How many miles can ford explorer last

Ford Explorers was released in 1991 to replace the Bronco II model. Today, it is one of the most popular family vehicles in the US. Based on its exceptional utility, stellar safety records, and cargo-ferrying capacity, it is understandable that you might want to know how long your Ford Explorers will last.

Let us find out how the vehicle will last; we will base our arguments on stats and applicable facts, so you have all the reasons to believe what we report in this piece. Before you delve deeper into the details, a Ford Explorer is a vehicle that comes with some of the best features, some of which are meant to extend its lifespan. As long as you regularly maintain your vehicle, then it can last between.

The period that your vehicle will last depends on terrain, maintenance, user habits, and many other factors; some of which we will look at later. For instance, if you ensure that your Ford Explorer is maintained regularly, it should not last less than 16 or 17 years, which is relatively long compared to the lifespan of other vehicles.

How Many Miles Should You Expect from Ford Explorers?

On average, a Ford Explorer should cover a total of between 80,000 and 200,000 miles. If you pay a visit to the Explorer forum, you will likely find some users with miles as high as 300k on their odometer. Initially, around when the vehicle was still new in the market, it was one of the most unreliable products Ford had ever made.

However, it has undergone some significant modifications that make it perfect for both off-road and on-road trips. Once you have acquired your vehicle, you have to take good care of it so that it covers the mind-blowing miles mentioned above. With regular maintenance, you will get additional 150k miles, which is great for a vehicle that was introduced so many years back.

If you are someone that uses Ford Explorer each day, after you have hit that point, you will need extensive life upgrades of your transmission, steering, and suspension. Once your vehicle has hit 200,000 miles, you should expect to deal with some chain issues. You need to deal with these issues on time so that they don’t get worse.

If you purchase a used vehicle but the previous owner misused it, then you should not expect to hit the 200k mile mark.

When Will Your Ford Explorer Rust?

There are many models, some of which are older than the year 2000, but if your car was designed later than the year 2000, you should expect to see some rust on its metallic parts after a period of four to five years. It should be noted that Ford used steel to model most of its cars, but that has changed.

The company needed to manufacture cars that are more fuel-efficient, lighter, so they started using steel to design body parts and some interiors.

To be honest, many Ford owners report that the vehicle is highly likely to suffer premature corrosion, which is an issue that the company should address. Most of the time, this issue begins from the hood in the form of paint bubbles before affecting other parts of the vehicle.

Currently, there is a class lawsuit that has been filed against Ford due to the problem related to premature corrosion. Since 2004, Ford, as a car manufacturing company, has provided many technical service bulletins to the dealership on how the problem with early corrosion can be dealt with.

Suppose your plan is to purchase a pre-used Ford Explorers Last that was manufactured after the year 2000, be sure to check the hood and other parts of the body for bubbles, peeling paint, and rust. If you purchase a vehicle that is prone to corrosion, you will incur expensive repairs.

The models that were created before 2000 are made of steel and are, therefore, not prone to premature corrosion, but you still need to take good care of them so that they last long enough.

How Long Will Ford Explorers Last Compared to Similar Models?

Despite their rocky early days, Ford Explorers have come a long way. It has some direct competitors such as Jeep Cherokee, Honda Pilot, and Chevrolet Traverse. Compared to its competitors, Ford Explorers has a great level of longevity and reliability. These are some of the things that make it stand out from the crowd.

Note that the Pilot is also a great vehicle that can make it to 400k miles, but, to get there, it needs to be perfectly taken care of. The Jeep Cherokee, on the other hand, can last 15-20 years. These figures are similar to what we have already said about Ford Explorers, but the other vehicles will have to be maintained regularly.

Is Ford Explorer A Reliable Vehicle?

When it was introduced to the market, Ford Explorer came with a lot of imperfections. The first and second-generation didn’t record a good performance as they could roll over mid-transit. There were also many cases of timing chain wear and transmission failure.
Many other issues were reported, such as the failure of factory-installed Firestone tires with which the vehicles came.

Note that in the Reliability Department, Ford Explorer doesn’t record an impressive score. For example, J.D. rates 202 Ford Explorer 3.5 out of possible 5, which places it in the 19th position out of 26 mid-size SUV categories.

What Were the Best and Worst Years for Ford Explorers?

Reports have established that the best Ford Explorers are the ones that were created between 2007 and 2012. According to reliable sites, such as carcimplaints.com, car users reported very few complaints in the Ford Explorers that were manufactured in this period.

However, 2006, 2004, and 2002 are the worst years for the vehicles that Ford ever designed. These cars reported some of the most worrying feedback. Premature transmission failure is one of the main issues that have been reported with the 2002 Explorer. Most users stated that they experienced this problem after hitting 94,000 miles, and most of them had to spend at least $2800 on repairs.

