2000-2002 Explorer

Have a 2000 with almost 120,000 miles. Other than 5 IAC valve replacements and 3 front pinion seal leaks, there have been no major problems. Haven't towed anything.

My mom has an '02 Eddie Bauer. 4.0eng One rear hub assembly replaced, the rear hatch door seals were completely replaced twice for water leaks, and the 6 CD radio was replaced once for eating CD's. All within 20,000 miles. No engine trouble. 19-23mpg

My sister has an '04 Eddie Bauer. 4.0eng Rear end replacement once under warranty, transmission replaced once under warranty. Two wheels replaced due to bad inflation sensors. No engine trouble. 17-19mpg (leadfoot)

My wife has an '04. V8 4.6eng All four wheels replaced for bad inflation sensors. Both front rotors replaced before first 2000 miles. Rear window motor replaced. All gaskets left off at the factory to seal the roof rack, causing 6 trips to the dealer AND a new headliner in the first 5000 miles. The Clothes hangers keep breaking off and popping out, all but two have been replaced at least twice to date, and now it has 12,000 miles on it. No engine trouble, but noisy engine sounds. 21-24mpg.

Not all is exactly what you asked for, but I thinks it's all relevant.

Spdloader

The 2000-2001 are the second gen body style. The v8 (5.0) with the 4 speed auto and all wheel drive is probably the most reliable of all the explorers. Trannys are 4r70w's.

Mileage is not as good as the V6, so I suppose it depends on how many miles you intend to put on it, but it can tow quite a bit of weight.

The 2002 was the new body style - they went to the independent rear suspension, and had lots of rear differential problems. Drivetrain is not nearly as reliable - don't think I would tow with one.

Models prior to 2003 really like to roll over if you have a rear tire blow out at speed and are not wise buys. Sure you could blame tires but not vehcicle should be so unstable that a tire failure takes it out regularly. Ford quietly redesigned them in 2003 to minimize the tendancy of control loss with a rear tire failure.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

Sorry, but that is pure bull. The big reason for the rollovers was the tread separation of the Firestone tires and drivers that did not know how to handle a blowout. Test were done by Car and Driver simulating a blow out. They had a special setup that allowed the tires to deflate almost instantly. They started at 30mph and went as high as 70mph. Even at 70mph they could take there hands off the steering wheel during the simulated blow out. The only time they had to put there hands back on the wheel was when they started to brake. A rollover is much more likely in a taller vehicle, any tall vehicle, when the drivers don't know what to do.