Trim Report

Ford Explorer XL2021

Includes:EXPLOR|XL
$2,775
Starting From
3
Active Listings
—
Avg Mileage

Sourced from 3 active dealer listings as of

Min $2,775
Max $7,500
From $2,775
Fresh
Safety

7 recall campaigns to check. See the safety breakdown below

XL Market Overview

All Trims Combined
From$8,200
$8K–$100K
1,665 listings74,910 avg miles
Active
From$13,980
16,569 listings|$14K–$85K
Eddie Bauer
From$1,490
62 listings|$1K–$13K
King Ranch
From$21,995
114 listings|$22K–$54K
Limited
From$1,175
2,842 listings|$1K–$49K
Platinum
From$7,998
4,766 listings|$8K–$80K
ST
From$16,991
9,124 listings|$17K–$100K
ST-Line
From$14,000
9,883 listings|$14K–$70K
Sport
From$999
780 listings|$999–$100K
Sport XLS
From$600
7 listings|$600–$8K
Sport XLT
From$1,895
13 listings|$2K–$9K
Timberline
From$19,787
537 listings|$20K–$45K
Tremor
From$42,415
4,903 listings|$42K–$69K
XL
From$2,775
3 listings|$3K–$8K
XLS
From$990
13 listings|$990–$9K
XLT
From$851
9,192 listings|$851–$51K

2021 Ford Explorer XL Pricing

Price Trend

Building price history...

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Where to Find Ford Explorer XL

Location data for all 2021 Ford Explorer trims combined

37States

If you're near Michigan, you're in luck: 12% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

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
·
$1,600-$2,300/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~$1,600/yr6/10 Average
Explorer HEV AWD - Automatic (S10)
25mpg
3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
23 city26 hwy~$1,750/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic (S10)
24mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
21 city28 hwy~$1,800/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic 10-spd
24mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
21 city28 hwy~$1,800/yr5/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic (S10)
23mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic 10-spd
23mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average
Explorer RWD - Automatic (S10)
21mpg
3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
18 city26 hwy~$2,100/yr4/10 Average
Explorer Timberline AWD - Automatic (S10)
21mpg
2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
19 city23 hwy~$2,100/yr4/10 Average
Explorer AWD - Automatic (S10)
20mpg
3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
18 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average
Explorer FFV AWD - Automatic (S10)
19mpg
3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
16 city23 hwy~$2,300/yr3/10 Poor

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

Is the XL Worth It?

Common questions about the 2021 Ford Explorer XL

How does the XL compare to other Ford Explorer trims?

The XL occupies a distinct position in the Ford Explorer range. See how it stacks up on the 2021 overview page.

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

Budget for standard XL maintenance plus any trim-specific items. The 2021 has 7 recalls on file. Review the known issues on the model year page for areas to inspect before purchasing.

What are the best years for the Ford Explorer XL?

For the XL, look at the price-to-mileage ratio across model years. Later model years before a redesign tend to be the most refined version of the platform. See the Ford Explorer buyer's guide.

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