1997 Ford Explorer Sport: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 44 complaints
44
Total Complaints
100,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Top Issue
4
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

69,650 25th Percentile
100,000 Median Mileage
127,076 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
3
SEATS
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
TIRES
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2

Severity Assessment

4
Crashes
6
Fires
4
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, VIN # [XXX] PURCHASED BY ME IN DECEMBER 1996 IN NJ, THAT HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES. I WENT THROUGH A REPLACEMENT ON 12/11/98 THAT SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL PROBLEMS, WHERE I FOUND THE TREADS ON MY REAR TIRES TO BE SPLITTING AND STARTING TO..."
"CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE DID MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA, BUT THE TIRES THAT HE HAS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR IL. *JB"
"DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE SEIZING OD BRAKE CALIPERS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IF SO, IT SEAMS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28