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Should I keep my Ford Explorer?
Keeping an 8-year-old (2018) Ford Explorer at typical mileage costs about $5,925 a year: $1,254 in value it loses, $1,226 insurance, $1,980 fuel, $1,364 maintenance and repairs and $100 registration. A new one costs about $11,465 a year to own, mostly because new cars lose value faster.
By model year
What a Ford Explorer costs to keep, by year
Next 12 months for a paid-off car at 12,000 miles a year, average insurance costs, $3.30 gas. Click a year to run your own numbers in Keep or Switch.
| Year | Value today | Cost to keep next year | Value lost | Maintenance and repairs | Efficiency | Repair complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,816 | $8,093 | $3,880 | $720 | 21 MPG | About average |
| 2024 | $27,098 | $7,236 | $3,011 | $742 | 21 MPG | About average |
| 2023 | $23,364 | $6,913 | $2,555 | $874 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2022 | $20,185 | $6,399 | $2,125 | $928 | 21 MPG | About average |
| 2021 | $17,518 | $6,132 | $1,717 | $1,192 | 22 MPG | More than average |
| 2020 | $15,327 | $6,211 | $1,666 | $1,315 | 22 MPG | More than average |
| 2019 | $13,251 | $5,902 | $1,293 | $1,274 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2018 | $11,599 | $5,925 | $1,254 | $1,364 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2017 | $10,035 | $5,653 | $912 | $1,461 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2016 | $8,849 | $5,719 | $885 | $1,579 | 20 MPG | About average |
| 2015 | $7,725 | $5,697 | $773 | $1,642 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2014 | $6,744 | $5,664 | $674 | $1,728 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2013 | $5,888 | $5,686 | $589 | $1,856 | 20 MPG | About average |
| 2012 | $5,140 | $5,624 | $514 | $1,939 | 20 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2011 | $4,487 | $5,710 | $449 | $2,057 | 20 MPG | About average |
Should you keep it?
Keeping vs replacing your Ford Explorer
- Cheapest year to keep: 2012, at about $5,624 a year.
- Most repair-heavy complaints: 2020, based on NHTSA owner complaints about the engine, transmission, electrical and fuel systems compared with similar cars that year.
- Fewest repair-heavy complaints: 2019.
- Older isn't always cheaper: value lost shrinks as a car ages, but maintenance and repairs grow, from $720 a year for a 2025 to $2,057 for a 2011.
A paid-off car is usually the cheapest car you can drive, even with repairs: a replacement starts losing value the day you buy it and comes with tax, fees and often a loan. Switching tends to pay only when repairs get large and frequent, or a much more efficient car cuts fuel costs enough. Keep or Switch compares your Ford Explorer against any replacement, including the costs of switching.
Questions
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a Ford Explorer per year?
For a 2018 model at typical mileage, about $5,925 a year in value lost, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs and registration, not counting any loan. Years in the table range from $5,624 to $8,093.
Which Ford Explorer years have the most problems?
In NHTSA owner complaint data, 2020 drew the most repair-heavy complaints relative to similar cars. Complaints are voluntary and busier models draw more of them, so treat this as a weak signal.
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