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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
114,536 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford Explorer seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #14

Mar 012016

Explorer

  • 285,000 miles

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

The drivers side seatbelt will not engage to the lock position.

- El Sobrante, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 012015

Explorer 8-cyl

  • 144,000 miles
Driver side seat belt buckle will no longer securely latch.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #12

Jun 102010

Explorer

  • 140,000 miles
1997 Ford Explorer driver's seat belt latch receiver failure. After owning the car for 12 to 13 years, the latch/receiver would not engage the strap. I replaced it with one from a salvage yard and after three years this replacement latch/receiver has failed also.

- Wrightwood, CA, USA

problem #11

Nov 012012

Explorer

  • 187,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer 2 door. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the driver's side seat belt would become unlatched without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where they advised him that the seat belt needed replacing. The mechanic was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 187,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Mcrae, GA, USA

problem #10

Feb 212012

Explorer

  • 223,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver side rear seat belt buckle failed. The contact was able to disengage the seat belt without depressing the buckle. The dealer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance to the contact. The contact does not feel safe having his child's safety restraint seat installed in the rear seat due to the malfunction. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 223,000 and the current mileage was 224,500.

- Oceano, CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 082006

Explorer 8-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that a vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle and the driver side seat belt failed to restrain. The contact received injuries to the shoulder and neck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the failure was located at the driver seat. The dealer advised that the seat was detached from the base and caused the seat belt buckle to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 06/01/11 updated 1/19/2012

- Anchorage , AK, USA

problem #8

Dec 072010

Explorer

  • 160,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the seat belt on the driver side would not attach. If it did attach, it would release when the contact depressed the brakes. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 160,000.

- Grover, WY, USA

problem #7

Jul 222009

Explorer

  • 193,000 miles
The seatbelt on the driver side comes undone by itself. U can buckle about 2 minutes later it comes undone by itself. Even accelerates while driving.

- Scott, LA, USA

problem #6

Oct 262006

Explorer 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
: the contact stated all 5 seatbelt buckles failed to release properly. The front left and front right buckles failed to release and the belts had to be cut to release the occupants. An independent service dealer replaced the seatbelts. The service dealer and manufacturer were contacted. The consumer stated the seat belts do not disengage. Updated 12/01/06.

- North Andover, MA, USA

problem #5

Jul 022005

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,500 miles
Driver side seat belt fails to stay latched, or sometimes becomes unlatched with drivers forward body motion (extend line of sight, change radio/climate settings, turn on lights, etc.). as a result, the seat belt is not a reliable safety restraint. I am having problems find a replacement part.

- Moose, WY, USA

problem #4

Oct 302001

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles

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

Well, the first thing that stopped working was the thermostat, then the window regulator and seat bealt, I went to the dealer and just to see the problem I was charged 160usd. I think it's unfair but they said I had to pay and nothing was done to the car. The tires were replaced at sears because I was scared and simply replaced them 4 months after I bought the car. I called the dealer and Firestone recall but they are now asking for a dot code in which sears did not give me. Now I am only asking to please try to refund something. I will never buy a Ford vehicle because they give too many problems and the dealer gets away with problems in which they need to fix because they are factory problems. (tiresize: 15inches)

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #3

Sep 301999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I was recently in an accident, both airbags did deploy but not the full extent that an airbag should deploy to. That then caused me fall forward upon impact, which then caused my head to strike the windshield of my car. There is a mark I believe on the window proving this, and also I had a headache for 3 days following the accident. My concern is that if I would have been hit harder, my head could have possibly gone threw the window. I hope that you can be able to contact me again involving this matter!! sincerly, holly K hendrickson

- Frontenac, MO, USA

problem #2

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Back seat belt inoperable.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 271997

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Seat belts: Driving approximately 30mph, vehicle ahead of us slowed down to make a sudden stop I hit brakes and my nephew came forward into the back of the front seat. There is no clip to lock the belt into.

- Magnolia, NJ, USA

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