1997 Ford Explorer: jerking or lurching

Filed May 11, 2009 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. While driving approximately 10 MPH on normal road conditions, the vehicle began to jerk excessively. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. He noticed that the rear driver's side axle was split in half. The failure occurred without warning. Roadside assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to his residence. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.

Filed Nov 1, 2006 · Acceleration, Suspension · 167,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Oct 25, 2006 · Acceleration · 94,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lurched forward out of control and was difficult to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The second incident happened when the vehicle was started from the parked position. The brake pedal was depressed and the gear was shifted from park to drive when it accelerated out of control. The vehicle was taken to two independent service dealers and one service dealer, but the problem could not be recreated. The third occurrence resulted in a collision with another vehicle parked in the driveway when acceleration reached 50 MPH. No injuries were reported, although a police report and photos were taken. The manufacturer was contacted. The contact's phone number was the son of the vehicle's owner. Updated 11/30/2006 - the driver of the vehicle reported some neck pain later that night which was not apparent at the time of the accident.

Filed Nov 12, 2004 · Transmission · NY

While shifting gears vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to a garage for inspection. Mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced, and replaced it. However, the problem recurred.

Filed Jul 2, 2004 · Transmission · IL

While driving at any speed vehicle jerked and the overdrive light appeareed on the dashboard and remained on. Vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced.

Filed Jul 21, 2003 · Acceleration, Brakes · OH

When applying brakes vehicle lurches forward. Dealer notified.

Filed Dec 1, 2000 · Transmission · MA

Intermittently when driving overdrive light flashes and jerks forward. Dealer has inspected vehicle.

Filed Oct 24, 2000 · Transmission · LA · crash

While vehicle was parked in the neutral position, and emergency brake on, vehicle jerked and rolled, causing a collision. Dealer has inspected the vehicle.

Filed Jul 6, 2000 · Acceleration, Transmission · ID

The 4-wheel drive lites (4-wheel dr-low & 4-wheel dr) and the cruise control lite began flashing on the dash. I stopped at a ford dealership, pocatello, idaho. They put on computer, but said they could find nothing in the gem memory, so advised me to drive on to salt lake city, but do not put in cruise control, and this would not harm the car's equipment or be unsafe. I returned from my trip and stopped at a retirement home's parking lot in idaho falls on july 1, 2000 and the car made "banging" noises when reversed out of the parking slot. The dash lites that had been flashing previously were not showing. I called the broadway ford dealership that services the car to haul it in for repair. They found the sensors were not working properly. Then they test drove the car and said it had a noise in the transfer case and thought they should investigate. They found shavings in the fluid, and have parts on order. I am alarmed at what might have happened while driving on the interstate to and from salt lake city at 75 MPH, as the car lurched and banged in reverse and forward gear when I tried to drive out of the parking lot at the retirement home. It seemed to have the gears locked up, or the two 4-wheel drive transmissions not working together. They cannot assure me that the transmission might also be damaged from these sensors not working.

Filed Jan 31, 2000 · Acceleration · PA

Stopped at a stop sign, went to accelerate and the gas pedal was sticking. Then, vehicle lurched forward when the pedal stopped sticking. Contacted dealer, and was told that the throttle body valve was sticking which caused the problem.

Filed Sep 20, 1999 · Acceleration · NY

Poor design of throttle linkage cable sticks causing the vehicle to lurch forward or backward and causes the vehicle to continue to accelerate when foot is removed from gas pedal. Nlm

Filed Jun 26, 1999 · Acceleration · OH

The throttle body design on 1997 and 1998 ford explorers with the 4.0 litre sohc engine sticks or binds in a closed position after the vehicle has been parked with the engine off. When the accelerator is depressed, the bind will result in no gas to the engine. Then the binding stops and the car lurches forward often at speeds high enough to chirp the tires. This can be a dangerious situation in traffic.