OK, So What Do You DISLIKE About The 5th Gen?

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum Daisee86.:wavey:
There is a TSB for the windshield wipe issue in the 2011+ TSB thread located in the 'Sticky' section.

Peter

 

[Sgt1411]

This is my 3rd Explorer. I had an 2002? Explorer Sport, 2005 Explorer (loved it even though I had a TON of troubles the last being transmission went out at the dealership leading me to my current 2012). I have a lot of same concerns others have but to sum it up - it's not my old Explorer.

- WAY too low ground clearance
- Feels like a minivan
- No place to comfortably rest left foot on drivers side
- Not enough driver's leg room
- MYFT gives me pure road rage when it cannot understand my voice commands (which is most of the time)
- Auto windshield wipers randomly turn on (1 single wipe) on a perfectly sunny no water in sight day
- Angle of Approach / Departure is awful - very difficult to park
- Seat is just plain weirdly low - cannot sit comfortably and reach out window to mailbox, ATM, etc.
- Backup camera issues
- 3rd row power seat works only intermittently (currently LH side won't move)

For what it's worth there are some good things - shoulder / hip room for drive, heated seats, ipod connection, bluetooth, etc.

- Was never intended to be an off road vehicle, ground clearance is as designed.

- Doesnt feel anything like a mini van, especially the Sport

- Dead pedal in mine is great, 15MY even better

- Lots of leg room unless your a Giraffe

- MFT v 3.7 Voice Commands work fine, perhaps adjust the settings from advanced to basic or vis versa

- Theres a TSB to fix random wipe of Rain Sense Wipers

- I find it easy to park

- My seat raises up so my head hits the roof, can reach out to mailbox and ATM without issue.

- Backup camera functions well, great field of view

- PowerFold 3rd row should work fine, warranty should fix that.


I guess its a matter of each persons perception.

 

[Daisee86]

SGT1411, I did not realize the question asking what we disliked was going to be disputed. You have essentially called me an idiot for my opinion which by the way lists many things others also listed. My vehicle is out of warranty so no that doesn't fix the backup camera or power fold seats. Yes I agree that they should work but clearly they do not and if you look through the forums, I am not the only one. As for your comment on legroom, I am quite tall with very long legs thank you very much and why on earth would you raise your seat where your head is touching the ceiling? That's absurd. Lastly am not offloading bit when I cannot pull up in a parking spot it without the vehicle scraping the ground IN A SUV, the ground clearance is too low. Thanks so much for your opinions.

 

[Halwg]

After driving my '14 for 4 months, probably the biggest disappointment is the headlights. I don't have the HIDs which may not be an issue, but the standard headlights are the worst I have encountered in any vehicle I have ever driven.

The vehicle itself is a decent SUV if you use it as intended. I have to take mine semi-offroad to get to well locations, compressor stations and pipeline construction jobs. If I don't try to hardcore offroad the vehicle it does OK. I've drug that front air dam on several occasions, but have not torn it off yet.

I had to redo my storage bins because the back end storage is narrower than in the previous generation, but I have solved that problem. Gas mileage is much better than the previous generation, 24 vs 18, so I can't complain. Tide is better, and I have purchased winter tires for bad weather.

If I could get the seat to raise about 2 more inches, I'd be happier, but I have gotten used to the driving position and it's OK.

Every vehicle is a compromise, and this one isn't any different. It's a work vehicle, so I can accept some compromises, however, it's probably not a vehicle I would buy for my primary family vehicle. For that I think there are better choices.

 

[amd2800barton]

Ground clearance and angle of approach complaints? Did you even LOOK at the current Explorer before purchasing? Its not exactly as though the 5th gens are rare, either - they've sold hundreds of thousands a year for 5 model years.

I bought it because I thought $45k would provide a decent entertainment center. I bought a 2015 Subaru Legacy the same day. The entertainment center is FAR more useful, and sounds 100 times better. I have no gripes about the vehicle in general. Its pretty easy to see that the software sucks though.

Only way I see on Ford's site to option an XLT to $45k is to tick literally EVERY option on Ford's custom builder site, including the $2000 DVD headrests. When we were shopping 6 months ago, pouring through just about every VIN within several hundred miles, I don't remember seeing any dealer that had an XLT with so many options - which means you would have to custom order it. Again - do people not read reviews or test drive before purchasing? I saw dozens of reviews that said MyFordTouch had a rocky start, but was pretty okay now. I made sure that both I and my wife tested it extensively. I'd say that the system is good now. Not great, but good. Until Apple CarPlay and Google Auto hit mainstream, I don't think I'll call any infotainment system great.

 

[Daisee86]

Ground clearance and angle of approach complaints? Did you even LOOK at the current Explorer before purchasing? Its not exactly as though the 5th gens are rare, either - they've sold hundreds of thousands a year for 5 model years.

I purchased a 2012 new at the end of 2011 so at the time hundreds if thousands had not been sold. Apparently too new as they did not have the bugs yet worked out. I have loved my last 2 Explorers despite the issues I had in those. This one felt so different from the first time I drove it but my transmission went out on my 2005 at 90,000 miles (a known issue which Ford did not recall but all service techs knew there was a problem with these) and died at the dealership and I wanted the new Explorer, so I figured I would adjust. They have made improvements on the angle of approach in your model - compare the specs . Again, didn't realize I was going to have to defend my opinions. The question was not "only post here what others will agree with". It was a list of my dislikes. I'm glad you do not have the same dislikes. Gives me hope that the newer models are improving.

Moderators, is it normal to be treated with such disdain for my opinions on these boards? If so, believe it best I move on. I was looking for help on a backup camera issue on another post which Peter kindly offered. The others herein, not so much.

 

[amd2800barton]

You still didn't say if you even looked at the vehicle before purchasing. It is immediately apparent that the 5th gens are not offroad rock crawling trail masters. If ground clearance was something you needed, why didn't you pick up an Excursion or a 4runner or a Grand Cherokee?

I'm genuinely confused as to why anyone would complain about the ground clearance, when it should have been a known quantity before purchase. Its not as though anyone driving a Ford has the kind of money to say "Oh this one is broken? Bring me a new one, Nigel, tell them to bill me"

Also, by the time your 2012 came out - Ford had already sold more than a hundred thousand 2011 model year explorers. They were a smash hit.

 

[360]

Ground clearance and angle of approach complaints? Did you even LOOK at the current Explorer before purchasing? Its not exactly as though the 5th gens are rare, either - they've sold hundreds of thousands a year for 5 model years.


Only way I see on Ford's site to option an XLT to $45k is to tick literally EVERY option on Ford's custom builder site, including the $2000 DVD headrests. When we were shopping 6 months ago, pouring through just about every VIN within several hundred miles, I don't remember seeing any dealer that had an XLT with so many options - which means you would have to custom order it. Again - do people not read reviews or test drive before purchasing? I saw dozens of reviews that said MyFordTouch had a rocky start, but was pretty okay now. I made sure that both I and my wife tested it extensively. I'd say that the system is good now. Not great, but good. Until Apple CarPlay and Google Auto hit mainstream, I don't think I'll call any infotainment system great.

I guess you didn't pay taxes or anything when you bought yours?

II had a Subaru Outback prior to buying my Explorer. I personally installed an aftermarket system that puts MFT to shame on ALL aspects. I'm not just talking about playing my favorite CD either.

 

[wazdog]

You still didn't say if you even looked at the vehicle before purchasing. It is immediately apparent that the 5th gens are not offroad rock crawling trail masters. If ground clearance was something you needed, why didn't you pick up an Excursion or a 4runner or a Grand Cherokee?

I'm genuinely confused as to why anyone would complain about the ground clearance, when it should have been a known quantity before purchase. Its not as though anyone driving a Ford has the kind of money to say "Oh this one is broken? Bring me a new one, Nigel, tell them to bill me"

Also, by the time your 2012 came out - Ford had already sold more than a hundred thousand 2011 model year explorers. They were a smash hit.

Well to be fair the ground clearance is deceptively low due to the front air dams that may not be immediately apparent. And yes it is too low. I've scrapped it on parking bumpers too. Besides, who doesn't want better ground clearance for an SUV?

More importantly, every poster is within his/her right to post about any personal dislikes without being mocked. I feel like I don't have less of a right to complain about flaws that are known at the time of purchase. Like most of us already knew my ford touch wasn't the best so does that mean we should all shut up about it since we had the chance to buy another car? I'd like to think that these threads could be very useful input for Ford to improve upon our beloved explorers.

 

[tmg19103]

Well to be fair the ground clearance is deceptively low due to the front air dams that may not be immediately apparent. And yes it is too low. I've scrapped it on parking bumpers too. Besides, who doesn't want better ground clearance for an SUV?

More importantly, every poster is within his/her right to post about any personal dislikes without being mocked. I feel like I don't have less of a right to complain about flaws that are known at the time of purchase. Like most of us already knew my ford touch wasn't the best so does that mean we should all shut up about it since we had the chance to buy another car? I'd like to think that these threads could be very useful input for Ford to improve upon our beloved explorers.

Ground clearance is fine if you delete the front plastic air dam. Not fine with it, but at least it is flexible plastic if you hit a hard surface object, but for beach driving it could help dig you in with soft, mucky sand, but I find it fine for tamer beaches.

 

[Uaglio]

.

 

[tmg19103]

II had a Subaru Outback prior to buying my Explorer. I personally installed an aftermarket system that puts MFT to shame on ALL aspects. I'm not just talking about playing my favorite CD either.

The XLT sound system is average, but I can live with it.

I have an excellent aftermarket system in my Saab and it blows away the Ex, but if I want great sound while driving, I take the Saab.

I've had the Ex on some long trips with a couple thousand songs on my cell that I stream. I can live with it - and I have a great sound system in my Saab by comparison.

 

[360]

The XLT sound system is average, but I can live with it.

I have an excellent aftermarket system in my Saab and it blows away the Ex, but if I want great sound while driving, I take the Saab.

I've had the Ex on some long trips with a couple thousand songs on my cell that I stream. I can live with it - and I have a great sound system in my Saab by comparison.

I found an EQ to use on my phone. It doesn't help with the Sirius (and I rarely use CDs anymore). I also discovered over the weekend that if you use the volume speed control, it somewhat acts as the good ol Loudness option when your on the highway. You're right, I can live with it, but it still is subpar.

 

[Daisee86]

Thanks Wazdog! It is the plastic air dam that I was talking about. Already cracked one and lost the part that held it on and had to have it replaced. While I did review the specs before purchasing, I never looked at the ground clearance. It was an SUV and it never crossed my mind the "air dam" would be low enough to catch on a cement parking stop.

 

[Sgt1411]

SGT1411, I did not realize the question asking what we disliked was going to be disputed. You have essentially called me an idiot for my opinion which by the way lists many things others also listed. My vehicle is out of warranty so no that doesn't fix the backup camera or power fold seats. Yes I agree that they should work but clearly they do not and if you look through the forums, I am not the only one. As for your comment on legroom, I am quite tall with very long legs thank you very much and why on earth would you raise your seat where your head is touching the ceiling? That's absurd. Lastly am not offloading bit when I cannot pull up in a parking spot it without the vehicle scraping the ground IN A SUV, the ground clearance is too low. Thanks so much for your opinions.

I'm not calling anyone an idiot, I'm simply voicing my opinion like you're allowed to voice yours.

If something is identified as being wrong or poorly designed often an explanation as to why it was engineered can clarify.

Like a previous post where someone suggested the Hankook Optimo 420 tire was cheap junk and was only put on the Ex because it was inexpensive. Simply not true, a lot of engineering went into that tire choice, but if Tire Rack has a couple of bad "opinion" reviews people treat it as fact and spew it on forums.

I have a little insight into why certain things were engineered so I often will try and assist with an explanation.

The two issues you have may be something the reps here can assist with in getting fixed even outside warranty if there was a TSB on them.

The front air dam is low, on the police versions it was removed for the reasons you bring up. On retail it is there to improve HWY MPG because of CAFE standards.

I sit higher in the seat because the higher you sit the better your can see the corners of the vehicle.

Your fully entitled to your opinions, just I'm entitled to clarify misinformation.

 

[Gdwheel]

The gas tank is too small. I am filling it up all the time.

 

[OKCXLT]

Just took delivery of a 2015.

Overall it's a good mid-level SUV

Things that were disappointing:

1) TINY gas tank for an SUV with this gas mileage - makes no sense.

2) Very little storage inside

3) 2nd row could be wider (there's room) as middle seat is useless.

4) I would have liked to remove (easily) the passenger side middle row seat to allow easy access to 3rd row.

Other than that, it's about what I expect for a vehicle at this price point.

It's average.

 

[peterk9]

The middle 'seat' forms part of the driver's side of the 60/40 second row. Sounds like you would have been better of with 2nd row buckets.

Peter

 

[OKCXLT]

The middle 'seat' forms part of the driver's side of the 60/40 second row. Sounds like you would have been better of with 2nd row buckets.

Peter

A "row" should fit 3 average people (it is an SUV after all) 2nd row buckets (which is an expensive option) literally seats 2. Are you saying a middle 'seat' shouldn't be useable because it forms part of the drivers side of the 60/40 second row? If so, you could be a Ford engineer!

Sounds like Ford would have been better off designing a decent 2nd row.

 

[peterk9]

There are several threads that mention the narrow middle seat and that it is almost impossible to have 3 adults sit on the bench seat. The Explorer is not the only vehicle to suffer from this design. The 2009 Highlander I had has the same issue only it was even narrower. The Explorer is only about 3.5" wider than that Highlander. You mentioned in point #4 that you would have preferred that the passenger side middle row seat be 'easily' removed to allow access to the 3rd row. Upon reading that again, I must admit I misread that statement. I initially thought you were referring to the middle seat being attached to the passenger side. That is why I commented on the buckets. The same setup is still in the 2016 model.

Peter