1997 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ROLL BACKS. THE CONTACT PLACES BRICKS BEHIND TWO WHEELS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SECURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE OFF, MY 97 FORD EXPLORER ROLLED BACK 5 FEET BY ITSELF, COMING CLOSE WITH COMING TRAFFIC! *NM

DT: THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON. DEALER SAID IT COULD EITHER BE A LOOSE CONNECTION OR MOISTURE IN THE SYSTEM. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MILES ON THE ROAD, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. PULLS IN SECOND GEAR. TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED.*AK *SB

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEAREED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED IN 1998 AND I TOOK IT TO LES PINKAM LINCOLN MERCURY IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY FOR REPAIR. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE BLEND AIR DOOR HAD BROKEN AND IT WOULD COSTS $800 TO REPAIR IT. THINKING HE WAS LYING, I TOOK IT TO BILL COLLINS FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KY. AGAIN, THE SAME RESULTS AND REPAIR ESTIMATE. TECHNICIANS AT BOTH PLACES, TOLD ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY HAD LES PINKAM REPAIR IT. IT SEEMS THAT FORD WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DASH TO REPAIR IT, MUCH CONTINUE WITH A DESIGN WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS. YEARS LATER AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. IN...

TRANSMISSION OUT BEFORE I REACHED 87,000 MILES. WHEN MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL CAME OUT. THE PROBLEM OCCURED WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM KROGERS AND VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR, RMPS WENT UP PAST 4000, THEN VEHICLE WOULD LOSS POWER. WOULD TAKE MY FOOT OFF GAS TIL RMPS 0, THEN REPEAT THIS CYCLE FOR MY 5 MILES HOME. MY HUSBAND TOWED VEHICLE TO PEFFLEY FORD OF DAYTON, OHIO ON DEC 24, 2003. THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR THAT MANY MILES, BUT ACCORDING TO MY SEARCH, THIS IS NOT. FORD TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS FOR OTHER BUYERS. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF I WAS ON INTERSTATE. WE ARE BEING CHARGE $2100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, TODAY IS JAN 1, 2004 AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE IT BACK.*AK

THE TRUCK'S OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED AND THE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE TRUCK FAILED TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND THE # 3 CYLINDER MISFIRED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

LOSS OF REVERSE. FAILURE OF BEARING RACE ABOVE VALVE BODY CAUSED FLUID TO BE PORTED TO BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE DRIVE AT SAME TIME. WHEN REVERSE WAS SELECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL IN REARWARD DIRECTION TWO TO THREE FEET BEFORE BINDING AND ALL MOTION CEASED. DRIVE FORWARD WAS NOT ADVERSELY EFFECTED BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT AT THE COST OF $2800. WITH ONLY 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I OPTED FOR A SECOND OPINION. A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE "EXPLODER" TRANSMISSION AND COMPLETELY REBUILT THE UNIT FOR HALF THE FORD REPLACEMENT COST. *LA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TS

WHILE ON VACATION FROM CALIFORNIA GOING TO MONTANA I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 7% GRADE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, OUR TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SPIN AND WE LOST ALL FOWARD/BACKWARD PROPULSION. UPON CONTACTING THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, THEY STATED THE O-RINGS ON OUR NEW TRANSMISSION FILTER WERE BROKEN. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THEM AND CHARGED US 200+ DOLLARS (WE HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NO O-RINGS ON THE TRANSMISSION FILTER FOR THIS MAKE AND MODLE OF VEHICLE) THE PROBLEM REOCCURED WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS. FORD THEN STATED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, IN THE TOWN WE WERE IN ON VACATION, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PUT ONE IN. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GMC DEALER WHO PUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING THE INSTRUCITON AND RECOMMENDATION FROM FORD AT A COST OF $2700. THE GMC DEALER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING A SUITABLE PLACE TO ATTACH...

