1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Explorer Sport Trac years
- Not enough data 9th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. That ranks 9th out of 14 Explorer Sport Trac model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (1 complaints, 17%), typically at around 50,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 6owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 | 17% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 17% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 17% | 138,124 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 17% | 190,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 17% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 17% | 100,060 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Broken front sway bar link on 1997 ford explort xlt. Replace parts. *nm
While driving 1997 ford explorer xlt 4x4 v6 sohc upon acceleration on to freeway, the gas peddle stuck to floor and would not release. The result was a blown engine/small fire,no injuries thank god, because the only way to stop vehicle was to put into neutral and then park. The foot brake and…
Transfer case failure when transferred from normal operation to 4 wheel drive. If this had happened while i was on the road instead of in front of my home, i believe an accident most surely would have occurred. Thank god i tested the 4 wheel operation before i took a trip to the snow country. There…
I think the rear door of ford explorers should be investigated. I have a 1997 ford explorer xlt. The weld that holds the rear door at the top is starting to come apart. I was informed that this is an engineering defect on ford explorers by a ford body shop. Why has there not been a recall on this…
I drive a 1997 ford explorer xlt. The driver's side seat belt today became unlatched when i hit the breaks hard. This is the second time that this has happened. Had i hit another car, i would have gone through the windshield. Ford wants to charge me $100 for the repair. *jb
Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac years
See all Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Owners most often report power train, seat belts, structure problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Explorer Sport Trac model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.