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7.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$10
Average Mileage:
130,100 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. spray WD-40 in door lock pin (1 reports)
1997 Ford Explorer accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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1997 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #5

May 132007

Explorer XLT 4.0L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

okay, my driver side door lock will only open when I pull the handle inside, but my passenger lock only worked occasionally.It was embarrassing coming out of bestbuy while my 6year old cried and screamed as I tried to open my friggin door(key would turn lock would not) with the local police officer sitting there after trying for 5 minutes I got in,lol...soooooo, a couple of weeks later I sprayed wd40 down(inside under the pull up pin thru the hole) and in all my locks.bad news is it didnt un-stick my drivers side door lock or my gate lock...good news, it did free up my passenger door lock so that it opens freely with the KEY yahhhhh! All my locks work with the power lock switch.So the wd40 did help.try it and let me know.

- cdclink, Altoona, PA, US

problem #4

May 012010

Explorer V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

So it sounds like this is an extremely common occurrence and a Ford design flaw (not the first that I have found). I actually tore into the door to fix the item, and the only way that I could see to fix it was to bend a couple of pieces and bind them together. I ended up taking my daughter's car to a Ford dealer, and he is fixing it as I write. $300-ish worth.

The mechanic knew exactly what the issue was and said that he has parts on hand since it happens so often. Does that not mean that there should have been a recall? What if someone got trappen in their car in a real emergency. Personally, I'd sue the pants off of Ford at that point (knowing what I now know)!

- Matt A., South Jordan, UT, US

problem #3

Aug 082008

Explorer LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,772 miles

I love my ford explorer, only that I have not been treating it well. I have taken it to cheap places to get it fix and I am never satisfied. They put an engine in it 4 Yr's age and some of the electrical parts are not working.I took it back and they did not know how to fix the problem. The check engine light stayed on, the milage will not read, the door remote is out, from outside of driver door as well. Now the back left passenger door is jammed or something. It seems like it unlocks when I press the inside of the unlock system on the inside of the driver door. However it just seems to move up and down but will not open from the outside or inside. It's Stuck!!!

- Frances P., Houston, TX, US

problem #2

Mar 192008

Explorer XLT 4.0L Litre

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,702 miles

No big complaints. Despite all the knocks that this SUV has taken in the media, I'm seriously thinking about buying another one. If only my Audi was this reliable!

- Bruce B., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

problem #1

Feb 262008

Explorer 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

just got this explorer last Saturday, the drivers side door opened fine until last Tuesday morning, and now when i unlock the outside door latch will not open the door i have to open the drivers side door from the back door and stick my hand on the drivers side inside latch and this is a pain. the outside latch doesn't feel broken its just not opening when door is unlocked. please advise, thanks alot

- Alfred C., Westland, MI, US

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