Ten problems related to ignition have been reported for the 1997 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Few months ago I have purchased a set of bosch spark plugs (platinum 2 part # 4305). About 3 weeks after I installed them wile driven on the expressway one of them exploded ruining the wire and causing to flip flop all over sparking lucky I stop right away. The ceramic portion of the spark has come out of it clean can not even find a trace of ceramic on the plug but unfortunately the electrode or portion of it fell in to the cylinder ,causing an irreparable damage to the engine, I have reported the damage and details to the manufacturer and even send them the plug for inspection and explain every thing, but they have return the plug and a letter sating that the reason the plug exploded was because improper torque. I have been installing the plugs on my vehicles for the last 20 years and I have never had a problem like this and people I talked to said the plug should not explode for that reason. I that is the case I feel this is a safety issue on this particular plugs and there is nothing on the package indicating to the consumer of this danger.
While driving iginition locks up.
When it's cold outside vehicle hesitates to start. Consumer adds that the seat belt locked in place on passenger side, consumer's child was locked in and could not get out, seat belt had to be cut in order to release child; ignition locked up and would not crank for 2 hours.
Consumer was starting vehicle in the morning and there was a loud boom with a toxic smell. There were no flames. Started it again, and it didn't do anything. There was a small Mini explosion underneath hood. Dealer stated that uper intake had blown to pieces. Undetermined of the cause, but assuming a missed fire. Right rear gasket intake manifold failed and was replaced. Spark plugs were replaced. The fan belt were replaced.
Driver's side seatbelt would not release. Consumer had to use scissors to cut seatbelt off. Consumer has contacted dealer. Also, the ignition assembly unit failed and the back seat latch was missing.
Ignition wires and plugs need replaced, consumer feels dealer should make these repairs.
I didn't think there was a problem initially but the vehicle has stalled multiple times at various speeds. Until the California court case against Ford about the ignition system there has been multiple repairs from the fuel filter to the injectors. All of this did not solve the problem. I pleade to Ford the NHTSA please recall this problem before people get hurt or killed in accidents. I am a proud Ford owner and love my Explorer please help your loyal customers.
Spark plug failed.
Ford definitely has an engineering problem. Is the NHTSA gonna deal with it or, are we going to wait till we have another wilderness tire issue. My Explorer has consistently shown severe skip/miss for the past 2-months. At first indication. . . . I scheduled it in to my local dealer (rochester auto collection - a divison of Ford), who determined that it needed new ignition wires. (mind you, this vehicle only has 42,000 original miles, as I bought it new). Three hundred bucks later, I notice the vehicle performing no better on the day I picked it up. So. . . . We schedule a second visit. During that visit, they "dink around" with the throttle. Again, the day I picked it up, I noticed it was no better. So. . . . In we go for a third visit. During that visit I am advised that the timing chain tensioner has broken off and that they will need to pull the engine out to repair. So, we schedule that 3-day service visit. And here I am today. . . . . After having picked up the vehicle, and now it is worse!! this is a $30,000 vehicle with 43,000 miles that runs worse than my son's '95 cavalier. As I review the database of consumer complaints, I note many, many issues relating to this timing belt tensioner. So. . . . . . When is the NHTSA gonna step up to the plate, and make Ford get their "ducks in a row" and fix this issue. As it is right now, between the tire incident and then this, I sincerely doubt I will ever buy a Ford again.
Ignition fuel butterfly valve failed causing the gas pedal to stick.