NHTSA Complaint #10064332 — 1997 EXPLORER VAN FORD EXPLORER

1997 FORD EXPLORER, BOUGHT AS A PROGRAM VEHICLE (RETURNED) WITH 40,000 MILES.EHICLE NOW HAS 103,000 EASY MILES. MOSTLY SITS IN CARPORT. NOT DRIVEN DAILY. VECHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS 1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, HAVE REPLACED )2 SENSOR TWICE. CAME BACK ON SHORTLY AFTER. RUNS ROUGH IN THE MORNING. 2. BLEND DOOR FAILED (THIS CAUSES EITHER WARM OR COOL AIR TO BLOWN INTO THE VEHICLE), RENDERING EITHER AC OR HEATER INOPERABLE. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, WHEN DEFROSTER IS NEEDED QUICKLY. FORD DEALER SAID FORD USED DEFECTIVE PART, NOW HAS NEW AND IMPROVED BLEND DOOR. ESTIMATED COST $574.00 3. SPARE TIRE WINCH FAILED AFTER 1 USE. 4. THROTTLE BODY FAILED (RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, HAD REPAIRED AT DEALER, FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER).THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO DEPRESS, CAUSING OPERATOR TO STEP HARDER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH DANGEROUSLY. 5. TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES, INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC (WHOM I TRUST) STATED SHOP MANUAL SAID ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVED AND HEAD REMOVED TO REPAIR. ESTIMATED COST $1000.00 LOOKED INTO ENGINE SWAP, EST. COST $1500.00 6. SEAT RECLINIING HANDLE (TO RECLINE SEAT) SIMPLY BROKE OFF, WAS NOT EVEN IN USE.*AK