1997 Ford Explorer Sport Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 3%of 37 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport, 3% of the 37 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“- the contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. While traveling 30 MPH she smelled something burning in the vehicle. She then saw a bit of smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. She pulled the vehicle over and a person came up to the vehicle and advised her to get out of the vehicle because the vehicle was on fire. Another person approached the scene with a fire extinguisher, but by this time the flames coming out from under the hood. They used up the entire fire extinguisher, but could not put the fire out. The tires exploded and all of the windows blew out. …”
NHTSA complaint #10266570, filed 2009-04, 95,000 milesFuel system: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 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