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…