3.5
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 37,838 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.
I bought the Explorer last April and the A/C worked fine, but when winter got here the heater would not blow warm air. I took it to a mechanic who replaced the thermostate and looked at other things, but could not fix it. I then took it to a second mechanic who looked at it and told me that he had just fixed the same problem on another 97 Ford Explorer--and it was the blend door. That the door was a factor defect and would cost about $650 to replace it. I did not have the money to have it replaced, and it is a safety hazard when it is stuck on A/C air and you can not defrost your windshild while you are driving. It has not been fixed and restricts vision out of the windshield when fogged or iced which could cause me to have a bad wreck.
- Magnolia, AR, USA
Heater in vehicle became inoperative during a sleet and ice storm. Heater blend door failed causing only cold air to blow out of heater and defroster, windshield and windows fogged up and I could not see the road. Heater box and blend door replaced that cost me $700. 8nm
- Aiken, SC, USA
Heater blend door on my 1997 Ford Explorer does not change positions. It is stuck in the position only giving me air conditioning full time. No matter where the dial on the dash is turned the heat refuses to activate. Through a quick series of odd weather occurrences I found my windshield covered in a layer of ice that could not be removed since the heat did not work on the defroster. This almost caused a near fatal head-on collision. I have no option now but to have the heater plenum replaced at a cost $1010.
- Maple Valley, WA, USA
Consumer noticed when turning dials on heater unit from hot or cold the unit only blew hot air. The technician stated the heater blend door needed to be replaced.
- Anna, OH, USA
Heater runs at full heat no mater what temperature selected.
- Sammamish, WA, USA
Heater control valve also broke.
- Davie, FL, USA
- Alexandria, VA, USA