Ford Explorer 2011–2019 · Maintenance schedule & cost to maintain

Ford's oil-life monitor sets this, never past 10,000 miles or a year. Ford's own chart puts towing, hills, long idling and hot or cold running at 5,000 to 7,500 miles, and dusty roads at 5,000 miles or 6 months, so 5,000 is the default here. 3.5L V6: 5W-20, 6.0 qt. 3.5L EcoBoost: 5W-30, 6.0 qt. 2.0L and 2.3L EcoBoost: 5W-30, 5.7 qt. The V6s and the four-cylinders take different filters.

Ford's normal schedule says 150,000 miles. Ford's special-conditions tables (towing or a car-top carrier, long idling or low-speed driving, dusty or unpaved roads) all say every 30,000 miles, so 30,000 is the default here: a driver who matches two or more of those categories is on that schedule by Ford's own list. Use Mercon LV only, which every Ford book for this generation specifies. The normal-schedule figure is for a confirmed light-duty highway driver.

Ford's 2011 to 2014 books call these units lubricated for life, and the 2016 and later books say a dash message will ask for service. Ford's 2017 book lists a PTU and rear axle fluid change every 30,000 miles for towing, long idling and dusty driving, so 30,000 is the default here. The PTU holds under a quart of 75W-140: Ford's books print 17.9 to 23.7 fl oz depending on engine and year. FWD cars skip this line.

Not a Ford-scheduled item. It is event-driven (new tires, any suspension or steering work) plus a check about once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. On this generation, run the VIN for the rear toe-link recall first (see the problem list) and have that done before paying for an alignment, since the recall replaces rear suspension links. New tires or struts without an alignment after them waste part of what you just spent.

Not a Ford interval, but a real cost line. The Explorer is a road-going crossover, and Ford's own tire rule is to replace with the same size, load index, speed rating and type as original, naming all-season versus all-terrain as a type change. On 4WD cars Ford warns that major dissimilar tire sizes front to rear can shut the 4WD off or damage it, so replace in matched sets. Ford also calls for a rotation at every oil change, which keeps the four wearing together.

Ford's normal schedule says every 100,000 miles, one number for every engine. Ford's heavy-idling table says every 60,000 in every book for this generation, and from the 2016 book on its towing table does too, so 60,000 is the default here. The 3.5L V6, the 3.5L EcoBoost and the four-cylinders each take a different plug, so buy by engine (see the parts desk).

Wear-based, not a fixed Ford mileage: Ford's schedule has the pads and rotors inspected at every oil change, so replace them when that inspection says so, which comes sooner in stop-and-go driving. Two front brake packages exist: standard brakes on Base, XLT and Limited, heavy-duty brakes on Sport, Platinum and the police model, and the pads do not interchange (see the parts desk).

Ford's books for this generation set no brake fluid change interval, normal or severe. Brake fluid absorbs moisture with age regardless of miles, and independent brake-fluid guidance puts a full flush every 2 to 3 years. On a car this old with no record of a flush, treat it as due.

No Ford interval. A generic wear range is 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Worn dampers let the tire bounce off the road, which cups the tread even when the alignment is right, so a car eating tires unevenly needs the dampers checked, not only an alignment. Budget an alignment right after replacing them.

Ford's schedule has the half-shaft boots inspected at every oil change, which is the cheap moment to catch a tear. Boots typically last 70,000 to 130,000 miles. A torn boot flings grease onto the brake parts behind the wheel and lets grit into the joint, so a boot caught early is far cheaper than the axle it saves. Clicking on sharp turns means the joint is already worn.

No Ford interval. Typical life is 70,000 to 120,000 miles, closer to 50,000 to 80,000 on rough roads or salted winters, and rubber ages out after 8 to 10 years even on a low-mileage car. Worn bushings let the wheel move out of place under load, so an alignment will not hold. If a fresh alignment keeps drifting, check these before paying for another.

No Ford interval. Rubber and fluid-filled mounts wear with age and torque, typically between 80,000 and 150,000 miles, sooner with stop-and-go driving. A failed mount lets the engine move, which loads the other mounts, the exhaust joints and hoses, so one ignored mount tends to become two mounts plus an exhaust repair. Clunks on shifting into drive or reverse, or vibration at idle in gear, are the signs. Cost shown is per mount.

Ford's first change is at 6 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, then every 3 years or 50,000 miles. Ford's special-conditions tables add no shorter coolant interval, so there is no severe number to default to. Every car in this generation is now past 6 years old, so with no record of a change, it is due on age whatever the odometer reads.

Ford does publish a belt schedule for this generation: first inspection at 100,000 miles, then at every other oil change until it is replaced. The V6s and the four-cylinders use different belts (see the parts desk).

This is where Ford's normal schedule first calls for the fluid. A driver on the 30,000-mile severe cadence from the 30,000 bucket is on the fifth change by here, not the first. A car past 150,000 with no fluid record is the case the problem list warns about, so get the fluid looked at before assuming the transmission is fine.

Ford's schedule replaces the belt at 150,000 miles if it has not been replaced in the last 100,000. The V6s and the four-cylinders use different belts (see the parts desk).

After the first change, Ford's interval is every 3 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, so on most cars the calendar sets this one. Coolant that keeps needing a top-up between changes is a leak, not maintenance, and on the V6 that points at the internal water pump in the problem list.