1997 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews

The Green Beasty

Written by: grimby802 on 10/10/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

Why I love my beat up old Ford. With 115,000 miles (and counting) she still runs like a dream. I have replaced a few things here and there (but I have with every older car I have owned) Hint for people with gas mileage problems: change the oil, clean fuel injectors, replace air filter, keep tires inflated properly, and change your fuel filter. I still get 19 miles to the gallon or higher (pretty good for an old SUV). Oh and don't drive a aggressively (makes a huge difference). 10 years down lots more to go.

Favorite Features

Cargo room! Great for traveling with dogs.

Suggested Improvements

They redesigned it so many times doesn't really matter now. My suggestion is to go electric.

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i love my car/truck

Written by: brant on 08/26/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I bought my 97 used at my cousins car lot and I loved it since day 1. Mileage and power was a little low but the k&n high flow air filter does help a lot. The only repairs I've done are your usual high wear items like brakes, shocks, tune up and 3000 mile oil and filter. I have great power and get around 15-18 mpg. Great interior space. This one is a joy to drive and I must say very safe to own. My dad saw an accident with a newer one that went into the rear of full size car that totalled the car and the suv was still very drivable. Since this accident my dad has finally bought an Explorer and he just loves his 98 explorer sport to death and now is a loyal explorer owner.

Favorite Features

Lots of space and comfort. Great power., Handles like a car if driven correctly. Explorer is really built Ford tough if you have witnessed the accidents that me and my dad have saw.

Suggested Improvements

Better miles per gallon

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Sporty and Fun!

Written by: AngelOU on 08/23/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 2 Dr Sport Utility

Review

My parents ordered this Explorer from the factory, custom-made for them. It has performed well after being shipped around the world, including surviving a typhoon. Regular maintenance is a must, and you will have to fix things as they break. We replaced the CD player with an MP3 player after the 6 disc changer went out. A few minor repairs along the way, but nothing more than a few hundred dollars a year. It's now my college car, and I'm enjoying it! The gas mileage is less than desirable, but it's normal for an SUV. The paint looks excellent with regular washings and waxings. The plastic covering on the driver's side seat has broken from regular use, though. Speakers stink.

Favorite Features

Great appearance! Reliable for a car that is over 10 years old. Paint looks great, though the sidebars have rusted unfortunately. Looks better without a luggage rack, too!

Suggested Improvements

Better speakers! Higher quality interior, including plastic molding and armrest covers. Seat belts get stuck in the door a lot because they won't retract all the way. Overall, it's a good car, though!

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Good Car but you have to know how to fix

Written by: Gregory on 08/05/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr Eddie Bauer 4WD Utility

Review

My Ford has 203k on it now. It's good and has the same engine but I replaced both front and back timing tenshioners. These were easy to do because they are located outside the engine. I read this has to be done or your engine will go away! I guess I am lucky because the guides never broke and I never had to go inside the engine. The rest of the car is 100% quality, never an issue with anything. Much better than my Benz that had constant issues with electrical problems. Like all German cars do. I love American cars because they dont have nagging problems like import cars have. They just work. The CD player failed ( Sony Made) and this seems to be a problem all for cars have

Favorite Features

JBL sound system. Always works sounds great. CD player is bad however broken. Nice dash.

Suggested Improvements

You have to lube the front end. Ford does not put lube joints on the ball joints and tie rods. Trust me the lube drys out at 150k. I used a small needle grease injector and solved that issue. If you don't do this you have to replace the entire front end. Inner tie rods need lt

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Explorer

Written by: Van on 07/27/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT Utility

Review

This is probably the best vehicle I have ever owned. Handles great, good steering, stable for type, gets excellent gas mileage, tows travel trailer easly with outstanding towing mileage @ 12.5 and plenty of power to pull up long steep grades. Has never been a problem, comfortable seats even with long days, have driven as much as 750 miles in a day and still going strong. Outstanding!

Favorite Features

Everything,

Suggested Improvements

None

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Best vehicle I ever owned...

Written by: ziegfeld on 03/28/2007

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT Utility

Review

Nearly trouble free Best vehicle I ever owned. 205,000 miles and still going strong.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

3 of 4 door handles broke inside.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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1997 2 Door Sport

Written by: Rick McQuaide on 05/08/2006

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 2 Dr Sport 4WD Utility

Review

I bought the vehicle with 99k miles on it and have done a lot of long distance driving with it. The truck is comfortable and has been very reliable since it has started every day! Gas mileage is horrible and the electrical inside of the vehicle is crazy like windshield wipers not working correctly and lights in the instrument cluster going out and lots of other problems. The door locking system outside the truck broke and is very intermittent, but for the money I paid it has paid itself off.

Favorite Features

4WD, non-locking hubs, and functional roof rack.

Suggested Improvements

Better electrical quality and, gas mileage - I'm going broke....

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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132,000 miles and counting

Written by: jlppimb on 04/08/2006

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I bought the SUV new in '97. Have taken it off road a couple times and the truck was awesome. With higher mileage some things have started to wear out as is expected. The fuel mileage stinks, but what do you expect, it's not a compact car so get used to it. Mileage can be increased by adding a new air filter and changing the computer chip if you want. I will hate the day I have to get rid of the truck but I know it's coming soon.

Favorite Features

4WD on the fly, center console and overhead console, plenty-o-room.

Suggested Improvements

Mileage (which has been increased slightly since I got mine).

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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My 1997 Ford Explorer

Written by: w4abw on 04/05/2006

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr Eddie Bauer 4WD Utility

Review

I bought my 1997 Eddie Bauer 4WD new. It was great for about 4 years. I had put 16,000 miles on it when the factory warranty expired and had zero problems. After the warranty expired the SUV went nuts. Heater quit because of defective blend door and blend door motor. Rear lights went out because of defective wiring (can you believe) and the check engine light would come on and go off as often as a US Senator sticks out his hand for a contribution. On top of that the Ford roll over problem appeared with both Ford and Firestone pointing fingers at each other. When the SUV was about 6 years old the dash lights began to fail one at a time. Now the dash lights are mostly all out. Hood now fails.

Favorite Features

Leather seats are great. Radio seems very sensitive and AC has been solid. The trip and mileage computer is a real asset. Apart from the hood that won't stay up, the fit and finish is still good. The overall looks beats 4-Runner and Tahoe IMHO.

Suggested Improvements

Reliability of heating system and electrical system needs improvement.

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Terrible Automobile

Written by: bad ford on 02/28/2006

Vehicle

1997 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT Utility

Review

This is the worst vehicle I've ever owned. I was a life long Ford man. Not now. This was the most expensive vehicle I've ever bought and the worst. It was poorly designed, poorly engineered, and poorly constructed. I've had nothing but problems and the dealer is no help. The list of problems, just to name a few: A "Plastic", yes you read it right, timing chain tensioner that cost me $1730.00; yes you read that right too. Blend door broke ($400.00), intake manifold seals ($600.00), O2 sensors (numerous). Fan clutch ($300.00). Numerous others. This thing had problems from front to back. It is a terrible vehicle and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Favorite Features

None.

Suggested Improvements

There is no hope.

4 out 8 people found this review helpful

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