NHTSA Complaint #751511 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

FORD DEFINITELY HAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. IS THE NHTSA GONNA DEAL WITH IT OR, ARE WE GOING TO WAIT TILL WE HAVE ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE ISSUE. MY EXPLORER HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN SEVERE SKIP/MISS FOR THE PAST 2-MONTHS. AT FIRST INDICATION....I SCHEDULED IT IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER (ROCHESTER AUTO COLLECTION - A DIVISION OF FORD), WHO DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDED NEW IGNITION WIRES. (MIND YOU, THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42,000 ORIGINAL MILES, AS I BOUGHT IT NEW). THREE HUNDRED BUCKS LATER, I NOTICE THE VEHICLE PERFORMING NO BETTER ON THE DAY I PICKED IT UP. SO....WE SCHEDULE A SECOND VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT, THEY "DINK AROUND" WITH THE THROTTLE. AGAIN, THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED IT WAS NO BETTER. SO....IN WE GO FOR A THIRD VISIT. DURING THAT VISIT I AM ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS BROKEN OFF AND THAT THEY WILL NEED TO PULL THE ENGINE OUT TO REPAIR. SO, WE SCHEDULE THAT 3-DAY SERVICE VISIT. AND HERE I AM TODAY.....AFTER HAVING PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, AND NOW IT IS WORSE!! THIS IS A $30,000 VEHICLE WITH 43,000 MILES THAT RUNS WORSE THAN MY SON'S '95 CAVALIER. AS I REVIEW THE DATABASE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, I NOTE MANY, MANY ISSUES RELATING TO THIS TIMING BELT TENSIONER. SO......WHEN IS THE NHTSA GONNA STEP UP TO THE PLATE, AND MAKE FORD GET THEIR "DUCKS IN A ROW" AND FIX THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, BETWEEN THE TIRE INCIDENT AND THEN THIS, I SINCERELY DOUBT I WILL EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR