What is the best year for a Ford Explorer?

The Explorer's complaint history is one of the most volatile in the three-row class. Avoid 2013-2015 (2,214, 1,666, and 1,728 complaints respectively — the exhaust fume intrusion era), 2017 (1,648 complaints), and 2020 (1,136 complaints at the sixth-generation launch). The 2024 Explorer (16 complaints, 10/10 safety, 0 severe) is the best year on record by a wide margin. The 2023 (94, 10/10, 7 severe) is also strong.

How much does Ford Explorer insurance cost?

Explorer insurance averages around $2,461/year — roughly $205/month.

Is the Ford Explorer or Chevrolet Traverse cheaper to maintain?

The Traverse is cheaper to maintain by $76/year — $656 versus $732 for the Explorer. But the Explorer has a higher reliability score (7 vs. 6), lower major repair probability (14% vs. 18%), and much lower repair frequency (24% vs. 43%). More expensive annually, but a meaningfully lower risk and visit-frequency profile.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Ford Explorer?

Repair frequency of 24% is the lowest in the three-row segment — a significant positive. For 2023 and newer models, the Explorer's dramatically improved complaint trajectory makes extended warranty unnecessary. However, the severe documented complaint spikes across 2013-2015, 2017, and 2020 make coverage essential for used models from those years.

Is the Subaru Forester expensive to maintain?

The Forester costs $632/year to maintain — $111 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 37% is above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 7 is below the class average of 8, and major repair probability of 13% is above the 11% norm. It trails the compact class average on every ownership-cost metric.

What is the best year for a Subaru Forester?

The 2024 Forester (28 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) is the standout year — the best on record. Avoid 2014 (402 complaints, 53 severe) and 2018-2019 (483 and 831 complaints respectively), which coincide with documented engine oil consumption and EyeSight recall issues. The 2022-2024 window shows significant improvement.

How much does Subaru Forester insurance cost?

Forester insurance averages about $2,035/year — roughly $170/month.

Is the Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $203/year cheaper — $429 versus $632 for the Forester, over $1,000 in savings over five years. The RAV4 also has higher reliability (8 vs. 7), lower major repair probability (10% vs. 13%), and lower repair frequency (26% vs. 37%). The RAV4 has a significant advantage on every maintenance metric.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Subaru Forester?

Reliability score of 7, major repair probability of 13%, and repair frequency of 37% — all above the compact class average — make extended warranty worth considering, particularly for 2014-2019 models with severe documented complaint spikes. For 2022 and newer, the risk profile improves substantially but still trails the class average.

Ford Explorer vs Subaru Forester

Two three-row SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Subaru Forester to minimise 5-year ownership cost.

Buy the Subaru Forester if long-term reliability matters most.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Ford Explorer	Subaru Forester
Annual maintenance	$732	$632winner
5-year total cost	$3,660	$3,160winner
Reliability score	7 / 10	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	14%	13%winner
Cargo space	85.3 cu ftwinner	74.4 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$41,300	$29,600winner
Best years to buy	2010, 2023, 2024	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Ford Explorer	Subaru Forester
RepairPal score	7 / 10	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	452.2	172.2winner
Years to avoid	2011, 2013, 2014	2013, 2018, 2019
Value retained · 3 yr	72.5%	86.9%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	49.9%	67.5%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	39.6%	54.4%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Ford Explorer	Subaru Forester
Engine	14.1%	13.3%winner
Electrical	4.1%winner	8.0%
ADAS	3.3%winner	10.6%
Brakes	1.7%winner	3.8%
Suspension	2.5%winner	4.2%
Steering	22.1%	1.8%winner
Fuel system	2.8%	1.6%winner
Tires/Wheels	1.6%	1.5%winner
Glass/Windows	3.0%winner	24.4%
Airbags	2.6%winner	10.4%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Ford Explorer	Subaru Forester
Avg annual premium	$2,461	$2,035winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Ford Explorer

$732/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Subaru Forester

$632/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Explorer costs $732/year to maintain — $159 above the three-row segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 24% is well below the class average of 40% — the lowest in the three-row segment. Reliability score of 7 matches the segment average, and major repair probability of 14% is slightly above the 13% norm. Well above-average cost, but notably fewer unscheduled shop visits than class rivals.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →