS IS A PLASTIC BRACKET ON DOOR ASSEMBLY THAT BREAKS WHEN SERVO MOVES DOOR TO CONTROL HOT OR COOL AIR FLOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052840

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

81,000 mi

TEMPERATURE CONTROL BLEND DOOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. STUCK ON COLD. UNABLE TO DEFROST AND DEFOG WINDOWS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047394

Incident

Nov 22, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi