Four problems related to mechanical jack have been reported for the 1997 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Explorer. While changing the tire, the bottom metal plate for the jack popped off. The failure occurred after the vehicle had been lifted for ten minutes. This was the first time the jack was used. The manufacturer would not make a replacement. There were no injuries or damage to the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 186,000.
Jack handle shattered in jack base while lowering vehicle after changing tire. Was eventually able to lower jack using screwdriver. However, jack handle is also required to retract the spare-tire holding cable, so that had to be left loose until we got to a tire store. Handle is made of very weak metal, and it is thinnest at the point of most stress, where it is inserted into the jack.
The bumper hole is too large to accommodate manufacturer's recommendation on shank diameter.
Jack handle break because the manufacturer made the bend where the most pressure is with white metal.