Ford Explorer ReliabilityAll Years Ranked (1991–2025)
Side-by-side AutoScores, risk levels, and owner-cost projections for every Ford Explorer we've analyzed. Identify the best years to buy, the ones to avoid, and the problems that follow the Explorer across generations.
Average AutoScore
69/100
Best Year
2017 Ford Explorer
Score 79
Weakest Year
2001 Ford Explorer
Score 45
Every Ford Explorer Ranked
Sorted by AutoScore. Each link opens the full year-specific report.
A capable family hauler, but be prepared for a few expensive, common mechanical Achilles' heels.
Top risks: Electric Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) · Internal Water Pump (3.5L V6) · Power Transfer Unit (PTU - AWD Models)
A feature-rich family SUV that demands diligence to overcome its reliability weak spots.
Top risks: 10-Speed Automatic Transmission · Electrical System & Infotainment · Interior Fit & Finish / Body Hardware
A spacious family hauler with known transmission and electrical vulnerabilities that demand careful pre-purchase scrutiny.
Top risks: 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (6F50/6F55) · Water Leaks / Electrical System · Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - AWD Models
A modern family SUV offering strong performance and utility, but be prepared for potential software and transmission quirks.
Top risks: Electrical / Infotainment System · 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10R80) · Power Liftgate Actuator
A powerful and spacious family SUV, but its powertrain and electrical systems demand a vigilant ownership approach.
Top risks: 10-Speed Automatic Transmission · Electrical System & Infotainment · Power Transfer Unit (PTU) (AWD models)
A refreshed family hauler with solid fundamentals, but anticipate teething issues with its new tech suite.
Top risks: Infotainment/Electrical Systems · Transmission Shifting Logic · Interior Fit and Finish
A classic SUV for the enthusiast or budget-conscious, but only for those ready for hands-on maintenance and potential significant repairs.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (A4LD) · Suspension & Steering Components · Electrical System
A capable, vintage SUV that offers great value but carries a moderate risk of powertrain and cooling system issues.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (A4LD) · Cooling System · Steering & Suspension Components
A budget-friendly SUV offering great utility, but only for buyers willing to risk or preemptively address its well-documented mechanical weak spots.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55S/W) · Engine (4.0L SOHC V6 Timing Chain) · Rust and Corrosion
A capable but potentially costly family SUV that demands diligent attention to its known weak points.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55S/W) · Front Suspension & Steering · Rear Differential
A utilitarian SUV with strong capabilities, but significant mechanical risks demand a cautious approach and a healthy repair budget.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55S/W) · V6 Engine Timing Chain · Rust and Corrosion
A value-packed family SUV, but its early 5th-gen issues with steering, engine cooling, and electronics demand a very thorough inspection.
Top risks: Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) · 3.5L V6 Engine Water Pump · Transmission (6F50/6F55)
A comfortable family SUV that requires careful pre-purchase scrutiny and a budget for potential high-cost repairs.
Top risks: Electric Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) · Transmission (6F-50/55) · 3.5L V6 Water Pump
A family hauler with power and space, but demanding proactive maintenance and a budget for known high-cost repairs.
Top risks: Power Transfer Unit (PTU) · Engine (3.5L V6 Internal Water Pump) · Electrical / HVAC System
A capable family hauler, but early production woes and persistent electrical issues make it a gamble.
Top risks: Electrical System & Infotainment · Transmission (10-speed automatic) · Body & Interior Quality
A utilitarian, budget-friendly SUV that requires vigilance against its well-known age-related weaknesses.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission · Frame and Body Rust · HVAC Blend Door Actuator
A capable, inexpensive workhorse that demands meticulous inspection and a readiness for common, potentially costly repairs.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55E Automatic) · Frame and Suspension Mounts · Engine (4.0L SOHC Timing Chain)
A budget-friendly SUV that requires diligent pre-purchase inspection and a repair contingency fund to avoid common, costly failures.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (5R55S/W) · Front Suspension & Steering · HVAC System (Blend Door)
A capable mid-size SUV that demands careful vetting and proactive maintenance to avoid major headaches.
