How to Find a Good Used Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer was introduced in 1991 and quickly became one of the most popular vehicles in the United States. In 2000, the Explorer was the best-selling vehicle, with nearly half a million new models sold. The sheer number of new Explorer sales opened the floodgates for used Explorers entering the market. Finding a "good" used Ford Explorer is not necessarily about price: it's about finding a well-maintained vehicle within your budget, one that will last you in the years to come.

Instructions

1

Determine your budget. Whether you are financing the Explorer or paying cash for it, you need to determine how much you can spend (whether the budget is for a monthly payment or an out-the-door cash price).

2

Search for Explorers within your price range. Use Internet resources--such as Cars.com, Autotrader.com, Vehix.com or Craigslist.com--to find Ford Explorers nearby within your budget. Browse your newspaper's "For Sale by Owner" classifieds section for vehicles and visit nearby dealerships (new and used). Some vehicles available on dealer lots are unadvertised.

3

Check for common trouble spots. Each Explorer model-year may have different trouble spots. For example, 2002 models have a higher rate of transmission complaints, according to CarComplaints.com, than other models. (See References 3) Use resources such as Consumer Reports, CarComplaints.com and J.D. Power and Associates to check for common trouble spots. If a particular model-year has a higher rate of complaints, consider another year. You can also phone your nearby Ford service department for assistance--in most cases, they will be happy to answer questions.

4

Check for open recalls. An open recall doesn't mean you should avoid a specific model-year altogether--it just means you'll need to take care of the problem immediately after purchase. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA) governs automobile recalls. You can enter the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of a specific Explorer to determine if a recall campaign is open.

5

Run a vehicle history report on the vehicle. If you are purchasing from a dealer, you can usually get a Carfax report for free. If not, you can order one from Carfax.com (you need the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number).

6

Inspect the Explorer. It's usually worth paying a professional mechanic to perform a pre-sale inspection. A pre-sale inspection could reveal problems not apparent to the naked eye--such as a minor oil leak or dry-rotted tires. You can use the results of the inspection to write-off the vehicle as a bad one or use it as leverage in negotiations.