1996 Ford Explorer from North America

Summary:

Okay vehicle, but crap for gas

Faults:

The radiator was leaking.

The oil was leaking.

The check engine sensor, crap, It's always on, and there's nothing wrong with the engine.

The leather seats have worn badly, the passenger seat's stitching is coming out.

The back doors are incredibly hard to open.

Back window constantly falls off the track.

Numerous break downs that are from an unknown cause, causing me and my friends to walk crazy distances.

General Comments:

It's a nice vehicle, very roomy, and really comfortable.

I live in Canada so snow is a big deal; it's AWD and has amazing control over ice and snow. The heater works amazing, but the defrost, not so much.

Basically I feel really safe in this vehicle, although I've had it for 5 months, and it has been in the shop more than with me.

The stock speakers are very impressive, very loud and lots of good bass. Although the rear seat audio control gets annoying for the driver when people are constantly changing a good song. There should be some way to turn that off.

The acceleration sucks, and it governs out at 160, but at 120 starts mad shaking.

Overall it's a nice vehicle, if you can afford the gas. It's $80 to fill, and that lasts me maybe 3 days?

None the less, my SUV is still my baby.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 31st October, 2007

1996 Ford Explorer xlt 5.0L from North America

Summary:

Very Disappointed in Ford

Faults:

Ball joints twice, wheel bearing twice, misc. electrical, most recently transmission went out.

General Comments:

This explorer was a one owner with maintence records when I got it. I only had it 25000 miles.

I take excellent care of my vehicles and this was no exception. I love ford, but my last two were awful. I need a new car company that believes in craftsmanship and reliablity.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th May, 2007

24th Mar 2009, 22:12

How many miles did it have when you bought it? I got one with 128k on the clock, and took it for a 6000 mile plus trip, and had no problems with it at all, and it did not burn any oil either.

So maybe the last owner of the SUV must have treated it bad with no preventative maintenance. Or you got a bad one. There are always bad cars in all car makers. Nissan makes bad Maximas for sure, and other brands have issues too. No perfection in any cars, all cars will fail, all.

1996 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0L from North America

Summary:

Junk

Faults:

Serpentine belt, anti-freeze leak, transmission line rusted out, unknown jerk. Ball joints top and bottom. 2 front wheel bearing, rear traction bar.

2 sway bar links.

General Comments:

Looks great, worth nothing. The movie Money Pit is apt for this vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 21st February, 2007

1996 Ford Explorer XLT from North America

Summary:

Very dependable

Faults:

Fly wheel cracked at 248,000 miles. It was probably due.

General Comments:

This is an awesome car, 256,000.00 miles and still runs great! Rebuilt the transmission at 248,000 miles.

I have kept the oil changed regularly.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th August, 2006

1996 Ford Explorer XLT 4.0L V6 from North America

Summary:

I would have bought another one this year if gas hadn't reached $3/gallon

Faults:

Front suspension bushings (105K).

O2 Sensors (25K, 50K, 75k, 100K).

Mass Air Flow sensor (100K).

Passenger air bag rattled from day one and was replaced under warranty the first week.

Crank position sensor failed (100k).

Multi-function switch (turn signals / wipers) (50K).

Normal maintenance replacements such as serpentine belt (80K), brakes (75K), shocks (75K), and hoses (75K).

General Comments:

This vehicle is actually a 1995 1/4 per the owners manual. It was manufactured in March of 1995 as a 1995 model, but was built with a 1996 drive train (engine / transmission / computer / ignitions system / electronics).

I had a lot of fit and trim issues with it during the first couple of months, but the dealer did an excellent job of repairing and/or replacing those items.

It has been an extremely reliable vehicle with the exception of the O2 sensors. All the other things that have gone bad can be expected of a complex of a vehicle.

It is now a "weekend" vehicle and only gets 3K miles/year on it and I will continue to drive it until the wheels fall off.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th September, 2005