We’re considering a 2021 or 2022 Ford Explorer for my wife. She loves how it looks and feels, and we’re planning to keep her next car for about 8 years, putting around 80-100k miles on it during that time.
Her current car is a 2014 Subaru Forester with 80k miles. It’s been super reliable, but we’re looking for something a bit bigger.
I know it’s tough to predict reliability for newer cars, but how does the Explorer hold up? Should we expect smooth sailing for 80k miles or are random trips to the mechanic likely?
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The Explorer is better than most GM or Chrysler products, but not quite as reliable as Toyota, Honda, or Mazda SUVs. You might face some issues before 100k miles, but probably nothing major.
Vaughn said:
The Explorer is better than most GM or Chrysler products, but not quite as reliable as Toyota, Honda, or Mazda SUVs. You might face some issues before 100k miles, but probably nothing major.
Gale said:
People still call them Ford Exploders, so take that as you will.
That nickname came from a tire issue 20 years ago with Firestone tires, not really the car itself. You can read more about it here: Link No Longer Available | NHTSA.
@Sam
It wasn’t just the tires—it was also Ford’s suspension design. Ford reduced tire pressure to fix a handling issue, which led to overheating and sidewall failures. Firestone got the blame, but the design flaws were a big part of the problem.
The Explorer is a solid SUV. I have a Ford Flex and an F-150, and both have been great. If longevity is a concern, you might also want to check out Hyundai—they have excellent warranties and a lot of SUV options.
Older Explorers (like 2000-2005) had a reputation for being unreliable—everyone I knew called them Exploders. That said, I once knew one that ran for weeks with a broken crankshaft. So they’re not all bad.
@Ziv
That reputation mostly came from a tire recall, not the vehicle itself. Explorers are great if maintained properly. Avoid the 5.4 engines, though—they had more issues.
Paxton said: @Ziv
That reputation mostly came from a tire recall, not the vehicle itself. Explorers are great if maintained properly. Avoid the 5.4 engines, though—they had more issues.
Yeah, it was a Firestone tire issue. I remember it had something to do with incorrect pressure specs.
I had a 2001 Explorer that constantly had problems, even with only 125k miles on it. It was frustrating and I sold it after three years. Wouldn’t recommend.