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100,000 Mile Club

I'm back with another post. I'm writing as calmly as one can but inside I hope that whoever reads this understands what a poor product Ford produced.

I've been a member for some time and posted with great enthusiasm when I bought my new '97 Exploder. Sadly, the vehicle is of such poor quality that I find no good reason to post here very often except to keep those interested in my ongoing plight.

With some quick searching it will be easy to discover that I've spend over $11k on repairs not covered by warranty and tomorrow I will learn that I've suffered another catostrophic breakdown that will cost up to $3k to repair.

While coasting down Highway 1 in Santa Cruz the transfer case let go and I've done the internet research showing that this isn't an unheard of problem. Keep in mind that this car sees highway driving 99.999999999% of the time. Maybe 100 feet total in 4WD in 7 years.

Add this cost to the $11k that I've already spent and don't forget to add the $1.3k it will take to reattach the rear hatch because the right hinge is pulling out of hatch itself. This will add up to $15k not to mention the aggravation and time to deal with all these problems.

Buy another Ford? Never, ever again. I've simply told my family, friends and co-workers about my problems and I consider myself successful when I hear them say that they too will buy something other than Ford. Funny thing is that I wrote to Ford last year and asked if they wanted the vehicle back. They didn't have to pay for it - I'd give it to them. They never wrote or called. Not even Ford wants they own vehicles back.

I don't see myself posting here much more except to keep you all updated on my ongoing problems but I wish you all better luck than what I've had.

Shame on you Ford. You could've done much better.
 



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142,000 Miles and Counting......Factory Clutch.....and engine......
 






I'm at 204,810 miles (and one year without the odometer attached because the mileage warranty was about to expire) and still running great! Can't imagine ever buying anything other than another Ford. It continually shocks my friends that after 200,000 miles (and many years without car payments) I've still got a reliable vehicle that's more versatile and useful than any of theirs. (Who says an SUV doesn't make sense in hard city driving? You don't see me calling to borrow their cars.) And other than the transmission, every part on that truck has surpassed it's expected lifetime and then some.

Congratulations Ford! Another truck, "Built Ford Tough!" :chug:
 






Just broke 100,000 miles Last week. :burnout:
 


















195000...only real problems were a tranny cooler hard line that broke, all the damn door locks seizing, and one of the auto locking hubs finally gave out. I don't off road enough to worry about my now 2 wheel drive...though I would like to get that fixed some time.

Bob
 






160,000 miles and only thing replaced was the transmission at 152,00 still running
 






My 97 Ex is the first vehicle that I have owned in a long time that had less than 100K on it, but it is now at 103K. It has a rebuilt tranny, a replacement GEM module (which still works like crap), lower ball joints, and some new front end parts from a small incident.

The 92 Ex that I drove out to Moab, wheeled on Steelbender, and drove back home for a round trip of about 3100 miles has 215K showing on the odometer now. The truck has a rebuilt tranny, heads re-done, most of the suspension parts replaced and lots of little parts. It needs new electric window switches and door panels.

My Ranger is at 165K and the motor has had nothing except tune up parts and seals. The rearend is shot (skips teeth on hard downhills - as in 4-wheeling hard) and the 5 speed Mitsu tranny is blown but otherwise this has been almost the ideal truck repair wise. Ususally if it is broken, it is me tearing it up, not the fault of the truck.
 






Jeff,
I'm sorry to hear about your problems with your X. I don't think that particular truck represents the brand as a whole. I have suffered simmular problems with my VW Jetta VR6. There are even websites that talk about how bad VWs are and how the company wont stand behind their product. I too will never buy another VW. Maybe you should try and write Ford in a different way and list all of the issues you have had. I doubt they would do anything but you never know. As for my 91 Explorer, it has just turned 220K miles old and running smooth as a top. I have only replaced the starter, ICM(Junkyard) and a radius arm bracket. And I change my oil once a year wether it needs it or not.
 






I have run Ford products that have ranged all the way back into the 1950's. I have also worked as a supply vendor to Ford, and I can say with assurance that Ford started doing some things in the mid-80's and again in the mid-90's that seriously tarnished their reputation.

First was the advent of all the cheap trashy cars that Ford began producing to cut corners and costs. Their stuff was pure junk. If you live outside of some place like Southern California, when was the last time you saw anything still on the road from the late 70's onward for Ford? Their stuff just ran into the ground.

My 97 Explorer is another case. Of all the years with problems, it seems like I hear the most from the 97 model year. The issues with the tranfer case - GEM module - computer - ball joints, etc. are pretty well known. It seems that when Ford decided to do that new auto-trac transfer case they declined to also purchase the correct computer for it. Borg Warner produced a wonderful computer that calculated each wheel speed and adjusted the transfer case output accordinly, but Ford when the cheap route and did an in house computer that has no provision for wheel speed, thus all the pops, grinds, bangs, hesitation, steering, etc., issues with their 4x4. So much so, in fact, that they had to release a factory service bulletin dealing with explaining to customers how all that noise and jerking was "normal." BS is about the only phrase I can use...

When I used to be a parts vendor for Ford, they were under the "Quality is Job 1" banner. They would make a big deal about coming to our plant to inspect our product once a year. We used to laugh at them becasue we would supply a hand-picked pallet of parts that were all tested, re-tested, and re-tested again to insure perfection. They came in, watched us test everything (in what they thought was random sampling) and then they gave us the "Quality is Job 1" approval rating. We still tested everything that we sent to them (We were concerned about OUR quality) but they never, EVER, tested anything on their own. They just took the vendor's word for it. We used to laugh about that and then purchase someone else's product...

Sorry about the rant, but my 97 is really ticking me off as well. I'm not in the same boat as Jeff, but that is mainly because I do my own work. I have to drain and change oil in the T-case on a semi-monthly basis to keep it working. I have to dump the computer at least once every 2 weeks to make the truck run. The check engine light is on ALL the time. It flashes the OD light on an intermitent basis at least once a day and sometimes all the time, though I have replaced the tranny and the GEM module (plus had the computer re-configuired). I am about to use my second set of ball joints, and in general, the truck is an overweight piece of expensive stuff...
 






Well I will consider myself lucky that I don't have major issues with mine. I have heard many people say that the A4LD is a piece of POO. Knock on wood, I have yet to have a major problem with it, and as I stated, I am sitting at 220K miles. If it was me, I would fix it and sell it. Good luck.
 






190,120. 2 Tranny rebuilds in the past 3 years, new fuel pump, new O2 sensor, new brakes and rotors. Thats it pretty much. I need a new cat. and VSS right now.
 






My Baby Blue is at 106,200+. Hit the 100,000 mark last month or so along beautiful North Shore Drive(Duluth, MN). Had to have my left front wheel bearing replaced and the front bottom ball joints replaced last week. Other than that its been hanging there! :D
 






126,000+ been through 3 sets of rotors and once around all new brake system i.e.rotors,drums,lines, and master cylinder, 5 trannys (one since ive owned the truck 4 while my dad owned it from new)94 xlt plugs, wires, auto hubs went at about 105k changed to warn manual hubs and love them , both front seat frames have cracked and had them welded but never the same after more leaned back, the lift gate lefts ripped off door had replaced by ford under recall, and burnt out 3 headlight sockets other than that its been minor stuff but i just keep throwing money at it lol i love it to much to let it go
 






140,000 miles

I have 140,000 miles

Replaced:
Wheel joints, rear pinion seal, 2 alternators 1 battery, plugs 3x, wires 3x,tranny fluid/filter every 75k, oil every 3k, fluid in diffs and transfercase at 100k, belt every 35k, all suspension bushings at 125k, factory cd player gave out at 130k.. replaced it, front rotors and pads and calipers at 120k, rear drums at 90k (needs done again).

Need: t case motor, rear hatch lock mechanism, alignment, tires, money for gas, drivers seat is rough (damn leather), and i think i need a water pump.
 






Well I just swapped out my motor at 220K with a motor from a 2000. My trans is still going strong and other than your normal consumables, I have replaced a starter, and Radius arm brackets prior to getting my super runner radius arms. My old motor was still running good, but I wanted to get a new one in before the other one decided to quit. I live at the local junk yard called "U Wrench It." I found a brand new starter for 13 bucks! I love that place.
 






I busted it.....

Well I successfully busted 100,000 on 10/24/04 at 4:06AM Central standard time. The speedo hasnt seen that many zero's since it was new....
 






well i'm about 600miles away from 100k, with no problems, NOCK ON WOOD....an all i gotta say to u jeff is wow what a lemon, i'm sorry to hear so many problems and i agree with you, 97 was a BAD year for the Explorers. Luckly everything on mines is still intaked and running well, its on a tranny, transfercase, F/R Diff. fluid change now, every year. I'll be posting in about three weeks to announce my 100k...look for the post...lata
 



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I have 200,000 KMS now......
 






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