Most common 1997 Ford Explorer problems
Share of the 1,731 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer complaints by model year
Best Explorer years: 2024, 2023, 2019. Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2013, 2015. Compare all years →
1997 Ford Explorer recalls (7)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or 97jf-9e926-ac). Some of the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built too narrow.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
Suspension
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain conditions, a front sway bar link can fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both the left and right front sway bar links.
Exterior lighting
Vehicle description: Mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to Ford, the vehicles were…
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from May 29, 1996 through March 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0l single overhead cam engines. The engine fuel lines can be damaged if the vehicle is jump started and the ground cable is attached to the fuel line bracket that is located near the battery.
Remedy: Dealers will install a warning label on the fuel line bracket advising owners not to use it for a jump start ground. Also a revised bolt will be installed in the alternator bracket to provide a convenient jump start…
Show 1 more recall
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 5.0l engines originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, idaho, iowa, maine, michigan (upper peninsula only), minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1997 Ford Explorer:
Throttle sticking
There is no summary currently available
Fuel line damage from jump starting
There is no summary currently available
Windshield wiper malfunction
There is no summary currently available
Steering knuckle separations
There is no summary currently available
Throttle sticking
On January 23, 1997, Ford motor company issued special service message (ssm) 10240, announcing that a revised throttle body would be available during the first quarter of 1997 for 1997 model year Ford explorers equipped with the 4.0l single overhead cam (sohc) engine.the ssm stated the revised throttle body would address increased throttle efforts that had been experienced on these vehicles.on July 31, 1998, the…
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 1997 Ford Explorer owners say
Wheels & tires all 680 →
Vehicle was operated below speed limit when it started to shimmy and shake violently causing operator to lose control. Vehicle wanted to go towards the right and would not respond to operator's attempts to steer towards the left. Vehicle abruptly responded towards the left, dipped down on the passenger side front and rolled over hitting n embankment causing it to flip up on it's wheels (right side up). Police and insurance adjuster noticed shredded and mangled tires on the passenger side of the vehicle, but had no explanation. I now realize the cause of the crash/rollover must be the Firestone tires. I no longer have possession of the vehicle or tires, as the vehicle was totaled and taken by insurance company. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*734298
On November 10th I replaced the rear passenger tire on my 97 Ford Explorer with the spare tire that was under the truck. On December 18th on my way to work traveling south on 95 at approx. 5:40 am I heard a very loud noise, it was like a bomb went off. A second after the noise my truck was out of control and flipping down the highway. My truck was totaled, but I was lucky enough to live through this accident. The tire was a Firestone wilderness at, which I have found out had a recall on it because over time would fall apart and the tread would come off the tire causing accidents that could result in injury's or death.
Speed control & acceleration all 202 →
While driving my 1997 Ford Explorer on I-64 e at approximately 60 MPH, smoke started to pour into the car from under the dashboard. I pulled over as fast as possible and was met by a virginia dot truck who noticed me suddenly cross two lanes to get to the breakdown lane. He grabbed his fire extinguisher and put the fire out within seconds of my stopping. The fire department was not called because it was put out so quickly. After having it towed to a shop, I was informed that it appears to have started in the cruise control switch and burned through the master cylinder. The fire was extinguished within 15-30 seconds from the time I stopped but the mechanic said that the car does not have any brakes as a result of the fire. I consider myself lucky to have been able to stop at all. My car was not and still has not been recalled. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lurched forward out of control and was difficult to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The second incident happened when the vehicle was started from the parked position. The brake pedal was depressed and the gear was shifted from park to drive when it accelerated out of control. The vehicle was taken to two independent service dealers and one service dealer, but the problem could not be recreated. The third occurrence resulted in a collision with another vehicle parked in the driveway when acceleration reached 50 MPH. No injuries were reported, although a police report and photos were taken. The manufacturer was contacted. The contact's phone number was the son of the vehicle's owner. Updated 11/30/2006 - the driver of the vehicle reported some neck pain later that night which was not apparent at the time of the accident.
Engine & cooling all 202 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked in his driveway. The contact stated that an independent mechanic diagnosed that the hydraulic fluid was leaking due to the faulty cruise control switch causing the fire. The contact mentioned that the hydraulic fluid leaked out when it gets warm even when the vehicle not running. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic testing and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. While driving 30 MPH, the contact smelled smoke and then noticed smoke rising from the engine compartment. He pulled over approximately two minutes later and discovered flames coming from the engine compartment. There was a small explosion on the driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. As of November 1, 2007, the dealer and manufacturer had not inspected the vehicle. His VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07V336000 (vehicle speed control). The contact felt that a leak in the engine compartment caused the fire. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
1997 Ford Explorer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford Explorer a good car?
Based on 1,731 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Explorer rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Explorer at the same age. It is one of the Explorer years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford Explorer?
The wheels & tires — 680 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the speed control & acceleration (202) and engine & cooling (202).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Explorer have?
There are 7 recalls for the 1997 Ford Explorer, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024, 2023 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2013 and 2015. See the full Ford Explorer years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Explorer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 11% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.