1997 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls (1,331 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1997 Ford Explorer is Tires (21% of 1,331 owner reports). There are 11 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Tires — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 1,331 complaints · 11 recalls

What problems show up on the 1997 Ford Explorer?

277 of 1,331 filings named Tires (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Cruise / speed control (174 reports).

There are 11 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Tires, Lights, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1996 has 1,073 reports on file; this year has 1,331. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1997 Ford Explorer

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 11 campaigns on file below.
  2. Tires. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment.
  3. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Tires. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Tires 277 complaints · 20.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 120
  • Fires 52
  • Injuries 133
  • Deaths 20
Compare with 1996 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Tires (TIRES) appears in 277 of 1,331 owner complaints (20.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Tires (TIRES): 277 complaints, 20.8% of reports Tires (TIRES) 22 crash reports 1 fire reports 277 · 20.8% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 174 complaints, 13.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 24 crash reports 10 fire reports 174 · 13.1% Engine (ENGINE): 161 complaints, 12.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 9 fire reports 161 · 12.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 90 complaints, 6.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 10 crash reports 1 fire reports 90 · 6.8% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 79 complaints, 5.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 19 crash reports 3 fire reports 79 · 5.9% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 79 complaints, 5.9% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 4 crash reports 79 · 5.9% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 79 complaints, 5.9% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 79 · 5.9% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 63 complaints, 4.7% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 18 fire reports 63 · 4.7% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 47 complaints, 3.5% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 7 fire reports 47 · 3.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 943 complaints, 70.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 83 crash reports 29 fire reports 943 · 70.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Tires (TIRES) 277 20.8% 22 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 174 13.1% 24 crashes · 10 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 161 12.1% 1 crashes · 9 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 90 6.8% 10 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 79 5.9% 19 crashes · 3 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 79 5.9% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 79 5.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 63 4.7% 0 crashes · 18 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 47 3.5% 2 crashes · 7 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 943 70.8% 83 crashes · 29 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 1996; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 1997. 1996-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 1997-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 1997-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 1997-Q4: 22 owner reports 22 1998-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 1998-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 1998-Q3: 29 owner reports 29 1998-Q4: 22 owner reports 22 1999-Q1: 52 owner reports 52 1999-Q2: 40 owner reports 40 1999-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 1999-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2000-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2000-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2000-Q3: 201 owner reports 201 2000-Q4: 100 owner reports 100 2001-Q1: 63 owner reports 63 2001-Q2: 54 owner reports 54 2001-Q3: 36 owner reports 36 2001-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2002-Q1: 34 owner reports 34 2002-Q2: 39 owner reports 39 2002-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2002-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2003-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2003-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2003-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2003-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2004-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2004-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2004-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2004-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2005-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2005-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2005-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2005-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2006-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2007-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1996 Apr 2021 Recall campaign 97V074000 ◆ Recall campaign 97V074000 Recall campaign 98V060000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V060000 Recall campaign 99V062001 ◆ Recall campaign 99V062001 Recall campaign 00V168000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V168000 Recall campaign 00T005000 ◆ Recall campaign 00T005000 Recall campaign 00V402000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V402000 Recall campaign 00V422000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V422000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 09V399000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V399000 Investigation SQ98014 ● Investigation SQ98014 Investigation RQ98020 ● Investigation RQ98020 Investigation EA99001 ● Investigation EA99001 Investigation PE99045 ● Investigation PE99045 Investigation PE99049 ● Investigation PE99049 Investigation DP05005 ● Investigation DP05005
  • Campaign 98V060000 was reported 372 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00T005000 was reported 1,238 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 4,107 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1996-Q4 Owner reports 3
1997-Q1 Owner reports 16
1997-Q2 Owner reports 16
1997-Q3 Owner reports 21
1997-Q4 Owner reports 22
1998-Q1 Owner reports 26
1998-Q2 Owner reports 25
1998-Q3 Owner reports 29
1998-Q4 Owner reports 22
1999-Q1 Owner reports 52
1999-Q2 Owner reports 40
1999-Q3 Owner reports 42
1999-Q4 Owner reports 33
2000-Q1 Owner reports 39
2000-Q2 Owner reports 37
2000-Q3 Owner reports 201
2000-Q4 Owner reports 100
2001-Q1 Owner reports 63
2001-Q2 Owner reports 54
2001-Q3 Owner reports 36
2001-Q4 Owner reports 16
2002-Q1 Owner reports 34
2002-Q2 Owner reports 39
2002-Q3 Owner reports 25
2002-Q4 Owner reports 25
2003-Q1 Owner reports 16
2003-Q2 Owner reports 20
2003-Q3 Owner reports 19
2003-Q4 Owner reports 17
2004-Q1 Owner reports 22
2004-Q2 Owner reports 13
2004-Q3 Owner reports 13
2004-Q4 Owner reports 9
2005-Q1 Owner reports 12
2005-Q2 Owner reports 8
2005-Q3 Owner reports 17
2005-Q4 Owner reports 4
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 4
2006-Q3 Owner reports 12
2006-Q4 Owner reports 14
2007-Q1 Owner reports 7
2007-Q2 Owner reports 5
2007-Q3 Owner reports 3
2007-Q4 Owner reports 7
2008-Q1 Owner reports 7
2008-Q2 Owner reports 7
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 4
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 3
2009-Q4 Owner reports 4
2010-Q1 Owner reports 7
2010-Q2 Owner reports 4
2010-Q3 Owner reports 6
2010-Q4 Owner reports 2
2011-Q1 Owner reports 4
2011-Q2 Owner reports 3
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 4
2013-Q1 Owner reports 8
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 97V074000
Recall campaign 1 98V060000
Recall campaign 1 99V062001
Recall campaign 1 00V168000
Recall campaign 1 00T005000
Recall campaign 1 00V402000
Recall campaign 1 00V422000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 09V399000
Defect investigation 1 SQ98014
Defect investigation 1 RQ98020
Defect investigation 1 EA99001
Defect investigation 1 PE99045
Defect investigation 1 PE99049
Defect investigation 1 DP05005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (11)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Tires, Lights, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 00T005000

