Trim Report

Ford Explorer Platinum2021

Includes:EXPLOR|Platinum
$4,200
Starting From
5,330
Active Listings
—
Avg Mileage

Sourced from 5,330 dealer listings in the latest market snapshot as of

Min $4,200
Max $80,280
From $4,200
Fresh
Safety

7 recall campaigns to check. See the safety breakdown below

Platinum Market Overview

All Trims Combined
From$8,200
$8K–$42K
1,837 listings76,334 avg miles
Active
From$15,980
17,356 listings|$16K–$84K
Eddie Bauer
From$1,490
54 listings|$1K–$12K
King Ranch
From$10,000
134 listings|$10K–$54K
Limited
From$800
2,976 listings|$800–$50K
Platinum
From$4,200
5,330 listings|$4K–$80K
ST
From$16,989
9,663 listings|$17K–$114K
ST-Line
From$16,980
9,532 listings|$17K–$62K
Sport
From$1,900
800 listings|$2K–$28K
Sport XLS
From$600
6 listings|$600–$7K
Sport XLT
From$1,695
14 listings|$2K–$8K
Timberline
From$17,202
592 listings|$17K–$49K
Tremor
From$37,000
5,681 listings|$37K–$69K
XLS
From$990
11 listings|$990–$13K
XLT
From$900
10,035 listings|$900–$51K

2021 Ford Explorer Platinum Pricing

Price Trend

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Where to Find Ford Explorer Platinum

Location data for all 2021 Ford Explorer trims combined

37States

The biggest cluster of inventory is in Michigan (12%), but the remaining listings are spread across 36 other states nationwide.

Ford Explorer Safety & Reliability

Safety data for all 2021 Ford Explorer trims

Elevated

With 7 recalls and 356 complaints, the 2021 Ford Explorer rates as elevated on the safety concern scale. Always run the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool before signing.

7
Recalls
356
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
Recall Findings
23V0690002023-10-02
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.

A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.

View at NHTSA
23V1990002023-24-03
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended. In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.

Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA
23V3050002023-28-04
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Screen (ICS). When the Display On/Off Button is used to turn the display to "Off" prior to placing the vehicle in reverse, the backup camera rearview image will not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

View at NHTSA
View all 7 recalls
23V6750002023-06-10
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.

A disconnected driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power or a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA
24V5980002024-10-08
ENGINE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility Package. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA
25V1660002025-14-03
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.

A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA
26V1590002026-17-03
SEAT BELTS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2021 Ford Explorer's biggest weak point? POWER TRAIN. It leads 356 total complaints spanning 1 years. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially in that area.

01Power Train72
02Unknown Or Other50
03Back Over Prevention23
04Engine18
05Structure14
356 total across 1 model years (2021–2021)Full data at NHTSA.gov
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Ford Explorer Fuel Economy

EPA fuel economy data for all 2021 Ford Explorer trims

19–27mpg combined
·
16-27city
·
23-28hwy
·
$2,500-$3,550/yr

Fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Explorer ranges from 19 to 27 MPG combined across 10 setups. The table below breaks it down by trim so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

By Trim
Explorer HEV RWD - Automatic (S10)
27mpg
3.3L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive
27 city28 hwy~$2,500/yr6/10 Average
Explorer HEV AWD - Automatic (S10)
25mpg
3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
23 city26 hwy~$2,700/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic (S10)
24mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
21 city28 hwy~$2,800/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic 10-spd
24mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
21 city28 hwy~$2,800/yr5/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic (S10)
23mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
20 city27 hwy~$2,950/yr5/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic 10-spd
23mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
20 city27 hwy~$2,950/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic (S10)
21mpg
3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
18 city26 hwy~$3,200/yr4/10 Average
Explorer Timberline AWD - Automatic (S10)
21mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
19 city23 hwy~$3,200/yr4/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic (S10)
20mpg
3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
18 city24 hwy~$3,400/yr4/10 Average
Explorer FFV AWD - Automatic (S10)
19mpg
3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
16 city23 hwy~$3,550/yr3/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Is the Platinum Worth It?

Common questions about the 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum

How does the Platinum compare to other Ford Explorer trims?

Every Ford Explorer trim targets a different buyer. The 2021 model page compares all available trims side by side.

What should I know about maintaining the 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum?

The Platinum shares its core mechanicals with other Ford Explorer trims, so major service intervals are similar. Watch for power train issues, the most commonly reported problem area. There are 7 recalls to verify before purchase. The 2021 model page has the details.

What are the best years for the Ford Explorer Platinum?

Check the price-to-mileage ratio for each Ford Explorer Platinum year. The last year before a generation change is usually the most refined; the first year after is when resale drops fastest. The Ford Explorer overview compares all years side by side.

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