1997 Explorer Van FORD EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
71,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 9 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 1 |
2003: 8; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005333 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
I HAVE A AWD WITH APPX 75,000/MI AND THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT COST $4,700.00. I DO NOT OR HAVE BEEN ROUGH WITH THIS VEHICLE. NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY... AND MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE ALSO.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007634 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
4WD LOW AND HIGH LIGHT ILLUMINATED / SIX TIMES FLASHING EVERY THREE MINUTES. WHILE IN REVERSE THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER/BANG. FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGING INTO DRIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010508 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ZERO THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON OUR 1997 FORD EXPLORER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM WORK ONE MORNING AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND ENDED UP RUNNING IT. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010569 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
HEATER AND DEFROSTER ON MY LOW MILEAGE FORD EXPLORER NO LONGER BLOWS WARM AIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND I HAVE NO WAY OF DEFOGGING MY WINDSHIELD. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO TAKE MY FAMILY ON EXTENDED TRIPS. I FEEL STRONGLY THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT (POORLY DESIGNED OR IMPROPER FACTORY INSTALLATION OF THE "BLEND DOOR"), BUT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FORD WANTS $1200.00 TO FIX THIS DEFECT WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. FORD HAS A REDESIGNE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028966 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
THE SPARE TIRE ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF I HAD BEEN GOING DOWN A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THE SPARE IS STORED UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH A CABLE WHICH SNAPPED, DROPPING THE TIRE INTO THE ROAD. FORD DOES NOT THINK I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040841 · 2003-09-28 (September 28, 2003)
REAR END COLLISION- AT 35-40MPH THE DRIVER SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK & THE BACK OF THE SEAT WENT TO A RECLINING POSITION. I RECEIVED A CONTUSION ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS FOR ABOUT 50 FT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE PERSON BEHIND ME HIT A SPEED BUMP I HAD JUST GONE OVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 98 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040940 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR BLEND ON MY VEHICLE. FORD STATES THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, ANY WEBSITE YOU GO TO THAT HAS FORD OWNERS ON IT HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TRACED ALL VACUUM LINES, CHECKED THE HEATER COR ETC. THE BLOWER THROWS OUT COLD AIR ONLY. FORD WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1,100 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I WILL NOT PAY THIS AMOUNT. I PLAN ON CONSULTED WITH MY FAMILY ATTORNEY, AND POSSIBLY SEE IF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CAN BE FILED. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROB…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047380 · 2003-11-22 (November 22, 2003)
IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS WAS AFTER SENSORS WERE REPLACED THE FIRST 4 TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALMOST CONSTANTLY SINCE THE PURCHASE IN JUNE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER AND FORD WOULD NOT RECALL THEM FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT. I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE REPAIRS TO A DEFECTIVE PART OR PARTS. FORD SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY. [XXX]. *LA INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047380 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.