1997 Ford Explorer Sport Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Explorer Sport years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 7th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. That ranks 7th out of 9 Explorer Sport model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (8 complaints, 22%), typically at around 45,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 5 fires, 4 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 37owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford Explorer Sport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 22% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 22% | 136,800 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 11% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 11% | 47,182 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 11% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 8% | 96,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 5% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 5% | 127,076 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | 69,650 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford Explorer Sport recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport.
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.
1997 ford explorer sport. Consumer would like information regarding an accident that occurred in sept 2010. *ta
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked on an incline when it rolled forward and crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and the repair shop stated that the transfer case needed…
1997 ford explorer and began to back out of my parents driveway on the way to work. I used the electrical seat mover button to move my seat back a few inches and within only 10 seconds smoke was in my face. I jumped out of the car, turned the car off, and ran in my house. I got water to try and…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer sport. While driving approximately 45 mph she heard a ticking noise. She was unable to identify where the noise was located. She stated that no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard of the vehicle. She continued to drive home and parked the vehicle…
Front drivers side seat tilt lever broke off, passenger side bent. There are other reports of the same thing happening to other owners.
Other Ford Explorer Sport years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Explorer Sport | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 Explorer Sport | 18 | 0 |
| 2003 Explorer Sport | 65 | 0 |
| 2002 Explorer Sport | 133 | 3 |
| 2001 Explorer Sport | 188 | 5 |
| 2000 Explorer Sport | 71 | 1 |
| 1999 Explorer Sport | 93 | 0 |
| 1998 Explorer Sport | 121 | 0 |
| 1997 | 37 | 0 |
See all Ford Explorer Sport problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, seats problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Explorer Sport model years, the 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.