1995 Ford Explorer vs 1997 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1995 Ford Explorer | 1997 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 843 | 1,731 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 191 | 369 |
| Investigations | 6 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 86 | 156 |
| Fire reports | 32 | 53 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–18 | 14–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 122,000 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 205 | 669 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 81 | 202 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 45 | 198 |
| Power Train | 119 | 104 |
| Suspension | 93 | 105 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 75 | 83 |
| Electrical System | 55 | 80 |
| Seat Belts | 59 | 54 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 42 | 71 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 69 |
| Brake problems | 14 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 19 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 25 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 20 |
1995 Ford Explorer
1997 Ford Explorer
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Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.