After a year with the Silverado, I've decided I hate the thing. Super crappy fuel economy and size kills it for me.
It's time for a new DD. I'm looking at the 2011-2019 Ford Explorer. The size looks appropriate. What tools and parts I still carry should fit in the back with the 3rd row folded flat.
Anyone know the good the bad and the ugly about them?
Known problems?
Thanks.
The cop versions reportedly had CO poisoning issues.
I got one as a company vehicle and had no mechanical issues over several years. Average fuel mileage was 22 mpg. when I first got it I hated it. It felt as wide as a house. I cringed driving through bank drive thru's. Obviously that was all in my tiny head. I much preferred the previous model which was much more off-road worthy.
spitfirebill said:The cop versions reportedly had CO poisoning issues.
I thought this was due to two things: 1) penetrations in the rear trunk area for communicaitons equipment wiring and 2) idling for long periods of time in one spot...
So if you seal up the back it shouldn't be an issue.
I have 125K on a 2015 Limited bought new. 3.5L, not the turbo model. My wife drives it daily. It's our long trip vehicle, including annually towing an 18' aluminum boat and with a canoe on the roof 7 hours one way, with 2 adults, boys now 11 and 7, and a dog in a crate in the back. The third seat is convenient when the grandparents come with us somewhere since we can take 1 vehicle. I can't think of any major or even minor issues we've had. I'd like a smidge more power when loaded but not enough to get the turbo. I hear some things I don't like about the 2020 and hope they take care of those by 2022 or so for its replacement. I had a 2007 Explorer before and have enjoyed not regularly replacing coils on the 2015 like I had to do on the 07.
I'm on some explorer groups on Facebook. Those years, and really any generation after the 2nd gen, seem to have a lot of weird problems.
Personally it looks like with Explorers you want to stick to the first 2 generations. I own 3 second gens and can vouch for them, just stay away from the 4.0 sohc
In reply to Antihero :
The second gen is too small and too old for my use. Whatever I buy has to be presentable to a customer. I prefer old beaters as personal vehicles but for a company vehicle it needs to be a little nicer.
Just so we are all clear, we are talking about these...
They sure did seem to sell a ton of them. At least, there are a ton of them around me but this is generally a Pro-Ford community with some current and a lots of former Ford employees in the area.
For your needs this could be a good professional image given that the body went from 11-19, you could buy a 9 year old example and still look "current".
It may be worth noting that the Ford Flex is the same chassis and generally the same vehicle without the "butch" looks. Ford Flex actually came on the scene in 2010, a year before the Explorer. The stylized version of the Flex is the Lincoln MKT.
Rear wheel bearings, holy E36 M3. I've done a bunch of them and most of them I've ended up also replacing the knuckles as well, because the wheel bearing will. not. come. loose. Like heating on it with torches, with the 20 ton shop press stalled out against it, trying to get it out.
Friends got a '16 or '17 (I think) summer of last year. There were some typical problem areas that the dealer agreed to fix, but so far they've loved it and haven't had any real issues.
The interceptors also had issues with a rear suspension bolt breaking during pursuits.
Or so I hear.
That's probably not relevant here
My opinion is they are 'just ok'. Pretty anonymous in their segment other than the tuneability of the ecoboost versions. What kind of fuel economy will you actually be happy with? It's a step up from an older full size but still not a particularly efficient vehicle. If you want a 3-row crossover that never breaks and actually gets way more mpg than a Silverado, I'd look at a Highlander Hybrid.
The Flex are interesting vehicles. I wrote them off because of proportions at first digital glance, but then when I saw one in person, I was surprised. It kinda clicked my "that could be a rad sleeper" button. YMMV, but if you're considering this chassis, it's probably similar to how the Maurader SS is for panthers. 3.5EB and AWD could make for a fun allweather DD.
More off topic, but I like the thought of a lifted woody version. Someone here must know how compatible the explorer suspension is...
edit:
take this:
and shove it firmly in this direction:
My department at work had one as a shared company vehicle. I hated driving it. It was one giant blind spot! The A pillars are huge, the passenger front seat headrest blocked the passenger rear side window, the C pillar is huge, the passenger rear seat headrest blocked the passenger far back window. You literally could not see out of the passenger side of the car from the passenger front window all the way back to the rear windshield. Not fun changing lanes with that kind of visibility. Also, it was somehow huge on the outside and tiny on the inside - all at the same time. I'm sure it's a functional vehicle for a lot of people, but for me it's a hard pass.