    Tires

    Report date
    Component:
    Tires (TIRES)
    Consequence:
    IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 00V168000

    Safety recall 00V168000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 00V402000

    Safety recall 00V402000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 00V422000

    Safety recall 00V422000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS FREE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 09V399000

    Safety recall 09V399000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 97V074000

    Safety recall 97V074000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 98V060000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WARNING LABEL ON THE FUEL LINE BRACKET ADVISING OWNERS NOT TO USE IT FOR A JUMP START GROUND. ALSO A REVISED BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET TO PROVIDE A CONVENIENT JUMP START GROUND LOCATION.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 99V062001

    Safety recall 99V062001

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 1,331 complaints · page 1 of 54
2021-05-03Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11414983
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK GAUGE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, THE CONTROL ARMS, THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.
2020-06-08Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11327709
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT WHEN IT GETS WARM EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF
2019-04-12Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11195896
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY LIGHTS DON'T WORK STABILIZING BAR IS BAD,SPEED CONTROL DOSE NOT WORK SECURITY KEY CODE NOT WORKING,DOOR CONTROLS DO NOT WORK.WIPER WORK SOMETIMES.BALL JOINT ARE BAD, TIRES WEARING BAD,,BUSHINGS ARE VERY BAD.TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP,ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK, IT GRINDING SOUND.HEAF LIGHT ONLY BRIGHTS WORK.
2018-05-29Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11098437
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RIGHT AXLE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKEOFF AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF WITH THE BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE HOSE AND BECAUSE OF THIS CAUSE LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH .THE VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOSS.
2017-08-30Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11020608
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT ENGAGE TO THE LOCK POSITION.
2017-04-03Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10970153
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I RECENTLY FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN RECALL REGARDING THE POSSIBLE LEAKAGE OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR NOT. THE FORD MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #09S09 AND THE NHTSA RECALL #09V399000. THIS IS STILL AN OPEN RECALL.I CONTACTED FORD RECALL CENTER TODAY AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REMEDY THIS HAZARDOUS RECALL DUE TO THE AGE OF THE RECALL AND THE AGE AND MILES OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD FIX IT AS BODILY INJURY OR EVEN POSSIBLE DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THIS RECALL IS NOT REMEDIED. MY VEHICLE IS RUNNING PROPERLY FOR THE MOMENT BUT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT NO MATTER THE AGE OF MY VEHICLE.
2016-12-29Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10938443
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2016 I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 6:00 PM. MY CAR WAS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED ONTO MY ROAD WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE, SO, I PULLED OFF INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT BESIDE A WALKING TRAIL. I COULD TELL THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT, IT TOOK ME QUITE A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD - BUT NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG THERE. THEN, I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND THE SMOKE KEPT GETTING HEAVIER. I BEGAN FEELING AROUND FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS HOT. I CHECKED THE DASH, THE VENTS, THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SEATS - ALMOST EVERYTHING BEFORE I CHECKED THE CENTER COMPUTER CONSOLE. IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAR - DIRECTLY UNDER THE RADIO - THERE IS A COMPUTER MODULE THAT DISPLAYS THE GAS MILEAGE, OIL STATUS, AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR. THE MODULE HAD RECENTLY STARTED DISPLAYING A "CHECK HEADLAMPS" MESSAGE. WELL - I HAD DONE SO AND THEY WERE WORKING FINE - SO I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT. TURNS OUT THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED UNDER THE CENTER COMPUTER MODULE. I GUESS THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BLOWN A FUSE BUT INSTEAD - STARTED A FIRE. I TRIED TO RIP THE COVER AND THE CONSOLE UP - BUT IT WAS SCREWED DOWN AND I HAD NO LUCK. AT THAT POINT, THE FLAMES STARTED TO SPREAD VERY QUICKLY AND THE ENTIRE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I CALLED 911 AND GOT AS FAR AWAY AS I COULD WITH MY BELONGINGS. THE FIRE TRUCK AND FIRE FIGHTERS CAME WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OR SO AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE GAS TANK. THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CAR REMAINED UNTOUCHED, HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE SEATS HAD BURNT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I'M STILL IN MY TEENAGE YEARS - SO I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION PROPERLY. I AM JUST GLAD I AM ALIVE AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME.
2015-04-23SEAT BELTS
NHTSA ODI 10712375
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NO LONGER SECURELY LATCH. *TR

Ford Explorer Complaints by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1997 Ford Explorer?

Owners named Tires most often — 277 of 1,331 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Ford Explorer?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Tires, Lights, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1997 Ford Explorer?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources