Question:

My wife and I purchased a 2001 Explorer Sport, 6cyl, 2WD, in Dec of 2000.   So far its been a reliable automobile.  This is my first experience with an Explorer.   At the moment I am wondering about this vehicle’s long term reliability, not because we are having problems, but because I am debating whether or not I should pay it off. With only 10,000 miles being put on it since we bought it (used with 16k miles), its been great.  However, we are moving out of state and my wife’s commute distance will be 60 miles a day. So I am wondering if this vehicle will be worth keeping through, say, 100,000 miles and beyond.  I don’t want to sink a huge amount of money into paying it off if we’re only going to have to replace it in the (near) future. Can anyone tell me if a properly maintained, well cared for 2001 Sport will be reliable long term? Thanks. BT —

Response:

I don’t know if you can say if one model year to another will make any difference.  I have a 1996 Sport 4WD with 120,000 miles on it.  The only things that have broken on it are pretty minor. I did have the transmission seals replaced, but that was under factory warrantee.  I replaced the battery, starter motor, plugs and wires, break job twice.  Had a flaky ABS sensor, but I think that was damaged by the shop when they did the break job.   Most of this is pretty standard maintenance work that you do over time.  I use 5w30 synthetic oil and just keep it clean. I expect to get another 3-4 years out of it with little to no major expenses.  I don’t see why it wouldn’t last.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My wife and I purchased a 2001 Explorer Sport, 6cyl, 2WD, in Dec of 2000. > So far its been a reliable automobile.  This is my first experience with > an Explorer. > At the moment I am wondering about this vehicle’s long term reliability, > not because we are having problems, but because I am debating whether or > not I should pay it off. > With only 10,000 miles being put on it since we bought it (used with 16k > miles), its been great.  However, we are moving out of state and my wife’s > commute distance will be 60 miles a day. > So I am wondering if this vehicle will be worth keeping through, say, > 100,000 miles and beyond.  I don’t want to sink a huge amount of money > into paying it off if we’re only going to have to replace it in the (near) > future. > Can anyone tell me if a properly maintained, well cared for 2001 Sport > will be reliable long term? > Thanks. > BT > —

Response:

I don’t see why either.  I have a 1996 4 Door 4WD XLT with the same mileage, and haven’t had any problems other than a seal on the Intake Air Manifold from the EGR tube.  I do all maintenance myself, and use all the right type of synthetic oil in mine too, where applicable (everywhere, tranny, xfer case, engine, diff, etc…) I plan on getting lots more miles and years too. Keep her maintained and adjusted.  :) r/ -IanCT

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I don’t know if you can say if one model year to another will make any > difference.  I have a 1996 Sport 4WD with 120,000 miles on it.  The only > things that have broken on it are pretty minor. > I did have the transmission seals replaced, but that was under factory > warrantee.  I replaced the battery, starter motor, plugs and wires, break > job twice.  Had a flaky ABS sensor, but I think that was damaged by the shop > when they did the break job.   Most of this is pretty standard maintenance > work that you do over time.  I use 5w30 synthetic oil and just keep it > clean. > I expect to get another 3-4 years out of it with little to no major > expenses.  I don’t see why it wouldn’t last. > My wife and I purchased a 2001 Explorer Sport, 6cyl, 2WD, in Dec of 2000. > So far its been a reliable automobile.  This is my first experience with > an Explorer. > At the moment I am wondering about this vehicle’s long term reliability, > not because we are having problems, but because I am debating whether or > not I should pay it off. > With only 10,000 miles being put on it since we bought it (used with 16k > miles), its been great.  However, we are moving out of state and my wife’s > commute distance will be 60 miles a day. > So I am wondering if this vehicle will be worth keeping through, say, > 100,000 miles and beyond.  I don’t want to sink a huge amount of money > into paying it off if we’re only going to have to replace it in the (near) > future. > Can anyone tell me if a properly maintained, well cared for 2001 Sport > will be reliable long term? > Thanks. > BT > —

Response: