1997 Ford Explorer Wipers & Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND THE BLENDING CHAMBER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ UPDATED 07/12/13 *JS

WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE SUNROOF SHATTERED NOTHING BUT RAIN HAD FALLEN ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

HAVE EXPERIENCED PERIODS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THE CONTROL IS ON. HAS OCCURRED WHEN FIRST TURNING ON THE CONTROL AS WELL AS WHEN CHANGING FROM A DIFFERENT SPEED SETTING ON THE CONTROL. NO REGULARITY IN THE OCCURRENCE, SEEMS TO BE RANDOM. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP SINCE 2000. I WAS CHECKING THE DATABASE AND FOUND AN ENTRY ON THIS PROBLEM UNDER "DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS" SO I AM ADDING MY EXPERIENCE TO YOUR RECORDS. *TR

BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER IS NOT WORKING. ITS A PROBLEM WHEN DEFROSTING, AND DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT DEFROSTING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT ANY SPEED OTHER THAN HIGH DIDN'T OPERATE NORMALLY. WHEN THE RAIN WAS HEAVY OR LIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATED ON HIGHER SPEEDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116000 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126000. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE HEATER BEING INOPERABLE, THE DEFROSTER DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, NO HEAT WAS PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

BOUGHT EXPLORER IN THE SUMMER OF 2006, WENT TO TURN ON THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS. THIS IS A 1997 EXPLORER THAT AFTER TALKING TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT THEY ALL DO BREAK AND THAT FORD HAS MADE A STRONGER BLEND DOOR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE AND THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPLACE FOR A COST OF 1200.00. AFTER SPEAKING TO FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND FINDING THE ARTICLE BY LARRY HAMMER OF MIGHTY AUTO PARTS I BELIEVE THAT FORD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS ADMITTED FACTORY DESIGN FLAW. *NM

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1997 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER A FEW YEARS, I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT/DEFROST. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED TWICE COSTING AROUND $2000 TOTAL. ONCE AGAIN, I NO LONGER HAVE HEAT/DEFROST AND AM SCHEDULED FOR AN EVALUATION NEXT MONDAY. DURING SNOW AND RAIN, NOT ONLY ARE YOU MISERABLE BECAUSE OF THE COLD BUT IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CLEAR THE CONDENSATION OFF THE WINDOW TO HAVE COMPLETE VISIBILITY. *JB

THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. THIS FAILURE DID NOT ALLOW PROPER DE-FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING IT IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. I ONLY HAD COLD AIR BLOWING ON MY WINDOWS. AFTER REVIEWING WEB SITES, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TOP PIECE OF MY HEATERS HOT AND COLD BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN. THE COST OF REPLACING THIS ONE PIECE OF PLASTIC IS AROUND $1000. FORD HAS A REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS NOW STRONGER, BUT FAILS TO REALIZE THE DEFECT IN THE OLDER DOORS. *NM

TEMPERATURE OUT OF CONTROL, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING CHALLENGED ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WAS TOLD IT WILL IT IS DUE TO DEFECT IN THE AIR BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM

1997 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A DEFECT IN THE DEFROSTER AND DEFOGGER SYSTEM. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN PLASTIC DOOR IN THE A/C/HEATER PLENUM. THIS CREATED A CONDITION OF FOGGING THE WINDSHIELD UNCONTROLLABLY AND IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS VISION. *SC

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE USING THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, BUT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN IN THIS WEEK. *AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER THAT SINCE ITS BEEN PURCHASED THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEAT WERE ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT ITS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST EVERY FORD EXPLORER OUT ON THE ROADS TODAY. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME DUE TO WINDOW DEFROSTING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE BLEND DOOR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND WILL OPEN AND CLOSE AT ANY TIME. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW I CAN GET THIS LOOKED INTO. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY DONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

BLEND DOOR CRACKED ON 1997 FORD EXPLORER, CAUSING LACK OF ABILITY TO DEFROST WINDOWS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP BADLY. VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN IT'S 20 BELOW OUT AND THE DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK. COST TO REPLACE AIR PLENUM WITH REVISED, REDESIGNED ONE ABOUT $900. *AK

HEATER IN VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE DURING A SLEET AND ICE STORM. HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED CAUSING ONLY COLD AIR TO BLOW OUT OF HEATER AND DEFROSTER, WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. HEATER BOX AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED THAT COST ME $700.00. 8NM

HEATER BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT CHANGE POSITIONS. IT IS STUCK IN THE POSITION ONLY GIVING ME AIR CONDITIONING FULL TIME. NO MATTER WHERE THE DIAL ON THE DASH IS TURNED THE HEAT REFUSES TO ACTIVATE. THROUGH A QUICK SERIES OF ODD WEATHER OCCURRENCES I FOUND MY WINDSHIELD COVERED IN A LAYER OF ICE THAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED SINCE THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ON THE DEFROSTER. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION. I HAVE NO OPTION NOW BUT TO HAVE THE HEATER PLENUM REPLACED AT A COST $1010. *NM

THE HEAT ACTUATOR "BROKE" AND ELIMINATED ANY HEAT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *AK

THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY HEATER...EVER TRY TO DEFROST A WINDOW WHEN IT IS MINUS 5 WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON..? THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IT IS POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS! *AK

THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED OPERATING AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE HEATING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS GONE BAD IN MY 97, 4WD, FORD EXPLORER FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT HAS 93,000 MILES, IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 58,000 MILES. THIS IS DUE TO A MAUNFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR CONSIDERATION AS A NATIONAL RECALL OR COVERED BY FORD AS A OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN UNREPAIRED THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY FORD. *AK

HEATER/AC TEMPERATURE CONTROL. TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR IS STUCK IN THE POSITION FOR HEAT. HAVE TALKED TO DEALER THEY SAY INEXPENSIVE PART, LABOR FOR REPAIR IS ABOUT 7 HOURS TO BE CHARGED FOR. THIS DEALER HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FIXED SOME. CHECKED WITH OTHER DEALERS IN AREA, THEY GAVE SAME ANSWER AS TO COST AND COMPLAINTS. I AM TOLD THIS IS A PLASTIC BRACKET ON DOOR ASSEMBLY THAT BREAKS WHEN SERVO MOVES DOOR TO CONTROL HOT OR COOL AIR FLOW.*AK

TEMPERATURE CONTROL BLEND DOOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. STUCK ON COLD. UNABLE TO DEFROST AND DEFOG WINDOWS. *LA

DEFROSTER DOES NOT DEFROST/DEFOG WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE HEAT/AC BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN. COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD EXPLORERS. FORD IS REMISS IN NOT RECALLING THE VEHICLE TO FIX THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

INVALID DESIGN OF PLENUM DOOR LEADS TO PART FAILURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE SETTING. CONDITION CAUSES INABILITY TO CONTROL INSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AND POSSIBLY FAILURE OF DEFROST/DEFOGGING SYSTEM (SAFETY ISSUE). COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE ($500 TO $1000) DUE TO THE NEED TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE AIR CHANNEL (BECAUSE PLENUM DOOR ITSELF CANNOT BE PURCHASED/INSTALLED ALONE). *NLM

MY EXPLORER ONLY PRODUCES WARM AIR FOR HEAT AND DEFOGGING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS TOO HOT TO WANT OR NEED WARM AIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS IT IS THE BLEND DOOR & ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED. I SAY IT DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE, THEY DISAGREE. NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DEFOGG A WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NLM

FORD EXPLORER HEATER PLENUM/ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING THIS PAST WINTER. CLIMATE CONTROL IS STUCK ON COLD AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER. DURING A ROAD TRIP TO A NEARBY CITY EARLY THIS SPRING I WAS BARLEY ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE ICE AND FOG ON MY WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT BY FORD AND DEALERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IN CONTACTING SEVERAL SEATTLE-AREA DEALERS, ALL REFUSED TO FIX AS A SAFETY PROBLEM, SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS ABSURD FOR A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED WITH FAULTY DESIGN AND PARTS THAT CAUSES SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IN MANY OLDER EXPLORERS. *JB

1997 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM HAS BROKEN, PREVENTING THE SYSTEM FROM REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE.

MY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE BLEND DOOR INSIDE THE PLENUM CHAMBER IS BROKEN AND NO LONGER MOVES (ON FULL HEAT). THE NEW PLENUM CHAMBER NOW CONTAINS A NYLON DOOR IN STEAD OF PLASTIC. THIS LOOKS LIKE FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD STYLE DOORS BUT WILL NOT GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE ON REPAIRS. THE COST OF REPAIR IS STEEP! I WAS QUOTED $108.00 FOR THE PLENUM CHAMBER AND $598.00 TO INSTALL IT. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THE PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO ME, IN FACT THE DEALER I PHONED HAD JUST SOLD A REPLACEMENT PLENUM THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WAS WAITING FOR ONE TO ARRIVE TO FILL THERE STOCK. WHEN A DEALER STOCKS A PART THERE USUALLY IS A LARGE DEMAND FOR IT! *NLM

CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN TURNING DIALS ON HEATER UNIT FROM HOT OR COLD THE UNIT ONLY BLEW HOT AIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB *TT

THE LEND DOOR IS BROKEN...FORD KNOWS THAT THEY PUT FAULTY BLEND DOORS IN AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM! HOW DO I DEFROST MY WINSHIELD WITH A/C???? IS A FROSTED WINSHIELD NOT A HAZARD???? THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY!

WITH HEATER FAILURE FROST BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. DT

THE A/C AND HEAT WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE BLEND AIR DOOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FORD FOUND THAT THEY INSTALLED THE WRONG BLEND AIR DOOR ACUATOR DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TS SCC

FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX VIA RECALL. THIS FAILURE COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS DURING WINTER CONDITIONS. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS AND HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE WAY THIS DOOR IS CONSTRUCTED. DT

DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR IS GOING OUT. THE MOTOR SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN, AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN OPERATING. DT

I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS FAILURE--DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHEN DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MR

THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR CAUSES UNCONTROLLED WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND ICING. VISIBILITY IS OFTEN REDUCED TO ZERO. MR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILED TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE BLEND DOOR TO BE BROKEN LEAVING ME WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINSHIELD OR REGULATE HEAT /COOL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I LIVE IN A CLIMATE THAT HAS SNOW /ICE AND COLD AS WELL AS HOT TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES A NEARLY $1000.00 FIX TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FORD DESIGN ISSUE AND A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. NLM

HEATER RUNS AT FULL HEAT NO MATER WHAT TEMPERATURE SELECTED. *AK

THIS HEATER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE ONLY HOT AIR WILL EXIT THE VENTS, WHICH LEADS TO A FOGGY WINDSHIELD. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD HAS A TSB FOR IT, 99-8-8 AND 97-24-25.*AK

DEFOGGER/DEFROSTER WILL NOT OPERATE AS BLEND DOOR IS STUCK ON AIR CONDITIONER. *AK

I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE AIR BLEND DOOR / HVAC SYSTEM AT A SAFETY LEVEL DUE TO THE FACT THIS THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C-HEATER THAT RESULTS IN A FAILURE TO DEFOG/DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.

SEALANT USED AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DISSOLVING AND CAUSINGT WATER TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FORD HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND STILL IS DOING NOTHING TO APPEASE THEIR CUSTOMERS. MINE IS STUCK BLOWING COLD AIR, SO SHOULD I NEED IT TO DEFOG OR DEFROST MY WINDOWS DURING A RAIN OR SNOWSTORM (OF WHICH WE HAVE MANY IN MINNESOTA) I CANNOT. I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PART FAILING AND COMPLAINTS WRITTEN TO FORD ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL FORD MODELS, YET THEY REFUSE TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.*AK

1995 THRU 1999 EXPLORERS AND 1997-99 MOUNTAINEERS, BUILT THROUGH 4/98 WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR WHICH BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND PREVENTS TEMPERATURE REGULATION . FORD REVISED THIS PLENUM USING NYLON AS A REINFORCEMENT , WHICH IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IS A CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.*AK

HEATER DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR,.DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF VERY POOR DESIGN; THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL - IT IS A SIMPLE PART, SUBJECTED TO VERY MINOR LOADS. WORSE, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MUST BE DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE IT, AND RATHER THAN REPLACING JUST THE BLEND DOOR (A LITTLE FLAPPER THAT CONTROLS THE MIX OF HOT AND COLD AIR), YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER PLENUM ASSEMBLY.*AK

TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH BROKE, COLD AIR WAS BEING DISTRIBUTED. CONSUMER UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD.*AK *YH

DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

HEATER PLENUM HOT/COLD AIR BLEND; DOOR BREAKS, CAUSING NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR HEATER & DEFROSTER. *AK

IN MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY HEAT AND POOR VISIBILITY TO DRIVE. CONSUMER FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA SB618546 RELATING TO THE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AKJG

THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF A PLASTIC PART ON THE HEATER DOOR THAT FAILS AFTER TO MUCH USE. THE PART HAS TO BE REPLACE BY A PART CALLED THE ACTUATOR VALUE.FORD MUST HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT HAS A REPLACEMENT PART ALREADY TO GO WHEN THE PART FAILS. (NYLON BLEND DOOR AND PLENUM #F87Z-18471-DA.) THE PROBLEM BEENING THAT IT COST $784.40 IN LABOR TO PUT THE PART IN. IF FORD NEW IT HAD THIS PROBLEM , WHY WASN`T IT ON A RECALL LIST TO REPLACE???*AK

BROKEN AIR BLEND DOOR, CAUSING NO HEAT FOR DEFROSTERS OR HEATER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WASHER WILL NOT SPRAY FLUID. SAFETY CONCERN AS VISIBILITY CAN BE IMPAIRED, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. HAVE SEEN FORD DISCUSSION GROUPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, POSSIBILITY RELATED TO EXCESSIVE GREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS OF THE WIPER AND WASHER SPRAY SWITCH. *AK

MOLDING ON WINDSHIELD WAS FALLING OFF, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE. *SLC

WINDOW LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *SLC

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER ON MANY COUNTS HAS HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF ACCIDENTS. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHNG THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*AK THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AT EYE LEVEL AND IS HARD TO SEE VEHICLES THAT ARE BEHIND. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REPLACED. *YH

HEATER CONTROL VALVE ALSO BROKE. *AK

HEATER WILL NOT CONTROL DUE TO MANUFACTURERS WRONG PART INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS THE THIRD ONE WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE

PE99049, WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. HIGH MODE GOES TOO SLOWLY, AND THE LOW MODE GOES TOO FAST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER THOUGHTTHAT BLADES CAME LOOSE, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS THE ARM CONNECTOR TO THE MOTOR THA TLOOSENED. CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FREEZING RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE A TRIP OCCURED, WIPERS STOPPED WORKING 20 MILES INTO A 130 MILE TRIP AND REFUSED TO WORK REST OF TRIP. REQUESTED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ROTH FORD IN PETERSBURG, WV TO ENLARGE WINDSHIELD WIPER STORAGE AREA DRAIN HOLE. DEALER REFUSED, SAID THAT AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAD CALL IN WITH WIPERS FROZEN. DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, I TRIED TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK. THEY WOULD BARELY MOVE, BUT WOULD NOT OPERATE. AFTER VEHICLE SAT IN AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR 10 DAYS, WIPERS WORKED. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN A RECENT NEWSPAPER ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION, SO EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT PRUSUE IT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER OR WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER, I WANTED TO INFORM NHTSA THAT IT IS PROBABLY MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN THE 35 INCIDENTS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE. *AK

I SAW A TV REPORT ABOUT EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT WIPERS. MINE DON'T WORK IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER. THEY ONLY WORK AFTER THE SUV HAS BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. DEALERSHIP HAS NO CLUE ON HOW TO FIX PROBLEM.

PLEASE AD VIN #. CONSUMER DRIVING AND WHEN SHE TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR FROZE IN THE UP POSITION. DEALERSHIP---ODANIEL FORD---SERVICE--748-6260, SERVICE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF THOSE COMPLAINTS AT THIS DEALERSHIP.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. *YC

INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD/ ICY WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS FROZE, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND AN ACCIDENT. *AK.ET.

THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES AND AT 30,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY FORD I NEEDED AN AIR INDUCTION CLEANING. AT 37,000 MILES I NOW HAVE THE SAME GAS PEDAL PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN.

THE LOCATION OF REAR VIEW MIRROR IS MOUNTED TOO LOW, WHICH OBSTRUCTS DRIVERS VISION. DRIVER NOT ABLE TO SEE TO THE RIGHT CLEARLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SB

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IN THE RAIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER NEVER TURNED BACK ON. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

POWER WINDOWS FAIL OCCASIONALLY.

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

REAR WINDOW SEAL FAILED.

AIR DEFLECTOR INSTALLED OVER BACK WINDOW IS DAMAGING HINGES ON WINDOW.

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. MJS

REAR VIEW MIRRORS CREATE POOR VISIBILITY.

OWNER WENT TO PUT ON THE DEFROSTER BUTTON WHILE DRIVING AND THE WINDOW BECAME FROZEN TO THE POINT THAT HE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CLEAN THE WINDOW BY HIMSELF. *AK