"How reliable is the 1997 Ford Explorer?"

"Based on 2149 NHTSA complaints, the 1997 Ford Explorer has a median complaint mileage of 100000 miles. The most common issue is Tread/Belt."

"What are common problems with the 1997 Ford Explorer?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Ford Explorer is Tread/Belt, accounting for a significant portion of the 2149 total complaints filed."

1997 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2149 complaints

2149

Total Complaints

100,000mi

Median Mileage

Tread/Belt

Top Issue

180

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

69,800 25th Percentile

100,000 Median Mileage

139,280 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Tread/Belt

396

Tires

332

Vehicle Speed Control

121

Engine

Gasoline

Accelerator Pedal

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Automatic Transmission

Suspension

Unknown Or Other

Severity Assessment

180

Crashes

Fires

250

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN THE APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SOMETIMES FOOT WILL CATCH THE GAS PEDAL. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT (150) MILES OR LESS. *AK"

"WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE STEERING VIBRATES, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Tread/Belt 396 complaints

Median: 67,500 mi

Tires 332 complaints

25th: 39,247 mi Median: 115,871 mi 75th: 150,000 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 121 complaints

25th: 92,000 mi Median: 101,500 mi 75th: 161,750 mi

Engine 77 complaints

25th: 56,777 mi Median: 120,000 mi 75th: 130,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 209 CA: 184 TX: 136 NY: 128 NJ: 101 MI: 97 PA: 93 VA: 90 IL: 89 OH: 79

Who Files Complaints?

38.9%

Original Owners

61.1%

Second+ Owners

Ford Explorer — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1991	764	113,804	Tread/Belt	70
1992	848	125,000	Tread/Belt	54
1993	1151	107,248	Tread/Belt	98
1994	1531	97,541	Tread/Belt	124
1995	1048	125,000	Tread/Belt	107
1996	1818	127,000	Tread/Belt	248
1998	2374	100,000	Tread/Belt	219
1999	1737	80,000	Tires	143
2000	1203	77,938	Tires	115
2001	500	90,500	Tires	82
2002	4095	79,000	Automatic Transmission	178
2003	1368	74,000	Automatic Transmission	70
2004	1647	65,000	Automatic Transmission	69
2005	604	70,000	Body	30
2006	788	60,000	Power Train	18
2007	271	69,000	Power Train	14
2008	215	78,000	Electrical System	8
2009	49	67,000	Vehicle Speed Control	8
2010	155	48,000	Power Train	13
2011	1481	65,000	Steering	48
2012	1013	62,000	Steering	14
2013	2757	74,000	Steering	61
2014	2011	64,000	Steering	48
2015	2138	54,600	Unknown Or Other	52
2016	2940	45,647	Steering	56
2017	1927	45,000	Structure	53
2018	819	42,000	Structure	23
2019	306	50,000	Structure	2
2020	1544	12,600	Power Train	50
2021	492	38,400	Power Train	21
2022	308	28,000	Power Train	25
2023	126	8,500	Unknown Or Other	11
2024	21	5,080	Unknown Or Other	0
2025	111	2,289	Electrical System	11

Active Recalls (12)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Headlights

Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 09V399000 | 13/10/2009

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

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 AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 00V168000 | 19/06/2000

THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Suspension

Campaign 00V402000 | 28/11/2000

VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.

Tread/Belt

Campaign 00T005000 | 21/08/2000

IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 00V422000 | 27/12/2000

THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS FREE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.

Tread/Belt

Campaign 01X001000 | 22/05/2001

SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Campaign 98V060000 | 19/03/1998

THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT.

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 GROUND LOCATION.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 99V062001 | 30/03/1999

IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 97V074000 | 30/04/1997

ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.

Extend Your Tire Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Check tire pressure monthly — underinflation is the #1 tire killer
Rotate tires every 5,000-7,500 miles
Get an alignment check annually
Inspect for uneven wear patterns which indicate alignment or suspension issues
Replace tires when tread reaches 4/32 inch — don't wait for 2/32

Compare Ford Explorer

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28