Would You Buy a 100k Mile Explorer Sport If These Issues Were Addressed?

I’m seriously considering an Explorer Sport around 100k miles, but reliability is my main concern. I’ve been looking at Toyotas for peace of mind, but the Explorer Sport’s price, performance, and features are tempting.

I’d only move forward if:

  • The vehicle has a solid maintenance history (regular oil changes, no major gaps).
  • The dealer has already replaced the water pump and timing chain as preventive maintenance.
  • Everything else checks out with a mechanic’s inspection.

If these key issues are taken care of, would you feel confident driving it for another 100k miles?

You’re still not addressing the PTU, which I mentioned in your last post.

You need a mechanic to check that out before buying—not the dealer. The PTU fluid breaks down over time, and since Ford didn’t make it easy to change, many owners never replace it, leading to expensive failures.

Also, you originally said Carfax showed the water pump replacement, but now it’s the dealer saying it was replaced? Which is it? You need physical service records to verify.

@Raj
Adding the PTU check to my list! There are a few options in my area, so I’m trying to determine if fixing these key issues upfront means I can confidently drive it another 100k miles.

Sage said:
@Raj
Adding the PTU check to my list! There are a few options in my area, so I’m trying to determine if fixing these key issues upfront means I can confidently drive it another 100k miles.

For another 100k miles? No.

  • PTU fluid must be serviced regularly—if it hasn’t been, expect to replace it.
  • Water pump failure is still possible within the next 100k miles, even if it’s been replaced now.
  • Since the timing chain is linked to the water pump, a second water pump replacement would likely mean another full timing chain job.

By the way, Toyotas aren’t perfect either. Some models have ridiculously expensive repairs, like engine-out jobs for simple parts. All cars have issues—lower miles is always better if reliability is your top concern.

@Raj
Fair point! My personal experience with Toyotas has been solid—my parents’ 2005 Camry & Tundra are both still running with 325k miles. Maintenance has been minimal outside of oil changes and TPMS sensors.

That said, I know I’ve been lucky, and I get that higher mileage means higher risk no matter what.

@Raj
Is the PTU issue on all Explorers, or just pre-2020 models? I heard the 6th-gen (2020+) Explorers with rear-biased AWD were different.

Marin said:
@Raj
Is the PTU issue on all Explorers, or just pre-2020 models? I heard the 6th-gen (2020+) Explorers with rear-biased AWD were different.

The PTU issue mainly affects Gen 5 Explorers (2011-2019) with Intelligent 4WD.

The problem isn’t the PTU itself, but rather Ford’s decision to not include an easy way to service the fluid. They call it a “lifetime” fluid, but it breaks down much faster than they claim. Since it’s not in the maintenance schedule, most people never change it, which leads to PTU failure.

  • If the fluid has been regularly changed, the PTU will likely be fine.
  • If not, expect to pay a couple thousand for a new one.
  • You won’t know for sure without a mechanic checking the fluid.

The 6th-gen (2020+) Explorers have a different rear-biased AWD system, which doesn’t have the same PTU issues, but they come with their own set of problems (like transmission issues and electrical gremlins).

@Raj
Appreciate the info! I’ve got a Gen 6 Explorer, and Ford is actually working on a buyback/exchange because they can’t figure out a weird transmission issue. It’s so intermittent that the dealer can never replicate it.

Honestly, any car with 100k+ miles is a gamble.

If you don’t mind some repairs, and the water pump, timing chain, and PTU are all in good shape, these can definitely last 200k+ miles with proper maintenance.

You might need to replace a turbo eventually if you’re going for the Sport model.

@Orin
Oh yeah—definitely check the PTU.

For me, I’m comfortable replacing one myself if needed, but if the fluid hasn’t been changed, failure is just a matter of time.

Compared to a water pump or turbo, a PTU isn’t as bad—new ones run about $1,000.

Any car with 100k miles is a risk, even if everything looks good on paper.