Ford Explorer extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Ford Explorers are known to have average reliability, meaning an extended warranty might be worthwhile for long-term ownership or high-mileage driving.
We’ll break down what a Ford Explorer warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Ford Explorers come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Explorer ranged from $1,088.16 to $2,212.53 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightFord has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on an Explorer gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightFord Explorer extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Explorer comes with. For context, Ford Explorers come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old SUV with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Ford Explorer, you have two options:
- Buy the official Ford extended warranty, called Ford Protect Extended Service Plan.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your vehicle to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Without significant savings, having to deal with a massive repair bill can be disastrous. A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that most drivers surveyed couldn't afford to pay cash for a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to deal with a bill that large — even with credit.
Regardless of whether you go with an extended warranty from a dealer or a third-party provider, you’ll typically get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans are less expensive, but the coverage they provide may leave you no option but to pay out of pocket for pricey repairs.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. In general, repairs also aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Ford Explorer extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,212.53 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Ford Explorer registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,088.16 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Ford extended warranty is called Ford Protect Extended Service Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Ford dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Explorer with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
It's worth it to get quotes from multiple providers so you get the best deal for an extended auto warranty.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Ford Explorer were more expensive by comparison.
While you may get a lower quote for a powertrain plan, the downside is your coverage will be significantly less comprehensive. If the damaged part doesn't create power and deliver it to the wheel (e.g., engine, transmission, drive axle), you'll likely have to pay out of pocket for repairs.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Is a Ford Explorer extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Ford Explorer extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Ford as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Ford 23rd out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Explorer specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Ford Explorers.
“I own a Ford Explorer 2020, last week it started ‘bucking’ while slowing down between 30-25 mph,” said Pam, a reviewer from Missouri. “Took it to my local dealer and they said it was a transmission problem.”
“Our Ford Explorer 2015 has an issue with the anti-lock braking system activating on sharp turns,” said Jason in Washington. “Almost caused us to careen off the road and Ford won't recall or fix it.”
Additionally, Ford Explorers from 1998 to 2005 commonly have transmission failures, and timing chain, head gasket and spark plug issues are also prevalent for these model years. A bumper-to-bumper warranty may be worth it for newer models (2012 and beyond) because of electronics issues.
Ford maintenance can be pretty expensive. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Ford Explorer extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Ford Explorer Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
