2005 Ford Explorer XLT review from North America
"Good value"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The leather seats cracked quickly. The dealer replaced two of the seats (driver seat and right rear) under warranty.
Three months after purchasing the vehicle I received a notice from Ford that the wrong transmission fluid was added at the assembly plant. I was requested to bring the vehicle in for an additive to correct the problem. The notice that I received in the mail indicated that this was their last attempt to notify me of this defect. Ironically, I only received 1 notice regarding this matter.
The transmission shifts are rough at times. Particularly between reverse and drive.
General comments?
The Explorer is great for a family who needs an SUV for weekend errands.
This vehicle was approximately $10,000 less than a new Toyota 4 Runner. Perhaps the Toyota would not have had the minor issues I mentioned above but with a $10,000 differential in price the Ford was a great buy.
The flex fuel option on this vehicle interested me when I purchased the vehicle. However, like most people when I used ethanol my mileage suffered dramatically.
If you purchase the vehicle make sure you get the towing option. It was less than $200 and you get a larger receiver and a nice wiring package.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 2005 |
| Year of manufacture | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.0 Flex fuel Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 3 miles |
| Most recent distance | 34250 miles |
| Previous car | Lexus LS400 |
| Date of Entry | 28th August, 2008 |