Ford Explorers/lemon

[jgcable]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

Problems with the Explorer automatic tranny start usually around 80K. Thats when you will go for your first one. Mine went early at 60K, 85K and 105K.
The F-150,250,350 are all very different than the Explorers.
Do a google search on Explorer transmission problems. There are hundreds of websites and posts.

[Razor]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I hate the way they shift... Almost as bad as the Tauruses... Actually... they are as bad. Just a different bad. haha...

[/ QUOTE ]

Good old Ford oatmeal shifts. When gear train absolutely positively has to be fucked up, you can count on Ford and that blue oval reject sticker on the front of them. Yes, Exploder is an "industry" term.

I love it when one comes into the shop, and it already has a Ford "Quality Renewal" sticker on the tranny. That always cracks me up. Most domestic gear train is made for shit right now IMHO, led by Ford, and followed closely by General Motors and Dodge.

[Drsracing]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

i'm gonna change my last name to Lee Roth

[Drsracing]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

Wrong thread

[wulfe13]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

The worst part of a Ford or Dodge is their drivetrain, transmissions mainly... GM's drivetrains are great but they've had poor quality interiors and body panel fitment. They have improved lately though.

I'm still a die hard American made fan, though I wouldn't mind an Acura TL as a nice little family car. It looks good and runs good with a VERY nice interior and good driver all around.

[rjohnstone]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

[ QUOTE ]
The problem is that you bought a Ford... if youd have gone with a GM truck, youd be MUCH happier. They dont call them Exploders for nothin'! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
My 2001 Silverado was a hunk of shit from day 1.
It burned oil almost as fast as it burned gas.
Every oil change, done at the dealership btw, was the same.
7 quarts in, 3000 miles later, 5 quarts out and a dry dipstick.
Every morning it would start with a huge cloud of white smoke. I've heard every excuse in the book from GM and after 24,000 miles of listening to some moron try an BS me about normal break in, bla bla bla, I traded it in and got a Toyota.
A year after I traded it in, GM sent me a letter saying that there was a problem with the 4.8, 5.3 and 5.7 litre Vortec V8's having the wrong size rings installed causing high oil consumption... really... ya think!?! [img]/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Misanthrope189]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

Yeah...sad to say, American vehicles in recent years have really taken the dumps. My dad owns a '77 Z28 Camaro, and an '86 Blazer that has lasted with more than 200,000 miles on it, same engine, same manual tranny, and all the rest to boot. My mom got a '98 Blazer that has needed a new radiator cap, new front end work that cost 1000 dollars, the shit-plastic panels on the interior creak, groan, and look like crap, and the torsion springs for suspension are the worst for what's considered an off-road 4x4 vehicle. My grandfather gave us a '91 ford F150 that runs well, with great interior and incredible turning radius. We also got a '96 GMC Suburban, that thing's brakes suck, the alternator has failed many, many times, and the leather interior is so stiff it's as if you could pop it with a needle.

The classics are plenty reliable...recent stuff, though...just sucks. It makes me sad, GM went under, imports are gaining intense popularity, and I don't trust the reliability of modern American vehicles anymore. So I'll just buy old models and fix 'em up. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[shreddermon]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

IMHO, the import vs. domestic reliability debate is still stuck in the late 80s. Yes, there was a significant difference back then. Unfortunately, everyone believes there still is one. It's marginal, at best anymore. Arguably statistically insignificant. Just goes to show you how hard and how very, very long it takes for automakers to change their reputations. There are the rare occassional clunkers on both sides, though. Luck of the draw, sometimes.

The only exception I'll make is for Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep products - they're still junk! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Still not much effort on quality control there. Even since the Daimler takeover.

[zeegler]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

I have to completely disagree. I am on my 3rd Dodge Dakota, and these things are bulletproof. the 1st and 2nd ones were sold/traded in with 260k on them. The only major work either of them ever had, was a new A/C compressor in each. I guess they must have issues with those, but to be fair, both trucks had over 200k on them when they went. The mechanic from the Dodge dealer bought the 2nd one from me for his son.

