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3.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,000 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 windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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1997 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #8

Feb 052004

Explorer 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The heat actuator "broke" and eliminated any heat to defrost my windows.

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

problem #7

Feb 292004

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles
The blend door is broken on my heater...ever try to defrost a window when it is minus 5 with the air conditioner on..? this needs to be addressed in a recall campaign it is poorly designed and dangerous!

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 072003

Explorer 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Defroster does not defrost/defog windshield due to the heat/ac blend door being broken. Common problem for Ford Explorer. Ford is remiss in not recalling the vehicle to fix this hazardous condition.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #5

Mar 252003

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

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

Ford Explorer heater plenum/actuator stopped working this past winter. Climate control is stuck on cold and defrost does not work in cold weather. During a road trip to a nearby city early this spring I was barley able to see out the windshield because of the ice and fog on my windshield. I believe this is a known mechanical defect by Ford and dealers. This is a very dangerous problem. In contacting several seattle-area dealers, all refused to fix as a safety problem, said no recall had been issued, said I was out of warranty, this is absurd for a problem they caused with faulty design and parts that causes serious visibility problems in many older Explorer.

- Duvall, WA, USA

problem #4

Nov 212002

Explorer 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles
The A/C and heat was unable to come out of the blend air door. The dealer was notified. Ford found that they installed the wrong blend air door acuator during the manufacturing process. Ts scc

- Haddam, CT, USA

problem #3

Apr 072002

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Temperature control switch broke, cold air was being distributed. Consumer unable to defrost windshield.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #2

Nov 032001

Explorer

  • miles
Cylinder heads or head gasgets failed causing coolant leak into cylinders and out exhaust. Suspect faulty heater valve leaked coolant causing engine to overheat and damage heads or gasgets.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #1

Dec 011999

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Windshield washer comes on intermittently while driving. Vehicle taken to dealer twice, multi function switch was replaced the first time. It did not remedy the problem. Second time dealer could not find cause. The consumer stated that the vehicle was at the dealer for one day in cold weather outside, problem was replicated and they found relays overheating and sticking caused by shorted malfunction switch on prior repair and they replaced both relays.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

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