Ford Explorer / 1997

1997 Ford Explorer problems

Owners have filed 2,150 complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer with NHTSA. Tires account for 35.5% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 10.4%.

Complaints2,150

Crashes180

Fires58

Injuries250

Deaths41

What owners report breaking

Tires 35.5% · 764

Engine and engine cooling 10.4% · 223

Vehicle speed control 9.9% · 213

Power train 5.5% · 119

Suspension 5.2% · 112

Visibility 4.5% · 97

Service brakes, hydraulic 4.2% · 91

Electrical system 4.0% · 86

Severity

Of those complaints, 180 describe a crash, 58 describe a fire, 250 report an injury and 41 report a death.

Reading the numbers

Across the 33 model years of the Ford Explorer in this data, 1997 sits 6th by complaint volume. 2002 draws the most.

Filings are rising — 7 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,000 miles.

In owners' own words

Pe-00-020; original equipment on a Ford, Explorer, 1997, tire size p235/75r15, dot number began with vn on all four tires. Tires have 37 thousand miles on them. Consumer noticed hairline cracks developing right at the tread line on all four tires. Four tires have been replaced with another brand at customer expense. *Ak the customer states that the tires failed due to faulty design land should be recalled. Tires

My firestone wilderness at tires were not made in the decatur il that is faulted in the recall from firestone. My tires were in at the joliete plant in cananda. I had to replace my tires because the tread was begining to separate from the tire. How do I go about getting reimbursed from firstone since the call does not include all of the wilderness fristone at tires?( Dot number: vnhl ipy tire size: p235/75r15 ) Tires

Tread separation caused vehicle roll over. This was second occurrence of tread separation, the first not causing roll over although speed was about 70mph (same brand tire) (right rear tire, damage of $883 to repair right rear quarter panel, 11/10/99) having no public notice of this problem, I continued to drive with the second firestone wilderness at and risk my life like a dumb fool. *Ak( dot number: ) Tires

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Ford Explorer years

1994 1,531 complaints · 25.1% tires 1995 1,048 complaints · 21.3% tires 1996 1,818 complaints · 35.8% tires 1998 2,374 complaints · 31.6% tires 1999 1,737 complaints · 22.9% tires 2000 1,203 complaints · 19.7% tires

Compare all 33 model years →