The 1997 Ford Explorer has 112 suspension complaints filed with NHTSA — 5% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.
112
Suspension complaints
5%
Share of year
8
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence
VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.
“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH EXPLORER BEGAN TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH, BECAME AIR BORNE AND FLIPPED OVER 4 TIMES. DRIVER DID NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER LANE, AND DID NOT HIT OTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE IN THE EXPLORER. BOTH WERE INJURED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT. PLEASE…”
NHTSA has 112 complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer suspension — 5% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the suspension: 00V402000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.