1997 FORD EXPLORER Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL PUMP DRIVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE(FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN #97B12). MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY.

WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND VEHICL IS AT A STOP, DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE HARD TO GET INTO TRAFFIC THE ENGINE WILL STALL OR HESITATE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH SAME COMPLAINT, DEALER COMPLIES ,HAS ACKNOWLEDGED FORD HAS PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE THAT SEEMS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST YEAR, AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. INVESTIGATION CONTROL NUMBER WAS ISSUED #118268BH (11/30/98). RAMP FORD HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US IN THIS MATTER, BUT IT SEEMS THAT FORD HAS NOT PROVIDED THE DEALERSHIP WITH A WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. ALSO CAUSED THE HOUSE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

ENGINE O-RINGS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FAULTY CAUSING CONTINUED ENGINE STALLING.

MOTOR FAILED.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, CONSUMER HEARD SOMETHING POPPING. THEN NOTICED A GAS SMELL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS LATER OTHER MOTORIST WAS SIGNALING FOR CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. PULLED OVER AND FOUND ENGINE ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY DO NOT DO FIRE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AKTHE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER FIRE RELATED FAILURE. *NLM

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE OR LEAVING VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START, AND THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN STARTING COLD ENGINE RACES AND GAS PEDAL STICKS, I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT DOESN`T HAPPEN UNLESS ITS 50 DEG OR LESS, ENGINE ALSO ALMOST STALLS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE STALLS AND ALMOST QUITS ENTIRELY DURING ACCELERATION. MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS 50 - 55 MPH. MAY BE IN CONJUCTION WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE LEFT (DURING LANE CHANGE ON THE FREEWAY.)

ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT AFTER STOP. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. TAKEN IN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO CAN NEVER REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. STALLING PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON AMONG PEOPLE WITH 4.0 SOHC ENGINE (BASED ON INTERNET DISCUSSION). TRUCK WAS BOUGHT/REGISTERED UNDER MY WIFE'S NAME: KATHLEEN.

WHEN ACCELERATING TO TURN LEFT WITH MY S.O.H.C V6 EXPLORER, THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES CUT OUT AND ALMOST STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH CARS BEARING DOWN ON ME. IT GOES FOR 2 SECONDS AND THEN CUTS OUT FOR 2 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HEAT OUTSIDE, BUT IT HAPPENED THIS JANUARY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TURNING LEFT UNDER QUICK ACCELERATION. HAS HAPPENED WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS TO NEARLY FULL. I DID A SEARCH IN DEJANEWS AND FOUND APPROX. 20 OTHER SIMILAR CASES. IT IS VERY SCARRY TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE ALMOST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS COMING AT YOU. IT HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SUMMER OF 97, 3 TIMES IN THE SUMMER OF 98 AND ONCE IN JANUARY 99.

EARLY IN 1998 CONSUMER SAW OIL IN DRIVEWAY, SHE TOOK VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE IN FEBRUARY. A WEEK LATER THE OIL SPOT WAS BIGGER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER IN JUNE 98, AND THEY SAW NO LEAK. THE OIL LEAKS GOT BIGGER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS THREE TIMES. BANNER FORD--1665 SCOTT BLVD. DECATUR, GA---404-633-4005. VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING OIL TODAY. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE MOTOR RACES WITH THE RPM'S GOING UP TO 6000, IDLE ARM SENSOR REPLACED, BUT STILL IDLING HIGH.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED HESITATION.

ENGINE TURNS AND VEHICLE MOVES ON SLIGHT INCLINE WITH ENGINE OFF AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FIRST GEAR. RESULTING IN CRASH.

FORD WAS NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM (ENGINE CUT OUT AND OR STALLED UPON MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION, ON MOST OCCASIONS FROM A STOP) WITH VEHICLE AFTER 5-6 REPAIR ATTEMPTS ON PARTS LISTED ABOVE. VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BY FORD WITH A 1998 EXPLORER THAT TURNS OUT TO BE EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 1997 EXPLORER DID.

ENGINE STALLS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45 MPH AFTER LEAVING FROM A GAS STATION, SMELLED SOMTHING BURNING. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. WHEN PARKED VEHICLE ON THE BANK PARKING AFTER COMING FROM INSIDE, FOUND HER VEHICLE ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT, OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THEN OIL WAS LEAKING AGAIN AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED, DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE CONSUMER'S EXPLORERE WITH A 1998 MODEL. RACK AND STEERING WAS REPLACED, DUE TO LOST FLUID IN FRONT END. SEAT BRACKET FAILED. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS GOING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, MERGED INTO LANE WHEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED/NO MOTION, BUT ENGINE WAS STILL ON/RUNNING/AND IN GEAR. PUSHED PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, HEARD NOISE, NO RESPONSE. GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE ENGINE RACES FROM 55 TO 70 MPH.