Ford Explorer

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See also Ford Explorer Sport Trac for the spinoff pickup truck version

{{Infobox Automobile	image=Image:2006 Ford Explorer.jpg	name=Ford Explorer	manufacturer=Ford Motor Company	class=Midsize SUV	production=1991–present	predecessor=Ford Bronco II	related=Mercury Mountaineer Lincoln Aviator	similar=Nissan Pathfinder Toyota 4Runner Dodge Durango Chevrolet TrailBlazer GMC Envoy }}
{{Infobox Automobile generation	name=First generation	image=Image:Ford Explorer.jpg	production=1991–1994	body_style=2-door SUV 4-door SUV	engine=4.0 L Cologne V6	aka=Mazda Navajo (2-door only)	related=Ford Ranger }}
{{Infobox Automobile generation	name=Second generation	image=Image:Explorer.jpg	production=1995–2001	body_style=2-door SUV 4-door SUV	engine=4.0 L Cologne V6 4.9 L V8	aka=Mercury Mountaineer Ford Explorer Sport Trac	related=Ford Ranger Mazda B-Series }}
{{Infobox Automobile generation	name=Third generation	image=Image:Explorer in showroom.jpg	production=2002–2005	body_style=4-door SUV	engine=4.0 L Cologne V6 4.6 L Modular V8	aka=Mercury Mountaineer Lincoln Aviator	related=Land Rover LR3 }}
{{Infobox Automobile generation	name=Fourth generation	image=Image:Exp06 gallery ext 1.jpg	production=2006–present	body_style=4-door SUV	engine=4.0 L Cologne V6 4.6 L Modular 24-valve V8	transmission=6-speed 6R automatic	aka=Mercury Mountaineer Ford Explorer Sport Trac (2007)	related=Land Rover LR3 }}

The Ford Explorer is a midsize sport utility vehicle sold mostly in North America built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990 and still in production as of 2006. It is manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky (it was also assembled in Hazelwood, Missouri until the plant closed on March 10, 2006). It has been the best-selling vehicle midsize SUV in the United States each year since its introduction, and is one of the vehicles instrumental in turning the SUV from a special-interest vehicle into one of the most popular vehicle types on the road. The Explorer has also been involved in controversy, after a spate of fatal rollover accidents involving Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Most of the time, the Explorer had competed with the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota 4Runner. Both two-door Explorer Sport and four-door models of Explorer have been sold. Part-time four wheel drive is an available option, and since 1995 this has been a 'shift on the fly' system with full protection against being engaged at too high a speed.

A specially modified Special Service Vehicle version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement.

1 1991
2 1995
3 2002
4 2006
5 Mixed sales success
6 Suppliers
7 Firestone tire controversy
8 See also
9 External links

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1991

The Ford Explorer was released in March 1990 as a 1991 model, replacing the Bronco II, which was almost exactly identical to the original Explorer. Like its predecessor, it was based on the Ford Ranger compact pickup truck and was equipped with a 4.0 L 155 hp (116 kW) V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. There were both 2-door and 4-door bodystyles with available rear or four wheel drive. Explorers came in 4 trim levels: base XL, XLT, Sport (the two-door version), and the upscale Eddie Bauer. A 5-speed manual transmission was added, for the Sport, for 1992, and the engine lost 10 hp (7.5 kW). 15 hp (11 kW) was added for 1993 for a total of 160 hp (119 kW). The Limited version was also added for 1993. Available only in the 4-door style, it was even more upscale than the Eddie Bauer version. It featured automatic headlights, foglamps, an automatic transmission as standard equipment, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, a center roof console with compass and outside thermometer, special wheels, and a special grille. A variant of the Explorer Sport was sold by Mazda as the Mazda Navajo, which won Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award but was discontinued two years later.

Explorers were modified, with a new paint job and glass roof among other features and appeared in the 1993 blockbuster, Jurassic Park movie as tour cars.

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1995

Image:97Mountaineer.jpg The Explorer saw significant exterior, interior and suspension updates in 1995. The former "Twin Traction Beam" (TTB) front suspension was replaced with a more car-like independent front suspension. The Explorer lineup now consisted of two models: 2-door Explorer Sport and the 4-door Explorer. Two more trim lines were added as well, the Limited was a higher end 4-door, while the Eddie Bauer trim level was replaced with Expedition on 2-door Explorers (1995 only, the name would be reused on the 1997 Ford Expedition). A 210 hp (157 kW) 4.9 L "5.0" V8 engine was added for 1996 along with real all wheel drive on the Eddie Bauer and Limited in 1997. A more-powerful SOHC 205 hp (153 kW) engine came as an option in 1997 along with an optional 5-speed automatic.A Mercury twin, the Mercury Mountaineer was added in 1997 as well.

The 1995 Explorer was the first production vehicle to use a neon center high mount stop lamp. This was replaced with more conventional lamps when the liftgate was refreshed in 1998. Another facelift came in 1999, at which time the XLS name replaced XL as the base model .

2001 saw the introduction of the Explorer Sport Trac, which put a small pickup bed behind the four normal SUV doors.

