Drivers door lock not working properly, gasket cylinder front cover, torque converter shudder, catalytic converter, rt bank exhaust manifold; these problems have been corrected, but new ones mount every week. Now there is a problem with the steering, being checked tomorrow.
1997 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 104, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Vehicle was taken to dealership due to noise coming from front end. Dealer determined that front differential was broken and had to be replaced.
Vehicle would make a "grinding" noise while accelerating and stopping. A dealership and independent mechanic concluded that noise was coming from transfer case, v8 engine, automatic transmission, all-wheel drive. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
The sway bar links broke prior to the recall notice, consumer was sent a check for the repairs of the front sway bar links, however the left front drive shaft was also replaced due to the links breaking which caused damage to the drive shaft, consumer is requesting reimbursement for the drive shaft as well.
Consumer stated when vehicle was being started it sounded like a diesel engine, the engine light was appearing on the dashboard, consumer was informed that a new engine was needed, consumer states vehicle is now on its 3rd engine.
Getting on highway at 55 MPH, steering wheel and front of car began excessive vibrating (shaking and sputtering). Car cut off at side of road. Towed to dealer who said they never heard of symptoms and could not reproduce problem (after 4 days). On day 4 they told me it was my driveshaft which needed to be replaced. Car has not been the same since and still maintains a constant vibrating although significantly different than first episode. Car still has troubles at 70-75 mphs.
Consumer explains that while having parked the vehicle in a driveway with a slight incline, driver left the vehicle running in park, while standing in the doorway the vehicle rolled up the driveway and struck another vehicle.
After the car was broken on highway 20 west, :making a lot of noise [ sound like the flat , but lucky, the tires are good ] . The car lost control and stop near the exit , about 1 mile to the " millbury ford dealer ". , l looked down under the car : seeing the axle which connected to the rear diffderential assembly by the "u join " was broken , it pull apart , and drop on the ground . Then call a tow-truck , and a policeman stopped by for guiding the traffic to avoid ,prevent accident ..etc.. For safety .
At 45,000 miles transmission had to be replaced. At 70, 000 vehicle started to hesitate. Consumer took vehicle to dealer. Please provide any further information.
There's a winding and grinding noise whenever traveling at high speeds. It is an intermittent problem with vehicle going into reverse without warning.
Had started vehicle & shifted into reverse and transmission locked up. Reshifted back to driveand then into reverse again transmission locked up. When it happened a third time, transmission damaged left front tire. Vehicle now at dealership.
When trying to pass, or even when accelerating, the transmission will completely disengage! The problem is that you never know when it's going to happen. This has almost caused me to crash in two cases while passing another vehichle. When this occurs it's as if you intentionally put the transmission in neutral. There is no slippage, just complete disengagement. I have even had it completely shift into neutral while operating in cruise control on the interstate. Believe me it's really scary when your enginge completely tachs out at this speed. It's a wonder the engine didn't blow before I tapped the brake pedal. The transmission has been completely rebuilt twice and repaired once. Costs to me so far in repairing this transmission have been $3000 and counting for the last time. The repairs were made at a ford dealer and an independent. Again, the transmission is doing the same thing after 13,000 miles. What's bad is that ford technicians, nor their technical service department, can correct the problem. Their diagnostic equipment shows no problem. I have to take it on the road to show the mechanic how it's operating which takes a pretty good test drive. Again their only suggestion is another complete rebuild since they are clueless. Unfortunatley, this time, it is one thousnand miles over their warranty period. This is extremely dangerous in my opinion. If I'm haveing this trouble, then surely others are experiencing the same. Thanks for your time, and if you need further information please call or contact me. I have all my records.
This vehicle has a emmisions related torque converter problem which must be repaired by an authorized ford dealer. It effects the the shifting of the transmission and the engaging of the torque converter. This problem was reported to the dealer on august 17, 1999 with 22,941 miles and again on february 2, 2000 with 32,304 miles. The dealer stated it was a normal characteristic and since no trouble lights come on that the ford division would not be willing to do anything about the problem. This is fords problem not mine I have been driving this vehicle under much stress daily and ford needs to own up to the problem and make the repair at their cost not mine. Ford made the faulty vehicle and I should not be left with the expense of fixing their faulty equipment. Let me add torrington ford will not be involved in this nor will they touch this vehicle. The ford dealership will be of my choice and I want a loaner vehicle while the repair is being made. I don't care if they have to replace the transmission, torque converter, front driveshaft and the pinion seal. This vehicle is faulty and it will not be at my expense. Thank you, [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The crank/drive shaft completely sheared off and fell out with the pulley still attached. The dealer's service manager and three other service personnel stated they have never seen anything like this before. The service manager also stated he could not even begin to explain how it would have happened.
