Complaints
2,150
Crashes
180
Fires
58
Injuries
250
Fatalities
41
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Ford Explorer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1396 complaints
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Avg mileage:86,468 mi
Crash-related:27
#2332 complaints
TIRES
Avg mileage:97,422 mi
Crash-related:34
Fires:2
#3121 complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Avg mileage:124,167 mi
Crash-related:18
Fires:6
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Explorer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 396 | 27 | — | 86,468 mi | |
| TIRES | 332 | 34 | 2 | 97,422 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 121 | 18 | 6 | 124,167 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 77 | 1 | 2 | 100,292 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 74 | — | 6 | 15,743 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 60 | 10 | — | 93,261 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 44 | 15 | 1 | 69,512 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 38 | 2 | 1 | 76,034 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 38 | 6 | — | 153,714 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 36 | 2 | — | 59,667 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 35 | — | — | 76,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 33 | 1 | — | 124,800 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 28 | 1 | 11 | 134,258 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 25 | — | — | 100,333 mi | |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 25 | — | — | 76,850 mi | |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 21 | 2 | — | 72,250 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 21 | — | — | 134,550 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 19 | 19 | — | 105,000 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 19 | 4 | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 16 | — | — | 84,860 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 16 | 1 | — | 142,985 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 16 | — | 4 | 106,172 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 15 | 1 | 2 | 80,608 mi | |
| SEATS | 15 | 2 | — | 168,333 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 14 | — | 2 | 80,474 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 14 | 2 | — | 160,350 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 14 | 1 | — | 81,000 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 13 | 3 | — | 166,500 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 12 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 12 | — | 2 | 82,219 mi |
Other Ford Explorer Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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