High-mileage Explorers - going to be a problem?

[st8ic88]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forums but not new to explorers. I had a 2000 sport a couple years ago which I got rid of due to electrical gremlins and fuel economy concerns.

I have someone offering me another Explorer as trade for my car. It is a 2004 V6 XLT loaded (no leather) AWD. My concern is that it has 200,000km (125,000 miles) on it and I hear that the transmissions are prone to falling out frequently. The 2002 Explorer is this site's worst vehicle because of this problem and you can see that the 2004 is not much better:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2004/index.shtml

Should I be concerned about an Explorer with mileage like this? He says the transmission is not slipping, would you guys be worried about it?

 

[dannym52fire]

To be honest with you, I would never buy a vehicle with that many miles. Around 120,000 miles is where I usually tend to get rid of them. But, I can say that the 3rd gen Exploders are great and I would definitely buy one again. Also, if you do decide to trade, make a visit to Kelley Blue Book and see if the vehicles are equal in value. Good luck!

 

[Glen4X4]

Welcome To The Forum! I've never owned a 3rd gen but high mileage on these are nothing of worry to me as mine are a lot higher than that. I would request information on transmission service intervals, and check the smell and color of the fluid and if you're unsure then take it to a mechanic for an overview and professional opinion of the truck. The 02 are very prone to electrical failures but haven't heard many for the 03+ But you can always buy a brand new vehicle and have problems while the next not have any issues at all, it is a mechanical machine so anything is possible no matter the brand/model/year. The engine its self of the vehicle should last a good long time yet.

 

[joecrna]

Many still running strong with more miles. The 5r55e trans does often develope issues but most are easily fixed (no complete rebuild) and many don't develope these issues for many miles. Mine currently has 185k with no trans fix (knock on wood).

 

[ShawnTRD]

I'm going to get it for this but get a FZJ80

 

[dannym52fire]

I'm going to get it for this but get a FZJ80

How DARE you bring a Toyota name into this forum. Can someone please delete ShawnTRD's profile? HE is not needed here!!!!!! @#!$%^&* :fire:



:

 

[GreenEyez]

Well you guys can use my rig as a test mule I plan on going till she croaks. Though when my trans dies I plan on going for a beefy bloke.

 

[jaytech]

long runners

I personnally have two explorers a 99 xlt with 275,000 mi and an 01 with 230,000 mi niether have had any problems also have a 91 ranger with 670,000mi new tranny at 435,000mi. Hope this helps.

 

[ShawnTRD]

How DARE you bring a Toyota name into this forum. Can someone please delete ShawnTRD's profile? HE is not needed here!!!!!! @#!$%^&* :fire:



:

Cars in my driveway.

2005 Explorer (Wifes)

1995 Toyota Land Cruiser

1993 Honda Civic

And I've never based the Explorer here. But I can tell you we have 80k miles on it, and in September the driver side wheel bearing went on out way to TN for our honeymoon. Then in like maybe Feb. or March the passenger side went. Then in maybe May the rear passenger side went. The wife mom had a 2004 Explorer that had 3 front and 1 rear go (all dealer serviced), and now she just bought a new non Explorer SUV.

 

[SteveBarker]

well ours has 127k on it, never had the trans serviced. never even seen the fluid. (there's no dipstick, thanks ford) And transmissions can be fixed. it's not like if the trans goes out you have to junk the car.

 

[02oxfordwhitev8]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forums but not new to explorers. I had a 2000 sport a couple years ago which I got rid of due to electrical gremlins and fuel economy concerns.

I have someone offering me another Explorer as trade for my car. It is a 2004 V6 XLT loaded (no leather) AWD. My concern is that it has 200,000km (125,000 miles) on it and I hear that the transmissions are prone to falling out frequently. The 2002 Explorer is this site's worst vehicle because of this problem and you can see that the 2004 is not much better:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2004/index.shtml

Should I be concerned about an Explorer with mileage like this? He says the transmission is not slipping, would you guys be worried about it?