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2002

The 4 door Explorer and companion Mercury Mountaineer were redesigned entirely in 2002, losing all kinship with the Ranger and the continued Explorer Sport/Sport Trac. The 2-door Explorer Sport was replaced by the Ford Escape in 2001. Engines were either the SOHC 4.0 L V6 (210 hp/157 kW) or a 4.6 L 239 hp (178 kW) V8, with the 203 hp (151 kW) 4.0 L V6 still available on the Explorer Sport. A third-row seat became available for the first time, bringing total passenger capacity to 7. Both manual and automatic 5-speed transmissions and 2, 4, and all-wheel drive were available. Trim lines were the base Sport Value, Sport Choice, XLS, Sport Premium, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and top Limited. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ were standard for 2005.

All three trucks use code U6 (for 4x2), U7 (for 4x4), and U8 (for AWD) in the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions of the VIN.

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2006

The Explorer and Mountaineer are updated for 2006 on a new frame, produced by Magna International rather than Tower Automotive. It was upsized, because the Ford Freestyle slotted between the Escape and the Explorer for 2005. Along with this new, stronger base are a new interior, redesigned rear suspension, and power-folding 3rd-row seats. A tire-pressure monitoring system and electronic stability control will be standard. Power running boards (like those on the Lincoln Navigator) that retract when the vehicle is in motion are an option. However, unlike previous Explorers, there will be no right-hand drive version engineered. Ford Australia has a capable local equivalent instead, being the Australian designed and developed Ford Territory. The new Explorer is marketed in Japan in a left-hand drive configuration, as LHD vehicles are considered prestigious there.

A 210 hp (157 kW) 4.0 L V6 will be the base engine, with the 292 hp (218 kW) 24-valve V8 taken from the Mustang as the top choice. A six-speed automatic transmission is available with this engine as well.

The Explorer was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2006.

Despite slow sales, a new Sport Trac will be added to the Explorer line in early 2006 for the 2007 model year. Unlike its predecessor, sold through 2005, it will feature the V8 engine as an option, and will be based on the new, larger Explorer platform. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ will be standard in the Sport Trac.

A special 2007 SVT model called the Sport Trac Adrenalin was to use a supercharged version of the 4.6 L Modular V8, with 390 hp (291 kW) and featuring 21-inch wheels. It was to be a successor to the F-Series Lightning pickup . However, it was cancelled in a cost cutting move, as part of The Way Forward. [1] [2]

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Mixed sales success

With the introduction of the second generation Explorer in 1995, Ford attempted to market the Explorer in the UK, similar to the Taurus Ghia, Ford's attempt to market the Taurus in Australia and New Zealand. The Explorer was poorly received in the UK, apparently in large part because it was designed for comfortable city cruising, rather than off road capability. Many UK buyers only bought SUVs if they needed cargo flexibility or off road capability, and they looked at the SUV as less of a family car, as they believed that station wagons were the best family haulers, unlike Americans. That meant that UK SUV buyers largely stuck with Land Rovers or Jeeps. After the Firestone tire problems (see below), Ford withdrew the Explorer from the UK market.

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Suppliers

A large number of companies are suppliers for materials and parts that make the Ford Explorer. Suppliers include Johnson Controls, Magna International, Lear Corporation, Dana Corporation, and Visteon. See a complete list at List of Ford Explorer suppliers.

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Firestone tire controversy

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In May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Ford and Firestone about the high incidence of tire failure on Ford Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Ford investigated and found that several models of 15 in (381 mm) Firestone tires (ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT) had very high failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant.

The failures all involved tread separation—the tread peeling off followed often by tire disintegration. If that happened, and the vehicle was running at speed, there was a high likelihood of the vehicle leaving the road and rolling over. Many rollovers cause serious injury and even death; it has been estimated that over 250 deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries resulted from these failures.

Ford and Firestone have both blamed the other for the failures, which has led to the severing of relations between the two companies. Firestone has claimed that they have found no faults in design nor manufacture, and that failures have been caused by Ford's recommended tire pressure being too low and the Explorer's design. Ford, meanwhile, pointed out that tires manufactured by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company to the same specification had a spotless safety record when installed on the Explorer. Ford's conclusions were confirmed by NHTSA in their report into the tire failures, published in October 2001.

Many outside observers tend towards blaming both parties; Firestone's tires being prone to tread separation and failure, and the Explorer being especially prone to rolling over if a tire fails at speed compared to other vehicles. However, a subsequent NHTSA investigation of real world accident data showed that the Ford Explorer was no more likely to roll over than any other SUV.

A product recall was announced, allowing the Ford Explorer owners to change the affected tires for others.

A large number of lawsuits have been filed against both Ford and Firestone, some unsuccessful, some settled out of court, and a few successfully. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have argued that both Ford and Firestone knew of the dangers but did nothing, and that specifically Ford knew that the Explorer was highly prone to rollovers. Ford denied these allegations.

Car and Driver magazine tested a first-generation Explorer with a built-in rollcage and a special device that would flatten the tire at the push of a button. The Explorer did not flip in any of the numerous tests , and that was mostly because the driver managed to stay calm. Everyday Explorer drivers taken by surprise by a tread separation or loss of tire pressure in high speed traffic situations may have panicked and swerved violently, resulting in a significant portion of reported rollovers.

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