My wife's van on the other hand is a piece of junk. It's a Pontiac Montana, and has had numerous problems. First, the CD player quit. Then the A/C controls went haywire. The seat back adjusters both busted. Then the rear wiper quit. The tailgate won't open anymore, and the power locks work intermittently. Just recently, the intake manifold gasket had to be replaced, and wouldn't you know it, a couple of months later the head gaskets needed replacing. Oh, the right hand side front grill is hanging off too, just like about half the Pontiac Montanas I see on the road.

So, bottom line is, we bought a Mazda, and the van is getting sold. The Mazda is a Protege 5, and is a killer little car. As far as I know it doesn't have any Ford parts in it, so it's all good. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[StukaJU87]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

I own a 1994 Toyota pickup. V6, 4x4. 5 speed manual. I bought it with 32k and I just turned 125k the other day. The only problem I had was the trans at about 111k. It would pop out of gear as I was driving. I thought it was gonna cost me a bundle. It wound up costing $60 for a fluid change. No problems since.

Now, I bought an 01 Alero from my friend. Cool little car, but I am starting to hate it. I have to drop it off tonight because the "service engine soon" light is on. Seems there is a service bulliten on this, but it still costs $138 to reprogram (flash) the computer. The Alero is also famous for a host of other little quirks. I bought it as a spare car, so I don't really have to rely on it every day.

That's what the Toyota is for. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

The only American car I am interested in is the new Challenger, if and when it arrives in the showrooms. Otherwise, I would only buy another Toyota truck.

[Predator1]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

I have to say that in addition to the Exploder, I am on my second Saturn. I bought a new one in 1995 and drove it for 8 years. the only real problem I ever had was the trans went out at 120,000 miles. I had it rebuilt and put another 110,000 miles on it before I sold it. I am currently on my second saturn that I aquired by chance. 1996 with 20,000 miles on it I bought in 1999 for $7000. I am currently at 150,000 miles no problems yet.

[wulfe13]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

For every product out there you're gonna find someone that has had a problem.... that's just the way it is. I had a Honda Accord and Honda's are very reliable cars, right? Well it had a horrible rod knock at 135,000 with oil and filter changed at every 3000 and had all kinds of shit constantly going wrong with it. I don't think it's a problem with Honda, just that car. Shit happens...

[clifffclaven]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

[ QUOTE ]
IMHO, the import vs. domestic reliability debate is still stuck in the late 80s. Yes, there was a significant difference back then. Unfortunately, everyone believes there still is one. It's marginal, at best anymore. Arguably statistically insignificant. Just goes to show you how hard and how very, very long it takes for automakers to change their reputations. There are the rare occassional clunkers on both sides, though. Luck of the draw, sometimes.

The only exception I'll make is for Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep products - they're still junk! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Still not much effort on quality control there. Even since the Daimler takeover.

[/ QUOTE ]You might want to rethink that. This was the first year ever for consumer reports where every car in the top ten reliability wise was japanese. If anything, i'ts gotten worse. My girl and I are the only ones in my family that drive japanese cars (even though both were technically made in north america). She has a subaru outback, I have a nissan frontier. zero problems with either, but yet I constantly hear how japanese cars are "pieces of shit" from my brother and brother in law. One has an 05 ford escape, been in the shop 3 times, only has 14k on the clock. other one couldnt keep a good car running if he had to, always complaining that something is wrong with one of his cars. I just sit back and laugh. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[RacerX]

Re: Ford Explorers/lemon

Yeah, just take a trip through Consumer Reports, the manufacturers with consistent red circles (above average rating) are Japanese such as Honda, Toyota, Lexus.

Want black circles? Try Europe: Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi

Usually Jeep & Dodge are pretty black also (below average reliability) [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]