ON SLIGHT INCLINES VEHICLE ROLLS EITHER UP OR DOWN HILL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE HAS BEEN SOUNDING DIFFERENT SINCE THROTTLE RECALL OOV422000 WAS DONE IN DECEMBER OF 2001. WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK IN THE REAR END WHICH I ASSUMED WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSFER CASE. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSFER CASE HE THEN FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR. I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THIS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE HAD ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN HIS SHOP AT THE SAME TIME. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY DENY EVER HAVING THIS PROBLEM OR HAVING ANY DEALERSHIPS REPORTING THIS TYPE OF DEFECT.*AK

AT 45,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 70, 000 VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE'S A WINDING AND GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE GOING INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

HAD STARTED VEHICLE & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. RESHIFTED BACK TO DRIVEAND THEN INTO REVERSE AGAIN TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. WHEN IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME, TRANSMISSION DAMAGED LEFT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE NOW AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO PASS, OR EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL COMPLETELY DISENGAGE! THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH IN TWO CASES WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICHLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT'S AS IF YOU INTENTIONALLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THERE IS NO SLIPPAGE, JUST COMPLETE DISENGAGEMENT. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT COMPLETELY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE. BELIEVE ME IT'S REALLY SCARY WHEN YOUR ENGINGE COMPLETELY TACHS OUT AT THIS SPEED. IT'S A WONDER THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT TWICE AND REPAIRED ONCE. COSTS TO ME SO FAR IN REPAIRING THIS TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN $3000 AND COUNTING FOR THE LAST TIME. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A FORD DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT. AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME THING...

THIS VEHICLE HAS A EMMISIONS RELATED TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. IT EFFECTS THE THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGAGING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 17, 1999 WITH 22,941 MILES AND AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2000 WITH 32,304 MILES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC AND SINCE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS COME ON THAT THE FORD DIVISION WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS FORDS PROBLEM NOT MINE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNDER MUCH STRESS DAILY AND FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE REPAIR AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. FORD MADE THE FAULTY VEHICLE AND I SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. LET ME ADD TORRINGTON FORD WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THIS NOR...

IS THIS LEGAL TO SELL A VEHICLE NEW OR USED WITH SERIOUS SAFETY RECALLS, THEY HAVE JEOPORDIZED MY SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. SUDDEN ENGINE ACCELERATION AND TACHOMETER RE-LINE AT PASSING GEAR. SHIFTING INTO LOW GEAR PRIOR TO 1800RPMS. ENGINE NOISE AT START UP. OVERHEATING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, I.E. TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. IDLES AT 1200.RPMS AND FLUCTUATES. WHAT ETHICS DO THESE DEALER POSSESS AND DO THEY NOT SAFETY INSPECT THEM PRIOR TO SALES, THEY LET ME DRIVE OFF THE LOT. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR THE FAILED PARTS AFTER PURCHASING IT ON NOVEMEBER 1,2000. I HAVE FIRESTONE AT TIRES YET TO BE INSPECTED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE NO OIL WAS IN IT WHEN STARTED, DEALER HAS REPLACED GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE CAM TENSIONER THREE TIMES, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE REPLACED, IT WAS MAKING NOISE. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, IT WAS NOISY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. VANITY MIRROR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND POPPED WHEN OPENED, DEALER REPLACED IT. THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THE LEFT FRONT. BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY, DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. A TAP NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE PLAYING CD'S. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, DEALER INTALLED OVERHAUL KIT BECAUSE THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED. 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE AND MADE A RUBBING/GROAN NOISE, WHEN REVERSING AND PUTTING INTOR DRIVE, CONSUMER HEARD POPPING...

SEE DESCRIPTION FROM ANOTHER DISSATISFIED OWNER AT ODI ID: 702324. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AND JERKS FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

CONNECTOR SEAL BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING CAUSING A BANG WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. NLM

MECHANIC MADE COMMENT THAT SEALS IN TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED BUT DEALER NEGLECTED TO DO SO WHEN VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN OR IN FOR PRIOR SERVICES. *AK

THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LITES (4-WHEEL DR-LOW & 4-WHEEL DR) AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LITE BEGAN FLASHING ON THE DASH. I STOPPED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP, POCATELLO, IDAHO. THEY PUT ON COMPUTER, BUT SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING IN THE GEM MEMORY, SO ADVISED ME TO DRIVE ON TO SALT LAKE CITY, BUT DO NOT PUT IN CRUISE CONTROL, AND THIS WOULD NOT HARM THE CAR'S EQUIPMENT OR BE UNSAFE. I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP AND STOPPED AT A RETIREMENT HOME'S PARKING LOT IN IDAHO FALLS ON JULY 1, 2000 AND THE CAR MADE "BANGING" NOISES WHEN REVERSED OUT OF THE PARKING SLOT. THE DASH LITES THAT HAD BEEN FLASHING PREVIOUSLY WERE NOT SHOWING. I CALLED THE BROADWAY FORD DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICES THE CAR TO HAUL IT IN FOR REPAIR. THEY FOUND THE SENSORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEN THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND SAID IT HAD A NOISE IN...

