The Explorer got quite the write-up in Phil Edmonstons Guide. For those unfamiliar, Phil Edmonston has been writing these annual guides to buying cars for many years and is known to "pull no punches" with his reviews.
Here's what he has to say about the 1991 - 1994 Explorers.
These early explorers are both unreliable and dangerous to drive. Some of the most common defects reported by owners are transmission and fuel system failures, electrical system shorts, frequent and expensive brake repairs due to prematurely worn pads, rotors and master cylinder, constant motor-mount failures and defective AC condensers. Body defects are legion. What hasn't fallen off is usually about to, is stuck shut, stuck open, rusted away, delaminated, or simply broken. The above deficiencies produce poor engine performance that includes hard starts, sudden acceleration, stalling and excessive gas consumption; AC failures; noisy, ineffective brakes; lights and guages that have a mind of thier own; suspension noises and exhaust system rattles.
1995 - 1999 ExplorerGranted Ford tried to upgrade the explorers relianility and durability with it's '95 redesign, however, there hasn't been much improvement as witnessed by the continuing torrrent of owner complaints and service bulletin fixes for factory defects. The main problems targeted in service buletins.... and so on.
Makes you wonder why anyone would own one of these eh?