Thinking about a 2017 Ford Explorer… any red flags?

Looking at a 2017 Ford Explorer with 45k miles for $23k. Anything I should be aware of? Should I stay away from this one?

Check the hood for bubbling paint and inspect the insides of the doors and liftgate for oxidation near the seams. I had a 2018, and the hood was replaced under warranty, plus three doors and the liftgate had to be sanded and resealed, also under warranty.

Water pump issues are something to watch out for. I just got a 2019 and love it, but the water pump is the one thing I’ve heard about.

Finn said:
Water pump issues are something to watch out for. I just got a 2019 and love it, but the water pump is the one thing I’ve heard about.

Is there a certain mileage when the water pump usually fails? Would replacing the coolant earlier help keep it lubricated?

The water pump is a known weak spot—it leaked on mine at 114k miles. I’ve also had issues with the PTU. The water pump and timing chain job cost me $2,600, but warranty covered most of it. The PTU repair is about the same price.

If it’s AWD, be cautious of PTU problems. I went with a 2WD model to avoid that. The water pump will go out eventually, which can cost $1,500-$3,000 unless you have an official Ford extended warranty.

Other common issues include sunroof leaks, heated seats failing, and bad engine mounts. These are typical for 5th-gen Explorers.

Here’s a link to 2017 Explorer complaints. Worth a read before buying.

I work at a shop and just had a customer with a water pump failure. It cost them $4,800 out of pocket, so keep that in mind.

If it’s the 3.5L naturally aspirated engine, I’d avoid it. It’s a gas guzzler—I’ve been averaging just under 16 mpg over 50k miles.