Faults:

Factory air at 100,000 miles.

Cabin air fan motor.

Broken driver's side handle.

All four power window motors.

One headlight (all other lights are still original).

Radio died about 18 years in.

Rear wiper motor failed.

General Comments:

Best vehicle I've owned since my first car in 1954. Only one time in 22 years did I turn the key and it didn't start (last Walmart battery I'll ever buy).

Faults:

4x4 didn't work.

Battery was bad.

Coolant leaked out the radiator.

Let's say the body wasn't in the greatest shape.

Front U-joints went bad.

Whole rear axle went bad.

3rd gear is almost gone.

General Comments:

People would say why? You can probably tell with everything I said, that I wasted the $650 I paid for it, because it had so many problems occur.

It was sweet. I learned so much of fixing vehicles, since I did all the repairs myself with no prior experience.

I am not nice to my vehicles, and for this vehicle with so many miles on it, to take a beating from me, says something. I only spent like maybe 3-4 hundred dollars fixing everything with the help of a junkyard.

I would say buying an Explorer is worth it, and they make great trail runners.

Faults:

Worst car I have ever had... anything that could go wrong went wrong.

Electrical problems at 130,000.

Doors and windows wouldn't open or close.

General Comments:

Terrible car.

Faults:

Lower radiator hose replaced/Radiator cleaned at 200,000 miles ($80.00).

Transmission rebuilt at 210,000 miles ($1039.00).

Radius arm bushings need to be replaced ($150.00 x 2).

Power locks non-functional - among other minor electrical issues.

General Comments:

Considering that this vehicle is now 17 years old, it has been pretty reliable. The only major repair that I've had to have done is a transmission rebuild and install, which the mechanic finished this morning.

Since taking ownership of the Explorer, I've had the oil replaced with a high-mileage variety, and I've kept up with regular maintenance.

The Explorer, while slow to accelerate, really holds its own on the highway.

Cosmetic issues include a broken passenger door arm rest ($35.00) and faded paint.

The key to success with this vehicle, as with any other, is performing regular scheduled maintenance (oil/fluids, belts/hoses, plugs/wires, inspections). Take care of these things and the Explorer will certainly take care of you.

Faults:

Been a good reliable vehicle for as long as I can remember. Seems to have taken forever for the usual Explorer problems to catch up with it. Was in the family before I "earned" it by cutting my teeth on the stick shift with it at 19.

Aside from regular maintenance...

The Big Stuff.

- Radius arm bushings replaced 2nd time in its life at 215,000.

- Transmission rebuilt at 217,000 after 217,000 miles of faithful service with proper maintenance.

- PCV valve replaced for the first time at 221,000.

- Replaced shifter fork at 235,000, also replaced starter when the shop messed up the Bendix gear and I had trouble getting it started.

Small Stuff.

- Broke the armrest (is there an Explorer between 1991 and 1994 that has not?)

- Broke drivers side door handle (plastic fatigue and anger).

- Chunk of plastic broke off door close pin, easy fix.

- Original radio died, threw in a cheap replacement using the original amplifier, sounds great.

General Comments:

Very tough vehicle. Has been stuck in a ditch with water halfway up the door on one side (and KEPT the water out no less), dug a rut with the rear differential. Also hit a ladder on the interstate doing 70 and all it did was bend the ladder and jump over it.

Another impressive bit is that this truck has gone all 239,000 original miles without a tune-up on the original platinum plugs the Ford dealer put in to cure a stalling problem when it was new.

The brakes are excellent when well maintained, and can really save your butt when something goes awry around you (sudden stops ahead, people not paying attention, etc.).

The handling is pretty good for a truck of this type. The key is in the driver and the tires. Good tires on the Explorer will make it handle a lot better than cheap tires.

Acceleration is super peppy in the manual configuration. This truck can smoke the tires easily, and can pin you back in your seat if you want it to. You must be good on the shifter though as the distance on the tach between gears is VERY short if you need to move in a hurry. Overdrive is best shifted into a 55-65mph. Still keeps climbing pretty quick past 75 if you have a lead foot, so be careful.

Shifting skills and maintenance have allowed me to get this truck close to 24mpg on the highway. You get the best mileage in small towns and rural environments; big city stop and go tends to hurt the worst gas wise.

Does okay off-road, but does have a tendency to get stuck when the mud goes higher than the hubs of the wheels. If you plan to off-road, 4X4 is going to be better than 2X4.

Have had this truck out in the winter snow for the last 4 years, and it's been the reason I'm one of 5 people who show up to work on super-snowy days. Just stay off the totally iced over roads and you will be fine.

Either way I plan to keep this vehicle a very long time. It does everything I've needed and need it to do from hauling large music and construction gear to going off the beatin' path for leisure. It may be reaching 20, but I'd say this truck is doing great for a 20 year old SUV.