1997 Ford Explorer power train problems

“THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS INEFFECTIVE SERVICE BY AAMCO THAT LED TO FAILURE OF A TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE. AS YOU SEE BY THE ATTACHED LETTER, I VOICED CONCERN ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR AND ALL AAMCO SUGGESTED WAS TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE INEFFECTIVE SERVICE. I REQUESTED THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AAMCO CENTER, BUT YOUR RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE CENTER THAT I ALREADY HAD DOUBTS ABOUT. LET ME SET THE SCENARIO AGAIN. ?WITH INITIAL GRINDING SOUNDS AND LACK OF REVERSE, I TOOK TO CLINTON TRANSMISSIONS IN 2011 AND THEY INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL 2012. ?IN 2012, I CALLED THE WALDORF AAMCO CENTER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT MAY NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION AND TO LET THEM LOOK AT IT. IT WAS TOWED IN AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE BUT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BAD. ?ALL TOTALED, I PAID $1534.76 FOR TRANSFER CASE, $430.03 FOR PARTS, AND $600 FOR LABOR. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER SERVICES THAT THE CENTER SAID I NEEDED. ?THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TWICE FOR AN OD LIGHT THAT CAME ON AS SOON AS I LEFT THE CENTER. THEY SEEMED UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ?I FELT…”

“AFTER TURNING A CORNER AT LESS THAN 15 MPH A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE RACED BUT STOPPED MOVING. TRIED ALL GEARS AND AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BROKE.I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR”

“WE MAINTAINED OUR VEHICLES REGULARLY, AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE NOT 8 MONTHS AGO NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SPENT $2400 FOR A REBUILD. SHOP STATES THIS MODEL IS A PIECE OF [XXX], AND THE HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY FROM FORDS POOR ENGINEERING ON THIS MODEL. *TR”

“THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND JUST QUIT. WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY *AGAIN* AND FOUND OUT THAT *2 (TWO)* TIMING CHAINS WENT OUT. THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPED IN TWO AND THE PASSENGER SIDE (REAR) HAD OVER 1 1/2 INCHES OF PLAY IN IT AND OBVIOUS STRETCHING OF THE TIMING CHAIN. THE FRONT BROKEN ONE TOTALED THE ENGINE, ALL TENSIONERS, SPACERS ETC WERE NOR IN PIECES LYING IN THE ENGINE. AND GUESS WHAT TO REPLACE THE REAR TIMING CHAIN YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE VEHICLE! THANKS AGAIN FORD!!!!!!!! *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE RPMS TO INCREASE CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,700.”