Top risks: Engine (4.0L V6 SOHC) · Transmission (5R55S/W Automatic) · Electrical Systems
A practical but potentially problematic SUV, where careful selection and preventative maintenance are non-negotiable.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (V6 models) · Frame and Underbody Rust · HVAC System
A capable SUV that can quickly become a money pit if key mechanical weak points are ignored.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55S Automatic) · Engine (4.0L SOHC V6 Timing Chains) · Electrical System
A spacious family hauler with significant reliability Achilles' heels that demand diligent pre-purchase inspection and a repair budget.
Top risks: Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) · Engine Cooling System (Water Pump) · Power Transfer Unit (PTU)
A comfortable family hauler that demands vigilant maintenance and a healthy repair fund due to several well-documented weak points.
Top risks: Powertrain (AWD PTU) · Engine (Water Pump) · Electrical/Infotainment
A roomy family hauler that demands diligent pre-purchase inspection and a robust maintenance budget.
Top risks: Engine Cooling/Drivetrain · Transmission · Electrical/HVAC
A spacious SUV with significant powertrain risks that demand a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Top risks: Transmission (6F50/6F55) · Engine (3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6) · Electrical & Water Intrusion
A tempting family hauler, but its known mechanical and electrical gremlins make it a moderate reliability gamble.
Top risks: Transmission System · Electrical & Infotainment · Interior & Exterior Build Quality
A venerable SUV requiring a discerning eye and a commitment to maintenance, but rewarding for the DIY enthusiast.
Top risks: Transmission (A4LD) · Cooling System · Rear Axle/Differential
A capable, budget-friendly SUV plagued by significant transmission and rust concerns, demanding meticulous pre-purchase inspection and a repair budget.
Top risks: Transmission · Frame and Body Rust · HVAC System
A vintage SUV offering simple utility and off-road fun, but prepare for the common ailments of a first-generation design and a three-decade lifespan.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (A4LD) · Rust and Corrosion · Electrical Systems
A budget-friendly utility vehicle with known, often expensive, Achilles' heels that demand careful pre-purchase inspection.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55E) · 4.0L SOHC V6 Engine · Frame and Body Rust
A capable SUV, but only for the mechanically inclined or those prepared for predictable, costly repairs.
Top risks: 4.0L SOHC Engine Timing Chain · Automatic Transmission (5R55E) · Frame and Body Corrosion
A capable but deeply flawed SUV with several high-cost failure points that demand a thorough pre-purchase inspection and a substantial repair budget.
Top risks: Engine (4.0L SOHC V6) · Automatic Transmission (5R55E) · Electrical System
A tempting utility vehicle, but critical powertrain and rust issues make it a gamble.
Top risks: 4.0L V6 Engine Timing Chain · 5R55S Automatic Transmission · Rust and Corrosion
A tempting budget SUV that often becomes a money pit due to critical drivetrain weaknesses.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (5R55E) · Engine Timing Chain Guides (4.0L SOHC V6) · Rust and Corrosion
A tempting utility vehicle that too often devolves into a financial black hole due to critical powertrain and suspension liabilities.
Top risks: Transmission (5R55E) · Front Suspension (Lower Ball Joints) · Engine (4.0L SOHC V6 Timing Chain)
Problems That Follow the Explorer Across Generations
Issues that appear in the top-3 risks across multiple model years — the cost of ownership you can actually predict.
Rust and Corrosion
Appears in 5 model years · 14% of generations
Automatic Transmission (A4LD)
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Electrical System
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Frame and Body Rust
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Automatic Transmission (5R55E)
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Transmission (5R55S/W)
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Electrical System & Infotainment
Appears in 3 model years · 9% of generations
Electrical Systems
Appears in 2 model years · 6% of generations
Explorer vs. the Competition
Head-to-head reliability comparisons with the Explorer's main rivals.
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