Three problems related to door hinge have been reported for the 1997 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
1997 Ford Explorer the driver front door and the passenger side rear door will not open. Contact states she called the service dealer, but it costs too much to have it looked at, parts and labor would be more.
Both rear door hinges, left and right are broken. Consumer unable to open doors.
Failure of metal at the location where the hinge attaches to the door. Had door checked in March of 2000 because door wasn't working properly. They found nothing and no visual signs. Continual and normal use of the door has caused this obvious weakness or defect in the metal to rupture and make the door inoperable.