Ford Explorer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Ford Explorer is a sport utility vehicle produced by the American manufacturer Ford since 1990. The Ford Ford Explorer Explorer went on to become one of the most popular sport utility vehicles on the road. The model years through 2010 were traditional body-on-frame, mid-size SUVs. For the 2011 model year, Ford moved the Explorer to a more modern unibody, full-size crossover SUV/crossover utility vehicle platform, the same Volvo-derived platform the Ford Flex and Ford Taurus use. It is slotted between the traditional body-on-frame, full-size Ford Expedition and the mid-size CUV Ford Edge. Although outwardly similar, the fifth generation Explorer, Ford Edge and Ford Escape do not share platforms. The fifth generation Explorer does, however, share platforms with the Ford Overview Flex and Lincoln MKT. Manufacturer Ford Motor Company The Explorer has also been involved in controversy, after Production 1990–present a spate of fatal rollover accidents in the 1990s involving Model years 1991–present Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Both two-door Body and chassis Explorer Sport and four-door models of Explorer have been sold. Part-time four-wheel drive is an available Class Mid-size sport utility vehicle (1991– option, and since 1995 this has been a 'shift on the fly' 2010) system with full protection against being engaged at high Full-size crossover (2011–present) speed. A specially modified Special Service Vehicle Chronology version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and EMS Predecessor Ford Bronco II agencies. Explorer was also the name of a trim package offered on the Ford F-Series trucks from 1968 to 1986. The 2011 Ford Explorer was named North American Truck of the Year.[1] Contents 1 First generation (1990–1994) 2 Second generation (1995–2001) 2.1 Significant year to year changes 2.2 Engine specifications 3 Third generation (2002–2005) 4 Fourth generation (2006–2010) 4.1 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4.2 Sport Trac Adrenalin 4.3 Explorer America concept 5 Fifth generation (2011–) 5.1 Features 5.2 Capability 5.3 Safety and security 5.3.1 NHTSA 5.4 Awards 5.5 2013 Ford Explorer Sport 6 Explorer Sport variation 6.1 Mazda Navajo 7 Ford Explorer Special Service Vehicle/Ford Police Interceptor Utility fleet vehicles 8 Export sales 8.1 UK models 8.2 Middle East 8.3 Current exports 9 Criticism and Controversies 9.1 Rollover and Firestone Tire controversy 9.2 U-Haul trailers 10 Sales 11 See also 12 References 13 External links First generation (1990–1994) When the first Ford Explorer rolled off the assembly line on April 12, 1990, it was released in May, 1990 for the First generation (UN46) 1991 model year. First generation Explorers were equipped with the then new 155 hp (116 kW) 4.0 L Cologne V-6, manufactured in Cologne, Germany. Vehicles came with either Ford's own 4-speed A4LD automatic transmission, built in France, or Mazda's 5- speed M5OD manual transmission. Like the Bronco II it replaced, it was an SUV derivative of the Ranger pickup, thus Explorers came equipped with many of the Ranger's optional features. Like its direct competitor, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, Explorers were available in both 3-door and 5-door body styles and with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive versions were First-generation Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 equipped with a Borg Warner 13–54 part-time four- wheel drive transfer case. The 13–54 was available with Overview either "Touch Drive" electronic push-button shifting or Production April 1990–1994 manual lever-operated shifting. Both were "shift-on-the- fly" designs that allowed the SUVs to be shifted from Assembly Louisville, Kentucky, United States two-wheel drive to "four-high" at any speed and into (Louisville Assembly Plant) "four-low" when the vehicle was stopped. All Explorers St. Louis, Missouri, United were equipped with the Ford 8.8 axle in either a limited States(St. Louis Assembly) slip or open version with a variety of available gear ratios. Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Four-wheel-drive front axles were the TTB ("Twin Assembly) Traction Beam") Dana 35 with some Dana 44-spec components. Body and chassis Body style 3-door SUV Explorers 5-door SUV initially came in 4 trim levels: the Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / base model XL four-wheel drive (which was Related Mazda Navajo later replaced Ford Ranger with the XLS Ford Bronco II trim package as the base trim), Powertrain Interior of First Generation Ford XLT, Sport Engine 4.0 L Cologne V-6 Explorer 3-door Sport with cloth (which was Transmission 5-speed M5OD-R1 manual seats what the 3- door version 4-speed A4LD automatic was called), and the upscale Eddie Bauer edition. For the Dimensions 1993 model year, engine output was increased by 5 hp Wheelbase 3-Door: 102.1 in (2593 mm) (4 kW) for a total of 160 hp (119 kW). The Limited 5-Door: 111.9 in (2842 mm) edition, added for the 1993 model year, was available only in the 5-door body style and was positioned at the Length 3-Door: 174.5 in (4419 mm) top of the lineup above the Eddie Bauer edition. It 5-Door: 184.3 in (4673 mm) featured automatic headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view Width 70.2 in (1778 mm) mirror, foglamps, a center roof console with compass and outside thermometer, unique wheels and grille, and an Height 3-Door: 67.5 in (1714 mm) automatic transmission as standard equipment. The grill 5-Door: 67.3 in (1709 mm) and headlight trims on the Limited edition were paint- Eddie Bauer 4-Door 4WD: 68.3 in matched to the body color, unlike the chrome (XLT) or (1735 mm) black plastic (XL) versions on other trim levels. Similar to the 5-door Ford Explorer, the 3-door Explorer Sport model came in both rear-wheel drive and four- wheel drive variants. It replaced the Ford Bronco II as Ford's 3-door mid-size SUV. A variant of the Explorer Sport was sold by Mazda as the Navajo, which won Motor Trend Truck of the Year award, until it was discontinued in 1994. A common complaint about the first generation models is that the light-duty A4LD automatic transmission, which was basically the 3-speed Ford C3 transmission with an overdrive gear, was not well-suited for towing and was unable to cope with higher power output from modified engines. The A4LD was also known to suffer premature failure of the overdrive gear (or 4th gear) when used to frequently tow or haul heavy loads. Improved fluid cooling using aftermarket transmission coolers can alleviate these issues. Also, the automatic locking front hubs on four-wheel drive vehicles tended to fail prematurely; the manual versions, made for Ford by Warn, suffered from fewer reliability problems. Second generation (1995–2001) Second generation (UN105/UN150) The Explorer saw significant exterior, interior, and suspension updates for the 1995 model year. The 4.0 L Cologne V-6 from the previous generation carries over. The "Twin Traction Beam" (TTB) front suspension was replaced with a more carlike independent front suspension. The Ford Explorer lineup now consisted of two models, the 3-door Explorer Sport and the 5-door Explorer. The Limited was once again the top of the line model. The selectable automatic ControlTrac four wheel drive system debuted with a two-speed dual range transfer case featuring three drive modes: 2WD, 4WD Overview auto, and 4WD low. The 1995 Ford Explorer was the first production vehicle to use a neon center high-mount Also called Ford Explorer Sport (3-door) stop lamp.[3] It was also the first vehicle in its segment to Production November 1994–2000[2] have dual front airbags. Like the Explorer 5-door, the November 1994–2003 for Sport Explorer Sport was significantly redesigned for 1995. Assembly Louisville, Kentucky, United States The Eddie Bauer trim level was replaced with Expedition on 3-door Explorers for the 1995 model (Louisville Assembly Plant) year, but the Expedition trim was removed from the St. Louis, Missouri, United States ( lineup for the 1996 model year, as the name was being Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia reused for the new 1997 Ford Expedition. Assembly) Body and chassis Explorers have became favored in the engine tuning crowd, with many performance parts available. The 5.0 Body style 3-door SUV(1995–2003) engine is popular due to the fact that many aftermarket 5-door SUV(1995–2001) 5.0 (302) Ford Mustang parts are interchangeable with Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / the 5.0 variant in the Explorer. Aftermarket parts available four-wheel drive for second generation Explorers include, but are not limited to superchargers, nitrous kits, and headers. Powertrain Engine 2001 saw the introduction of the Explorer Sport Trac, 4.0 L Cologne OHV "Pushrod" V-6 which put a small pickup bed behind four normal SUV (1995-2001) doors. The Sport Trac is similar in design to the Ford F- Series Super Crew, except the F-Series is based on a full 4.0 L Cologne SOHC V-6 (1997- size pickup truck. 2003) 5.0 L Windsor OHV V-8 (1996- In 2009, this generation Ford Explorer had five of the top 2001) seven spots for vehicles traded in under the "cash for Transmission clunkers" program, with the 1998 model topping the 5-speed M5OD-R1 manual (4.0 L [4] list.