1997 Ford Explorer Sport Problems
- Complaints
- 37filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 98,250miles, 20 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 8 complaints (22% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (8) and brakes (4). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 98,250 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 4 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling8 22%
- Brakes4 11%
- Seats4 11%
- Tires4 11%
- Electrical system2 5.4%
- Equipment2 5.4%
- Other or unknown2 5.4%
- Seat belts2 5.4%
Also reported: Fuel system (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “To best describe my problem is that the camshaft broke off right at timing pulley.this break cause the serpentine belt to wrap around all the other components. I was traveling along the express way at 65 MPH, when I loss of power steering, and a loss control of the vehicle for a period of time until I regain control.”
NHTSA complaint #10052536, filed 2004-01, 13,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Transfer case had to be replaced. Upon investigation there was a safety notice from Ford, but no recall. The repair shop said it was the third explorer they had fixed for the same problem in a week.”
NHTSA complaint #10105700, filed 2005-01, 125,000 milesBrakes: “Ford Explorer Sport (1997, ~58700 mi) was driven at highway speed. A stop was made at a shopping center. Upon leaving the shopping center the brake pedal dropped to the floor as an attempt to stop at an intersection was made. Fortunately swerving avoided an accident. At this point the vehicle had no brakes (other than parking). Hydraulic fluid was dripping from an area above the rear axle, driver side. The abrupt loss of brakes with no warning could have lead to a very serious accident. We were just plain lucky.”
NHTSA complaint #10182067, filed 2007-02, 58,700 milesSeats: “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 extinguish the smoke and opened my back door and looked under the seat and there was intense sparking which turned into flames and within minutes my entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Fire and police came and extinguished it after flames reached about 20 feet. …”
NHTSA complaint #10413385, filed 2011-07, 175,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 69,650 and 125,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Other model years of the Ford Explorer Sport
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 94,408 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 18 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2003 | 65 | 82,250 | 0 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 133 | 71,000 | 3 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 188 | 66,522 | 5 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 71 | 66,556 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 93 | 70,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 121 | 100,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 37 | 98,250 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 5 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Explorer Sport model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport have?
NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 8 complaints (22% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 8.
Has the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport reported?
Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 98,250 miles and the middle half falls between 69,650 and 125,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.