1999 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews

Great SUV

Written by: Tom W on 05/29/2009

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer XLT AWD

Review

Bought from old friend with only 88k last Sept and have logged almost 20k in ensuing months. Worst snow in NW Oregon in years and it soldiered through it, 34 miles each way, to work and back. Jeeps and other SUV's were in the ditch and on their sides, me and my Explorer just drove on as though we were inpervious. I'm a big guy, 6'4 215, and I fit perfectly in the car. The leather seats are comfortable enough althought the driver's is starting to sag. All the electrical is fine except the rear wiper which was a problem during the bad weather and the driver's door lock is frozen, but the auto lock still works fine. Paint and overall appearance is very nice still. Grey/ grey leather. Love it!

Favorite Features

Engine (SOHC V6) and 5-sp trans work perfectly. Gets up and moves right out. Love to leave the kiddies in the dust with their little tuner cars. Gets looks from other owners. Color is pretty striking. Brother and family use it to go visit grandpa in Cent. OR. and kids have room enough.

Suggested Improvements

XLT model should have moonroof as std eqpt. Just looked up cost of new and wonder why they don't show pwr pass seat opt.

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Best SUV For Your Money

Written by: Travis on 05/13/2009

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLS 4WD Utility

Review

I have a 1999 Ford Explorer XLS with 184000 miles on it and I put that baby to the test every day. Things like going muddin and have never got stuck. I also go through snowbanks that the Chevy Blazer Never Dreamed of! The only major thing that has happend to my Explorer was the Tranny. I had to Flush it and replace the Filter in it. Not to hard of work. I think this is the best SUV for your money. I took my Explorer to Kansas this Spring and I live 6 hours from where I was going and I got 21 Miles to the Gallon in my Explorer. This is the best SUV I have ever Had!

Favorite Features

4WD, 8 disc CD changer

Suggested Improvements

Wish mine had the 5.0 instead of the 4.0

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Explorer sport

Written by: frank nj on 01/20/2009

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 2 Dr Sport 4WD Utility

Review

Bough the truck new 10 years ago. I have 77,000 miles on it and the only major repairs that I have done was a transmission (after only 35,000 miles) and recently the tie rod and stabilizer cracked. Good SUV, bad fuel economy. Now the little things are going, cruise control, rear wiper, rear defogger, gasket around rear window, keyless entry

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Buy American

Written by: Mr. Smith on 12/12/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 2 Dr Sport Utility

Review

I have been on light but rocky 4wd roads in Colorado, cruised the interstates 12-16 hours a day, up and down ice, snow, mud, sleet, rain, 0 degrees to 105 degrees with this 2wd machine and it drives like a dream and is still a beautiful red that looks like it came off a showroom floor. This baby has over 110,000 miles and will outlast any foreign SUV. Ford meant it when they said their trucks are built Ford tough. That means SUVs too. Best auto I've ever had and I have had a few good ones.

Favorite Features

Beautiful paint, fun to drive, and reliable with no major problems.

Suggested Improvements

Change nothing

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Nice SUV

Written by: Stephen on 09/10/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I noticed that a few people also have had the starting and stalling problem that I did for so many years. I attributed it to the cold winters in the Pacific NW. When I move to Arizona I still had the problem. I paid the dealership to find the problem and they did. It was a bad intake manifold gasket set. I paid $100 to find the problem and $20 for parts and fix it myself. Never again had the problem. I had the transmission replaced two years ago due to a broken fluid pump motor. I also have been told that the timming chain guides need to be fixed or replaced.

Favorite Features

I love its design. I liked it from the day I bought it.

Suggested Improvements

The only down side is lack of aftermarked performance accessories. I also cannot rent a trailer from U-Haul. Something about high rollover risk but I know it was from the tire problems Firestone had.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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My LTD

Written by: shadyjd on 09/10/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer Limited AWD

Review

Bought at 30K and 30 months old. This gave me a little warranty time to check for bugs. Buttons in the steering wheel went out & passanger seat heater was always on. Wiring fixed & wheel replaced by dealer ($750) since then tires, brakes, oil & battery. A few minor problems. Passenger door doen't auto lock, am/fm light out (clock2), rear window loose (I often drive with it open. Great to haul in. I ski new powder. Great in snow with new tires( req: wilderness), slide a bit on ice but I do too. Over 6" I got chains. 12" No-problem! Leather seats are too hard. Engine lite on but I am getting +3mi/gl. so I have not reset it. Rough idle at start. Needs more nooks. Would not trade it for the world.

Favorite Features

Snow, tow,glow & grow. Pulled 3yds of cement. Played in a field of fresh snow. Never stopped except battery. Auto lift works great but better mileage with 1000lbs.Go figure? 14 city. Ouch...21 hiway. Cool for an SUV. Easy step-in. I am short for an Expedition.

Suggested Improvements

Battery. When door is open running & interior lights stay on. As battery voltage drops turn off any lites & cig. liter ( inverter has drained bat.). Lock nuts on rear window. Area for second battery & disk changer.

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Ford is the best

Written by: tami526 on 08/06/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I have the all wheel drive model with a 210 horsepower V6. It is the best truck in the snow. It has saved us a few times. This is the 2nd Explorer I have owned and will not be the last. I have not done any major work to it. There is no comparison with anything in its class. It's the greatest.

Favorite Features

AWD, power, comfort

Suggested Improvements

More factory ground clearance

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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When repairs are needed, they're major

Written by: radioiowa on 07/09/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I purchased the XLT with about 50K miles and am happy to report that I am now at 155K. Overall, it's very sure-footed in the snow and roomy enough to haul the family and the dog. On the down side, repairs in the last three years have been major. I've replaced two fuel pumps in 5 years, the rear differential, put in a new transmission and am now dealing with intermittent, unidentifiable stall/start problems (the car stalls while driving down the road and/or refuses to start for hours but no one can seem to find the problem- leaving me stuck on the road with no warning). The truck has received routine maintenance religiously and has never been driven off road.

Favorite Features

Roominess, handling in snow and poor weather, overall design.

Suggested Improvements

TSB's suggest there have been numerous problems with Ford transmissions and electrical/ignition systems. I seem to be the unlucky recipient of both!

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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The best SUV in America

Written by: bobby smith on 07/01/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr Eddie Bauer 4WD Utility

Review

I purchased this vehicle with 182,000 miles on it and it has run real good for me. It still doesn't use any oil, and all the power features work 100%. It also does real good on fuel 16-19 city, 21-24+ highway with the sohc v6 engine. The Eddie Bauer leather seats are real comfortable. It has a sharp turning radius, and the 4x4 auto gets great traction.

Favorite Features

The great fuel economy, 4x4, relabilty, Eddie Bauer leather, looks, 6 disc cd player, that it's Americain made.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing really

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Absolutely Love my Explorer

Written by: BB on 05/23/2008

Vehicle

1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4WD Utility

Review

I purchased my Explorer after my GMC Sonoma was totaled. My back was injured so I was needed something comfortable and reliable. I found it in the Explorer. I have had only two mechanical problems: locking mechanism went out on the drivers door this year ($500incl labor) and the “GEM” module went out so I don’t have washer fluid on the windshield ($300 for part from Ford). Otherwise very reliable. Overall great SUV.

Favorite Features

Reliablility! Comfortable and sense of safety! Lots of room, keypad on door. Cruise control, AC is cold.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing but gas mileage. Though I know there have been some improvements on the newer models.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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