Used 1996 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews
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1996 1 owner Ford Explorer 4wd 4 dr
drbobe, 11/20/2011
1996 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV 4WD
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
When I purchased the 96 Explorer it was my 2nd one. I had a 91 2dr 4wd and sold it to my Dad. My 96 was fine till 55,000 miles when the odometer broke. It was already out of warranty and cost $1000 to fix due to it being one of a cluster . I had to repair the a/c twice costing $1000 each time. I replaced the radiator at $800. I've replaced the transfer case at $3500 and the Transmission at $2000. This vehicle is only used to go to and from work and school 5-10 miles away. Recently, my daughter was driving it on I-95 coing home from college and the engine failed costing me $400 to tow it home 71 miles. It appears it is only worth $2000 when running.
Never let me down
Ted Sz, 05/12/2009
1996 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my Explorer XLT 4WD new 13 years ago. I've maintained it myself for 151,000 miles. I've changed the AT fluid and filter every 30,000 miles and have had no transmission issues. It does chatter when dropping out of OD, but only when another transmission fluid change is due. I've always used Mobil One ATF. I recently did a lot of work on it because, although it's worth less than $2K on the books, it runs like new. I replaced the upper and lower ball joints last fall. I also found an A/C leak and fixed it myself. My brother the HVAC pro pressure tested, evacuated and charged it. Blows ice cold again! Heater blend door is a common failure, $9 part and about eight hours labor!
1996 Ford Explorer for sale near you
Showing 3 of 6 listings
- XL 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,995525 mi away
- Sport 2dr SUVMSRP: $4,999553 mi away
- XL 2dr SUVMSRP: $7,900672 mi away
See all 6 listings
SUV Self-Cannibalism
Angelos, 10/09/2007
1996 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
In 12 years and 115K miles of not-so-hard driving, our $36,000 Exploder has eaten its transmission, eaten its torque converter, has blown out its manifold gaskets and has cracked a cylinder head. I expect to replace items such as starters, alternators, shocks, even Air Mass Meters and O2 sensors. But I cannot abide a vehicle that self-destructs major systems years and tens of thousands of miles before the end of their standard service lives under relatively easy use. If I could sell our Exploder to the Marines to use for target practice, I'd do it in a New York minute.
No problems!
califbucfan32, 09/20/2002
1996 Ford Explorer XL 4dr SUV
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Has been a great car for my family!
One long time owner
TS, 01/12/2008
1996 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned my Explorer for almost 12 years now, since new. It has nearly 150,000 miles on it. It's been very reliable, requiring less than the normal amount of maintenance of other vehicles I've owned. It's now my extra third vehicle, and I use it often for truck like duties such as trailer hauling and moving my daughter to and from college. If and when I need a new SUV, it'll be another Explorer, a true truck SUV.