1997 Ford Explorer Reviews

My complaint is with the 4.0 SOHC engine. Even with a properly tuned engine, the fuel mileage is horrible. These motors produce excellent power, but with gruesome consequences. The weakness in SOHC engines are the guide plates that the timing chain runs on. Typically around 100k, depending how hot and hard the motor was run, the plastic guide plates wear down and actually break, causing the timing chain to loosen up enough to throw the motor out of time, which results in bent valves. There is after market upgrades for the guide plates. Bad years are 96-01; Ford upgraded after 01.

If you have one of these ticking time bombs "EXPLODERS", you should hear a slight ticking noise before your bomb goes off.

Absolutely nothing mechanically has gone wrong.

The driver seat is very comfortable, but there is a small tear on it.

Eddie Bauer parts are hard to find, because they are more rare than the XLT.

The sub is known to blow, and that's how I bought it.

My truck is amazing.

It has very low miles for its year, and I love the acceleration.

I can honestly say I will never sell my Ford. I've had no problems with it.

It looks sharp with the red and gold two-tone with stock chrome wheels, and with the black headlight and tail light covers.

I'm so obsessed with it, I took off the black V8 all wheel drive sticker and put the 5.0L Mustang emblem on.

I don't really like the stock grille, so I'm thinking on getting the billet type.

I also have installed 4 new speakers, because they were crappy and the sub was blown, so I had to bypass it. I also have installed an Alpine head unit as well.

I love this truck. I'll have it until it craps on me. Haha. :)

Something wrong in the steering column at 5 years.

Some outside air vent doesn't open, so I can't regulate the temp of the heater. It's either off or hot. This also keeps air conditioning from working. Dealer said they'd have to take the dashboard apart to fix it, so I didn't get it fixed.

This SUV is phenomenal. I've only had one tune up and one brake job (just had them checked) in 186,000 miles.

Interior and exterior both still look like new (except carpets.)

I've never had to replace starter or fuel pump.

I just have the oil changed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.

Car runs like it's still new.