1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

MICHELIN, 17, TIRE INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. VEHICLE ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REPLACEMENT TIRES P23575R15 105S ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, THERE'S VIBRATION FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE.*AK THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES UNDER THE FIRESTONE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE BALANCED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND ONLY HAD THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GOODYEAR REPLACE THE FAULTY TIRE AT NO COST TO HIM. *NM

AT 45,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 70, 000 VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THROTTLE GETS STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STARTING UP AGAIN, CONSUMER WILL HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATEING.*AK

VEHICLE SEEMS TO GO THROUGH HEADLIGHT AND FOG LAMP BULBS RATHER QUICKLY. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMPS ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP A SECOND TIME. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FOG LAMPS TWICE. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS OUT AGAIN. DT

CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT WHILE HAVING PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A DRIVEWAY WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE, DRIVER LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING IN PARK, WHILE STANDING IN THE DOORWAY THE VEHICLE ROLLED UP THE DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JG

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A BEAR WAS IN THE LANE, SHE HIT THE BEAR AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED DOWN STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. ENGINE MADE A "THUNK" NOISE AND WENT INTO A "NO START" CONDITION. MY '97 EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SNAPPED CRANKSHAFT. AT 103K MILES THE DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS ANY SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND EMPHATICALLY STATED THAT THEY'D NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED CUSTOMER REQUEST THAT THEY REVIEW NHTSA WEBISTE FOR HISTORY OF PRIOR REPORTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO LAST 100K MILES BUT THAT MIGHT BE EXTENDED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THIS CUSTOMER ASKED IF ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 100K MILES WAS AN EXPECTED EVENT AND THE DEALER REPEATED THAT IT COULD BE. FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP. THE ZONE MANAGER WOULD NOT MEET TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER PAID $4,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER KEPT THE BROKEN SHAFT WHICH SHOWS MULTIPLE INTERNAL SURFACE TEXTURES. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT A RESPONSE ON THIS SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING ISSUE FROM FORD. OTHER WEBSITES REPORT FORD EMPLOYEES AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, LOOSELY REFERRED TO AS A "STACKING OF TOLERENCES" WHEREBY THE TOLERENCES EXERT PRESSURE ON THE CRANKSHAFT JUST BEHIND THE KEY WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE DAMPNER. THIS IS REPORTEDLY NOT A CONDITION THAT THE OWNER CAN PREVENT, DIAGNOSE OR OTHERWISE BE AWARE OF UNTIL THE CRANKSHAFT BREAKS. FORD REPORTEDLY CANNOT MAKE A PRIOR DETERMINATION EITHER, SEEMINGLY LEAVING IT TO CHANCE WHETHER A VEHICLE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. CERTAIN ENGINE COMPNENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FAIL DURING ENGINE LIFE SUCH AS WATER PUMPS, ALTERNATORS AND SO FORTH BUT MAJOR COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT. FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY REVEALING THE DESIGN LIFE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. J.D. POWERS RELAYED TO THIS CUSTOMER THAT CRANKSHAFTS ARE ROUTINELY DESIGNED TO LAST 200 - 250K MILES, CONTRARY TO DEALER ASSERTATIONS. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

BRACKET ATTACHED TO FIRWALL BY THREE SMALL RIVETS. RIVETS BROKE LOOSE, PEDAL BECAME INOPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF VERY POOR DESIGN; THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL - IT IS A SIMPLE PART, SUBJECTED TO VERY MINOR LOADS. WORSE, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MUST BE DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE IT, AND RATHER THAN REPLACING JUST THE BLEND DOOR (A LITTLE FLAPPER THAT CONTROLS THE MIX OF HOT AND COLD AIR), YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER PLENUM ASSEMBLY.*AK

ENGINE IS A 1997 4.0L SOHC. THERE IS A VERY NOTICIBLE MISS IN THE TIMING AT IDLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL, IT BUCKS AND SHUDDERS THE WHOLE TRUCK, BUT THE IDLE SPEED NEVER VARIES MORE THAN 100 RPM. HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 1991 EXPLORER 4.0L. DEALER RAN ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE ENGINES. DT

DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR IS GOING OUT. THE MOTOR SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN, AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN OPERATING. DT

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

CYLINDER HEADS OR HEAD GASGETS FAILED CAUSING COOLANT LEAK INTO CYLINDERS AND OUT EXHAUST. SUSPECT FAULTY HEATER VALVE LEAKED COOLANT CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE HEADS OR GASGETS.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS AND SENSORS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT BRAKE SENSORS ARE CONFUSED, THEY THINK THEY ARE ON WET PAVEMENT, WHEN REALLY DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT.*SLC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

1995 THRU 1999 EXPLORERS AND 1997-99 MOUNTAINEERS, BUILT THROUGH 4/98 WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR WHICH BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND PREVENTS TEMPERATURE REGULATION . FORD REVISED THIS PLENUM USING NYLON AS A REINFORCEMENT , WHICH IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IS A CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS STIFF, AND CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A TURN FELT LIKE WHEELS WERE GOING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT FRONT AND REAR SENSOR IN TRANSFER CASE HAD GONE BAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON MAY 4TH PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C-HEATER THAT RESULTS IN A FAILURE TO DEFOG/DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.

HEATER DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR,.DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF A PLASTIC PART ON THE HEATER DOOR THAT FAILS AFTER TO MUCH USE. THE PART HAS TO BE REPLACE BY A PART CALLED THE ACTUATOR VALUE.FORD MUST HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT HAS A REPLACEMENT PART ALREADY TO GO WHEN THE PART FAILS. (NYLON BLEND DOOR AND PLENUM #F87Z-18471-DA.) THE PROBLEM BEENING THAT IT COST $784.40 IN LABOR TO PUT THE PART IN. IF FORD NEW IT HAD THIS PROBLEM , WHY WASN`T IT ON A RECALL LIST TO REPLACE???*AK

WHEN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE THROTTLES DOWN AND ACCELERATES. CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKES OR SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS AN AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO RECREATE PROBLEM FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON ROAD TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE., AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE ACELLERATED ABOUT 100MPH. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD NOT UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT. CONSUMER HAD TO CUT SEAT BELT TO FINALLY GET OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME AND STAY ON. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT HAD CAUSED THE SITUATION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

I HA D A WARRANTY THROUGH FORD MOTOR CO. THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT NOR WILL THE DEALERSHIP I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS LOUD METALLIC RATTLING NOISE THEY (THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE WRITERS) SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BACK IN OCTOBER IT WAS NOT NEARLY A HALF A YEAR LATER THERE WAS ENOUGH ENGINE DAMAGE THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY STATES "IF THE FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IT WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD FREE OF CHARGE ANY OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE CLEARLY RESULTING FROM A WORN OR BROKEN FRONT CAM CHAIN GUIDE IS ALSO COVERED BY THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE" AGAIN THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE IS NOT BEING HONORED BY FORD OR THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE VEHICLE HESITATES TO START.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE ON PASSENGER SIDE, CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN AND COULD NOT GET OUT, SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE CHILD; IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR 2 HOURS. *TT

THERE'S A WINDING AND GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE GOING INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT,VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER SUV GOING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. THE BACK SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT APPARENTLY BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND WENT TO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION,PROVIDING NO SUPPORT. AS A RESULT, MY WIFE SUSTAINED NECK AND LOWER BACK INJURIES (HERNIATED DISKS) AMONG OTHER INJURIES. HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED REGARDING THE SEAT FAILING TO HOLD UP AND PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT DURING A SEVERE REAR END COLLISION?*AK

WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN TO PARK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE STOPPED , CONSUMER TRIED TO BACK UP, BUT AGAIN VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. CONSUMER SAW LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS TILTED TO ONE SIDE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO NOTICED THE FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE HAD BROKEN.*AK

CAM TENSIONER BROKE. METAL PIECE FROM TENSIONER RAN THROUGH ENGINE AND DAMAGED IT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; BUT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED 100000 MILE WARRANTY. CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE AND DIDN'T KNOW RECALL.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT LOOSE, PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED. THE BRACKET ON WHICH THE PEDAL WAS MOUNTED HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OUT FROM THE FIREWALL OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION, THE BRAKET HAD BEEN ATTACHED WITH THREE SPOT WELDS.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN SEAT BELT BUTTON IS PUSHED TO DISENGAGE.*AK

THREE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE FAILURES. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITONS WHEN FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT WITHOUT WARNING. SECOND TIRE FAILURE WAS ON FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED HE IS UNABLE TO GET ANY ASSISTANCE FROM FIRESTONE OR DEALER, CONSUMER HAS NOW REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES.*SLC

THREE TIRE FAILED, TIRES LEAK ON SIDE WALL NEXT TO TREAD

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BLOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 35MPH. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ON ALIGNMENT. INFORMED NOT ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM IWAS LOCATED IN WHEEL HUB. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED.*AK

BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GROANING SOUND AND PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD BOTH FRONT CALIPER AND PADS REPLACED. BUT, STILL MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER SHOP. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA, IS IT NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PART TO GO OUT UNDER 40,000 MILES. *AK *SLC

TREAD SEPARATION - TIRES REPLACED BY DEALER MIKE DAVIDSON FORD, JACKSONVILLE, FL. FIRESTONE CONTACTED - STATED THAT TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL - ONLY SUBJECT TO STANDARD WARRANTY; REQUESTED THAT TIRE THAT FAILED BE SHIPPED TO FIRESTONE, NORCROSS, GA FOR INSPECTION. WITH THIS TIRE FAILURE, I HAD 4 TIRES REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIPO237 TIRESIZE: P225-70R15)

