These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.
Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
The full record
Tap to open
What owners complain about
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Seller kit
Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
Walk up to the seller ready
Questions to ask the seller of a 1995 Ford Explorer, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
Write your offer
A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email
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Send the seller a fair offer
Type the asking price and your own offer for the 1995 Ford Explorer, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
When problems show up
Loading mileage at failure
Will it outlast the loan?
The month of your loan each problem zone lands in
Loading the problem zones
Recalls
12 recalls on file
Loading recalls
Crash ratings
NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.
Loading crash ratings
Fuel economy
The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in. Figures for 2007 and older use the EPA's 2008 method, so they may be lower than the original sticker.
Loading fuel economy
True cost to own
The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
What it really costs to own
What the 1995 Ford Explorer costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
Every year of the Explorer
Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.
Loading every year of this model
Before you buy this one
Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.
A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:
Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.
It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.
Red flags in a history
Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.
Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.
Before you pay
Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.
Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.
Cruise and speed control
Oct 13, 2009 · Recall 09V399000
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
What can happen
A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
The fix
Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Lights
May 11, 2009 · Recall 09E025000
Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Lights
Apr 7, 2009 · Recall 09E012000
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Lights
Mar 23, 2006 · Recall 06E026000
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix
Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
Wheels and tires
May 22, 2001 · Recall 01X001000
This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency.
Equipment description: Ford is replacing all firestone wilderness at 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on Ford trucks and suvs. Ford reports tread separation can occur due to a combination of the sensitivity of the tire design to stress, aging, and manufacturing differences between plants. Ford is replacing these tires to prevent possible premature tire failure.
Vehicle description: the vehicles listed below may have been originally equipped with firestone wilderness at tires or may have had wilderness at tires installed during the firestone recall launched in august 2000.
Certain 1991 throught 2002 Ford explorer
certain 2001 throught 2002 explorer sport, and sport trac
certain 1997 through 2002 mercury mountaineer
certain 1991 through 2001 ranger
certain 1999 through 2001 expedition
certain 1991 through 1994, and 1997 model year f-series
certain 1991 through 1994 bronco
note: both original equipment and replacement tires are affected.
What can happen
Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
The fix
The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on march 31, 2002. However, customers can contact Ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.com for possible assistance.
Suspension
Nov 28, 2000 · Recall 00V402000
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain conditions, a front sway bar link can fracture.
What can happen
Vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace both the left and right front sway bar links.
Show 6 more recallsShow fewer recalls
Wheels and tires
Aug 21, 2000 · Recall 00T005000
Tire description: firestone wilderness at, size p235/75r15, produced at the decatur, illinois tire plant and all firestone radial atx and radial atx ii tires, size p235/75r15. Operation of these tires at low inflation pressures, high speed, and in hot weather, can contribute to separation of the tire tread.
What can happen
If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.
The fix
The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on august 29, 2001. However, customers should contact firestone customer service at 1-800-465-1904 for possible assistance.
Vehicle description: on certain sport utility vehicles, the hydraulic lift cylinder bracket welds could fracture.
What can happen
With a broken bracket weld, there is a potential for the liftgate bracket to gradually bend inward allowing the lift cylinder ball stud to disengage, unexpectedly allowing the liftgate to fall from an open position.
The fix
Dealers will install liftgate reinforcement brackets. Depending upon the condition of the liftgate sheet metal in the area of the bracket, dealers may also install a larger reinforcement.
Body and frame
Jan 31, 1996 · Recall 95I007000
Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. This is not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation 573. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. The campaign will reinforce the bracket attachments of the rear liftgate gas assist cylinders which could pull away from the inside of the liftgate.
What can happen
If a bracket and gas assist cylinder were to detach completely from the liftgate and no longer bear against the liftgate as intended, the remaining assist cylinder would not hold the liftgate in an open position. Personal injury could occur.
The fix
Ford dealers will reinforce the bracket attachments.
Steering
Mar 15, 1995 · Recall 95V053000
The inner tie rod assemblies were improperly manufactured and can fracture causing shaking or shimmy at low speeds.
What can happen
This condition can cause the wheel on the side with the broken tie rod to tuck inward or outward and slide resulting in an increased potential for a vehicle accident.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the inner tie rods and replace the suspect tie rods.
Brakes
Mar 15, 1995 · Recall 95V052000
In some of the vehicles, brake tubes were misrouted between the master cylinder and the hydraulic control unit and results in exceeding the allowable stopping distances as required by fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems." in addition, seals within the master cylinder could be abraded by this condition over time resulting in an internal leak and a further reduction in brake performance.
What can happen
Consequence of non-compliance: stopping distances could be longer than intended resulting in increased potential for a vehicle accident.
The fix
Dealers will reroute the brake tubes.
Air bags
Feb 24, 1995 · Recall 95E006002
The passenger side air bag has an inflator body that cracked during forming of the curl that retains the igniter plug in the end of the inflator. Also the igniter end cap can separate from the inflator.
What can happen
The passenger side air bag may not inflate properly resulting in reduced occupant protection in a vehicle accident. If the igniter end cap separates in a frontal collision, hot gases can be released and ignite flammable material or cause burn injuries.
The fix
Dealers will remove and replace the passenger side air bag module.
950 complaints; the part named most is the wheels and tires
Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Jan 3, 1995 to May 22, 2019. 23% name a part that is usually costly to fix.
Owners reported 96 crashes, 33 fires, 128 injuries and 9 deaths in these complaints.
Wheels and tires229 · 24%
Transmission and drivetrain129 · 14%Usually costly to fix
Suspension96 · 10%
What one owner wrote about the wheels and tires
I was driving my car when it began to down shift around 35mph. Eventually, after adding more gas, it kicked into gear. My vehicle is an automatic. Once it down shifts, the od light begins flashing on and off. It has now been doing this consistently. The drive is not a smooth drive and when I am going approximately 50-60mph or more, the car begins to shake…
Filed Sep 14, 2012NHTSA complaint 104753841 of 18 owner quotes
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
15 more parts, and 18 owner quotes
Every part owners name for the 1995 Ford Explorer, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine, Body and frame.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
5 checks, with a close look at the wheels and tires
The bar holds the middle half of the complaints that gave a mileage; the dark mark is the middle one. 55 complaints of 950 gave one. Owners file when something fails, so this shows when problems were reported, not how long the cars last.
Transmission and drivetrainCostly45,000 to 70,000 mi
Half of these 17 complaints came between about 45,000 and 70,000 miles, the middle one around 55,000.
050K100K150K200K250K
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Mileage for 1 more part
The mileage band for every part owners name, and your car's miles laid across them.
Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 12 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the wheels and tires. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the wheels and tires first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the wheels and tires.
Look at how the tires are wearing, and feel for shaking at highway speed.
