Total Complaints
11 filings
CHEVROLET EXPLORER · model year
1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER
11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETEXPLORER carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 EXPLORER is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:turn signal (1) and power train:clutch assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 EXPLORER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030529ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ENGINE SHUTDOWN, FORCING VEHICLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CRANKSHAFT BROKE INSIDE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED NOTHING THEY COULD DO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20030114CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB
20020730POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER UNABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEM.*AK
20020509INTERIOR LIGHTING
COURTESY LAMP IN VEHICLE STAYS ON, AND IS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF.*AK
20000822EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I 75 IN FLORIDA GOING ABOUT 60MPH ON EASTER SUNDAY 2000(1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT). WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CAR PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT, I MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AND STOP IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE DID $2800($500 DEDUCTABLE) IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICAL. THE TRED PEELED OFF OF THE TIRE AND BENT THE REAR FENDER UNDER THE CAR. IT ALSO BROKE THE REAR TAIL LIGHT AND SCRATCHED THE PAINT. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH NATIONWIDE INS. AND WITH FORD MOTOR CREDIT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 )
20000822TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I 75 IN FLORIDA GOING ABOUT 60MPH ON EASTER SUNDAY 2000(1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT). WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CAR PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT, I MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AND STOP IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE DID $2800($500 DEDUCTABLE) IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICAL. THE TRED PEELED OFF OF THE TIRE AND BENT THE REAR FENDER UNDER THE CAR. IT ALSO BROKE THE REAR TAIL LIGHT AND SCRATCHED THE PAINT. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH NATIONWIDE INS. AND WITH FORD MOTOR CREDIT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 )
20000623STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT CAME LOOSE AND THE WHEEL TURNS FREE. THIS HAPPENS FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN THE POWER STEERING TAKES HOLD AGAIN. *AK
20000410VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL ANCHOR SEPARATED FROM FIREWALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE AND NOT ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990921POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BECAME NOISY. YH
19990730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TEMPREATURE AND DIRECTIONAL GUAGE FAILED. YH
19990730EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TEMPREATURE AND DIRECTIONAL GUAGE FAILED. YH
Compare 1997CHEVROLETEXPLORER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER have?▼
The 1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER has 11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL and POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPLORER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.