Also, the 2004 model reported an array of issues, the worst of which are the hard shifts and slipping transmissions. The 2006 Explorer, on the other hand, recorded a lot of issues with transmission and cooling system failures, which took place after the vehicle had covered a total of 49,000 miles.

Some car owners also reported issues related to engine failure, radiator leaks, and wheel bearing wear. If you want to use your vehicle without any problem, since we want to be entirely honest with you, stay away from the 2006 and 200 model years of Ford Explorer.
The models have lots of issues that will cost you thousands of dollars to fix.

Besides that, they need high maintenance costs and will cost you a lot of money to keep on the road. This means that they are not good for someone who wants to be careful with their expenses.

Are Ford Explorers Too Costly To Maintain?

Unless you went for the wrong model year, Ford Explorers are generally not expensive to maintain. The maintenance cost of these SUVs is fairly affordable, but there are some factors you need to keep in mind.

According to data published by yourmehcanic.com, the Ford Explorers owners will spend around $618 annually to keep their vehicles in perfect conditions. Based on some factors such as the user habits and several providers, the users should expect to spend around $80 and $2.165 annually to keep their SUVs in perfect condition.

There are some DIY regular services that you can use to reduce the cost of maintaining your Ford Explorer.

How Long Will The Brakes Last?

The brakes are perfectly designed, and under normal circumstances, you should expect them to last around 40,000 miles. The longevity of your brakes depends on the driving terrain. On average, your brake pads should deliver at least 25,000 miles before replacement. There is nothing to worry about since you will only need less than $200 to change your brakes.

How Long Will The Hybrid Batteries Last?

According to Ford, the hybrid batteries will last at least eight years, or 80,000 miles before replacement. However, it should be noted that we are not quite sure about the hybrid batteries since they were introduced in 2020. Ford Escape Hybrid is quite reliable, which is why we are tempted to trust that the hybrid batteries can last that long. You will need around $5,000 to change the batteries, so make sure to handle them well.

How Long Will The Tires Last?

Most American drivers cover 12,000 to 15,000 miles annually, and their Ford Explorers tires serve them for a minimum period of five years. The company encourages its clients to swap the car tires after a maximum period of six years, even if they still seem to have some tread life.

This is advice that you must take very seriously since car tires play a vital safety role. Without good tires, even if other things are intact, you won’t be able to handle your vehicle properly.

How Long Will The Transmission Last?

If your transmission doesn’t have any transmission flaws, and you handle them well, they should last between 80,000 and 180,000 miles. It should, however, note that transmission problem is quite common in many Ford Explorer generations. To extend its longevity, you are supposed to ensure that it is perfectly handled.

Most of the issues that you will record are related to manufacturing defects. Luckily, such defects will always be covered in the manufacturer’s warranty. Also, the terrain and user habits will greatly impact the transmission lifespan.

How Long Will The Spark Plugs Last?

Your Ford Explorer should not last less than 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Suppose you invest in platinum-tipped spark plugs or Iridium, these will serve you for between 60,000 and 250,000 miles, but they cost a little more.

You should expect to spend around 4171 each month, which translates to around $2,052 annually, to ensure that your vehicle is in perfect condition. Nevertheless, you should consider some important factors such as region, annual mileage, insurance provider, and driving record since they can greatly impact the spark plugs.

How To Prolong The Life of Ford Explorers

Your manufacturer will always issue you with some maintenance regimen, some of which you can do on your own. Most car users report the problems mentioned above because they are not keen on the direction provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
To keep your SUV in good condition, always make sure that your Ford Explorers is serviced on time. If there is an issue affecting its overall performance, be sure to fix it as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

This is a long post, but it contains everything you need to know about the lifespan of Ford Explorers. If you are planning to purchase this impressive SUV, then this article comes in handy. Suppose you are an owner looking for the best ways to enhance the performance of your SUV, then be sure to have the vehicle maintained regularly.

Note that while Ford Explorer is a good SUV that comes with impressive features, note all models have what you are looking for. Before you buy, always make sure to do your homework. For example, the models manufactured in 2004 and 2006 tend to come with many complications that might cost you huge sums of money to repair.

However, just like any other automobile, how you handle your Ford Explorer dictates how good it will serve you. Make sure to drive your vehicle safely and change the tires within a maximum of six years. If you notice any mechanical problem, get in touch with an expert before the issue gets out of hand.

The hybrid batteries seem to be so promising, but we don’t have so much to say about their lifespan since they are new. We will make sure to update this piece when we learn more about Ford’s new hybrid batteries.

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