1996 Explorer, Limited, 2WD (Sold originally to doctor on Key West) is an absolute piece of junk. It runs so-so @ 132k. It also has the 4.0 liter V6. Being the Limited, top of the line model (higher than Eddie Bauer) it has (or I should say had) all the toys. Leather, dual power seats w/ memory, power glass moonroof, trip computer, digital overhead console, digital auto climate control, front / rear air, Auto dimming mirror, auto headlights, fog lights, power antenna, power heated mirrors, keyless / alarm system, keypad entry, aluminum alloy rims, 4-wheel disc brakes / ABS, leather steering wheel, Ford / JBL premier audio sys w/ rear subwoofer, 6-CD changer, rear audio controls----everything. Over 35k new. Bought 1 owner @ 69,000 miles. Previous perfect maintenance. Perfect maintenance with me. Now a perfect piece of crap. The leather wrapped steering wheel crumbled and fell off before 100k miles. It was just a thin plastic rim I was steering with until i bought one of those cheap K-Mart vinyl covers. Nice on a 35k car! The seats are shot in the front. The leather is cracked, and maybe like your problem it caved in on the driver's side. The panels which house power seat controls are busted off on both sides, although both seats still operate feebly. Power lumbar is junk on both sides. Stereo is really nice sounding, though 2nd to my 1992 Range Rover factory sys. However, half of the illumination has failed and you can;t see it at night. You also cannot shut it off because the power button has failed. The power antenna broke, no longer operational. Over 50% of all interior lights have failed, way to expensive to fix. I have replaced the cheap plastic door handles on the back door 3 times as they repeatly have broken because they are junk. The power lock motor fails in the tailgate constantly. I am on the sixth new motor. Sunroof, windows all work. keyless keypad doesn;t light up but works. Keyless fobs have both ceased to work, even with new lithium batts. Auto headlights work, but one headlight has failed. And its not a bulb. Fogs have cracked and broken and are junk anyway. Climate control won't light up at all. Auto dimming mirror won;t stay stuck to the windshield. It flops. Headliner is starting to fall apart arounnd the sunroof. Car has plenty of squeaks & rattles. Check Engine has been on for life of car, depsite tune-ups, new O2 sensors, etc. Coolant guage has failed since 71,000 miles. Now rear wiper / wash setup has literally fallen off back of truck. And this is all not even getting to the driving experience yet. Motor runs ok but is rough at times and has developed an internal squeal--bearings?? Trans is, what can I say, silky smooth though. ABS sys has failed once--scary--brke pedal goes to floor and you cannot stop until sys has reset. AnywAy, do not drive this Explorer at over 70mph on interstate highways, it is highly unstable even with new driving tires and shocks. It WILL flip if a quick turn is made at these speeds. I have seen more than enough Explorers of these years in the salvage yards that have rolled over and their roofs are now level with the hood to know that if it rolls with me in it I'm done, and so is any one riding with me.

Conclusion--it looks good outside, it runs ok, but is overall junk, and not up to its heft price tag. Mine is a 2wd, but even with 4x4 it has zero off road ability other than driving over a curb.

In 1992, the Range Rover cost 45k--it has most of what the Explorer has for toys and they all work perfectly--even the leather on the steering wheel is perfect--yet it has 55k plus miles on it and 4 years older. And it is really unstoppable in any kind of terrain. Will never consider any Ford SUV again.

Just my experience.

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2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro