WenmarOpen by Wenmar Pro

Recalls that may apply to the 1997 Ford Explorer

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

By component

United States: NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19
09V3990002009-10-13. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN. Built 1994-08-11 to 2002-08-30.
00V4220002000-12-27. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SOHC ENGINES AND STILL RETAIN THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY (PART NUMBERS 97JF-9E926AB OR 97JF-9E926-AC). SOME OF THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES INSTALLED ALLOWED A GAP BETWEEN THE PLATE AND BORE TO BE BUILT TOO NARROW. THIS REDUCED CLEARANCE ALLOWED THE ENGINE DEPOSITS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY TO CONTACT OR BRIDGE THE GAP. IF THE ENGINE DEPOSITS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND BORE AND THEN HARDENED, ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, THE OPERATOR WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE. Built 1996-05-29 to 1998-10-20.
00V4020002000-11-28. SUSPENSION. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE. Built 1994-08-11 to 1996-10-31.
00V1680002000-06-19. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
99V0620011999-03-30. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. Built 1996-05-29 to 1999-03-04.
98V0600001998-03-19. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES. THE ENGINE FUEL LINES CAN BE DAMAGED IF THE VEHICLE IS JUMP STARTED AND THE GROUND CABLE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL LINE BRACKET THAT IS LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY. SINCE THE BRACKET IS NOT GROUNDED, THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINE BRAID COULD ACT AS A GROUND POTENTIALLY OVERHEATING THE PTFE INNER LINER OF THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE. Built 1996-08-01 to 1998-02-01.
97V0740001997-04-30. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. Built 1996-02-02 to 1997-02-17.
Canada: Transport Canada, as of 2026-10-19
20092922009-10-14. Other. On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: Dealers will install a new switch or fused wiring harness. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2005028 (05S28) for vehicles not previously included in the campaign.
20003082000-12-29. Engine. On certain vehicles, the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built with reduced clearances or too narrow. This reduced clearance allowed the thin film of engine deposits normally present in the throttle body to contact or bridge the gap. If the engine deposits bridged the gap between the throttle plate and bore and hardened, on the initial application of the accelerator pedal after the engine has cooled, the operator would need to apply additional force to the accelerator pedal to break the bridge. This could result in the throttle body sticking closed. Correction: Original throttle bodies will be replaced on affected vehicles.
20002972000-12-15. Suspension. On certain vehicles, the front stabilizer bar link stud can fracture from bending fatigue. This can result in increased vehicle lean or the driver may sense a feeling of looseness in the steering. Above 80 km/h drivers may experience vehicle wander or sway. Correction: Dealers will install 10mm front left and right stabilizer bar links.
19980521998-03-26. Fuel System. THE ENGINE FUEL LINES MAY BE DAMAGED IF THE FUEL LINE BRACKET NEAR THE BATTERY IS USED AS A GROUND WHILE JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE BRACKET IS NOT GROUNDED, THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINE BRAID WILL ACT AS A GROUND. THIS COULD OVERHEAT THE PTFE INNER LINER OF THE FUEL LINE AND RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE. THIS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. CORRECTION: A LABEL WILL INSTALLED ADVISING OWNERS NOT TO USE THE FUEL LINE BRACKET AS A JUMP START GROUND. A REVISED BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET TO PROVIDE A CONVENIENT JUMP START GROUND.
19970721997-04-02. Engine. WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -29 DEGREES CENTIGRADE, ICE MAY FORM AROUND THE THROTTLE PLATE RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE SPEEDS AND/OR NON RETURN OF THE THROTTLE MECHANISM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. THIS COULD CAUSE DIMINISHED DRIVER CONTROL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. CORRECTION: A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED WITH AN ENGINE COOLANT HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
19970461997-03-10. Emissions. NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. INCORRECT FUEL VAPOUR MANAGEMENT VALVE WAS INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO RELEASE AIR POLLUTANTS WHICH EXCEED THE STANDARD. CORRECTION: CORRECT FUEL VAPOUR MANAGEMENT VALVE WILL BE INSTALLED.

A campaign lists a year, a make and a model, and often only some of the vehicles built. A list with nothing on it is not a clearance either. The lookups below check one VIN.

Check one vehicle officially

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.