1996 Ford Explorer Reviews - Page 2 of 11

Light bulbs starting to blow.

I bought this vehicle used last July with 82,000 miles on it. Ironically it replaced our 2007 Chevy Cobalt, which did not meet our needs. If you remember the cash for clunkers program.

So far my wife and I have put 12,000 miles on it. It is very comfortable and doesn't rattle despite being 14 years old. So far it has been very reliable. Uses no oil either. Its AWD system goes great in the snow.

Only issues seem to be bulbs getting weak. I have replaced three so far.

The only thing I don't like about it is the fuel consumption, but I knew that before I bought it. I've seen it as low as 11 mpg and as high as 19 mpg on the interstate at 65 mph with the cruise control on. It averages about 15 mpg. Yet that was what my 1994 2.5 liter 4 cylinder Jeep Wrangler got, and the Explorer has twice the power.

Although the vehicle has great power, its outdated Windsor V8 makes less power than most modern V6s.

Transmission went, transfer case went, rear end went.

Wires to the starter went.

I got a deal on this car, but I still feel like I got screwed.

Total let down; I have always liked Fords, but I will never buy another Explorer.

I took care of this car and never abused it.

I could deal with the fact that it had no guts whatsoever, if it at least got good gas mileage, but it was horrible.

It handled awfully. I have a four wheel drive pick up from the 70s that handles 100 times better.

It was relatively comfortable, and I liked the moon roof.

I bought my Explorer with 163,132 miles.

The radiator had to be replaced in the mid 160,000s.

The fuel pump went around 168,000 and had to be replaced.

Control arm and ball joints on the front end had to be replaced at 180,000. This was sort of my fault as I decided to go mud riding and hit a mud hole at +50 mph.

I replaced the battery around 182,000.

The transmission shuttered between shifts sometimes, and I had it flushed and it seemed to perform better afterward.

At 185,456 my Explorer's life came to an abrupt end. I was driving down a main road in town when a 2009 Avalon ran a stop sign and hit my passenger side. My Explorer flipped twice and I walked away unharmed. She protected me in her final hour.

The 302 V8 is a beast of an engine. For its size the Explorer is fairly quick and I have beat several Mustangs. The engine will pull like a beast too!

The All Wheel Drive does its job and never let me down.

Nice interior... I had a somewhat rugged SUV, but a little bit of style as well.

However gas mileage is horrible. I averaged 11 city/13 highway. They are rated higher than they actually get.

It was a fairly expensive vehicle to maintain, but I did purchase it at 163,000 miles so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

I purchased this car when I was 17, and after working a year at a grocery store to save money. It got totaled a few weeks ago and it's a part of me that I'll always miss and never forget.