How Long Do Ford Explorers Last? (Miles & Years)
Ford Explorers can reach 200,000 miles, though fewer do than the longest-lasting models. Of 41,819 used Explorers for sale in the US, 10.1% have passed 150,000 miles and 1.8% have passed 200,000. Among those 10+ years old, 8.2% are past 200,000 miles and 1.2% past 250,000, at a median of 138,008 miles.
At the roughly 13,100 miles a year typical of 8-year-old Explorers on the market, 200,000 miles arrives in about 15 years.
By CarWhere Research · CarWhere analysis of 41,819 live used listings · Updated 2026-11-03
Ford Explorer mileage on the used market
| Listings | Sample | Median miles | 150k+ miles | 200k+ miles | 250k+ miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All used Explorers | 41,819 | 76,111 | 10.1% | 1.8% | 0.3% |
| 10+ years old (2016 & older) | 8,098 | 138,008 | 38% | 8.2% | 1.2% |
250k+ is shown only where at least 10 listings qualify. All US used listings, every model year combined: 2.3% past 200,000 miles; 10+ years old: 9.1% (how long cars last, all models).
Median miles by model year
| Model year | Age | Median miles | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 yr | 22,660 | 3,533 |
| 2024 | 2 yrs | 28,420 | 2,099 |
| 2023 | 3 yrs | 40,180 | 5,986 |
| 2022 | 4 yrs | 62,785 | 3,536 |
| 2021 | 5 yrs | 80,645 | 2,810 |
| 2020 | 6 yrs | 88,448 | 3,991 |
| 2019 | 7 yrs | 100,515 | 1,367 |
| 2018 | 8 yrs | 104,769 | 2,596 |
Ford Explorer years to look for — and avoid
Most common past 200,000 miles: 2013 (121 of 1,216 listed), 2015 (107 of 1,712 listed), 2014 (81 of 1,369 listed). These are the model years most often still for sale past 200k — partly a sign of durability, partly of how many were sold.
Complaint record: NHTSA owner-complaint data flags 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 as years to avoid. The cleanest records belong to 2008, 2009 and 2010. See the full Ford Explorer years to avoid and the best Ford Explorer years.
Common problems on high-mileage Explorers
- Power steering failure and stiffness (2011–2019) — owner reports between 45,000 and 270,000 miles
- Power steering failure and stiffness (2011–2019) — owner reports between 45,000 and 270,000 miles
- A-pillar and B-pillar trim detachment (2011–2019) — owner reports between 45,000 and 246,000 miles
- A-pillar and B-pillar trim detachment (2011–2019) — owner reports between 45,000 and 246,000 miles
Most-reported NHTSA complaint areas across all Ford Explorer model years: electrical system (748), equipment (601), power train (593).
Adjusted for how many were sold, the Ford Explorer logs 0.918 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles (2015–2022 sales) — percentile 25 of 100 among the suvs in CarWhere's most reliable rankings (higher means fewer complaints per vehicle sold).
What keeps any high-mileage car going is the maintenance in its owner's manual schedule — fluids, filters and wear items — so ask for the service records of the specific car.
Shopping for a used Ford Explorer?
Compare live used Explorers by mileage, model year and price near you.
Browse used listingsFAQ
How many miles can a Ford Explorer last?
Ford Explorers can reach 200,000 miles, though fewer do than the longest-lasting models. Of 41,819 used Explorers for sale in the US, 10.1% have passed 150,000 miles and 1.8% have passed 200,000. Among those 10+ years old, 8.2% are past 200,000 miles and 1.2% past 250,000, at a median of 138,008 miles. The highest-mileage 1% of listings show more than 215,878 miles.
How many years does a Ford Explorer last?
At the roughly 13,100 miles a year typical of 8-year-old Explorers on the market, 200,000 miles arrives in about 15 years. 8,098 of the 41,819 Explorers listed for sale are model year 2016 or older, and 38% of those have passed 150,000 miles.
Is 150,000 miles a lot for a Ford Explorer?
10.1% of used Explorers for sale have passed 150,000 miles, rising to 38% among examples 10+ years old (median 138,008 miles). Fewer Explorers make it far past that point on the used market, so a 150,000-mile example deserves a close look at its service record.
Which Ford Explorer years last the longest?
The 2013, 2015 and 2014 model years have the most Explorers still for sale past 200,000 miles (121, 107 and 81 listings respectively). Separately, NHTSA owner-complaint records flag 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 as years to avoid, with 2008, 2009 and 2010 showing the cleanest records.
What are the most common problems on high-mileage Explorers?
Owner-reported failures with mileage on record include power steering failure and stiffness (2011–2019), reported at 45,000–270,000 miles, power steering failure and stiffness (2011–2019), reported at 45,000–270,000 miles and a-pillar and b-pillar trim detachment (2011–2019), reported at 45,000–246,000 miles. Across all model years, the most-reported NHTSA complaint areas are electrical system, equipment and power train.
What is the average mileage of a used Ford Explorer for sale?
The median used Ford Explorer for sale has 76,111 miles; one in ten has more than 150,553. Based on 41,819 live US listings, 2026-11-03.
Sources & method
- Mileage shares: CarWhere analysis of 41,819 live US used-car listings from licensed vehicle-data providers, captured 2026-11-03. Aggregate counts only — no individual listings are stored. Listings without an odometer reading are excluded.
- “10+ years old” means model year 2016 or older. Comparing cars of similar age is the fairer test: a model with mostly new inventory will show few high-mileage examples no matter how durable it is.
- Median miles by model year: median odometer of each used model year on the market (minimum 30–40 listings per year), from CarWhere's live-listing price studies.
- Reliability: CarWhere analysis of NHTSA owner complaints (Office of Defects Investigation) and recall records. Complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold are shown where sales data exists.
- Listings show cars that are still on the road and for sale, so this is a survivor sample — it tells you how far these cars commonly go, not the share that were scrapped earlier.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-03