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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2005 and earlier

3348 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2011 at 3:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, SUV

Messages Page 121 of 335

#1200 of 3348 2002 Explorer Experience by jjetson

Dec 29, 2002 (7:34 pm)

Thought I'd give an update to interested readers who are interested in buying a Ford. I have owned numerous foreign vehicles over the past 10 years, including:
 
1991 Mitsubishi Montero
1992 Honda Accord (2 different ones)
1991 Honda Civic
1995 Subaru Legacy L Wagon
1999 Nissan Pathfinder
2001 Honda Civic
2002 Honda Accord
 
I went with a 2002 Ford Explorer (26K miles) as my SUV in 8/2002 because:
1 - Price of program vehicle over new Ford, Pathfinder, or Highlander
2 - Ford Certified Program
3 - Handling
4 - Space
5 - 3rd row seat
 
After 8K miles, mostly highway, my likes:
 
1 - Handling
2 - Gas Mileage (better than 99 Pathfinder I had)
3 - Space
4 - 3rd row seat
 
Dislikes:
 
1 - Quality
2 - Quality
3 - Quality
 
Seriously, I've had it back in the shop for numerous issues including:
 
1 - Rear hatch arm (missed in 'certification')
2 - Belt mechanism (replaced 2x already)
3 - Dashboard creaking (lost total of 10+ days while dealer played detective)
4 - Driver door latch replacement (now rattles on bumps)
5 - Engine light - oxygen sensor replaced
... and other issues
 
If the darn vehicle would just be reliable and stop rattling, I'd recommend it. As it stands right now, another $60 month would have gotten me a Highlander without the worries. Hope your experience is better...

#1201 of 3348 jjetson by peaches5

Dec 29, 2002 (8:19 pm)

You and I must be twins separated at birth - except for a few models and dates, my experiences are almost identical to yours

#1202 of 3348 No, Alman..... by navigator3740

Dec 29, 2002 (9:35 pm)

I checked today. It's fine so far. If it cracks again though, this one will go back when the lease is up. I don't like it enough to buy it. Now, my wife may protest....she really likes it. But why not? I'm the one who has to get it fixed!

#1203 of 3348 jjetson - (interesting name), by navigator3740

Dec 29, 2002 (9:47 pm)

Your experience is not unexpected. Nobody here has claimed the Fords are perfect - if you didn't notice - although my experience with our 97 & 98 Mountaineers nearly was. Clearly, this 2002 is not as well put together. I haven't had all the problems you have had, but I've had some, which I never had with the prior two. New design. And I think it's a great design by the way, and so do you, evidently. It's just not as good an execution of a great design. I keep hoping the later editions get better, but the boards don't support it.

Still and all, I prefer the Ford to the Toyota because of the looks, design and driving enjoyment. Those are priorities to me over perfection, as long as the car is "good". Fords have usually treated me well. Honda hasn't put out a real SUV yet, (no the Pilot doesn't qualify, it's an Oddessey under there, not tough enough, and the Highlander is a Camry, by the way). The 4 Runner has insufficient head room for me. I do have an old Civic that refuses to die, and I will defend it to the death. If I want another econobox someday, I'm sure Honda or Toyota will get the sale. But where American iron still dominates is in the truck world, IMO. That will surely be put to the test soon, but so far, no contenders as far as I can see yet.

#1204 of 3348 Rattles, cracks, and quality. by jrc346

Dec 29, 2002 (10:27 pm)

I second Navigators hope for better quality for Ford. We need to get people buying American made (I know thats a stretch these days) vehicles again. However this can't be done unless American companies put forth the effort. I guess I have been lucky with Ford quality as I have mentioned before. I just drove my sons 1996 Thunderbird and there were rattles and squeaks. The car is tight and has been reliable but there are squeaks in the drivers door and in the passenger side head rest. About 2 months ago I sold a 1996 Explorer sport and that rattled but didn't squeak. That didn't feel solid however was extreamly reliable only needing a wheel bearing and fuel pump in 92,000 miles. Now I have a 1999 Expedition that is very solid, and squeek free. A 2000 Explorer that is squeak free and I just turned a 2000 Explorer in on a lease that was very solid. However I have heard that these Explorers will probably develop squeaks and rattles later in life, but I can deal with that. I guess because my other squeaking and rattling Fords have been very reliable. I just wish that Ford would stop shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to this issue (squeaks, rattles and other nickel and dime things).
 
Peaches5 and jjetson-I wish you better luck with your Explorers in the future.

#1205 of 3348 OH, jrc...... by navigator3740

Dec 29, 2002 (10:44 pm)

You are such a FORD GUY! C-mon, admit it. You bleed Ford blue! Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm afraid I do too. Oh, I like some other cars too, but there is a soft spot in my heart for a lot of Fords I have owned, and wish I had kept.

#1206 of 3348 HAHA by jrc346

Dec 30, 2002 (12:39 am)

It has become that obvious huh? LOL! I guess I can admit it. I think about other people out there (GM people, Toyota people, DiamlerChrysler people, Ford people etc) and wonder why we feel so strongly about these car companies that some of us (including me) don't even work for. Heck I even grew up in a GM family. I guess I became a Ford guy because I have had really good products from them. As a Ford guy its a bummer when Ford brings out a new product (2002 Explorer, Escape, and Focus) and botches it up with silly manufacturing glitches and poor materials. Recall rear hatch glass breaking into a million pieces on the new Explorers, and slicing of tires on the assembly line. A number of things went wrong on the Focus (a product of Nassars Regeim). I understand that its the manufactures fault in some cases and that their products are inferior. Yet Ford is the one that is constantly cost cutting. When will the cost cutting stop and the bullet proof quality start? These are just the minor rantings of a Ford guy though. If you are having problems with your Ford I wish you better luck with it. Stick in there if you can, maybe things will get better? If you have a good Ford I wish you many more years of continured satisfaction.
Ahhh. Now that feels better
Navigator 3740- I always look forward to your comments hehe. So, from one Ford blue bleeding guy to another...Goodnight ITS LATE!

#1207 of 3348 Mountaineer Nice Rebate & No Mark up by donmarrow

Dec 30, 2002 (6:37 am)

I noticed one post stating that the Explorers are being marked up over MSRP. I just bought a Mountaineer in Woodbridge, VA and got $2750 in rebates. I ended up paying below invoice....

#1208 of 3348 Mountaineer Nice Rebate & No Mark up by snaris

Dec 30, 2002 (7:50 am)

I just purchaced a Mountaineer yesterday for $1,100.00 under invoice. This was before the $1,000 rebate I got fro trading in a Villager. Ford wouldn't go much below invocie and I would nto get teh exctra $1,000 rebate with Ford. Plus, the Mountaineer looks nicer IMO.

#1209 of 3348 overdrive light flashing by motorcity3

Dec 30, 2002 (8:15 am)

Hello everybody,
 
Have a quick question... Has anyone encountered a problem where the overdrive light is flashing on and off repeatedly? I own a 2002 Ford Explorer 4.0L V6. It only has 8500 miles on it, about six months of driving. I hope this isn't a transmission problem, because I will be very pissed. The car is brand new!
 
Any information would be appreciated.
 
Thanks.

Messages Page 121 of 335

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