1997 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1997 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 1,731 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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7 safety recalls for the 1997 Ford Explorer
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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 deactivation…
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…
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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. This reduced clearance allowed the engine deposits normally…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
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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.
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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 imported into…
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
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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 january…
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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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. Since the bracket is not grounded, the stainless steel fuel line braid could…
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…
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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. These vehicles, when…
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
1,731 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Ford Explorer have filed 1,731 complaints with NHTSA; 155 describe a crash and 53 describe a fire. Reports cite 214 injuries and 34 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 104,369 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 698 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started to shake abnormally, the contact was unable to drive in 4 wheel drive. The contact stated the ch”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 3, 2021 · Service brakes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 8, 2020 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–16 / 17–22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1997 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 1997 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1997 Ford Explorer; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V168000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.