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.
Is this legal to sell a vehicle new or used with serious safety recalls, they have jeopordized my safety in this vehicle. Sudden engine acceleration and tachometer re-line at passing gear. Shifting into low gear prior to 1800rpms. Engine noise at start up. Overheating causing damage to the transmission, I.e. Torque converter failure. Idles at 1200.rpms and fluctuates. What ethics do these dealer possess and do they not safety inspect them prior to sales, they let me drive off the lot. This vehicle is currently in service for the failed parts after purchasing it on novemeber 1,2000. I have firestone at tires yet to be inspected.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
On two occasions the driveshaft broke without warning causing the driver to loose temporary control of the vehicle. Nlm
Consumer had to replace o ring in intake manifold, and transfer box of 4- wheel drive.
Transfer case failed with no reason. The 4 wheel drive is never used. When being fixed they found chuncks of metal in the transfer case. It appeared to be defective. Ford is is denying this.
Vehicle experienced several engine problems, consumer stated that the engine sounded like no oil was in it when started, dealer has replaced gaskets, upper intake cam tensioner three times, and there was a coolant leak. Left front door hinge replaced, it was making noise. Power steering pump was replaced, it was noisy when turning the wheel. Vanity mirror on driver's side would not close all the way and popped when opened, dealer replaced it. The right front of the vehicle was lower than the left front. Brakes were squeaky, dealer replaced front brake pads and turned rotors. A tap noise was heard while playing cd's. Vehicle experienced several transmission problems, while going over bumps and railroad tracks, transmission jumped out of gear, dealer intalled overhaul kit because the clutch had burned. 4 wheel drive was inoperable and made a rubbing/groan noise, when reversing and putting intor drive, consumer heard popping noise, dealer replaced rear transfer case flange and removed driveshaft. Vehicle would not start, it would turn over, dealer found the PCM was not wiring, dealer replaced PCM.
While traveling down a hill and letting off the gas, the transfer case makes a grinding sound, dealer stated that the transfer case is defective.
The last repair was a third time the front end seal have failed. The service dealer customer service attendent state that he had six explorers that morning for the same failure. Ford motor co. Could not provide me with infromation regarding if this was a common occurance for this vehicle.
See description from another dissatisfied owner at odi id: 702324. No safety defect listed in summary. *ak( dot number: )
Intermittently when driving overdrive light flashes and jerks forward. Dealer has inspected vehicle.
While going up hill car was backing back down hill. Took vehicle to dealer, and had transmssiion replaced. February 2000, consumer had to get a total of 3 transmssions.on 07-oct-2000, while waiting at a light, consumer took foot off of brake and vehicle rolled backwards.
While vehicle was parked in the neutral position, and emergency brake on, vehicle jerked and rolled, causing a collision. Dealer has inspected the vehicle.
Passenger doors would not open from the inside, the dealer replaced both door handles.
I was driving down the road and when going down a hill the veh. Stared to make a grinding noise. I had to get up out of the hole to pull off and I noted that when I steped back on the gas it stoped. It only does this when coasting or braking. I took it to the shop and they said it was a failure in the transfer case. I started looking for a new one on the net and found alot of other people describing the same problem to a t. One guy stated that his mechanic said that the gem control module had failed or partially failed and commanded the tranfer case to disengage causing damage to the case. It appeared to be a ford electronic defect not having a fail safe mode but instead ordering the tranfer case to self destruct. The oxygen senors I replace them and they go right back out.
I purchased this vehicle in november of 1998. At the time it had 10,000 miles on it. I noticed the vehicle had what seemed to be a shutter or vibration. I took the vehicle back to the dealership and the service manager drove with me for many miles. He stated that this was a normal characteristic of the vehicle. Everything is a normal characteristic of the vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to a certified transmission repair/replacement shop and have found that this problem is actually an emissions problem, and that the computer needs to be flashed to change the strategy of the torque converter. I would like this issue addressed as it causes my vehicle to vibrate and at highway speeds the vehicle feels very unsafe.
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