Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a Sport utility vehicle (SUV) sold mostly in North America that has been built by the Ford Motor Company since 1991 and is still in production as of 2004. It has been one of the best selling vehicles in its class since its introduction, and is one of the vehicles instrumental in turning the SUV from a special-interest niche vehicle class into one of the most popular vehicle types on the road. The Explorer has also been involved in controversy, after a spate of fatal rollover accidents involving Explorers fitted with Firestone tires.
Both two-door Explorer Sport and four-door models of Explorer have been sold. Part-time four wheel drive is an available option, and since 1995 this has been a 'shift on the fly' system with full protection against being engaged at too high a speed.
1991
1991 was the first year for the Ford Explorer. It was based on the Ford Ranger compact pickup and was equipped with a 4.0 liter 155hp V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. There were both 2-door and 4-door bodystyles with available 2- or 4-wheel drive. Explorers came in 4 trim levels: base XL, XLT, Sport, and upscale Eddie Bauer. A 5-speed manual transmission was added for 1992, and the engine lost 10 hp. 15 hp was added for 1993 (for a total of 160).
1995
The Explorer was refreshed for 1995 with a Mercury twin added, the Mercury Mountaineer, in 1997. The Ford model lineup now consisted of two models: 2-door Explorer Sport and 4-door Explorer. Two more trim lines were added as well, one on each side of the Eddie Bauer - Expedition (for 1995 only, a name that would be reused on the 1997 Ford Expedition) and Limited. A 210hp 4.9 liter V8 engine was added for 1996 along with real all wheel drive on the Eddie Bauer and Limited in 1997. A more-powerful 205hp version of the 4.0 liter V6 came as an option in 1997 along with an optional 5-speed automatic. A facelift came in 1999, and the XLS name replaced XL as the base model in 2000.
2001 saw the introduction of the Explorer Sport Trac, which put a small pickup bed behind the four normal SUV doors. The 2-door Explorer Sport also recieved the Sport Trac's more-rugged nose.
2002
The Explorer and companion Mercury Mountaineer were redesigned entirely in 2002, losing much of its Ford Ranger kinship. Engines were a pair of 4-liter V6s (203hp or 210hp) or a 4.6 liter 239hp V8. Both manual and automatic 5-speed transmissions and 2-, 4-, and all-wheel drive are availabile. Trim lines were the base Sport Value, Sport Choice, XLS, Sport Premium, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and top Limited.
Firestone tire controversy
In May 2000, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Ford and Firestone about the high incidence of tire failure on Ford Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Ford investigated and found that several models of 15" Firestone tires (ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT) had very high failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant.
The failures all involved tread separation—the tread peeling off followed often by tire disintegration. If that happened, and the vehicle was running at speed, there was a high likelihood of the vehicle leaving the road and rolling over. Many rollovers cause serious injury and even death; it has been estimated that over 250 deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries resulted from these failures.
Ford and Firestone have both blamed the other for the failures, which has led to the severing of relations between the two companies. Firestone has claimed that they have found no faults in design nor manufacture, and that failures have been caused by Ford's recommended tire pressure being too low and the Explorer's design. Ford, meanwhile, point out that Goodyear tires to the same specification have a spotless safety record when installed on the Explorer.
Many outside observers tend towards blaming both parties; Firestone's tires being prone to tread separation and failure, and the Explorer being especially prone to rolling over if a tire fails at speed compared to other vehicles.
A product recall was announced, allowing Explorer owners to change the affected tires for others.
A large number of lawsuits have been filed against both Ford and Firestone, some unsuccessful, some settled out of court, and a few successfully. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have argued that both Ford and Firestone knew of the dangers but did nothing, and that specifically Ford knew that the Explorer was highly prone to rollovers. Ford deny these allegations.