Toyman01 said:In reply to Antihero :
The second gen is too small and too old for my use. Whatever I buy has to be presentable to a customer. I prefer old beaters as personal vehicles but for a company vehicle it needs to be a little nicer.
Fair, and I get it.
They aren't quite old enough that if you got a good example you could pass it off as "vintage" no matter what some states say it is
Yeah, CO2 problems were related to upfitters poking holes in stuff, and the rear suspension issue has a recall associated with it. Other cop-related problems include mufflers filling up with condensation and leaking/failing turbo oil seals on the Ecoboost models... but both issues come about as a result of extended idling and shouldn't be an issue for normal driving/ownership.
Also the Interceptor model doesn't have a shift lock release, as I found out a few weeks ago. Moral of the story, don't buy a used cop version.
Mr_Asa said:Friends got a '16 or '17 (I think) summer of last year. There were some typical problem areas that the dealer agreed to fix, but so far they've loved it and haven't had any real issues.
In relation to this, the aluminum hood had corrosion and paint issues, dealer fixed it. There were a couple of TSBs and voluntary recall things that the dealership did to get it ready for sale.
We had Sport for a year as a company car. Best all round SUV we've ever had. I can't comment on long term reliability as it was new and we got rid of it after 30k miles. I can say in that time it was perfect, comfy, pretty quick for it's size. Pulled our pop up camper really well to Florida, Colorado and Northern Michigan. Dead comfy, really easy to use in town or on the freeway. Last year when I was SUV shopping, before I got my wagon, the only reason another Explorer Sport wasn't at the top of my list is I didn't want to buy a Ford as they'd just downsized me and wasn't going to reward them for letting me go by buying one of their vehicles. Overall a really really nice car and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one.
In reply to bluescooby :
The latest version of the recall also reprograms the climate control to switch to recirculated air after idling for a period of time. The earlier versions of the recall added turned down exhaust tips on the fleet versions along with a few sealing patches and plugs. It's not an issue on one you'll buy.
I have a Flex, and it had been 100% trouble free for me for 5+ years now. Just brakes and tires. I don't know what I'll replace it with, as it's been that good.
In reply to dinger :
That was exactly my impression going from the previous generation to this one.
They are very similar to the 2014 SHO I used to have, so I'm pretty familiar with the chassis. One weak area on the AWD models is the power transfer unit, or PTU. It has a "lifetime fluid" that doesn't actually last the lifetime of the vehicle, partially because there's so little of it, like 20 ounces or so. I changed the fluid on my car, and it was a moderate PITA. If I was buying one of these cars used, I'd change it right away, especially if it has some miles on it. I used Redline in mine. If you search on the Explorer or Taurus forums, you can read all about it.
Other than that, they are pretty decent, average midsize crossovers wearing SUV clothing. I strongly considered getting one when I got the SHO, but they were more expensive and slower than the SHO, and we already had the Expedition, so I didn't really need the practicality.
Oh, and if you get the Sport, that 3.5L Ecoboost takes well to aftermarket tuning.
We have a '15 AWD model at work. It's the most basic AWD model with the base radio & no backup camera. Has a non-turbo v-6 and I think the 6 speed transmission. 3 of us share it as a fleet type vehicle. I usually put 200-350 miles on it the days that I drive it due to where my projects are located and this is mostly roadways with 55-70 mph speed limits. I consistently get 22 mpg and that is the lifetime average as well. Generally an OK vehicle and can get around a jobsite easily. I just hit 49k miles on it earlier this week.
My biggest complaints are the sheet metal of the front wheel well intrudes into the foot well and there is no comfortable place to put my left foot. If I want to stretch my left leg out it's either on the curved (both vertically and horizontally) wheel well or tucked under the brake pedal. Only other option is to bend your knee and put your foot flat on the floor right in front of the seat. It's probably not really annoying if your only driving for a short distance, but all my trips are 2 or more hours one way so it gets annoying. Also, the transmission won't downshift unless you mat the loud pedal. Then after 2-3 downshifts it will get up and go pretty well, but there is a delay even when you floor it. If you don't floor it you will slowly creep up in speed, even at 75% throttle it won't downshift. Also, as somebody noted above it seems larger than it is and I find it unexpectedly difficult to be precise with placing the passenger side wheels where I intend to (especially the rear wheel). I wind up on the rumble strips along the right side of the road more often than I expect on narrow 2 lane roads and have clipped many more curbs making right turns in it than my Tahoe.
Actual issues that needed repair were the heater core failed around 31k miles and there was a recall (IIRC it was for a potential failure of the rear subframe, but I didn't actually see the notice).
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