1997 Ford Explorer SportProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 37 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 6, 2015. Updated daily.
Where the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport has problems
37 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 3 |
| Power train | 8 | 1 |
| Seats | 4 | 1 |
| Tires | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1 |
| 3 other systems | 3 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1997 Ford Explorer Sport recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
1997 vs. every other Explorer Sport year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer Sport median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport, and the recalls they led to.
- SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADNo recall
What Explorer Sport owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
DRIVING ALONG EVERYTHING IS FINE, LOSE POWER PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE I SEE BLACK SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES, COULDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE OF POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS. WENT TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND KICKED MY WAY OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MINUTES AND BURNED TO…
THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO THE FAN SHIELD. THE FORD MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. IT WAS GOOD THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 30MPH AT THE TIME OR IT WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGHT THE FAN ITS SELF. IT COULD HAVE HAD MANY CONSEQUENCES. *TR
THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING INVOLVES A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT (4.0L-5SPD-NON-AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL)--THE TEMP IS NOT CONTROLLABLE AND REMAINS HOT ALL THE TIME EXCEPT FOR MAX A/C--THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO COMMONLY INVOLVE BUT IS NOT NECCESSARILY LIMITED TO THE BLEND DOOR, BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR AND HEATER…
Own a 1997 Explorer Sport?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.