1997 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,383 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 231 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 360 of 1,383 complaints (26.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 98 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 49 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 40 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 1.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 360 |
| Tires | 278 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 70 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 62 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 34 |
| Suspension | 33 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 33 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 32 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 360; Tires: 278; Vehicle Speed Control: 70; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 62; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 34; Suspension: 33; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 32
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 72 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 72; 150,000 and above: 44
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (72). 1,152 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 698 |
| 2001 | 226 |
| 2002 | 130 |
| 2003 | 72 |
| 2004 | 60 |
| 2005 | 42 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 698; 2001: 226; 2002: 130; 2003: 72; 2004: 60; 2005: 42; 2006: 34; 2007: 24; 2008: 19; 2009: 9; 2010: 21; 2011: 10; 2012: 10; 2013: 16; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 98 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 40 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003617 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BACK TIRES TO LOCK UP AND SKID. CONSUMER HAD A COLLISION AS A RESULT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009857 · 2002-05-24 (May 24, 2002)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WELDS BROKE AND THE PEDAL SHIFTED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE CRUISING AT 55/60 ON HIGHWAY. WHEN I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I COULDN'T APPLY THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS N THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, RELEASE THE BRAKE AND KICK THE GAS PEDAL OUT FROM UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***762252
Owner-reported narrative. 63,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001862 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED HAS HAD TO REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. SWITCH CONTROLS FUNCTIONS OF HEAD LIGHTS, WIPERS, HIGH/LOW BEAMS, ETC. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN THAT FILLED UP THE ENTIRE CABIN. HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID A COLLISION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026174 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING BOLTS ARE LOSE AND IT IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000176 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047480 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
LOSS OF REVERSE. FAILURE OF BEARING RACE ABOVE VALVE BODY CAUSED FLUID TO BE PORTED TO BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE DRIVE AT SAME TIME. WHEN REVERSE WAS SELECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL IN REARWARD DIRECTION TWO TO THREE FEET BEFORE BINDING AND ALL MOTION CEASED. DRIVE FORWARD WAS NOT ADVERSELY EFFECTED BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT AT THE COST OF $2800. WITH ONLY 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I OPTED FOR A SECOND OPINION. A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025900 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE IN MY 1997, FORD\EXPLORER(PURCHASED USED, IN JUNE OF 1999) CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS (FOR DIAGNOSIS) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, AND THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THE TIMING SYSTEM, AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD, THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CASETTE HAD WENT AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT P…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053380 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT ENGINE CYLINDER NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015875 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 4/1/03 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ON 4/14/03 CONSUMER ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE IGNITION. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, HEARD A THUMP, AND NOTICED THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050286 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 98060000 CONCERNING FUEL LINE RUPTURE; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, THE CONSUMER CONNECTED THE CABLE TO THE FUEL LINE BRACKET. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL BRAID TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO RUPTURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012451 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
CONSUMER INDICATED THE GAS TANK CAP WAS NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159924 · 2006-06-15 (June 15, 2006)
I JUMPED A CAR AND GROUNDED THE CABLES ON THE BRACKET AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER JUMPING THE CAR, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS NOTED. THE LAKE BLUFF POLICE WITNESSED THE ENTIRE EVENT. LATER THAT NIGHT AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTED A FUEL LEAK FROM THE LINES ADJACENT TO THE BRACKET. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE COINCIDENCE OF THE CAR JUMP AND FUEL LEAK MADE ME SUSPICIOUS AND I FOUND THAT MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED UNDER ID NO. 98V060000 FOR A WARNING LABEL AND NEW GROUNDING BOLT. I CALLED ED MATEO …
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159924 at NHTSA ↗