Reliability of the Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is one of those ubiquitous family-sized SUVs that you see all over the road today. Descended from the trend-setting SUV of the '90s, 5 th and 6 th Generation Ford Explorers are the vehicle of choice for many. Families appreciate the Explorer’s class-leading safety features and carrying capacity. Younger drivers can enjoy cutting-edge in-car entertainment and technology. Driving enthusiasts rave about the Explorer's raw power, performance, and handling. But what good is all that if the vehicle doesn’t last?

Fortunately, the Ford Explorer is widely considered to be one of the most rugged and reliable vehicles sold today. This durability is one of the reasons why it’s the vehicle of choice for law-enforcement agencies all over America. If it’s good enough for the men and women who keep us safe day after day, it’s a fantastic choice for drivers, no matter what it is they look for in a vehicle.

The majority of Ford Explorers are powered by an Ecoboost 3.5L V6 Engine, known for not only offering the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6 but also being stubbornly dependable, requiring little beyond routine maintenance to ensure they keep running for mile after mile. Also available is an even more reliable naturally-aspirated 3.5L V6.

A vehicle will rarely be completely problem-free, but the issues that Ford Explorer owners report are usually minor items, related to wear and tear. Wear and tear can happen to any car. Ford Explorer owners can expect nothing out of the ordinary to go wrong, and for their vehicles to continue to provide a safe and reliable driving experience.

Another barometer of how reliable a vehicle is is the number of recalls a vehicle has had. The 2018 and 2019, as well as the 2021 Ford Explorers, have had very few recalls, and only for minor issues. When you buy a Ford Explorer from these model years, you can be sure that your new truck won’t spend more time in the shop than on the road.

According to user-review aggregators, nearly 80% of 2018-2020 Ford Explorer owners are happy with their vehicles and report no significant issues. It's not just owners who are impressed with the Ford Explorer. Experts also agree. The latest 2021 Ford Explorers have received a reliability rating of "Great" from JD Power and Associates in their Vehicle Dependability Studies. For the 2021 model year, ownership satisfaction skyrockets, with 96% of Ford Explorer owners recommending it according to cars.com.

Looking long term down the road, it's not uncommon to see older Explorers still on the road with 100- or even 200-thousand miles on them. Some Explorers in salt-free environments even last 300-thousand miles or more!  The vast majority of these high-mileage vehicles all have a few things in common. Not only have they not required expensive and time-consuming repairs, but they've all gotten by with simple scheduled maintenance.

The longevity of these vehicles is a testament to the build quality and craftsmanship that goes into each Ford Explorer. With such a strong reputation and a proven track record for reliability, there's a big chance the Ford Explorer you buy today could be the truck you pass down to your children. And when you do pass it down, it will be just as enjoyable to drive as the day it first rolled off the lot.