1997 FORD EXPLORER Structurebodydoor Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE DOORS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE DOORS REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,100. *JS

FORD EXPLORER 1997 XLT 4 DOOR 4.0L Y AIR BLEND DOOR IS NO LONGER WORKING SUCH THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IS PERMANENTLY ON HOT AND WITH A 9 MONTH BABY THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT WE CANNOT COOL THE CAR TO THE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE DURING SUMMER. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS FIXED IN LATER MODELS WITH REVISED SYSTEM PART #F87Z-18471-DA. *AK

HEATER BLEND DOOR HAS BROKEN, SO DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. DIFFICULTY SEEING OUT FRONT WINDOW IN COLD WEATHER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, FOR WHICH I WAS QUOTED A $900 REPAIR. *LA

THE KEYLESS NUMBER PAD ON VEHICLE QUIT WORKING, THEN THE REMOTE FOR ANTI THEFT SYSTEM QUIT WORKING AND FINALLY THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS QUIT WORKING

DRIVERS DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY, GASKET CYLINDER FRONT COVER, TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, RT BANK EXHAUST MANIFOLD; THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, BUT NEW ONES MOUNT EVERY WEEK. NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, BEING CHECKED TOMORROW. *AK

DOOR HANDLES ON FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS FOUR DOORS, DOORS IN REAR WILL NOT OPERATE UNLESS UNLOCKED DOORS FROM INSIDE. WHEN OPERATING FROM OUTSIDE TOO OPEN, DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEARATE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DOORS WILL NOT OPERATE UNLESS CONSUMER IS OUTSIDE TO OPEN THEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH DOOR HANDLES. *SLC

SUMMER 1999- TRIP TO FLORIDA, RAN INTO RAIN STORM AROUND DECATUR, ALABAMA. WE HAD SLOWED TO 35 - 45 MPH MAXIMUM AFTER FEELING WHAT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO HYDRAPLANE. THEN WE HEARD A SLAPPING SOUND LIKE THE RUBBER WAS LOOSE. STOPPED AND CHECK IT AND TIRES APPEARED OKAY. CONTINUED CAREFULLY. TO DATE, WE STILL HEAR A SOUND SIMILIAR TO A BALL BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING IT. LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MGR. SAID THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED EVERY 10,000 MILES MAX. AND THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES; ALL HAVE BEEN OKAY. I RUN APPROX. 32 LBS. IN THE TIRES. DOOR LOCKS - LEFT REAR HAD TO HAVE 2 MOTOR REPLACEMENTS BEFORE IT OPERATED PROPERLY. NOW LEFT FRONT CONTROL LOCK IS NOT UNLOCKING PROPERLY WITHOUT NUMBEROUS ATTEMPTS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY49 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

OCCUPANTS CANNOT EXIT REAR SEAT, DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK.

REAR PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE ARE INOPERATIVE. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DRIVER/REAR PASSENGER CANNOT GET OUT. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK.ET.

THE DOOR HANDLE MACHANISM HAS FAILED ON EACH OF THE REAR DOORS. A PLASTIC PIECE BROKE OFF THE MECHANISM. THIS RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, INHIBITING EGRESS OF ANY PASSENGERS DURING AN EMERGENCY. BOTH FAILED MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACE BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AT OUR EXPENSE. REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO US BOTH TIMES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OUR TYPE OF VEHICLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN A TIMELY MANNER TO GET THIS DOOR OPENING REPLACED. WE HAD OUR BROKEN PART REPLACED TODAY. FORD PART # F77Z-7821818-AAJ IS THE ONE THAT WAS MOST RECENTLY REPLACED. *AK

BOTH INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

BOTH BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ONE. A FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD NUMEROUS PARTS TO CORRECT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS NEWER MODEL HAS A FEATURE WHERE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN SPEED(5MPH?). I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE DOORS AND IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING THEM. IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THIS PROBLEM WOULD DELAY THE TIME THAT THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT COULD BE SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN LAST 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DOOR CAME OPEN I FELL OUT OF IT, AND HURT MY BACK, AND CAN NOT STAND FOR ANY LENTGH OF TIME. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ITS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AND I E-MAILED YOU IN JANUARY AND I SHOULD OF HEARD SOMETHING FROM YOU BEGINNING OF FEBUARY. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU WHY? THANK YOU NEDRA J. OSSO

ELECTRICAL DOOR SWITCHES FAILED.

REAR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS NOT TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR DOORS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCK DESIGN IS POOR, CREATING HAZARDOUS SITUATION, REAR PASSENGERS CAN NOT EXIT VEHICLE UNLESS DEPRESSING RELEASE BUTTON IN FRONT OF VEHICLE.

REAR DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK, TRAPPING REAR PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE, SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL. (QCAW)

LEFT SIDE REAR DOOR IS INOPERATIVE, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REPLACED FUEL GAUGE SENDIN GUNIT/AIR BYPASS VALVE/ WATER PUMP/SEAT RELEASE/PASSENGER'S DOOR AND COMPUTER. *AK