There’s no point in buying a vehicle if it’s going to prove to be unreliable. After all, who wants to spend extra money on unwanted repairs, and being stuck begging friends and family for rides? Thankfully, the Ford Explorer has an overall reputation for being reliable. 

The Ford Explorer typically manages to impress critics. It also typically sells well, and that’s because people expect it will last. It’s not perfect by any means, but it manages to keep rolling while other vehicles are stuck sitting in the junkyard. 

The Ford Explorer has quite the rep

Ford might not be a luxury brand, but it does invest in building reliable vehicles. Consumer Reports has a lot of good things to say about the Explorer in general, and the reliability rating is part of that.

The 2020 and 2021 models haven’t fared well in that area. In fact, both are being roasted in reviews. The used models are getting much more love, however. For example, the 2019 model earned a four out of five in predicted reliability. The 2018 model earned a three out of five.

Used Ford Explorers have become increasingly popular thanks to the fact that they have passed the test of time. In fact, Explorers some of Ford’s best-selling used vehicles.

So why exactly do consumers rely so much on an SUV that doesn’t come with a luxury label? As it turns out, it’s all about the mileage.

The SUV that keeps on going

While the Ford Explorer has its issues, there is one area that it gets a lot of love, and that’s the insane mileage owners get out of it. For anyone looking for a vehicle that will last them for years, the Ford Explorer has what it takes.

According to Motor and Wheels,

“A Ford Explorer can last up to 10-17 years with regular maintenance. An average Ford Explorer can easily achieve 80,000 to 200,000 miles. If you visit Explorer forums, you will find several examples of users with over 300k miles on the odometer.” 

It’s a great investment if anyone is sick of making car payments. There’s a catch to this longevity, however. To get this great mileage, it will require owners to keep up with car maintenance.

Car maintenance really does matter

Having an excellent rep is a great sign that you’re investing your money in the right vehicle. You can’t just rely on that, however. There are some things you can do to help extend the life of your vehicle.

Things like oil changes, tire rotations, and checking the transmission fuel can go a long way toward making sure your vehicle will stand the test of time. Yes, finding the time to do so can be frustrating, but it’ll save you both time and money when it comes to expensive repairs.

If you’re looking at a used Ford Explorer, investing in a CarFax can also help. It’ll tell you if the vehicle has been in any major wrecks. It’ll also show many owners the vehicle has had.

The fewer the owners, the more likely you’ll be to purchase a vehicle that has been well cared for, which means it might just live up to the Ford Explorer rep of reliability.