ENGINE "TICKS" PRIMARILY AT COLD STARTUP. PROBLEM BECOMING MORE PREVELANT HOWEVER, NOW IT OCCURS ALSO AT A WARM STARTUP. ENGINE ALSO "HISSES" AT LOW SPEEDS TO IDLE. REAR END LEAKS FLUID AND ALSO SHUDDERS AT HIGH SPEEDS. "CLUNKING" NOISE OFTEN HEARD AND FELT FROM REAR END WHEN VEHICLE STOPS.

EA99001, THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARD. ALSO, WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, IT WILL STALL OUT WHEN PLACING IT IN GEAR. OWNER THINKS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK *ML

AUTOMOBILE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED FORWARD AND HIT A POLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

4 WHEEL DRIVE STUCK IN LOW. IF SWITCHED OUT OF LOW THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES FROM BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AXEL SO THE VEHICLE JUST STOPS. EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS ON DASH INDICATE THE VEHICLE IS IN 4 WHEEL HIGH THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN 4 WHEEL LOW. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE USED 4 WHEEL LOW. WITH THE SNOW THIS WEEK I USED 4 WHEEL LOW TO GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT GO MORE THEN 3 FEET FORWARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK. NOTHING I DID WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I KNOW FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FEAR HERE IS THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM COMPLETELY DISENGAGES AND MY VEHICLE WITH...

WE (HERNDON, VA RESIDENTS - JANE, MY SON TJ-15, MY DAUGHTER BOBBIE-13, AND I) WERE RETURNING FROM SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH JANE'S SISTER, ANNE, AND OUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, JACK, IN DETROIT. WE DEPARTED FROM FARMINGTON HILLS MI (DETROIT) AT 9:30AM IN A LIGHT SNOW. IT WORSENED AS WE GOT INTO OHIO, BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEARED AND IN SOME AREAS WERE SALTED. MOST TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN ONE LANE, THE FAR RIGHT ONE CLOSEST TO THE SHOULDER. THAT IS WHERE I WAS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER WE STARTED THE TRIP I HEARD A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES FROM UNDER THE CAR. MY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV), A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, HAS A SERIES OF SETTINGS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE (4WD), I.E., AUTO 4WD, 4WD HIGH, AND 4WD LOW. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THE NOISE TO BE THE CAR SHIFTING FROM 2WD TO 4WD AS IT...

FORD POWERTRAIN SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WITH A STEEP GRADE. AUTO ENGINE BRAKING CONTROL WAS LOST WITH LOUD GEAR TEARING SOUNDS. VEHICLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY ENCREASED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL DURING CURVED DOWN-HILL SETION OF THE ROAD. HEAVY APPLICATION OF BRAKES KEPT US FROM SLIDING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE FORD GEM CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSTRUCTING THE TRANSMISSION "TRANSFER" CASE TO RELEASE/ENGAGE IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DESTROY THE POWERTRAIN AND DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE FROM THE POWERTRAIN. *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURRED BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1997 UNTIL NOVEMBER 1998 WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO FORD PER A LEMON LAW SETTLEMENT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDED LACK OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER, ERRATIC IDLE AND THROTTLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION PER YOUR INVESTIGATION.

VEHICLE IS NOT CONSITENT SWITCHING IN/OUT OF OVERDRIVE/4 WD -STICKS-FORD DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM.

WHEN CHANGING GEAR INTO REVERSE DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION WILL CAUSE A TEN SECONDS DELAY, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR. DEALER HAS REBUILT TRANSMISSION, NOW SAYING THIS IS NORMAL WITH VEHICLE. *AK

BROUGHT VEHICHLE INTO DIFFERENT FORD DEALER TO COMPLAIN OF NOISE, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE AIR PRESSSURE VALVE AND TO WAIT TILL IT GOT LOUDER TILL THEY WOULD FIX, ONE WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEY SAY IT IS A CRACKED DRUM AND REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION...NEVER HAD AN AIR VALVE PROBLEM

TRANSMISSION LEAKED ON THE CONVERTER CAUSING FIRE.

WHEN BACKING UP, THE GAS PEDAL MAY STICK. YOU MUST TAP THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE IT. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE MAY LURTCH FORWARD AND IF YOU'RE ON AN INCLINE IT MAY ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE ENGAGING.