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THROTTLE STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED RECALL 00V422000 ON THIS VEHICLE. AK THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES DID STOP THE VEHICLE. *SLC

AN UNKNOWN CAUSE LEAD TO THE HEAD GASKET CRACKING AND THE CYCLINDERS BLOWING-OUT ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 46M MILES AND THE RETURN OF A LEASE ORIGNATED WITH THE DELAERSHIP THAT SOLD THE SAME VEHICLE TO US. THIS WAS FORD CERTIFIED LEASE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD, WHICH MEANS IT SUPPOSEDLY WNET THROUGH THE HIGHEST INSPECTION UPON IT BEING TURNED IN FROM THE LEASE. THE VEHICLE BROKE-DOWN ON 8/12/01 ON BUSY INTERSTATE 84 AT THE JUCTION OF THE MERGE OF INTERSTATE 91 AND 84, STRANDING MY WIFE ( WHO WS DRIVING) BETWEEN TWO HEAVILY USED HIGHWAYS. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INHERENT DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. ACORDIG TO THE DEALERSHIP A THEIR FORD REPRESENTATIVE, TARYN, STATED FORD REFUSES TO PAY FANY PART OF THE REPAIR BECUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED AND WE DID NOT DO OUR SERVICE (OIL CHANGES) WITH THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH WE DID DO SO AT OTHER PLACES. WE WANT FORD AND THE DELEARSHIP TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE.*AK

ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY CAUSES VEHICLE TO GO FROM A STOPPED CONDITION, FOOT ON BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL OFF. EXTREME BRAKING EFFORT AVOIDS COLLISION. PROBLEM PRESENTED TO FORD SERVICE AT DEALER, DIAGNOSTIC TESTS DONE AND NO REPAIR PROVIDED. FORD SERVICE DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE AND OFFERED NO RECALL REPAIRS.*AK

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

HAD STARTED VEHICLE & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. RESHIFTED BACK TO DRIVEAND THEN INTO REVERSE AGAIN TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. WHEN IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME, TRANSMISSION DAMAGED LEFT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE NOW AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

FORD DEFINITELY HAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. IS THE NHTSA GONNA DEAL WITH IT OR, ARE WE GOING TO WAIT TILL WE HAVE ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE ISSUE. MY EXPLORER HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN SEVERE SKIP/MISS FOR THE PAST 2-MONTHS. AT FIRST INDICATION....I SCHEDULED IT IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER (ROCHESTER AUTO COLLECTION - A DIVISION OF FORD), WHO DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDED NEW IGNITION WIRES. (MIND YOU, THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42,000 ORIGINAL MILES, AS I BOUGHT IT NEW). THREE HUNDRED BUCKS LATER, I NOTICE THE VEHICLE PERFORMING NO BETTER ON THE DAY I PICKED IT UP. SO....WE SCHEDULE A SECOND VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT, THEY "DINK AROUND" WITH THE THROTTLE. AGAIN, THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED IT WAS NO BETTER. SO....IN WE GO FOR A THIRD VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT I AM ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS BROKEN OFF AND THAT THEY WILL NEED TO PULL THE ENGINE OUT TO REPAIR. SO, WE SCHEDULE THAT 3-DAY SERVICE VISIT. AND HERE I AM TODAY.....AFTER HAVING PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, AND NOW IT IS WORSE!! THIS IS A $30,000 VEHICLE WITH 43,000 MILES THAT RUNS WORSE THAN MY SON'S '95 CAVALIER. AS I REVIEW THE DATABASE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOTE MANY, MANY ISSUES RELATING TO THIS TIMING BELT TENSIONER. SO......WHEN IS THE NHTSA GONNA STEP UP TO THE PLATE, AND MAKE FORD GET THEIR "DUCKS IN A ROW" AND FIX THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, BETWEEN THE TIRE INCIDENT AND THEN THIS, I SINCERELY DOUBT I WILL EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

THE ORIGINAL DRYER UNIT WAS WRAPPED WITH A PIECE OF RUBBER. THIS PART, AS A NORMAL PART OF IT'S OPERATION WILL SWEAT. THIS PIECE OF RUBBER HELD THE CONDENSATION TO THE UNIT AND CAUSED THE DRYER TO RUST. THE REPLACEMENT PART DOES NOT HAVE THIS RUBBER WARPPING. I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL.*AK

TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 255/70R16)

WHILE DRIVING PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AND VEHICLE WOULD DIE. WHEN CAR WAS IN PARK IT DID NOT CUT OFF. BUT, SOON AS CONSUMER PRESSED GAS PEDAL IT SHUT OFF. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE(MICHELIN LTX M/S). *JG

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