Ford Explorer reliability - how does it compare?

[mkaresh]

In about a month we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. More always helpful.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

367 Explorer owners signed up so far. A very good start. But more remain needed to provide results for all model years from 1995 on.

SUV reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Explorer to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 60, better than average, small sample size

2002: 122, about average, small sample size

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Ford Explorer reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

421 Explorer owners now signed up. A good start, but more remain needed so we can cover all model years. Updated results next month.

Vehicle reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

Updated results soon. Running behind this month because wife insisted on a vacation this year, imagine that...

As always, additional participants would be very helpful. We'd like to provide full results for all model years.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Explorer to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 71, about average, small sample size

2002: 110, about average, small sample size

Everyone who has been helping, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Ford Explorer reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

We'll have updated results next month. Additional participants remain needed to fully cover all model years.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Explorer to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009x. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2005: 76

2003: 84

2002: 90

All are about average. Small sample sizes for the 2003 and 2005.

We've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop. We don't have these for the Explorer yet, though, because they require a larger number of responses.

Everyone who has been helping, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide all three stats for all model years.

Ford Explorer reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

469 Explorer owners now signed up. A good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years.

Help get your year included:

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

Updated results later this month. As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Explorer to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2005: 38 - better than average, but small sample size

2003: 67 - better than average, but small sample size

2002: 103 - about average

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide complete stats for all model years.

Ford Explorer reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.

As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants soon.

Car reliability research

 

[My03Explorer]

I just signed up my 2003 Explorer, I wish that I could include how happy I have been in the past with it. I have owned the vehicle for 6 years now (second owner) and have 145000 miles on it. Besides taking care of routine maintenance, I have only ever had to do the harmonic balancer at around 100k.

Its a great vehicle.

 

[mkaresh]

While you can only report repairs going forward on the car reliability survey, you can post your entire maintenance and repair record using the repair history form. This will also provide you with cost stats for your individual car. Just please remember to report anything that can be reported through the car reliability survey through that survey first.

 

[Claus]

I wonder how well maintenance are separated from non-maintenance services. Also the questionnaire does not seem allow to account for self maintenance and repair. Nor does it allow for issues that are being ignored. I.e. my Ford Explorer has a whole slew of issues. Bad hood paint that's blistering off, door sensors that don't work, fan that doesn't initially spin on low during cold days, AC that doesn't cool well enough. But I guess every statistic has a flaw.

 

[mkaresh]

We have no problem separating maintenance based on the descriptions of the work done.

DIY work can easily be reported--one question on the survey asks who performed the work, and DIY is a choice.

Problems that are being ignored--this is an issue with older vehicles. I just don't know how to better handle it because if you're picky enough you can always find something to report with any older car. And I'm trying to avoid the work that would be involved if people felt they had to report every last thing that's not quite right with their car.

 

[mkaresh]

Updated stats later this week.

The main limitation with the Explorer, by far, is the number of owners involved.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Explorer to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2005 Explorer: 70, moderate, small sample size
2004 Explorer: 53, low, small sample size
2003 Explorer: 92, moderate, very small sample size
2002 Explorer: 84, moderate
2001 Explorer: 78, low, very small sample size
2000 Explorer: 57, low, very small sample size

We'll have further updates in August and in November. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Ford Explorer reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Explorer to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013. (Another source is about 14 months behind.)

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2005 Explorer: 51, low, small sample size
2004 Explorer: 64, moderate, small sample size
2003 Explorer: 88, moderate, very small sample size
2002 Explorer: 100, moderate

We'll have further updates in November and February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

Ford Explorer reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Explorer to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2005 Explorer: 81, moderate, small sample size
2004 Explorer: 64, low, small sample size
2003 Explorer: 109, high, very small sample size
2002 Explorer: 98, moderate

We'll have further updates in February and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Ford Explorer reliability ratings and comparisons