cargo space

TRANSMISSIONS

Where to begin. Bought the vehicle in 1998 w/ 204,000 miles on it. Replaced the Engine and Transmission a month later. A year later replaced the Transmission AGAIN..continuous transmission problems with the seal leaking..on and on..window motor, rear windshield wiper, water pump, rusting on wheel wells, brakes are constantly squealing. If I could burn it in effigy and get away with it I would.. :o) I'm beginning to think that there is a serious defect with the transmission..maybe there's something that Ford can do about it. I won't hold my breath.

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I'm just not meant to own a car.. :o)

Looks, Comfort, surface and visual qualities

Drive Train, Electrical, Timing Related Parts (3 repairs on drive-train, 3 defective parts having to do with the timing belt and tensioners, alternator at 45000 miles.)

Very poor workmanship! We purchased a new limited Explorer July 98'. Since then there has over 3500.00 of misc. repair/replacement of parts. That's over $1000/yr. on a new vehicle. The Ford service departments act like this is standard and you are being difficult if you complain. DON'T get sucked in...

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None

Realiability, looks, roomy

I guess the who Firestone rollover thing is a weakness.

This is my first car and I love it. It has great styling, impressive interior, and is extreamly roomy. I have a V6 4.0 L engine, and it really has a lot of pep. Lucky me, I got Brigestones instead of Firestones too.

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I test drove a lot of stuff before picking this. Honestly, I would have liked a 4-runner but they are so expensive. I don't think they are worth the price tag. This however was a great buy.

rides good

really bad on gas.. takes a qt oil between oil changes, which ford said is normel.

this explorer cost around 30,000.00 and i had this suv for only 1yr & 4 months and i was told by ford in fergus falls the book price is at 19,000.00 i can't believe it is that low. i believe it has alot to do with the tires on them. the ones that own these are getting the bad end of all this. we aren't going to get anything for the explorers.all firestone & ford are doing is pointing fingers at each other. i would like to hear a judge say take all the explorers back. we all know this will not happen. the people are the ones that have to take the heat from these companys , let the people have some justice. make these companys do the right thing for once. i'm getting so sick of the recalls on my 1999 ford explorer.

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not happy with foed at all, maybe it's time to go away from fords all together.

25 MPG HIWAY LOADED WITH FRONT A/C RUNNING.KIDS IN BACK SEAT COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING TOO COLD WITH REAR AIR RUNNING.I HAVE EVERY OPTION OFFERED ON THE XLT AND IT HAS SPOILED MY WIFE AND WILL COST ME ON MY NEXT AUTO.

STIFF RIDE OVER BUMPS,THIS IS NOT YOUR DADDY'S BUICK.DIPS,YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SPURS ON BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SEPARATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR SEAT.REAL QUICK STEERING ON NARROW WHEEL BASE.TAKES MORE SKILL TO DRIVE.

PAID MORE THAN I WANTED BUT I GOT ALMOST EVERY OPTION OFFERED ON THE XLT.
RUNNING ELDORADO RADIAL ZR1 TIRES FOR THE PAST 21/2 YRS.STILL LOTS OF TREADWEAR GOOD TRACTION.WOULD LIKE A 2002 EXPLOYER BUT TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MY BUDGET.SO I GUESS I KEEP WHAT I GOT.I HAVE BEEN REAL HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE.

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FOR THE MONEY NO ONE ELSE CAN COMPARE!THIS SUV TAKES LOTS OF DRIVING SKILL TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN LIKE A PASSENGER CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS OR FAST CORNERING.

It hauls loads like it doesn't even notice them, and makes a comfortable highway ride. With aftermarket $4 blind spot mirrors on, I can see everything I need to, even motorcycles. Since I live literally across the street from Microsoft and the really expensive cars like to race out of there at dusk with their headlights off, this has been really useful. I love all the luxury touches, and the fact that it's been completely reliable despite being 10 years old.

I use the overdrive on the highway, and appreciate having a tacometer even on an automatic. The dash and controls are laid out well. And the turning radius is absolutely godly. It turns tighter than my Taurus did.

There seems to be a problem with the right front strut (it goes 'clunk' when I back up from a stop) and the alignment is off, causing the vehicle to shake around 65mph. But that might be expected out of an SUV this old. The dash sometimes rattles. And the suspension is very truck-like - I brace myself before going over railroad tracks.

And the standard SUV gripe.. fuel economy. I average around 15mpg, although my commute is both hwy and street so I can't differentiate it. I hope someone develops an affordable AFV soon in the SUV class.

The other problem is price vs. resale. My loan is currently worth slightly more than my vehicle is, and I don't see that changing until it is actually paid off. This makes me want to get out of it, but hesitent to lose money on the deal.

I love my Explorer!

I bought the 91 in 99, with 70k miles on it and in perfect condition. I saw it when the dealers were literally driving it into the garage after taking it as a trade-in. Everything was flawless on it with the exception of broken plastic on the driver's side inside door handle (which I fixed with SuperGlue and can't tell the difference.) All of my friends call on me for help with moving (they drive Civics and Talons) and the Explorer seems to drive exactly the same whether it's loaded down or empty, uphill or down - I love that engine, built for hauling. Especially on Seattle streets, which are rather infamous for having a stoplight at the apex of every steep hill.

I also had all the options, moonroof and CD changer and leather, etc., which was a dream to find on a used car. However, the paint job seems to have worn off on the edges of the back window, and the rear windshield wiper never quite fits down into the track so I have to hold it aside to open the back glass.

We've also gone camping in the Explorer, and with the seats down it fits a queen sized air mattress comfortably. I've put 25k miles on it in a year and a half, and so far the only thing I've had to do is change the oil every 3000miles. I in fact love my Explorer so much I convinced my mother to buy one -- a 97 XLT. She lives in the foothills of the Cascades, and the valley between her house and the suburbs floods every spring. The Explorer can get her off the snow-covered hill and through the flood every time, and the suspension seems to have been much improved between 91 and 97.

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I am where cars go to die.. my 91 Taurus blew out the transmission ($2500) and two weeks later BOTH head gaskets. I let the repair shop have it for free. Since then my general rule of thumb is: American trucks, foreign cars. I will NEVER buy a Ford car, despite my love for the Explorer.

My 88 Audi 5000S was totalled by an inattentive Ford F-250 (I was stopped, he rear-ended me at 45-50MPH and still accellerating), but before that the electrical systems had been giving me problems. On the upside, I walked away from an accident that, I was told by the officer at the scene, would have killed me instantly if I were not in a well-built German car. (read: my friends' Civics and Talons.) I'd recommend Audi to anyone who wants safety in a regular sized sedan.. but expect the repairs to be expensive. That accident is why I went SUV.

My first car was a 79 Dodge Aspen, an $800 boat that required $800 worth of repairs in one year.. but despite whatever went wrong with it it still somehow managed to run. Even with missing belts. Our theory was that the car was possessed and running on willpower. Great first-time car, particularly for the mechanically inclined; everything needs to be replaced, but it's all in easy reach and the parts are cheap and readily available.

My favorite car was an 83 Camaro, that absolutely sang on the highway. If I could find one in pristine condition with a good safety rating for the year I'd buy it again - it was powerful, fun to drive, and not quite as hard on gas as the Explorer. And remarkably roomy in the hatchback department. Downside is hard cornering, for a sports car, and hellish insurance rates.

I've driven my dad's Jaguar XJ6 a few times, and to be honest I think my Explorer is more fun to drive. With the Jag I felt like I was sitting in a hole, and I couldn't see over the hood. It also has a hellish turning radius -- I didnt even try to parallel park. And while it was much more smooth at high speeds, my Explorer has a quicker pick-up.

My mother's 86 Bronco II, which I have driven many a time, has been driven into the ground and is being held together by motor oil and zip-ties. The clutch is stiff and unresponsive, the steering is hard to control, and it's nigh impossible to climb into the back seat. It's also undergone repairs totalling roughly five times the worth of the vehicle. I'd sooner bicycle to work than buy a Bronco II.

Interior room

A/C Unit

this vehicle has plenty of interior space, not a lot of storage space. it's been reliable. I've had to replace the alternator ($150) three times but, the first one had a life time warranty, so the last two were free, except for my time. Replaced the transmission at about 130,000 miles ($1700) I guess that 's not bad, the vehicle is 10 years old. The a/c unit when it did work, didn't seem to cool the entire vehicle. It was great as long as you were sitting in the front seat. Replaced the water pump and fan. The brakes really suck, I replaced 3 rotors before I finally realized that you have have to visually inspect the breaks every 3-6 months. It's lasted 10 years, only because I coulded afford to buy a new vehicle. My biggest complaint with this vehicle is that the A/C units don't cool, especially living in AZ. where it averages about 110 degrees. I would not recommend the Explorer to anyone, I'd recommend the honda or toyota if your looking for reliability. I don't understand why Americans can't built reliable vehicles? or maybe it's all about MONEY.

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Blazer

room, very roomy, especially for you girl freoind going up toi the lake!!!!
strog 4x4 once you lock the hubs push 4x4 put it in reverse then go have fun, goes through impressiove stuff with shi*y ass tires,( not firestone, just worn old uniroyal) SUV tough, nice to have when hitting topugh bumps, just hold on.
good runner,
pretty tust worthy once the ac is fixed, would go anywhere with it, and tow anything with it. in reason, work with me hear.
SOILD excpt some of the plastic but i dont worry about them

AC sux leather sux, cracks everywhere on driver side. it sucks up gas as if it is going out of style. would switch anytime to buick century, for ride and gas milege 1989,
rides like dump truck with nothin in it including the driver. hit a bump and you'll feel it. how ever stick ur head out the wondow and u see the tires go up and down very well, like it shoiuld,
the 4.0 liter enigne, not the GM 4.3 liter that has balls.
vidsibility not a short p4rsons vehicle.
weighs about as much as a fullsize ext cab 8 ft chevy truck, but that has a 350 in it and i have a lopusy sh%ty a*s v6

not bad, typical 107000 miles problems radiator, heater core, automatic hubs, now have manuel, more trust worthy, tougher, last longer, no more grinding noises that i got when i had the manueal, during winter dont eve realioze there on with the noise, tons of room, my dad, mom ME, and my brother are all impresdsed, shifts beutiful, ( transmission has been ownly rebuilt at about i think 100000, but shifts bewautifulexcept ower drive hqve to do 4o mph to get it to shift, wierd, but pretty pepy with the 4.0L rust free, do to down south shines and looks like a super satr truck,

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2000 chevy blazer zr2 about = excpet the zr2 4x4 rocks a*s, takes off fasrter in 4x4 in a ft of snow, than in 2wd on dry pavment.

Plenty of interrior room for passengers and gear. Have used this vehicle for various outdoor activities including hunting, camping, mountain biking, etc...

front end alighnment. Braking system.

(pre 1997 Model) - Overall a good suv. I have logged 105,000 miles with very little problems, except braking system and front end alighnment.

Interior room, gutsy V8 engine.

Interior fit & finish, costly maintenance.

(1998 Model) - It's a very nice truck, the mileage isn't up to par, but otherwise I'd recommend it if your looking for space, although I had to install a Powerdyne supercharge, I was looking for more speed than space.