Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. The contact stated that while sitting in a drive-thru with the brakes engaged, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and there was an increase in engine rpms. The contact stated that he attempted to hold the brakes but the vehicle would not stop. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 190,000.
1997 Ford Explorer: sudden unintended acceleration
28 of the 1,730 complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer describe sudden unintended acceleration.
- owner complaints
- 28
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 86,500
- recalls
- 4
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls and 10 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Sudden unintended acceleration by model year
What owners say
Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds with the cruise control activated a burning smell came from the steering wheel. Also, while driving 55 MPH the vehicle jerked to the left. Furthermore, the vehicle surged forward without warning. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop to diagnosed the problems. There were no repairs made except on the throttle body. There were recalls on all three components. There was a the federal safety agency recall, #99v062000 regarding the vehicle speed control. A the federal safety agency recall, #00v402000 concerning the suspension. Also, a the federal safety agency recall #00v422000 concerning the vehicle speed control. The VIN was not included in any of the recalls.
Dt*: the contact stated the cruise control was set at 55 MPH while driving on the highway when the vehicle accelerated on its own. The cruise control would not disengage. The vehicle revved to 85 MPH before the contact turned the key to the off position and pulled off of the road. Each time the vehicle was restarted the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. Finally the contact disengaged the cruise control under the engine and drove the vehicle one mile to a dealership where it was determined the cruise control switch was faulty. Updated 09/11/06.
Turned into parking space at low speed. When brakes were applied vehicle surged forward and struck building trapping a lady between vehicle and building, killing her. Gas was not applied at anytime, you could feel the anti-lock brakes trying to engage and the vehicle could not be stopped.
Dt: the contact stated when attempting to stop at a stop sign the vehicle suddenly accelerated and it went through the stop sign and then came to a stop when placed into neutral. The vehicle accelerated suddenly two more times before the contact was able to take vehicle to the dealership. It occurred while at a complete stop. Again the brakes would not hold and the vehicle was placed into neutral to get it to stop. The vehicle is currently at the dealer for diagnostic testing, which has not been completed at this time. *ak updated 12/27/2005 - when the vehicle was started cold it would not stay on and idled erratically. The dealer informed the consumer that the acceleration problem and idle problem were due to a faulty throttle sensor. The dealer replaced the throttle valve assembly but that did not correct the problem.
(1) cruise control, normal useage (2) when the cruise control is on for more than five minutes, the cruise control switch controlling accel, coast, resume, on the steering wheel becomes hot. Furthermore, approximately 30% of the time, the vehicle will suddenly accelerate when the coast button is depressed, resulting in two near misses, with temporary loss of control of the vehicle. (3) the failure still exists, however I have not used the cruise control for two months. I had contacted a ford dealership fully explaining the problem and was told that there was no recall; I would have to take the vehicle in and pay for it.
Consumer states while driving the accelerator pedel sticks causing the vehicle to surge forward. Ph
While driving about 55 MPH vehicle suddenly accelerated without prior warning, and odometer will stay stuck in place.*ak consumer states vehicle has been repaired, and transmission has been rebuilt.
Sudden acceleration when engine is cold. Vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and unable to locate the problem.
While in a parking lot space vehicle suddenly accelerated without a prior warning, lost control and stroke a bulding.
While driving on highway got off to exit while approaching a stop light, and all of sudden accelerator pedal stuck to the floor, and vehicle went through the intersection. Contacted dealer, who indicated that warranty was up.
Vehicle experiences sudden acceleration. Mehicanic is having a hard time trying to get part in because ford is redesigning the part.
Service bulletins that may apply
- On some vehicles, the accelerator pedal bracket may become loose or separated from the dash panel
- Some vehicles may exhibit an intermittent hesitation on acceleration or while turning
- Vehicles may experience a no start condition when parked on an incline with the vehicle in a nose down...
- Some vehicles may exhibit an occasional hoot / moan from the idle air control (IAC) valve
- Customer may complain of an intermittent stumble / buck / jerk at 38 mph while in high gear and at very...
- Recall information regarding speed control cable replacement
- Some vehicles may exhibit a hard start / long crank, cold start stall, cold rough idle concern
- Some customers have reported the throttle stuck at idle on some vehicles
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1‑888‑222‑2751.
Recall number 09V399000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or 97jf-9e926-AC). Some of the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built too narrow. This reduced clearance allowed the engine deposits normally present in the throttle body to contact or bridge the gap. If the engine deposits bridged the gap between the throttle plate and bore and then hardened, on the initial application of the accelerator pedal after the engine has cooled, the operator would need to apply additional force to the accelerator pedal to break the bridge.
- Risk
- This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
Recall number 00V422000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
- Risk
- If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Recall number 99V062001 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 5.0l engines originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, idaho, iowa, maine, michigan (upper peninsula only), minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. These vehicles, when operated for extended periods of time at highway speeds and temperatures below -20 degrees farenheit, do not return to idle due to ice in the throttle body.
- 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 increase in stopping distance can result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
Recall number 97V074000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1997 Ford Explorer sudden acceleration
Is sudden unintended acceleration a common problem on the 1997 Ford Explorer?
28 of 1,730 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer (2%) mention sudden unintended acceleration. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Ford Explorer?
There are 4 recalls and 10 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Ford Explorer
Tire blowout 246Adaptive cruise 44Fire or smoke 42Stalling 35Door locks 32Engine failure 27Grinding brakes 25Seat belt 25Check engine light 24Wipers 23Brake failure 20Ball joint 19No deployment 17Won't start 16ABS 14Headlights 14Loss of power 14Overheating 14Pulling 14Jerking 13Knocking 10Transmission failure 9Power steering loss 8Hesitation 6Harsh shifting 5
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