1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

FIRESTONE TIRES (P255 70 R15) EXPERIENCED CUPPING WHICH WAS CAUSING A THUMPING NOISE, DEALER INSPECTED TIRES AND STATED TIRES WERE SAFE, HOWEVER CONSUMER LATER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON EDGES OF TIRES AND EXPOSED STEEL BELTS SO HE HAD THEM REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING SOME REIMBURSEMENT SINCE FIRESTONE IS DENYING THE REQUEST DUE TO TIRES BEING PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 2000. *SLC

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH BRAKES BEING APPLIED, AND WITHOUT DRIVER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FUEL FILLER DOES NOT HAVE A GROUND STRAP WHICH CAUSED A BUILD UP OF STATIC ELECTRICITY AND RESULTED IN A FIRE.

PE 00020:; WHILE DRIVING 70MPH IN A LIGHT SNOW IN NEBRASKA LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. TIRE & TREAD BECAME MANGLED & SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DOES NOT HAVE TIRE AFTER HAVING SPARE REPLACED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

PE 00 020/ TIRES TREAD SEPARTION: VEHICLE EXPERIECED A RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH IN A FORD, EXPLORER, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P235/75R15, AND DOT#VNHL. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, THE DOT#VNHL. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE(15") EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE ROLLOVER AND CONSUMER TO OBATIN INJURIES. *SLC

TWO TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 8 WEEKS. ROTATED EVERY 3000 MILES, PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FRONT END VIBRATION . PROBLEM OCCURRED AT TAKE OFF OR SLOW DOWN SPEED. BEEN INSPECTED BY THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. ALSO RESURFACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. ALSO CAUSED THE HOUSE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, POWER STEERING MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN TURNING. WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING FLUID. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH HEARD SOME NOISE AND THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF.WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP, THE VEHICLE WON'T START. *AK

UPON STARTING THE EXPLORER FUEL GAUGE DROPS DOWN FROM HALF TANK TO EMPTY. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS REPLACED IN MARCH OF 99, AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ON 4/1//99. CONUSMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

JUMPER HARNESS FAILED. NLM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS JUMPING AND CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR THIS VEHICLE. AK

VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/ATX TIRES ON AT TIME IT WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR. AFTER BEING STRUCK, TIRES BUSTED IMMEDIATELY, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL, MAKING THE VEHICLE SPIN AND STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE SIZE OR DOT NUMBER FOR TIRE. *SLC

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE NOT RELATED TO ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK *ML

WHEN STARTING COLD ENGINE RACES AND GAS PEDAL STICKS, I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT DOESN`T HAPPEN UNLESS ITS 50 DEG OR LESS, ENGINE ALSO ALMOST STALLS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT AFTER STOP. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. TAKEN IN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO CAN NEVER REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. STALLING PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON AMONG PEOPLE WITH 4.0 SOHC ENGINE (BASED ON INTERNET DISCUSSION). TRUCK WAS BOUGHT/REGISTERED UNDER MY WIFE'S NAME: KATHLEEN.

ANECDOTAL DESCRIPTION EMAILED TO NHTSA WEBMASTER 5 MINUTES AGO

PLEASE AD VIN #. CONSUMER DRIVING AND WHEN SHE TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR FROZE IN THE UP POSITION. DEALERSHIP---ODANIEL FORD---SERVICE--748-6260, SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF THOSE COMPLAINTS AT THIS DEALERSHIP.

ENGINE STALLS AND ALMOST QUITS ENTIRELY DURING ACCELERATION. MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS 50 - 55 MPH. MAY BE IN CONJUCTION WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE LEFT (DURING LANE CHANGE ON THE FREEWAY.)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MEHICANIC IS HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO GET PART IN BECAUSE FORD IS REDESIGNING THE PART. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD/ ICY WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS FROZE, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND AN ACCIDENT. *AK.ET.

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP WHENEVER VEHICLE MAKES A TURN, AND ON THREE OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE AT A STOP POSITION . VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUNDED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED. FIRESTONE DEALER IN VICKSBURG, MS OFFERED NO IN FORMATION THAT THESE TIRES WERE PROBLEM PRONE, NOR DID THEY ALLOW TIRE WEAR CREDIT TOWARD THE REPLACEMENT TIRE( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ELECTRICAL FAILURES CONTINUALLY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY PCM MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURES.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND NOTICED ENGINE SMOKING. DEALER NOTICED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE THE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

THE BACK UP LIGHTS GO OUT. THE FUSE HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS THE BACK UP LIGHTS & REAR DEFROSTER ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER. *AK

ROCKER ARM COVER OUT OF ORDER.

