1999 Ford Explorer XLT review from North America
"A reliable affordable joy of an SUV"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
9k miles the Transmission "stuck."
General comments?
Dealer service and warranty have been fantastic on this vehicle. I've only taken it in once, for the above transmission problem, and it was fixed in 3 days with no recurrence.
This Explorer has been incredibly reliable. We have taken SEVERAL trips of 1k or more, towing all sort of things, and the vehicle has had no problems. It runs great and gets good gas mileage for its size, in part because of the optional 5 speed automatic. That's right 5 speed auto. The 4 wheel disc brakes have been tested many times, and they stop this heavy vehicle quick.. even on snow and ice.
As with all American SUV's, it has depreciated greatly, but vehicles are an expense not an investment, and so I don't mind.
Back seat is a little cramped, but that's why Ford makes the Expedition. Also, the accouterments for the wheel jack are quite inconvenient to reach, especially if you have the rear compartment packed.
Finally, the auto insurance is cheaper than my 97 Honda Accord!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.0 SOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 123 miles |
| Most recent distance | 42000 miles |
| Previous car | Chrysler Sebring Coupe |
| Date of Entry | 25th June, 2003 |