1998 Ford Explorer consumer reviews

most of the cars dont even work the others are beyond lemons its a wreck or just terrible lookin the service if any sucks its a junk yard

This model has been the best car I have ever had. I leased several cars before I bought this and have never regretted it!! Still the best vehicle I have ever had!!!

This vehicle is the total oppostite of what is actually advertised. Don't waste your time unless your interested in buying lemons for lemonade.

This car is amazing. It is very comfortable, aside from it does ride a bit rough. I have taken my explorer on some rough off roading trips and I was surprised how well it handled. 4WD is absolutely awesome on it. I had a grill guard on the front which made it look real mean. Just make sure you change the timing chains on it, I failed to do so in time and when one of them broke it killed the engine:(. Even though the expense of a new engine is a bit high, I am defiantly considering it because I love this car. It does tend to use a lot of gas, that is probably one of the few downers about it.

I've had mine for over 10 years and still haven't ran into any major problems with it and it has over 240k miles.

The Explorer is typical of Ford reliability and build quality of the 90's. The 4R70W transmission will develop a shift flare and the sub par gasket material will disintegrate. The oxygen sensors are likely to fail, along with the catalytic converter. The electrical component quality is horrendous. To date I have repaired the electrical locking system, the passenger side view mirror, removed the faulty radio/CD player and re-soldered the compass/thermometer read out. The springs that operate the door handles were poorly constructed and thus will fail, resulting in a non-operating door and the loss of an entire weekend day repairing it. The interior has the same feel as the Nintendo Entertainment System, gray, plastic and dull. However, the Nintendo will survive twenty years of abuse. The Explorer won't. The Explorer has never mechanically failed to the point of stranding me, and, if you're looking for a vehicle that performs extremely well in the snow, the Explorer is certainly an excellent choice. Simply mount snow tires and 40 percent inclines covered in snow are no problem. The only truly positive and redeeming feature is the bulletproof 5.0 engine, but with today's every rising fuel prices it's incredible inefficiency is more of a burden. Little wonder why the Explorers of the late 90's have topped the vehicles turned in for the Cash for Clunkers trade in program.

Handling (torsion bar/front suspension) could be much better...and fuel economy? There is no economy about it; it guzzles! Otherwise, VERY NICE and VERY RELIABLE; has maintained it's value quite well and required little to no repair work.

I bought my Explorer with 105,000 miles.3 1/2 years later with 199,000 miles,I am not given this car up.Aside from recently replacing my alternator,I have not had any issues mechanically.I drive it 60 miles a day and granted gas mileage aint the best,I still love my truck.Explorers Rock!!

NICE SUV, EVERYTHING ELECRICAL THAT CAN BREAK HAS BROKEN. BUT THE CAR STILL STARTS, AC WENT OUT, TRANNY WENT OUT, DIFF WENT OUT, GOSH ABOUT EVERYTHING WENT OUT BUT IT STILL STARTS LIKE I SAID EARLIER...

I bought my explorer used with 100K Miles in 2006. I live in Alaska and wanted something I would feel safe in seeing as hitting moose is a common thing around here and I have seen the damage they have done to small cars. The gas mileage wasn't too bad I got about 17 mpg and it ALWAYS started no matter how cold it was out which was a huge plus. I did have some repairs to do about a year after I bought it my ujoints and ball joints needed replaced but it was an in and out trip to the shop and expected of a vehicle with that many miles and never had any problems after that. It has since been wrecked I was hit on the front drivers side by an f350 that lost control on ice going downhill and could not believe I came out without a scratch or bruise or anything. The is the second car accident I have been in in a Ford and I am very impressed that there was little damage and no injuries both times they are definately tough vehicles and I will be buying another!