2011 Explorer Limited - Pre-buy Questions!

[astanford]

Hello everyone!

I currently own a 2000 Explorer Sport, and she has ticked near the 210k mark, Still runs and drives fine, Just wanting to get something newer. I managed to find a 2011 Explorer Limited 4x4 with 107,000 miles for $17,995.

I am super interested in it, its a great looking vehicle, and would love to stick with the Explorer family!

My questions are:

• Is this make/year reliable?
• Can I expect to easily see 200k miles out of it?
• Is this a good price for the Year/Miles/Trim?
• What could be a major issue that I might run into before 200k miles?

Thanks!

 

[thefranchise713]

Nearly 18,000 sounds high for 100k vehicle, especially given that the 2011 was the first year of the current generation Explorer.

It's also at the time where the water pump might be requiring service--it's not a maintenance item, but some have been failing on the 3.5L NAs and it's a lot of labor time (12 hours!) to replace.

If the water pump has already been changed I would consider this vehicle. In any event, look under the oil cap and see if you're starting to see a milk shake form in there (not a technical term, but it's going to be clear oil/coolant are mixing) from a leaking water pump. Also see if there is coolant leaking from the weep hole.

 

[blwnsmoke]

I would take a through look over it and also have an OASIS report pulled from a Ford dealer to see its history. Chances are it has had a lot of TSBs performed but don't be scared of that. The 2011 had a lot of growing pains but just about everything has been fixed.

My 2011 has been awesome and has 106,000 on it now. It is always garaged, washed several times a week, and looks Brand new inside and out minus some seat wear/wrinkles. My wife drives it daily and does not want to get rid of it.

There are many out there that are solid vehicles. Just do your research.

 

[Sixonemale]

Nearly 18,000 sounds high for 100k vehicle, especially given that the 2011 was the first year of the current generation Explorer.

It's also at the time where the water pump might be requiring service--it's not a maintenance item, but some have been failing on the 3.5L NAs and it's a lot of labor time (12 hours!) to replace.

If the water pump has already been changed I would consider this vehicle. In any event, look under the oil cap and see if you're starting to see a milk shake form in there (not a technical term, but it's going to be clear oil/coolant are mixing) from a leaking water pump. Also see if there is coolant leaking from the weep hole.

Thefranchise713 is giving you some of the best free advice you will ever receive, make absolutely sure the water pump has been replaced, but as he also mentioned I would be hesitant to buy first generation of anything. I owned a '91 and '02 Explorer and the '91 had some first generation issues no doubt, however, the engines on both models could run to 150,000 miles plus with a minimum maintenance expense. This generation is different, replacing the water pump, a $40 part, if detected in time will cost you about $1,500 at a Ford Dealership and if the failure is not caught in time you will need to replace your engine as referenced in his post. Some owners have had almost no warning signs that the water pump is failing and some have had to replace their entire engine. This problem can be read about in all forums of Ford vehicles that have the 3.5L NA engines, though I'm not sure this does not also apply to the 3.5L twin turbo engines. Bottom-line, Ford has increased horsepower with less weight to increase gas mileage, but at a cost, more complex and smaller displacement engines that are not all that easy to maintain and can be very expensive to maintain for those who want drive them to 150,000 miles plus.

 

[Jon M]

Kelley Blue Book shows that price to be high.

Personally, after having three first year of the body style vehicles, I won't do it again. Yes, all the problems have, by now, been identified, but that doesn't mean they've all be fixed, on that one, or in general.

If you're looking at it on a dealer lot, I would insist that every TSB has been performed, and the water pump replaced, before agreeing to anything. Look at the rear brake corrosion, exhaust leak, and APIM threads on here, among others.

I would also look at the date of manufacture, because, in my experience, the earlier those first ones are built, the more likely they are to exhibit problems.

Besides identified problems for the model, all of my first year vehicles have exhibited electrical problems that were not identified as model problems, and other random issues, most of which the dealers had problems tracking down.

You'll never identify all of its issues on a test drive.

Then come the potential issues from lack of maintenance. Over 100k, if the transmission hasn't been serviced, a lot of places won't touch it, which leaves only a dealer willing to do it; mine wanted $280. Coolant should be done as well. On a 4x4, you need to add in PTU, and rear diff.

Any of it that hasn't been done is going to add hundreds to the cost.