Insurance
$1,730/yr
Full-coverage insurance averages $1,730 a year nationally for this vehicle — roughly 1.8× its maintenance bill. ACI estimate anchored to AAA's 2025 national average ($1,694/yr full coverage).
Ford Explorer Maintenance Cost (2016–2026)
Report ACI-FOR-EXPLORER · Updated July 2026 · Figures are ACI model estimates
The Ford Explorer costs about $960 a year to maintain — $650 in year one rising to $1,455 by year ten, or $9,595 across a decade. That ranks #39 of 52 vehicles tracked by AutoCostIndex. Figures are modeled estimates at 12,000 miles a year with independent-shop labor, covering scheduled maintenance and expected repairs but not fuel, insurance, or depreciation.
Maintenance Cost Report ACI-FOR-EXPLORER
Ford Explorer
gas · midsize suv · MY 2016–2026
- Avg annual cost
- $960
- 10-year total
- $9,595
- Cost rank
- #39 of 52 vehicles
- Major-repair chance, 5 yr
- 20%
Average Annual Cost $960
$80per month
8.0¢per mile
Assumes 12,000 mi/yr · independent shop · 10-year average · ACI model estimate
The Ford Explorer ranks #39 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
What it costs as it ages
Annual cost by vehicle age · ACI modelVehicle age, years · figures at 12,000 mi/yr, independent shop
Costs stay under $950 a year through year 6, then climb as tires (set of 4) and other wear items come due.
Common services
Typical U.S. pricing · independent shop| Service | Typical cost | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Oil change (synthetic) | $98 | 7,500 mi |
| Cabin + engine air filters | $82 | 15,000 mi |
| Brake pads (front, pair) | $380 | 48,000 mi |
| Tires (set of 4) | $1,000 | 48,000 mi |
| Spark plugs (set) | $340 | 100,000 mi |
Your numbers
Table recalculates with the settings panel| Vehicle age | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Age 1 | $650 | $650 |
| Age 2 | $660 | $1,310 |
| Age 3 | $710 | $2,020 |
| Age 4 | $775 | $2,795 |
| Age 5 | $855 | $3,650 |
| 5-year total | $3,650 | $3,650 |
Ownership context
National averages · beyond the maintenance billCost rank
#39 of 52
The Ford Explorer ranks #39 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
Gas service profile
5 routine items
Routine costs are fluid-and-wear driven: oil at 7,500-mile intervals, filters, brakes, and tires. Tires (set of 4) is the single largest routine bill at $1000.
Against its rivals
Average annual maintenance · ACI model| Vehicle | Avg annual | 10-yr total | vs. Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford ExplorerThis page | $960 | $9,595 | — |
| Toyota Highlander | $689 | $6,890 | −$271/yr |
| Kia Telluride | $819 | $8,185 | −$141/yr |
| Honda Pilot | $823 | $8,225 | −$137/yr |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | $1,101 | $11,010 | +$141/yr |
Questions people ask
Is the Ford Explorer expensive to maintain?
It is about average. The Explorer averages $960 a year in maintenance and typical repairs, ranking #39 of 52 vehicles on AutoCostIndex. That is mid-pack among vehicles we track.
What does a Ford Explorer cost to maintain per year?
$960 a year averaged over the first ten years — about $80 a month. Year 1 runs roughly $650; by year 10 the annual figure reaches $1455. Ten-year total: $9,595.
What are the most common Explorer services?
The routine items are oil change (synthetic) (~$98), cabin + engine air filters (~$82), brake pads (front, pair) (~$380). Intervals and full pricing for every service are in the table on this page.
What's not included in this estimate?
Fuel or charging, insurance (about $1,730 a year nationally for this vehicle), collision damage, parking, tolls, taxes, and registration. The figure covers scheduled maintenance plus typical age-related repairs, modeled per our methodology.
Keep exploring
Similar running costs
Rankings & hubs
How we calculate this
Every figure on this page is a modeled estimate from the ACI maintenance model: each routine service is amortized per mile from its manufacturer-schedule interval, priced at independent-shop labor rates, with an age-based repair expectation on top. The method is open — the exact formula, its calibration against AAA's published ownership-cost study, and its limitations are on the methodology page. Your invoices will differ; the model sets expectations, it doesn't predict a single car.
REFERENCES: AAA — Your Driving Costs 2025 (fact sheet) · AAA — Average mechanic labor rates by state (2026) · NHTSA — Safety recalls lookup · Updated 2026-07-19