1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,875 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #4

Aug 052005

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 133,000 miles
Over rough pavement or entering ramped driveways at an angle, vehicle rocked side-to-side more than normal, with an occasional "clunk". inspection revealed a bolt holding the anti-roll bar to the upper control arm had rusted and failed, rendering the anti-roll bar non-functional. Given the propensity of this type of vehicle to roll over if driven improperly, this failure increases the risk / decreases the rollover threshold.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #3

Apr 022005

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,500 miles
Consumer heard noise on driver's side wheel and front stabilizer bar broke. Consumer called the dealer, and Ford was told consumer's vehicle was not included in recall due to VIN number. Other vehicles of same year were recalled. Contact felt this vehicle should have been recalled. At low speed vehicle was responding normally but at increased speed vehicle becomes unstable for a short instance. Consumer could not continue to drive unsafely, so consumer purchased two new stabilizer links from Ford dealership for $22. Mechanic replaced both of them for an additional $40. Consumer feels that this incident is unfortunate for the Ford company not to stand behind their vehicles because the links are not moving parts of the vehicle and should last a lifetime.

- Willington, DE, USA

problem #2

Mar 312005

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
After pulling off the interstate I noticed my 1997 Ford Explorer was making awful noises and didn't handle well. When I got home I realized the sway bar link had snapped. After looking at your website I saw that the 1997 Ford Explorer was recalled for sway bar links breaking. After bringing my Explorer to the dealership to get the item fixed I was told my vehicle wasn't part of the recall and that they go by VIN #'s. so my question is why are only certain 1997 Explorer recalled. Just because my vehicle's VIN # doesn't qualify does that mean that I should loose control on the interstate going 75 mph. Only certain color Explorer get recalled" maybe only Explorer built on wednesdays in 1997 qualify. Do I have to crash and die until my VIN # qualifies" it will be too late then but maybe my parents can sue Ford and get rich. Ford already tried to kill me with their Firestone tires and now this. I'm glad the NHTSA has the knowledge to know exactly which 1997 Explorer had faulty parts, seems like a coincidence that I had the same problem that resulted in a recall for the 1997 Explorer but yet I am refused service by Ford. Could you please tell me how this can happen. I am furious with Ford but I guess I should be more angry with the NHTSA since they issue the recalls. Please let me know how you determine which lives to save and which ones aren't as important. Thanks for your time, joe

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1

Sep 132004

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
Consumer stated front stabilizer bar broke. As a result, while driving 40 mph vehicle swerved to avoid another vehicle, and almost rolled over with the front passenger side wheel off the ground.

- Aurora, CO, USA