1997 Ford Explorer Sport Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 11%of 37 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 47,182miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the brakes of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport, 11% of the 37 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 47,182 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 miles“The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. While driving 30 MPH he depressed the brake and the brake pedal went down to the floorboard. He noticed brake fluid leaking. The dealer stated that the brake line on the rear driver side rusted and caused the leak. The dealer replaced the rear brake line, and the rear brake hose. The dealer stated that the remaining brake lines on the vehicle were rusted, however they were not leaking. The failure mileage was 36,200 and the current mileage was 35,663.”
NHTSA complaint #10192925, filed 2007-06, 35,663 miles“Consumer states that there is a sensor that is causing vehicle to heat up, causing vehicle to not be able to restart. The camshaft was replaced. The radio goes off at anytime, the consumer has difficulty shutting the radio off manually.”
NHTSA complaint #566985, filed 2002-07Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology