Menu

1997 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,731 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer, most often about the tires. It is covered by 7 safety recalls.

35
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.9× the Explorer median · #5 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Free fix at dealersOwner complaints1,731334 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage78kTires, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 3, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Explorer has problems

1,731 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Tires66996
Vehicle speed control20239
Engine and engine cooling19811
Suspension1059
Power train10412
Visibility901
Service brakes, hydraulic8323
Electrical system8020
Seat belts547
20 other systems33657

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

1997 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Show 3 more recalls
–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 99V-062 · Mar 30, 1999 · 898,739 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 98V-060 · Mar 19, 1998 · 320,000 vehicles

Risk. THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V-074 · Apr 30, 1997 · 23,000 vehicles

Risk. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

21 owners mentioned a cost

$3,000median

Middle half: $1,500 – $4,500

Power train

9 owners mentioned a cost

$2,700median

Middle half: $2,100 – $3,000

Visibility

8 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $763 – $1,003

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Explorer 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 median. How we score

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Ford Explorer safety ratings

1997 Ford Explorer 4-DR. 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE STICKINGEA99001 · closed Feb 9, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-422
  3. STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONSPE99045 · closed Oct 29, 1999
    No recall
  4. WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONPE99049 · closed Apr 24, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-072
  5. FUEL LINE DAMAGE FROM JUMP STARTINGRQ98020 · closed Nov 15, 2000
    Led to recall 98V-060
  6. THROTTLE STICKINGSQ98014 · closed Jan 7, 1999
    No recall
In owners' words

What Explorer owners report

Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ON 7/29/2013 WE PURCHASED A SET OF 4 KUMHO SOLUS KR21 TIRES. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY FOR HIGHWAY TRAVEL ? ONCE WEEKLY WORK COMMUTE AND FOR VACATION ROAD TRIPS. WE HAD NOT YET DRIVEN IT OFF PAVEMENT WITH THE NEW TIRES. ON 4/16/2014 I STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO WORK. I HEARD AN ODD NOISE FROM THE…
Complaint 10584693 · Apr 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH WINSTON WIN WINNER AT TIRES, SIZE: 255/70R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS LEAKING AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED…
Complaint 10546433 · Oct 1, 2013 · 170,000 miles
SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE FAILED ON 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT, RESULTING IN SPARE TIRE BREAKING FREE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. *TR
Complaint 10348009 · Aug 8, 2010 · 115,871 miles

Own a 1997 Explorer?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.