Repair 7

1997 Ford SUV Recalls

The lineup of 1997 Ford SUVs included the Expedition and Explorer, which were both part of the recall Ford Motor Company issued involving more than 13 million Ford trucks and SUVs because of tire problems. The 1997 Explorer had an additional 11 recalls, while the 1997 Expedition had eight additional recalls.

Tire Recall

1997 Ford SUV saw the largest recall for Ford vehicles in several years. More than 13 million Ford vehicles were recalled because of a defect in the Firestone tires that came with the them. The Firestone Wilderness brand tires had problems with the tires separating, causing the tires to fail while driving. If the tires failed at highway speeds, the possibility of an accident occurring were greatly increased, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had several reports concerning accidents caused by this tire defect.

Expedition Recalls

The 1997 Ford Expedition saw an additional eight recalls besides the tire recall. Three of the recalls were for exterior-lighting problems. Two of the exterior lighting recalls dealt with improper illumination from the lectors, while the other exterior lighting problem dealt with the daytime running lights (DRL), which illuminated too brightly, affecting oncoming drivers of other vehicles. More than 1.5 million Expeditions and other Ford vehicles were also recalled because of lug-nut problems. The lug nuts installed on these SUVs did not clamp down tight enough, causing movement in the tires during operation. About 500,000 Ford vehicles, including the Expedition, were recalled because of trailer-hitch problems, and almost 900,000 vehicles were recalled because of transmission problems. Another recall dealt with the rear suspension weld, which was missing from the axle track bar, causing the bar to separate from the SUV. The eighth recall was for a problem found in the gear-box shaft. The intermediate yoke of the gear shift was separating from the input shaft of the gear box, preventing the driver from shifting gears.

Explorer Recalls

The 1997 Explorer had 12 different recalls. One dealt with the massive recall of Ford SUVs and trucks because of the Firestone tires, but second tire recall was issued for the 1997 Ford Explorer for additional tire problems. It involved defective manufacturing of a Firestone tire that was produced at a different plant than the original recalled tire. Four were because of exterior-lighting issues concerning the lectors and daytime running lights, which did not meet safety standards. Four Explorer recalls were because of defects in the speed controls. A cruise control cable was affecting the pulley on the speed control, preventing the speed control from disengaging. Another recall was because a grounding cable was attached to the fuel line. When the Explorer was jump-started with jumper cables, it damaged the fuel line, causing the line to leak gasoline. The other recall dealt with a problem with the front suspension. The sway bar was breaking loose or fracturing for unknown reasons. More than 800,000 Ford vehicles were recalled for this defect, including the 1997 Ford Explorer.