1997 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

WITH NO WARNING OR HINT OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AS TRAFFIC SLOWED TO STOP FOR A LIGHT, THE BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON MY FORD EXPLORER. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND PUMPING HAD NO EFFECT. I WAS IN MID DAY TRAFFIC AND HAD ALMOST 2 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, WAS WHAT STOPPED ME. THANKFULLY, I WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH AND NO ONE WAS HURT NOR DID AIR BAGS DEPLOY. AFTER THE POLICE ARRIVED AND HAD US PULL INTO A PARKING LOT, THE PEDAL FELT LIKE IT HAD THE BRAKES BACK HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER CRANKING UP. I WAS ABLE TO STOP FROM ROLLING OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF A PARKING SPACE IN THE BACK OF THE LOT BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK HAS SHOWS HIGH MILEAGE,MOST OF WHICH IS HIGHWAY MILES, THE TRUCK AS BEEN MAINTAINED. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE SHOP AND TWO MECHANICS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER WAS CHANGED EVEN THOUGH I WAS ASSURED IT WAS FINE. THAT SEEMED TO HELP MY PEACE OF MIND FOR ABOUT A WEEK UNTIL I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EASED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I RAN AN INTERNET SEARCH TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SURPRISED TO SEE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORER. I'M SURE EVERYONE WHO MENTIONED HAVING THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT REPORTED IT THAT SHOULD HAVE.

ABOUT A MILE FROM AN INTERSECTION I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT MY BRAKE PEDAL HAD LOST PRESSURE AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE HOOD BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM THE OLD PICKUP TRUCK NEXT TO ME. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE VEHICLE "SPUTTERED" SUFFERING A LOSS OF HORSE POWER BUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 150 YARDS AND COASTED INTO A GAS STATION WHERE I PARKED AT THE FAR END AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED MORE SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE HOOD SO I WENT INSIDE TO ASK FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE CASHIER SAID HE HAD NONE. I THEN ASKED TO HIM DIAL 911 BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. I WENT BACK TO MY VEHICLE AND REMOVED SOME PAPERWORK FROM THE SEAT AND WAITED FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. I JUST HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY COVERT FORD ON MARCH 16, 2011 FOR THE FACTORY RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, (BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH) WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE CAUSE THE FIRE. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN I HAD TO PUMP MY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE OFFICIALS AT THE SCENE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE POINT OF ORIGIN OF THE FIRE BUT THE DAMAGED AREA IS RIGHT BELOW THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. (I HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEO). THANK GOD THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR LIVES. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY COVERAGE SO I SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND LOST MY TRANSPORTATION. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON APRIL 19, 1999, TOOK CARE OF IT FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND A WEEK AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED FOR A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. I PUT ABOUT 100 MILES ON IT AFTER IT WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN.

FORD 1997 EXPLORER BRAKE LINE FAILED. ON MY CAR LAST YEAR AND MY FRIENDS THIS YEAR. DANGEROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SHE HEARD GRINDING AND CLICKING NOISE WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. HER MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND STATED THAT THEY WERE WORN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,002.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER WHEN SHE SAW WHITE SMOKE COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS PARKED IN MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT. SHE CALLED ME TELLING ME THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I ASKED HER IF THERE WAS LIQUID RUNNING FROM THE CAR AND SHE SAID YES. IT WAS CLEAR AND ON THE DRIVES SIDE. THE NEXT THING I HEARD WAS THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I GOT TO THE BODY SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE DAMAGES WERE I FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY AND THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

FORD EXPLORER SPORT (1997, ~58700 MI) WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. A STOP WAS MADE AT A SHOPPING CENTER. UPON LEAVING THE SHOPPING CENTER THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AS AN ATTEMPT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WAS MADE. FORTUNATELY SWERVING AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES (OTHER THAN PARKING). HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS DRIPPING FROM AN AREA ABOVE THE REAR AXLE, DRIVER SIDE. THE ABRUPT LOSS OF BRAKES WITH NO WARNING COULD HAVE LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE WERE JUST PLAIN LUCKY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE RUSTED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINE, AND THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT LEAKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,663.

BRAKES FAILED WHILE BACKING UP DUE TO A HOLE RUSTED IN THE REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CALIPER TO THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER. LOST ALL BRAKING. TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE WHERE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON. THIS IS ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LINE ,WHICH HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST EXCEPT FOR THE CENTER AREA THAT IS HELD BY A RETAINING CLIP TO THE TOP OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A NORMAL EVENT AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WAS SURPRISED TO BE TOLD THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON! I HAD TO SPEND $283.00 PLUS A TOWING FEE TO HAVE A PROBLEM CORRECTED, THAT I FEEL IS A PREMATURE FAILURE. I AT FIRST EXPECTED TO FIND A BLOWN CALIPER OR A BRAKE HOSE SPLIT, NOT A RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE. I DO HAVE THE OLD BRAKE LINE IN MY POSSESSION. *JB

TURNED INTO PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND STRUCK BUILDING TRAPPING A LADY BETWEEN VEHICLE AND BUILDING, KILLING HER. GAS WAS NOT APPLIED AT ANYTIME, YOU COULD FEEL THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TRYING TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED. *JB

BRAKE FAILURE LEAVING PERSONNEL RESIDENCE (NOTED ABOVE). REAR STEAL BRAKE LINE BURST LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND DE-MOBILIZING BRAKE SYSTEM (PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE). LEAK WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE AND SPARE TIRE. BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AWAY. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE LINE. *JB

1997 FORD EXPLORER. WITH MALFUCTION CAR WOULD NOT STOP FAST IDELLIG AFTER AFER USING CRUISE CONTROL. COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP CAUSED THE BRAKES TO CATCH FIRE AD BURN. DUE TO TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR AT A SLOW SPEED. TILL I WAS AT ASAFE AREA WERE I COULD ABTAIN HELP.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATED THAT IN 2004 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AT 50,000 MILES. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM FOR $880.00. IN DECEMBER OF 2009, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE FAILING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED FOR $135 00. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT, BUT NO ASSISTANCE OR CALL BACK WAS OFFERED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE FAILED COMPLETELY. *BF THERE WAS NO WARNING. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES, CUTS, AND WHIP LASH. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AWAITING A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS ENGAGED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO FLIP OVER. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEN TWO SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT THE RESPONDED WITH A LETTER WHICH SAID " SORRY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AT THIS TIME." *NM

PREPARING TO BRAKE FOR A CORNER ON A RAINY NIGHT, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED THE WHEELS AND SLID ME INTO AN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE ONCOMING VEHICLE SWERVED AND AVOIDED A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ME. ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER DOWN THE ROAD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AGAIN AS I TURNED INTO MY DEVELOPMENT AND AGAIN I SLID. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED THROUGH ITS LIFE AND HAS A LITTLE OVER 52,000 MILES ON IT. I COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW HAD I NOT BEEN A SLOWER HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. *JB

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES, AND NO ONE COULD FIND OUT WHY THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE IN DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO GOODYEAR, SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND SET OF BRAKE PADS AND SHOES PUT ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK

1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED TWO FAILURES OF THE BRAKE LINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BOTH FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY CORROSION. *JB

DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE SEIZING OD BRAKE CALIPERS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IF SO, IT SEAMS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK