2001 Ford Explorer Sport from North America - Comments

The engine cover or something leaked and had to be replaced at 61000, $250.

In addition, the rear axle seal was leaking and had to be replaced, $250.

Then $400 on maintenance with the repairs.

The right side mirror vibrates a little, annoying.

Something in the back makes a clunk noise when turning fast around corners.

Engine squeaks in cold weather, may be normal for the car (think its the belt).

The car is very fast for an SUV, 0-60 in 7.8 seconds.

It has a high roll over risk, you can feel it going around corners fast, you can't speed on corners.

Rear wheel drive in this car stinks in the winter (very dangerous too, unless you accelerate slowly).

It's a good car overall, too bad it only has 2 doors for its size.

It only gets around 16.5 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.

It's nice driving it, but the back seats stink.

Only good if you mostly drive with 2 people in car, including urself, otherwise get a four door.

Very stylish interior and front grille.

Back of the car is kinda ugly, mine is green, get a black one.

The car stinks off road, its suspension is hard like a sport car, and with Rear wheel drive it slips and easily does 360s on rocks/sand, it sucks.

If you're going to go offroading, then buy the 4x4 next time.

I own a 1997 Explorer Sport 4x4 with the 4.0L OHV V6 Engine.

If you want a better ride, handling and cornering as well as less risk of rollovers, BUY NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS. I bought Monroe sensa-trac shocks and the ride is much more stable, and I can corner faster than some cars.

The clunk you may be referring to when you corner hard may be the limited slip differential in the rear, however there are atleast 3 rear axles ratios and both open and limited slip in all three. I have an open 3.73 rear end. there are also 3.55 and 4.10 in open and limited slip.

I don't understand why you would try to go off-roading in a rear wheel drive vehicle, did you actually expect it to perform well?

I have blown past any other 4x4 you can imagine in snow, mud, ice, gravel, sand, and even through rivers and creeks. I have pulled GM's, Mopar's, Audi's, BMW's and all other Imports from ditches, and even pulled a 96 Mustang up hill on a road to a ski hill in 10" of Snow. (P.S. I live in Canada)

I have also driven in snow that is 3" below the top of my stock size Michelin LTX M/S tires and other than it being somewhat difficult to steer, the Explorer plowed through like it was its job. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done.

If you wanted all-terrain performance, then you really dropped the ball when you bought a rear wheel drive Explorer. It's common knowledge that 4 wheel drive is what you need for off-roading. Never 2 wheel drive of any kind.

Your first point about handling... the Explorer is a truck. If you want to corner, you buy a sports car. A trucks purpose is not to corner well. Also about rollovers, well once again it is an SUV, it has a higher center of gravity... it's not made to take that clover leaf at 70mph.

If you live in a state with snow, why are you complaining about RWD? Why do you not own a 4x4? Once again it is a truck, trucks are generally light in the rear. To combat this if you do not have 4x4, you can put a few sandbags in the back and also buy some aggressive snow tires. Also as you stated it helps to not floor it off when you start off. I have driven a RWD car in the winter and never gotten it stuck at a stop sign in my life with normal tires. The key here is just don't floor it off the line, give the tires a chance to get some traction.

You are complaining about gas mileage, but you drive a truck. That just doesn't make sense. If you want good gas mileage buy a car. An Explorer is going to have a lot of torque and be geared to be able to pull if need be (in other words like a truck). You can't expect a big box with twice the torque and power and weight of your friends Civic to get compare gas mileage.

Now you keep bringing up this vehicle is only good for two people etc etc... Then why did you purchase a sport model? There are a lot more four door Explorers on the road than two door ones.

Once again why are you expecting a RWD to be able to pull of 4x4 capabilities? Also hard suspension. It once again is a truck, not a Cadillac. The truck has leaf springs in the rear... The suspension is made to take a beating on harsh conditions and keep the truck intact... That wouldn't be done very well with soft cushy suspension.

I know you rated the vehicle well overall, but the points you make are just absurd. It sounds like you bought the wrong vehicle for what you were looking for.