1997 Ford Explorer body problems

Filed Apr 8, 2015 · Body · 106,505 miles · CA

The driver side interior door handle return spring unseated resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation. If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, could the door unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury?

Filed Jun 5, 2013 · Body, Lights · 180,000 miles · UT

I own a ford explorer xlt 1997 and the rear passenger door on the drivers side only opens from the inside while the other rear passenger door will not open from the inside or out (child lock not activated). The drivers door doesn't lock and when it does lock, it doesn't unlock or sticks so bad it has be unlocked with pliers, causing the driver to have to get in and out of the car through the front passenger side door. The interior map light and rear interior door light above the backseats stay on constantly even when switched off and the lightbulbs had to be removed because they wouldn't turn off and were overheating.

Filed Mar 29, 2012 · Body · 200,100 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. The contact stated that the driver side door could not be opened from the interior or exterior of the vehicle, causing the contact to have to enter and exit the vehicle from the passenger side. The contact also stated that the rear passenger door could not be opened from the exterior or interior of the vehicle as well. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the doors repaired. The contact had the doors repaired three times for the recurring failure. The failure mileage was 200,100.

Filed Apr 18, 2011 · Body · 84,000 miles · NJ

Severe rust on the frame of a 1997 ford explorer.

Filed Apr 13, 2010 · Body · PA

I have seen several ford explorers ranging from years 1995-2001 that the frames are rusting through and breaking. I feel this is a serious safety issue. There is a severe rust problem with these frames and they appear to be manufactured quite thin to begin with. From what I have seen on over a dozen of these cars in my area, the frame is rusting through and breaking on the left rear corner anywhere from the front mount on the lr leaf spring to where the bumper mounts at the back of the frame. The cross member holding the body mounts is also rusting through in this area and coming into contact with the gas tank and also making the spare tire loose and at risk of falling out of the vehicle and becoming a hazard for following motorists. There is no good way to fix this problem and I feel that these vehicles should be recalled to get them off of the road. This is a very serious issue and I am not sure how there haven't been crashes and or deaths as a result of this very poor design and quality vehicle. Action needs to be taken immediately because from what I have seen this problem is just now starting to really take effect because of the aging vehicles.

Filed May 9, 2005 · Body · UT

Dt: 1997 ford explorer the driver front door and the passenger side rear door will not open. Contact states she called the service dealer, but it costs too much to have it looked at, parts and labor would be more.

Filed Feb 2, 2005 · Body · 75,000 miles · FL

The rear lift gate door is tearing away from the where it attaches to the lift gate door hinge on the left side (dirvers side). The door has always been a problem to close and was ajar from when I bought the car new. The door ajar light would come on all the time, and of couse the numberous time I took it to the dealer they could never "duplicate the problem". Now it is beyond the point of ajustment. The whole liftgate has to be replaced at a cost of approxiametly $1,200. It is a safety hazzard as I have to pull out the fuseto get the lights to go out, in order to drive it at night. The lights won't go off when the door is ajar. When it rains I have to stop to put the fuse back in and drive witht the interior lights on, which is very hard to see. Also fumes come in from the exhaust so I can't go for long trips n it. If I didn't like the car so much I would trade it in, but I really love my explorer except for this defect in construction. (it has never been involved in a accident.) I am taking it in to be fixed next week.

Filed Apr 19, 2004 · Body · NM

Ford explorer 1997 xlt 4 door 4.0l y air blend door is no longer working such that the heating system is permanently on hot and with a 9 month baby this is a safety concern that we cannot cool the car to the comfortable temperature during summer. I found on the internet this is a common problem which ford has fixed in later models with revised system part #f87z-18471-da.

Filed Feb 12, 2004 · Body, Engine · 78,132 miles · MT

Consumer is a victim of odometer fraud, encountering problems with the vehicle that's uncharacteristic for the mileage on the vehicle. (nar) *ph exhaust system, ball joint, and instrument panel had to be replaced.

Filed Dec 24, 2003 · Body · OH · fire

Vehicle developed undercarriage problems and caught on fire. *mr *sc