1997 Ford Explorer Sport Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 11%of 37 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 107,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the seats of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport, 11% of the 37 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 107,500 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.
“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 miles“Both seat tilt levers bend and then break off after attempting to straighten them once too many times. New design strengthens the brackets. If the brackets break off and there is a small child in the back, adults will not be able to remove small children quickly during an emergency since they can't tilt the seats forward out of the way.”
NHTSA complaint #10270139, filed 2009-05, 40,000 miles“Broken front seat latch on 1997 Explorer Sport frod motor co acknowledeges part defect (refer techinacal service bulletin 98-25-15) but does not feel that they should replace part becuse a recall was not ordered. I have seen articles on the web about this being a warranty repair but Ford will not honor on vehicle”
NHTSA complaint #10033107, filed 2003-08Seats: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBrakes
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