Is the Ford Explorer high maintenance?
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. The Ford Explorer is higher-maintenance than most. On AAA's 2025 medium SUV (4WD) benchmark, it costs about $1,769 a year to maintain and repair at 15,000 miles a year, tires included — $113 more than the $1,656 all-vehicle average. Owners filed 0.918 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 Explorers sold (2015–2022 sales), #20 of 26 SUVs we rank (lower is better; segment median 0.533).
Verdict
Yes
higher-maintenance than most
Per year
$1,769
AAA 2025 benchmark
5 years
$8,845
75,000 miles
NHTSA complaints
0.918 / 1k
Below average for SUVs
Explorer maintenance cost: 5 and 10 years
| Period | Miles | Estimate | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | 15,000 | $1,769 | AAA medium SUV (4WD), 11.79¢/mile |
| 5 years | 75,000 | $8,845 | AAA's own 5-year window |
| 10 years (floor) | 150,000 | $17,690+ | AAA's 5-year per-mile rate, extended in a straight line |
Method: AAA 2025 medium SUV (4WD) benchmark: 11.79¢ a mile × 15,000 miles a year. Covers scheduled maintenance, wear-item repairs, one set of tires and an extended warranty over 5 years. A category average, not a Explorer-specific quote. The 10-year figure is a floor: it doesn't add the larger age-related repairs (and later scheduled items such as spark plugs or coolant) that come after year 5.
How the verdict is set: Two inputs. Cost: the estimate against AAA's $1,656 all-vehicle average (more than 3% under counts in the car's favor, more than 3% over against it). Complaints: NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold against the median of every model in our study (0.48); well under the median helps, well over hurts, roughly double or more hurts twice as much. Both low = "No"; both high = "Yes". Models without a dollar estimate get no verdict.
Explorer service schedule highlights
From Ford's documents for the Explorer:
- Edition July 2025 manual (2026 model year file)
- Oil: 5W-30 WSS-M2C971-A1; 5.0 qt (2.3L), 6.0 qt (3.0L) with filter
- Spark plugs 100,000 mi normal / 60,000 mi severe
- Transmission fluid 150,000 mi; coolant first at 200,000 mi/10 yr
Source: Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance
Oil changes
Normal service: Condition-based: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor shows a message when an oil change is due; do it within two weeks or 500 mi of the message. Never exceed 1 year or 10,000 mi between oil changes. If the monitor resets early or fails, change at 6 months or 5,000 mi.
Severe or special conditions: Same monitor; it shortens the interval with severe use (short trips under 5–10 mi, extreme temperatures, dust, extended idling, heavy loads/towing). Ford gives no separate fixed severe mileage for oil.
Oil: Explorer: Motorcraft SAE 5W-30 meeting WSS-M2C971-A1 (2.3L EcoBoost and 3.0L); SAE 0W-30 (WSS-M2C973-A1) alternative in extreme cold
Source: Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance
Included maintenance
No complimentary scheduled maintenance confirmed for new Ford vehicles. Checked ford.com and fordprotect.ford.com: no standard complimentary scheduled maintenance for new Ford vehicles found. Scheduled maintenance coverage is the paid Ford Protect Premium Maintenance Plan ($0 for covered services once purchased; must be bought within 3 yr/36,000 mi).
Ford factory schedule
| Interval | Service items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every oil change (per Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor, max 1 yr/10,000 mi) |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 3 years |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 20,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 30,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 60,000 miles (severe service) |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 100,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 150,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| At 200,000 miles or 10 years |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| No scheduled interval |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
Common Explorer problems (NHTSA data)
Owners filed 0.918 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 Explorers sold (2015–2022 sales), #20 of 26 SUVs we rank (lower is better; segment median 0.533).
- 15,014 owner complaints on file with NHTSA across all Explorer model years.
- Most-reported systems: electrical system (748), powertrain / transmission (593).
- Model years flagged in our years-to-avoid analysis: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020.
- Best-rated years: 2008, 2009, 2010.
Complaints measure problems owners reported to the government, not repair bills: a high count signals more unscheduled repairs, which AAA's category benchmark doesn't adjust for. Explorer years to avoid →
How the Explorer compares in its AAA category (medium SUV (4WD))
Same AAA category means the same dollar benchmark, so the complaint rate is what separates them. Luxury models aren't priced.
| Model | Est. per year | Complaints / 1,000 sold | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | $1,769 | 0.918 Below average | Yes — higher than most |
| Toyota Highlander | $1,769 | 0.393 Above average | About average |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | $1,769 | 0.517 Average | Somewhat — above average |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $1,769 | 0.552 Average | Somewhat — above average |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | $1,769 | 0.592 Below average | Somewhat — above average |
| Honda Pilot | $1,769 | 1.07 Worst | Yes — higher than most |
| Jeep Wrangler | $1,769 | 1.12 Worst | Yes — higher than most |
| Kia Sorento | $1,769 | 1.29 Worst | Yes — higher than most |
| Toyota 4Runner | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Honda Odyssey | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Hyundai Palisade | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Kia Telluride | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Subaru Ascent | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Ford Bronco | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Chevrolet Traverse | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Volkswagen Atlas | $1,769 | — | Somewhat — above average |
| Porsche Cayenne | $2,168 | — | Yes — higher than most |
| Lexus RX | Not priced | 0.202 Best | Not priced |
| Acura MDX | Not priced | 1.21 Worst | Not priced |
| BMW X5 | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Audi Q7 | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Land Rover Range Rover | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Volvo XC90 | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Genesis GV80 | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Cadillac Escalade | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Lincoln Aviator | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Lincoln Nautilus | Not priced | — | Not priced |
| Lincoln Navigator | Not priced | — | Not priced |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Explorer high maintenance?
Yes. The Ford Explorer is higher-maintenance than most. On AAA's 2025 medium SUV (4WD) benchmark, it costs about $1,769 a year to maintain and repair at 15,000 miles a year, tires included — $113 more than the $1,656 all-vehicle average. Owners filed 0.918 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 Explorers sold (2015–2022 sales), #20 of 26 SUVs we rank (lower is better; segment median 0.533).
Is the Explorer expensive to maintain?
Plan on about $1,769 a year, $8,845 over 5 years. AAA 2025 medium SUV (4WD) benchmark: 11.79¢ a mile × 15,000 miles a year. Covers scheduled maintenance, wear-item repairs, one set of tires and an extended warranty over 5 years. A category average, not a Explorer-specific quote.
How much does a Explorer cost to maintain over 10 years?
About $17,690 at 15,000 miles a year (150,000 miles), extending the AAA 5-year per-mile rate in a straight line. Treat it as a floor: AAA's rate is measured on a car's first 5 years, and older cars need larger repairs.
How often does the Explorer need an oil change?
Ford's published oil-change interval: condition-based: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor shows a message when an oil change is due; do it within two weeks or 500 mi of the message. Check your owner's manual for your engine; severe-service intervals are shorter.
What is the cheapest Ford to maintain?
Of the 4 Ford models we cover, the F-150 has the lowest estimated maintenance cost: about $1,704 a year (AAA 2025 half-ton crew-cab pickup benchmark).
What Explorer years should I avoid?
Our NHTSA years-to-avoid analysis flags 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020. Owners filed 0.918 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 Explorers sold (2015–2022 sales), #20 of 26 SUVs we rank (lower is better; segment median 0.533).
Related
Sources and method
Dollar figures: AAA's 2025 Your Driving Costs category benchmark (retail parts and labor for routine maintenance specified by the vehicle manufacturer, a comprehensive extended warranty, repairs to wear-and-tear items that need service during 5 years of operation, and one set of replacement tires). Schedule, oil interval and included maintenance: Ford's own documents, linked by row. Complaints: NHTSA's public complaint database, divided by published U.S. sales (CarWhere analysis).
- Your Driving Costs 2025 (brochure: cost per mile by vehicle category) — AAA (maintenance cents per mile by category)
- Your Driving Costs 2025 fact sheet (methodology) — AAA (what the maintenance line includes)
- NHTSA vehicle owner complaints database — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (complaints per 1,000 sold is a CarWhere calculation)
- Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance — Ford (opened 2026-11-06)
- Ford — What is the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor System? — Ford (opened 2026-11-06)
- Ford Protect — FAQ (paid maintenance plans) — Ford (opened 2026-11-06)