THE ABSENCE OF A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DISABLE SWITCH HAS FAILED THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THE COUNTRY, MORALLY. I AM APPAULED THE MANUFACTURERS WON'T RECALL THESE VEHICLES, OR GIVE OWNERS THE OPTION FOR FREE DISABLE SWITCHES TO BE INSTALLED. IN ADDITION, WITH ALL THE REPORTS OF DEATHS TO INFANTS AND TEENS WITH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS, I'M INSULTED THAT I NEED MY GOVERNMENTS PERMISSION TO INSTALL A DISABLE SWITCH TO PROTECT MY FAMILY. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, EVERYONE KNOWS IT. THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE. IT SHOULD BE A MASSIVE RECALL. NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE ALL MANUFACTURERS TO RETROFIT ALL VEHICLES WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WITH DISABLE SWITCHES. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH. ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, VIN # 1FMCU24X2VUB50580 PURCHASED BY ME IN DECEMBER 1996 IN NJ, THAT HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES. I WENT THROUGH A REPLACEMENT ON 12/11/98 THAT SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL PROBLEMS, WHERE I FOUND THE TREADS ON MY REAR TIRES TO BE SPLITTING AND STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. I HAD THE TWO REAR TIRES INSPECTED AND REPLACED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN GASTONIA, NC AFTER PAYING A REDUCED PRICE DUE TO PRORATION ACCORDING TO TREAD WEAR SINCE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE STILL UNDER THE TIRE WARRANTY PERIOD (33,185 MILES). THIS ALSO BRINGS UP ANOTHER CONCERN, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, SINCE THEY ARE RECALLING THESE TIRES, WILL I BE REINBURSED FOR THE MONIES SPENT IN REPLACING THE FIRST TWO TIRES DUE TO THE DEFECT? I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY EXPLORER AND SINCE I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA (ALSO A HOT STATE), I AM CONCERNED ON HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE FIRESTONE GETS THE RECALL TO THOSE OF US WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE FIRST TWO PHASED STATE GROUPS FOR THE RECALL. I DO MONITOR MY AIR PRESSURE CONSISTENTLY, BUT TRAVEL 56 MILES EACH WAY (112 TOTAL) TO WORK EACH DAY VIA HIGHWAY BETWEEN GAFFNEY, SC AND CHARLOTTE, NC. EACH OF THE TIRES INFORMATION FOLLOWS: ORIGINAL TIRES FROM PURCHASE DATE - STILL ON REAR OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24815 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. 24816 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. REPLACEMENTS TIRES FROM 1999 - ON FRONT OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24817 UR BM06175-4, MADE IN CANADA. 30863 UR BM06175-6, MADE IN CANADA. COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHAT IS TO HAPPEN AND POSSIBLY WHEN IF KNOWN? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONCERN AND TIMELY RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE. SINCERELY, JOHN A. BURROWS 117 GREENBRIAR DRIVE GAFFNEY, SC 29341 864-206-0106 (HOME) 704-559-4394 (WORK) 864-505-0711 (CELLULAR) A COPY OF THIS WAS ALSO SENT TO FORD AT: TIREINQUIRY@FORD.COM( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

BROUGHT VEHICHLE INTO DIFFERENT FORD DEALER TO COMPLAIN OF NOISE, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE AIR PRESSSURE VALVE AND TO WAIT TILL IT GOT LOUDER TILL THEY WOULD FIX, ONE WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEY SAY IT IS A CRACKED DRUM AND REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION...NEVER HAD AN AIR VALVE PROBLEM

ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILURE NOT AN ADD ON COMPONENT. PLEASE CONTAC JOHN AT SUPERIOR INVESTIGATIONS AT THE ABOVE WORK NUMBER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES AND AT 30,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY FORD I NEEDED AN AIR INDUCTION CLEANING. AT 37,000 MILES I NOW HAVE THE SAME GAS PEDAL PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN.

EARLY IN 1998 CONSUMER SAW OIL IN DRIVEWAY, SHE TOOK VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE IN FEBRUARY. A WEEK LATER THE OIL SPOT WAS BIGGER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER IN JUNE 98, AND THEY SAW NO LEAK. THE OIL LEAKS GOT BIGGER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS THREE TIMES. BANNER FORD--1665 SCOTT BLVD. DECATUR, GA---404-633-4005. VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING OIL TODAY. *AK

WHEN FILLING TANK WITH GASOLINE, IT DOES NOT TAKE THE LAST 4 GALLONS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS DUE TO PRESSURE FROM THE GAS VAPORS. IF FILLING VEHICLE VERY SLOWLY, GASOLINE WOULD TAKE. 98 MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, OWNER BELIEVES FORD TO CORRECT THE 97 MODEL. *AK.ET.

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER. CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES THERE IS SOME METAL UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT IS MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. *AK

TAIL PIPE IS SEPARATING FROM MUFFLER, AND THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THERE IS METAL TYPE OF NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE A VERY LOUD NOISE. THERE IS A NOISE LIKE METAL PIECE OF OBJECT IS HANGING FROM VEHICLE. *AK

TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM MUFFLER AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING HIS OTHER VEHICLES WHICH WERE ALSO PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. *AK

LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW-OUT WHILE CRUISING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. NO PROBLEM CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND PULLING TO A STOP ON INSIDE MEDIAN. TIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. TIRE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT GOOD YEAR STORE IN PORTLAND, OR. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 275800GRF TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WATER PUMP LEAK. *YC

SPARK PLUG FAILED. *YC

WHILE DRVING AT 35MPH AND COMING TO A LIGHT CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP. VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP, THE PEDAL WAS NORMAL AND GAVE NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I SAW A TV REPORT ABOUT EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT WIPERS. MINE DON'T WORK IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER. THEY ONLY WORK AFTER THE SUV HAS BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. DEALERSHIP HAS NO CLUE ON HOW TO FIX PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPAREATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A FENCE LINE AND ROLLOVER THREE TIME LANDING UPRIGHT, ALL FOUR OCCUPANT WERE INJURED (TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM286, LEFT REAR). NLM