1997 Ford Explorer consumer reviews

I've owned this car for a bout a year now. This has been the best starter car for me. I have the V6 version so towing isn't all there but I could still tow. Pros- drives like a truck, ride height is amazing, very easy shifting no problems, shifter is a little hard getting used to, amazing stereo, great 4x4 feel with that control trac 4WD, Leather seats on driver and passenger, AC controls in the middle, great trunk size. Cons- sometimes can't see that well because the windows are big, rear view mirror a little bit small, little slow.

The tranny is a Mazda. You can sleep across the back seat or put the back seats down and there's enough room for 2 to sleep. I've towed a Taurus and a TJ Wrangler with this. I've moved large, heavy dressers, refrigerators and stoves with this. It is my second car and the gas mileage isn't great but it is a tank. One thing they are prone to rolling over so spacing your tires out wider is a good idea. Some people cannibalize the axles and put them on TJ Wranglers. The gears are perfect and the axles will handle the larger tires. This is called the poor man's swap.

Bought my 1997 Ford Explorer XLT Control Track 4x4 for only $1,000 with 126,000 miles to add to my collection. Was is perfect condition! This vehicle is downright amazing for it’s age! Pros: Leather seats, Driver and passenger powered seats, excellent second row room, great sound system, no blind spots whatsoever due to massive windows, enough power to tow 6000 pounds (V6 tows around 3,500), great off-road handling, no rattling, plenty of features for the day, cruise control, massive cargo storage with rear seats folded, solid suspension, easy steering, great turn radius, split tail gate, keyless entry, door code for entry without key, six CD changer, roof rack, and reliability! Cons: Not sporty, isn’t fast, plain looking, interior could be better designed, column shifter gets misaligned, and roof rack only holds 100 pounds. I honestly love this car! It’s very reliable and does everything I ask of it. After 134k miles he’s still running strong! Bone dry, not a single leak anywhere! Handles great off roading and tows my mini camper no problem. Gas mileage isn’t bad at all as I’m returning 16 city and 21 highway with the V8 engine set up. Hauls people very well and rear seat passengers also get lush cushy seats! Front seats are just amazing! Easy to drive! Handles like a dream once aligned. Suspension is a little rough at times, but what do you expect from leaf springs, torsion bars, and shocks? (Built on a truck frame). Sits high up, so don’t go swinging these Explorers around corners sharply. Would totally recommend this car to someone! BUT do not get a used one of these if it’s beat up. Beat up, it’ll rob you financially, taken care of, it’ll treat you well! PS. Is a simple car by modern standards, so it’s easy to DIY at home for repairs! I’m a mechanic, but any average person could do it! Just remember those bolt torques and thread locker! Bought in 2018 with 126k miles, now has 134k. Needed maintenance and upkeep costs (For my Explorer once purchased): Brake pads and rotors (front and back) = $320 Front wheel bearings = $200 Upper and Lower ball joints (always replace after 100k miles on these Explorers) = $100 (Parts only! Labor is free if you DIY) < obviously :p Suggested Upkeep: Tires every 50k miles, oil changes every 3k miles, coolant every 3 years, power steering every 3 years, brake fluid every 4 years, transfer case oil every 2 years, transmission oil check every 10k miles, differential oil (front and rear) every 2 years, U joints every 100k miles, shocks every 120k miles.

My 97 explorer v8 5.0 awd is great and Strong but too much gas $$...don’t use thicker than 10w30 oil or will start making ticking noises, change oil at least 3 times a year..it has 180,000 Gas pedal is riveted (bad idea) rivets broke and I drilled and installed screws w nuts. front hub bearings replaced ect .. if transmission feels like shuttering after 2nd gear try turning OD OVERDRIVE off .. Scan it w computer but usually is because of the lock up converter switch acting up ..4r70w trans’s valve body needs to be upgraded. I’ve been driving it like that for 5 years ..MAKE SURE IT HAS THE RIGHT OIL !!!!.i think is mercon on 5 ..BUT if oil looks DARK ..DONT REPLACE IT !..Too late for that. If oil is changed when is dark like black or almost black is a big chance trans will fail.

Love this 4WD vehicle. It is a pleasure to drive and the seat is great for my back. Smooth drive and wonderful in snowy conditions.

This was my first vehicle. I loved it form the day I got it. Very powerful and somewhat reliable. However, due to the nature of the vehicle when I got it, it was constantly breaking down on me and the parts were difficult to replace as well as somewhat expensive. It had 156k miles on it, and it survived 2 accidents and a lot of abuse, but I still love it.

The Ford 1997 explorer is an amazingly reliable car. I've had mine for 20 years, drove it cross country when I relocated, it's survived snow, flooding, a radiator blow out (it was the original) and has kept ticking as good as it did when we drove it off the lot in Long Beach CA. Only downside is the gas milage, while great for it's time , it's now a gas guzzling beast.

I have an Explorer XLT 4WD 1997 and love this car. Fuel consumption is high for the V6, but the strength is exceptional diversity, especially when I needed the four-wheel drive and compact. The comfort and the inner space are unbeatable! The trunk is great and maintenance is almost zero. The best value in the category. Recommend!

this has been a very fun suv to drive. I like the way it handles in all kinds of road conditions( even though it's only 2wd). it only has 125,000 miles on it and is starting to show some wear. I think I could recomend this type of vehicle for someone who is looking for a compact, yet sporty little truck.

I bought the 97 Expolrer used. So far it's been great. Very comfortable to drive and has a lot of power. This is the Limited Edition with all the options. Power seats with seat memory for the remotes, power sun roof, rear controles for the A/C, even a message center to monitor the vehicle systems. This monitors everything from fuel range to oil change. The center console has a fold out cell phone which can be unplugged, but it was a nice feature in it's day. The cup holders are deep enough to hold a 20 oz cup of coffee without falling over. The one draw back is the fuel economy. This has the V-8 engine. A lot of power, but I average between 14 to 16 mpg. I am very happy with it despite the milage. I would recommend this vehicle.