1997 Ford Explorer latches/locks/linkages problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE LOCK STICKS AND WILL ONLY OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCK ITSELF IS NOT WORKING AND WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHES THE UNLOCK CONTROL ON THE DOOR PANEL, IT FAILS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. SHE IS CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,299 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,299.”

“SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS AUTO, IT SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. WE HAVE TO LOOP THE DRIVER SIDE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL OF THESE MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND SEAT BELTS ARE MANDATORY BY LAW. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE? THE LEFT TURN INDICATOR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR YEARS. IT MAKES A ZZZZ SOUND AND NO LONGER WORKS. I AM ALSO DOWN TO ONLY ONE DOOR THAT THE KEY WORKS ON. THAT IS THE BACK LIFT. THE DOOR KEY HAD NOT WORKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FOR YEARS, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT. I HAVE THE SAME HEAT PROBLEM THE OTHERS ARE HAVING. YOU EITHER GET FULL ON HEAT AND HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND OFF WHEN IT GETS TOO HOT OR YOU GET PARTIAL AC, ALWAYS A LITTLE WARM. BOTH THE AC AND HEAT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SWITCH SOMEWHERE. AND NOW THE REASON I'M WRITING IS I HAVE MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FUSES AND SOLINOIDS HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT, THERE ARE NO LONGER LIGHTS IN THE DASH AREA. THE LIGHTS ON ALARM (DING DING DING DING) REMAINS ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, THE KEYS OUT AND THE DOOR SHUT WHICH HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY COMPLETLY. I HAVE JUMPED STARTED IT…”

“I HAVE TWO 1997 FORD EXPLORERS (AN XLT AND AN EDDIE BAUER) BOTH VEHICLES HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LATCHES AND POWER LOCKS. OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO INOPERABLE HANDLES AND/OR LOCKS. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK”

“DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. REAR WINDOW WOULD BE ROLLED DOWN SO THAT DRIVER CAN ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK”

“REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE AND IT IS NOT THE CHILD DETERRENT LEVER ON DOOR, HEATING SYSTEM OVERRIDES A/C HEATER SOMETIMES DOSEN'T WORK. RECLINE LEVER BROKE OFF. *AK”

“DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WAS BROKEN AND THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT DOESN'T WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.”