Ben said:
I had one back in the day. It was a good SUV, but I went through a transmission and a wheel bearing. Those were the only big issues.
Mine’s got a new transmission already, so that’s a relief. I’ll have to check on the wheel bearings.
Ford’s transmissions are usually the weak link. If the new trans was installed properly and you take care of it, this could last you a long time. Definitely get it checked out by a trusted shop to see if there are any other issues.
Honestly, these older Explorers aren’t known for reliability, especially with the 4.0. The timing chains are the big issue. That said, if you didn’t pay much, it could still be worth keeping as a beater.