Question:

Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 days of each other last month. Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t been advised of? It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the rear seat! Martin

Response:

I have that problem on 98 XLT on one side. They say it a plastic cam inside the door. The only problem with technology is, they charge 10 time more to fix it. Never though about being trapped,if both door were broken. To this day I don’t know what happen to mine. I just carry small children in the back, they must be stronger then the plastic parts. — "Damn the torpedoes,full speed ahead!" Admiral David Glasow Farragut, U.S.N Battle of Mobile Bay 1864

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

Yeah my driver side passager door had the same problem.. Seem common

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

Had it happen on one of mine and hoping it won’t happen on the other. Quite a pain to always open my kid’s door for her.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

Happened on my 97XLT. Dealer charged $30.00 labor  + $12.02 for parts.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

My rear passenger side door has had this happen twice now. The first time the dealer fixed on warranty and that lasted 3 years then again. BTW mine is a 92XLT. Also that is a door that rarely got used so the assembly they changed was replaced with one just as crappy as the first. Not happy with that but just living with the inconvenience.  So it looks like this old problem is still ongoing.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

Ditto, mainly driver side.  Sometimes pass. Got in the back the other day to eay lunch with wife and newborn ….then, couldnt’ get out !! ! ! !!  C-sectioned wife had to come around and let me out!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 > days of each other last month. > Is this the ultimate in planned obsolescence or is there a problem I haven’t > been advised of? > It seems to me that loss of functioning rear doors would be a safety concern > however if you activate the childproofing feature it has the same effect. > The only difference here is that I don’t want to trap my passengers in the > rear seat! > Martin

Response:

>Both interior rear door handles on my 1997 Explorer XLT failed within 10 >days of each other last month

Easy to replace.  Costs about $10 at the dealer.

Response: