High milage explorers?

[RAZOR]

I have 70,000 mi and have had the following problems:
engine replacement - warranty
transmission replacement - $$$
blend door - warranty
transfer case motor -$$
Thats just the major stuff, forget the minor!

 

[dman726749]

got 109k on my 96 and not a single problem. bought it this summer for $3500 from my mom so i know the entire history of the car

 

[ronking]

Got 108,000 on '95 XLT. Bought it from a buddy at 69K.

So far:
auto trans rebuilt
fuel pump
all fluids changed (including new flanges and seals on xfer case and front diff)
brakes (2); long story
MAF sensor
thermostat
headlight and turn signal lenses
fog lamps and spoiler (another long story)
replaced radio/cassette with radio/CD player
shocks
cruise control units on steering wheel
steering wheel
wiper/turn signal stalk replaced

 

[Pete]

"I would agree with you if all this happened while under warranty but it did not. The expensive stuff happened after it expired and in case anyone is thinking of an extended warranty, it was beyond that too."

By law, as far as I know, the Lemon Laws are not bound by warranty. Were I you, I would seriously check into this. You owe it to yourself. You should be able to do a web search and get your answer pretty quick.

I'm not sure I would say that the X is a 'bad design' per se. There are certainly individual components that are poorly designed, yes. Like any complex system, the engineering, design, and manufacture of a vehicle and its component parts is a highly complex process that is beholden to, among other things, market forces and aggressive schedules. Ford is a for-profit business and I am sure that the design of individual Explorer components has suffered to meet a project schedule. The infamous armrest bracket is a good example. I am NOT defending the practice; just stating the facts as they are, based on my experience. Additionally, many components and sub-components of these vehicles are built by non-Ford suppliers who have their own quality issues. When parts arrive from suppliers, Ford checks a small sample of the entire lot to see if they meet spec. Every part can't be checked so some out-of-spec parts invariably slip through.

The fact that there are many Xs out there with >200,000 miles on 'normal' maintenance tells me that the fundamental design of the X as a system, and of its component parts, is probably sound. There will still be anomalies and unfortunately it sounds like you got one. I still maintain that you should check into the lemon law in your state to see what recourse is available to you, find out what it is, and then drop the hammer on them. I totally hate to say this but, yes, I am afraid you got a 'bad' one. Pete

 

[wbfd331]

1994 4 door XLT
127,000 mi

Repaired-Replaced

-Radius arm bushings
-Tires(upgrade)
-Rotors(constantly)
-Egr valve(twice)
-Fuel sending unit
-Driver/passenger door lock coupler("slim jim"locked out)
-Rear hatch/Bumper(rear ended)
-Rear wiper motor
-suspension 2" lift
-Factory amplifier bypass for stereo/speaker upgrade
-Front air dam(the puddle was too deep)
-Power steering pump(same as above)
-Fog lights(same as above)

Maintainence

-Synthetic blend oil + trans fluid(suggested intervals)
-Synthetic gear oil(diffs)
-K&N filter upgrade
-134a recharge@112,000mi

 

[Jeff]

Pete,

Thanks for your thoughts. I have checked into the lemon laws and they are not applicable to my situation for a variety of reasons. I've gone through various websites, the BBB and some legal sources and I'm not covered. If these problems had occurred within a very limited time and continued despite dealer efforts to correct, then I'd potentially be covered. My problems are isolated instances that didn't repeat themselves once fixed but there were a lot of these individual problems that when added up, make my car a stinker.

Take a look at Razors post several posts before mine. He's had a similar repair history and Ford isn't covering him under a lemon law.

I wouldn't be so tweaked if everyone else had minimal problems with their X's and I was the only one but that isn't the case. Spend some time on the NHTSA site and you'll quickly see that my problems are not that uncommon. It sugggests to me that the X is not a robust design and that there are consistent problems arcross a broad spectrum of users. I consider the X to be a marginal design with very poor customer service which only makes the problems worse.

As I said before, I don't wish car problems on anyone and I'm glad that others have had better luck than I. Still, I'd like to think that old man Ford would be appalled by what they put his name on and that he'd be just as ashamed by what his name has come to represent.

 

[Jong]

1994 W/160,000

Tranny at 150, Battary three times, ball joints, radius arm bushings, MAS, altinator, wheel drive went out with the cruise control and i still havent fixed it.

 

[zavetsky]

Well, here's MY followup...

If you search back on this thread, I posted a long time back...

Here's an update since then...

I have now owned the 94 X for 4.5 years.....bought it with 63k on it for $11k, it now has just under 100k....I owe $3500...its bluebooked at $3400.

Since I bought it:

Tranny blew at 68k or so.....on vacation 3 years ago $2700
New upper and lower balljpoints $600 (?)
new ujoints in front axle $75
rear axle seal on left side $75
new radiator $180
new water pump (hose, thermostat) $75
fuel pump blew three weeks ago...on vacation $900

new rotors (twice) $175
new drums (once) $80
front brakes ...too many sets to count...the sliding shim design SUCKS in my opinion
both rear brake cylinders (leaking) $40
another rear cylinder $20

radius arm bushings (need one again) $300 ?

front shock bolt fixit kits cuz old ones snapped off at dealer - $50 or so

broken drivers seat frame...got new one from salvage yard $100

front brake line between right caliper and proportioning valve (PITA)

both front brake hoses due to leaking

tires (2 sets) $600 +/-

exhaust (muffler and tailpipe)

new battery 1 month ago

AC now has a leak....no idea where yet

Rusty rocker panels (1 side repaired)
Rusty undercarriage

Left cylinder head is leaking oil...compression is ok...

"porous" oil pan is seeping oil...and running synthetic makes it slightly worse

Rear door window channels (the ones that divide the window glass from the rear fixed panel of glass in the door) have huge rust bubbles under black finish.....that'll mean replacing the doors.....$$$$$$

There is a few more things but I am getting depressed....what's next!?!?!? I just dont have the faith in it I used to have....WAY too much has gone wrong with it in less than 40k miles.....

13 mpg around town 16.5 highway

I am sincerely thinking about ditiching the X for a DUrango.....same gas mileage WAY more power....

I still love the X to be honest except for the lack of real power but she has become way too costly to keep up IMHO.

DZ

 

[exploranger]

'97 Sport 2WD 148201 miles
Bought it new in November 1996.

Regular maintenance.
Couple of oxygen sensors.
A thermostat.
Plugs and wires.
PCV.
Serpentine belt.
K&N drop in filter.

About to change the exhaust system and the suspension.

It's a workhorse that has been across the U.S. twice.

 

[albinoturtles]

97 xlt 4 door sohc-176.000miles
Soe weekends ill put only about 50-100 miles....
others ill put on 1,000+ and I wont turn the truck off till Iget home. Only to pump gas.
I sell reptiles and buy reptiles all over the place and with the summer heat , If i eat at a restaurant, i got to keep the a/c on.,
I have had to replace
fuel pump
timing belt
timing chains,
all sorts of valves
o2 sensors
rear left tailight fixture
head gasktes,
oil pan
radiator already once, it is now cracked again?!!
fog lights and fog light fixtures
tires about 5 times
brake pads atleast 9 times, which is my fault, i brake hard alot...
rotors-twice
water pumps-twice
and some regular thingies here and there

 

[albinoturtles]

forgot a thing or two
had to put freon in a bunch of times, but thats no mystery
also two compressors
then the third went and it wasnt ever them it was a stupid little black connecty thingy by the compressor taht needs to be changed every now and then for some reason...
I STILL LOVE MY TRUCK THOUGH!

 

[mddharma]

have a 96 xlt 4wd - bought new has 195k

had trans replaced
fuel pump
wheel bearing

 

[WantNewLimited]

Got a 93 XLT with a 4.0--leather, loaded.

Just turned over 307,000 MILES, no joke. Still has the original exhaust, fuel pump, water pump, radiator, etc.

Starter went, and broke the flywheel.
Replaced inner/outer front wheel bearings once.
Replaced upper/lower ball joints once.
Replaced shocks once.
Front rotors once, break shoes many times.
Cruise broke sometime ago.
Air doesn't work anymore.

Doesn't wear tires. No shakes/shimmies. Idles smoothly, still has great power.

Shoot, I have 67,000 miles on my goodyears right now and I just got it inspected!

It burns NO OIL. None between changes. Have always changed oil 3,000 miles. Tranny fluid when it looks bad. Other services when I get around to them. Do my own tune ups (damn, that #1 plug is hard to get...)

 

[big green91]

91 for door with 166,800
oil and filter the only other thing that i have had to change was my tranny im on my 3rd on now

 

[sportdivia]

i have a 98 XLT with 99,000 miles and i love my baby! she has been really good to me. the only things i have changed or added have been tires, oil, sony cd player, keyless entry and windshiels wipers.

 

[a1991owner]

140,000 Miles

Cooling: Radiator, Fan, Heater Hoses, Upper & Lower Radiator Hoses, Expansion tank Hoses.

Exaust: From the Catalytic Converter Back.

Drive Train: Tranny Service.

Suspention: Front End Bushings, Shocks

Engine: Valve Cover Gaskets

A/C: Converted to 134r ($40.00 Kit)

Electrical: Headlight, Rear Window Wiper Motor, Fuel Level Sender

Misc: Rear Passenger Side Arm Rest, Headlight Knob

 

[Vozar]

woo hoo just rolled over.......... to 100,000 that is

 

[Pheonixx77]

1994 eddie bauer...
152,000miles

REPLACED: tps sensor, EGR valve, fuel flter, fan speed switch 3x, fan speed resistor, rear wiper motor
Optional replaced items: ALL heater hoses, coolant hoses, vaccum hoses (changed to rubber fuel lne, from cheezy plastic) 4x4 hubs (warn manual locking)

MODS: Superchip, white face gauges, intake, drilled airbox, polyurethane bushings-I replaced ..radius arm bushgings, sway bar bushings tie rod end bushings, rear anti sway bar bushings and rear tie rod end bushings.

Current problems: possible front tranny seal leak.

 

[jagarundi]

98 XLT AWD

58000 and change.

So far the only thing I've had to change was the oil, brakes and front shocks. I'm afraid to keep this truck for another year after hearing all of these stories. I'm really not comfortable with the explorer.

 

[Skeets'91EB]

1991 4x4 Eddie Bauer
132,937 miles

-Transmission rebuilt (approx. 123,000)
-U joints replaced (approx. 125,000)
-Rear driver side brake drum is leaky, nothing major tho
-Shiftershaft seal and tranny/transfercase gasket leaking (fixed under warranty, 10/28/03)
-Valve Cover gasket leaking oil (soon to be fixed)
-Fuel pump (115,000)
-4x4 Engagement Motor replaced
-A/C hoses replaced due to wreck, wasnt my fault
-Starter motor replaced (130,000)
-Loose outside front passenger door handle

All these problems are from NATURAL (except a/c hoses of course) wear and tear and can/will happen to ANY car.