I had a 2002 i drove it for 200,000 miles or so the death was caused by a connecting rod breaking. i use to go to my dealer for check ups and what not and around 150,000 he said id need a new transmission but as long as i didnt go driving around like i was in nascar i would be fine so i drove normally ocasionally from 2nd to 3rd it slipped but that was it the slip never got worse. If i were u i wouldnt go around trading your car for another car who knows what the hell your going to get stuck with it might not have been taken care of etc. and AWD? come on are people now a days such whimps that they cant push a button? or throw it in N then push a button? but in all seriousness think about what murphy's law says when u think about aceppting this trade if something can go wrong you can be double damn sure it will.

 

[02oxfordwhitev8]

Many still running strong with more miles. The 5r55e trans does often develope issues but most are easily fixed (no complete rebuild) and many don't develope these issues for many miles. Mine currently has 185k with no trans fix (knock on wood).

yeah i had my tranny solionds or whatever replaced and that really helped the tech said he replaced the transmission solienods i raised my eyebrow to that because i never heard of such a thing but already being late for work because i wanted my car checked out after driving 7,000 miles around in it, i just said yeah fine paid and left

 

[jstorm001]

i got mine 2002 Explorer eddie bauer back in 2007 with 93,000 miles on it now i have about 128,000 miles on it and last week i just had my transmission replaced the second time since i bought it had to pay to fix it the first time around about $3,200 bucks but since it came with the 3 year / 100,000 miles warranty my ford dealer had to put in my second new one in for notting. now i got a another new warranty to with this new one to =D

my first transmission failed only go reverse even if it was in D,N,3,2,1 it would jolt in reverse

Problem with my second one started with a flashing O/D light & check transmission message ford dealer fixed for it under warranty said a valve was sticking

Not even two months later a week ago i was getting on to a highway going to work it started shifting weird at first i tought i ran something over that how bad it was . i got a O/D light flashing with a Over Heated transmission message!!! got off the highway soon as i could shifting got really bad and o/d light & check transmission stayed on when i got off work i was driving to the ford dealer to drop it off another light came on service engine soon also came on

 

[daveleeander]

125,000 is not all that many miles on a car anymore if they have been taken care of and serviced regularly.

I have an 02 Explorer XLT with 223,000 miles on it. Still on the first engine and first tranny. I have changed the solenoid block at 60k, and other than that, all I do is service it with flushes every 60k, and just changed the filter with the last flush at 215,000.
I run Amsoil in everything.

D

 

[f2racer]

Many still running strong with more miles. The 5r55e trans does often develope issues but most are easily fixed (no complete rebuild) and many don't develope these issues for many miles. Mine currently has 185k with no trans fix (knock on wood).

Joe, waht issues are you referring to and what are the easy fixes?

Thanks!

 

[Slippin]

I recently bought a used 03 XLT with 128K miles & the 2" trailer towing packg.
When I test drove it,the owner said that vibration noise I'm hearing is the catalytic converter shield rattling..It drove perfectly,accept for that annoying noise.I knew better,and suspected a transmission problem.After we settled on a price,I took it to my hometown transmission specialist,and they found the torque converter and pump were the culprit...($800)They replaced both,and also found both differential internal bearings needed replacing,as did races,axle seals,pinion seal,crush sleeve,gasket & fluid & one front wheel hub bearing on passenger side...($1050 more).
Final repair costs were $1850.I accept that as buying used,but really appreciated that they didn't sell me a remanufactured Trans for $1900 alone,and saved the original Trans..Most shops would've not had taken the time to diagnose the individual problem and just write my Trans. off completely.
The shop said my Trans.should last 50-100K more miles with normal driving habits,and she performs beautifully today and I feel is worth the prices I've paid for her so far.

 

[joecrna]

Easy fixes include selinoids, vavle body etc. They fix all the common 5r55e trans problems such as the shift flair (a slipping feeling at the shift). You can read all about them in the trans rebuild diary. Once fixed, them seldom recur as the various rebuild kits contain the needed updates.

 

[bookbinder]

2002 Limited 188,000 2nd owner. !st owner (local guy) replaced trans @ 120,000. I love mine.

 

[zoso1030]

2002 Ford Explorer XLT with 129,000 and original tranny
shifts fine