Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

We've been collecting data on a few recent years of the Explorer, and might have results in May. For all years additional participants are very much needed.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

 

We're a few responses short of being able to post results for the 2003 and the 2006.

Additional participants would make a difference.

Vehicle reliability research

 

We ended up falling just a couple responses short.

I'd like to get these model years, and hopefully others as well, into the next set of results, in August. Need owners' help to make this happen.

For the results on 120+ other models, and sign up to help (if you haven't already):
TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

The 2003 and the 2006 will barely make it into the August results. Both will be asterisked for marginal sample sizes.

I'd like to get rid of those asterisks and include additional model years in future updates.

To help make this happen:

Vehicle reliability research

 

Those results have been posted. Both the 2003 and 2006 Explorer appear to have worse than average repair rates. But the sample sizes are small, and with larger samples it's possible the reported repair rates would be lower.

With more participants, we could provide more precise results and include more model years. Next update in November.

Full set of results:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

291 Explorer owners signed up so far. A very good start, but more are needed to provide results for all model years from 1995 on.

Vehicle reliability research

 

Updated results have been posted. The sample sizes remain small, so the results are not precise, but the reported repair rates are worse than the average. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year:

2002: 192

2003: 148

2006: 123

With more participants, we could provide more precise results and cover all model years from 1995 on.

For the details on the Explorer and 170+ other models, and to sign up to help out:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

We're about to start the last month of data collection before the February results. Additional participants would be very helpful.

Car reliability research

 

Updated results next week. Sample sizes remain marginal for some years, insufficient for others, for the Explorer. So additional participants would be very helpful.

Car reliability research

 

Updated results were posted this week. We have partial results for three model years. The 2003 is about average, while the 2002 and 2006 are "worse than average." With more participants, we could cover more model years and provide more precise results.

We now have a separate results page for each model. The one of the Ford Explorer:

Ford Explorer reliability comparisons