I have a neighbor who uses a Ford Explorer for his job. He now has 198,000 miles on it and has put less than 2K in repairs into it since it was new. The old saying about Fix Or Repair Daily surely didn't seem to apply in his case. I look forward to that kind of reliability in mine.

John I can understand your pain and can't blame you for the switch. But, dang man, an Eddie Bauer!!! I'll take the F150 or even the regular Explorer, not the Eddie bauer edition. The Eddie Bauer is what I call an improper fraction automobile - wheel arches that have no relationship with the rim size. The tires are tucked way in there while the wheel arches are extended way out there!!! Ever looked at it from the rear? It's an ugly design. Why in the world would you choose that particular truck? Even the new baby explorer (don't know what it's called), or even the very large Excursion is a better looking truck. Have fun anyway, whatever you use the truck for.

SUBJECTIVE - Darkman
 

Come on Darkman.
The Exployer is the best selling SUV on the market.

One ML owner wrote the ML looks like a bubble mobile without dark window tinting. Guess it wasnt Dark enough Darkman.
Guess I am happy with a mercedes bubblemobile. Beauty is etc etc.

Oh, no doubt about that and I have no complaints about the sale issue nor about the general Explorer line. It's just that Eddie Bauer edition - the thing has proportions that just don't fit. My daughter still thinks my ML is a minivan - she wants the X5!!!

Darkman- I don't necessarily disagree about the proportion of the wheels and the gap in the wheel wells. The later models are much improved over older models though. In my opinion my ML was not the most attractive looking of vehicles either, but I liked it too. The ML's have improved in appearance over the years though. I have a '94 Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo that I drive every now and then on nice days and many people think it's one of the ugliest cars made...but I love it and it drives like a dream.

Style
 

1) The VW SUV
2) VOLVO
3) BMW
4) Mercedes ML
5) Lexus
6) Acura
6 1/2) Honda
7) Nizzan Murano
8) The rest of the SUV's that the name ends with a vowel
9) the domestic's.

I work at a used car dealer, and we're not the only ones who come across these, but after 30k miles or so you'll start approaching a trans rebuild. I like them except for the transmissions that constantly need rebuilt.
Thanks
David

You're right though about the current model. I saw one just yesterday and the proportions of the fender flares with respect to the wheen size has improved much. In my mind I pictured the earlier models and how disproportioned they lookes. Me, I want me an F150 HD. As for the Supra TT, the front is mean ugly on purpose, and that's one mean car I'll take anytime anywhere.

In anycase, enjoy the Explorer.

Hey Want 71 - What are you talking about ?
 

I have never heard of any car/truck/van SUV where the transmission approaches a rebuild at 30,000 miles. The worst I know of is the Chysler caravan / voyager mini vans of the 1990's-- they commonly went 70,000 miles. Are you talking about the Explorer ?

My ML320 has 105,000 on the origional transmission and Ive used it 4 wheeling on lake michigan beeches and as well as a a landscape schrub/tree puller in 4- wheel low. :confused:

Add on: Most will need redone by 50,000 Miles.
That bends my mind. Seems Like the consumers Mags would be all over this story. My best buddy works with Ford in Dearborn MI and happens to Drive a 2003 Explorer. I will forward him this Revelation. He and all his pals better bail out of ther Trucks.

It's an Explorer problem. We talked to the dealer who bought it from us and he said they send 2-3 Explorers a week for trans rebuilds. He bought if off us at the auction, the auction delivered it to him and it wouldn't get out of first, so under the contract we have to have to pay to have it fixed. Trust me, a trans rebuild on an Explorer seems to be about regular maintenance. Of course they don't all go out at 30k, but most will need redone before 50k.
Thanks
David

ML Transmission
 

I don't know about you but the ML has the 722.6 transmission, the same trans Jaguar put in the XJ6. I have owned both cars and both transmissions failed, one at 98,000 and one at 125,000. 722.6 is a miserable excuse for a transmission.

Ford transmission
 

I'm not even gonna try and start a debate about when a tranny will fail in a Ford but I've always felt that the tranny is the weakest part of ANY Ford, even the big diesel F350's. The only way I know of to attempt to make the best of it's life is to run Amsoil in every hole. I've just purchased the filter bypass unit for the engine oil. F-150's supposidly have been known to go 300K+ miles on original engine with this bypass unit. Going to replace engine oil, tranny fluid, front & rear differentials lube all with Amsoil products. Just waiting for the engine to break-in before I do the swap.

From the posts I have read before reading this one, the ML trans is very strong, dependable, long lasting, and never needs a fluid change. It seems like guys have a few sour grapes under your hoods. P.S. I have a 1989 Dodge Cavavan with 118K on it and the trans still shifts like a top, proof that not all vehicles within a model range fall prey to failure.

Sorry, but I love these little stupid word thingys!

Found
On
Road
Dead

Frequently
Overhauled
Rarely
Driven

F***er
Only
Rolls
Dwonhill

F***ing
Old
Rebuild
Dodge

Here's a good one: FORD backwards --> Driver Returns On Foot
Here's another good one: FORD backwards --> Driver Relies On Family

First
On
Recall
Day

Fast
Only
Rolling
Downhill

General
Maintenance

Greatest
Mistake
Created

Hang
On,
Not
Done
Accelerating

Here's
Y
U
Never
Drive
An
Import

Korea
Invades
America

My
Expensive
Race
Car
Emits
Dense
Exhaust
Smoke
-
But
Efficiency
Near
Zero

Merger
Engaged
Reverse
Chrysler
Entering
Decline
Evident
Soon

Poor
Old
Ninny (< way too racist to put original word!)
Thinks
It's
A
Cadillac

Always
Catching
Up
Rarely
Ahead

Very
Odd
Looking
Vehicular
Object

Big
Ugly
Indestructible
Car
Killer

Company
Has
Recommended
You
Start
Learning
Engine
Repair

Sure won't miss my ML....OR WILL I???
 

Guess my bad luck prevails. As I put in my post I replaced my ML with a 2004 Eddie Bauer Explorer. Was going to get a 2005 but the incintives offered by Ford for the left over '04's was just too good to pass up.
While I was driving my Explorer home the ABS light came on. Took it back to the shop the next day and they replaced the entire ABS unit on the car with only 46 miles on it. After about 1 more week passed I'd driven it enough on the interstate to figure out that it had a high speed wobble and road noise in the interior was really loud. Took it back 2 more times and finally they replaced all 4 wheels, all 4 tires, and re-aligned it. OK, another problem taken care of. It has an option on it that monitors the tire pressure of all of the tires. Just yesterday it appears to have stopped working. Now on my digital information center on the dash it says 'Tire pressure module fault', called the shop and they are going to replace the main tire pressure module that picks up the signal from a sensor located inside of each of the tires. If all of this isn't bad enough, while I was on the phone talking to the service department to schedule it to have the module replaced they tell me that there has been a recall issued on my transmission. Appears that they put bad fluid in 750,000 Ford vehicles during some specified period of production. Their fix is to put a quart of some sort of additive into the fluid....That ain't gonna fly with me. I'm putting AMSOIL in it if I can not get them to just replace it with NEW stock dyno fluid.

Overall it's been less than a pleasant experience so far with Ford but at least it's been under warranty. I'm not past my 30 day mark yet and here in Ohio consumers can return a car within 30 days for ANY reason on new vehicle purchases. Just may exercise that right. IF not they're gonna have to give me one hell of a deal on an extended 7 year / 100K bumper-to-bumper warranty.