2012 Ford Explorer maintenance record | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

  • Register Today It's free!

2012 Ford Explorer maintenance record

aznkidlee

Well-Known Member
Joined
September 23, 2011
Messages
115
Reaction score
3
City, State
MA
Year, Model & Trim Level
12 Explorer XLT BLK 205A
Hello All,

In case anyone is interested, I am the original owner of this 2012 Ford Explorer. It is still my daily driver. This is my maintenance record so far. This has been my first brand new luxury vehicle that I paid. I purchased this vehicle at the end of 2011 and this will be my 7th year of ownership. I live up here in the Northeast (MA) and most miles are local. Most issues have occurred during my 6th year of ownership.

Most annoying issues I have experience are the water leaking in the third row and replacing the power steering rack twice. With the water leaking, I have sealed multiple body seam areas with silicone. It comes and goes depending on how much rain we get. The 1st power steering rack was replaced under a recall, the 2nd was replaced about 19 months later after the warranty has expired and I had to pay out of pocket. ($2400)

How have your Explorers been holding up?

Total Repair Cost (Includes wipers, the works package, cabin air filters, fuel treatments, etc):
2012 - $40.18
2013 - $464.48
2014 - $223.13
2015 - $2055.37
2016 - $895.78
2017 - $3750.83
2018 - $2434.15

Hourly Rate - Ford Dealership that I use
2017 - $140
2018 - $146

Hourly Rate - Independent Mechanic that I use
2017 - $70

The works package between 5000-7000 miles.
4 Wheel alignment - about once a year

5/12/2012
Recall 12B36
4,822

12/12/2013
Reprogram PCM - sluggish acceleration
29,721

7/24/2014
Recall 14S06
37,590

9/24/2014
Replace Serpentine belt
39,505
$134.37 - Dealer Repair

1/10/2015
4 New Tires
41,639
$1067.14 - Town Fair Tire

2/12/2015
Replace Rear Pads and Rotors
42,350
$390.22 - Dealer Repair

8/20/2015
Recall 15S11 and Replace keyless entry pad
50,552
$147.37 - Dealer Repair

10/8/2015
Water leaking from 3rd row seat belt - Driver side -
51,779
$130 - Dealer Repair

1/14/2016
Transmission Flush
56,495

5/28/2016
Replace Front Pads and Rotors
61,236
$181.78 - Driveway Install

7/29/2016
Recall 15N01E - Replaced steering gear
64,908

8/10/2016
Replace Car Battery
65,211
$139.01

9/12/2016
Repair Driver Side and Passenger Side armrest
66,905
$75 - Upholstery Shop

3/24/2017
Replace motor and fan assembly
75,696
$688.27 - Dealer Repair

4/14/2017
Replace AC Compressor and Drain and refill rear differential
76,259
$1015.78 - Independent Mechanic

6/26/17
Replace rear calipers, rear rotors and pads
79,218
$456.59 - Independent Mechanic

7/8/17
The Works + Coolant Flush
79,990
$197.72

8/28/17
Check Engine Light - P0456 - Replace Canister Purge Valve
81,757

9/27/2017
Replace both rear shocks
83,166
$486.25 - Independent Mechanic

11/28/2017
Recall 17N03
86,804

2/5/2018
Replace Steering Rack
89,950
$2434.15 - Dealer Repair
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





It looks like you have about $6,500 in out of pocket repairs listed and quite a few that don't have a cost indicated (such as all the works packages, FR and RR brakes, coolant flush, trans flush, battery, shocks). Do you have an idea on your total out of pocket for repairs and maintenance over your ownership period?

At a glance, it seems like quite a bit of out of pocket for a vehicle that hasn't even hit 100K miles.

I have been tracking my vehicle expenditures for the last 20 years and I do try to do as much basic maintenance as I can. My experience has been more along the lines of about $2K in maintenance/repairs over the first 80-100K miles or 5-7 years of ownership - basically an average of $3-400/yr give or take per vehicle (fluid/filter, tires, brakes, repairs, etc...) . After 100K, it varies by vehicle, but I've had some go another 50-100K with basic maintenance, and some that needed a $1K repair or two. I haven't had a vehicle yet that I've had to spend more than $500/yr on average for repairs/maintenance. I hope my explorers work out about the same, but they do seem to have some unique problems that are very costly...
 






I have updated my post with my total cost info.
 






Thanks for sharing. Info like this can be pretty interesting.

How are tires? You indicated first replacement at 41K and now you are at 90K. Did you replace again before 90K or is the first replacement set still going strong after ~50K miles?

In hindsight, I wonder what it would have looked like if you had done 3 yr leases and paid for the little bit of over mileage (either upfront or at turn in). In a lease situation, I would think your maintenance costs would have been pretty much limited to just basic oil changes (no reason for tires, flushes, brakes or other out of pocket repairs/maintenance for a lease you will turn in).
 






I had my first tire replacements at 41K because of a nail. I'm still on my second set of tires at 90K with about 5/32" left on all threads. I plan to replace these before next winter. I'm aiming for Oct - Nov time frame.

I agree in a lease situation I would pay less in maintenance cost but I already own this car. It is cheaper for me to pay for maintenance than to be locked down into a loan.
 






Back
Top