1) What are the chances a 2002-04 Explorer WONT need a $2,000 transmission repair?
2) Is it indeed a $2,000 fix?
3) Is a Durango a better option for that type/size vehicle (4x4, V8, RWD). Trying to possibly stay away from Yukon/Expedition size if possible.
1) I don't know
2) I don't know
3) Durango, depending on type, will almost definitely need a transmission. I just got rid of a 99, 5.9, 4x4 SLT with all bells and whistles. It was the biggest money pit I have owned and never able to get reliable. Some of the larger issues where wiring harness, ECU (both kept killing transmissions), and everything leaked. My hope was to make it a nice family desert truck. It is a good size, 3 rows, power, I wanted it to be great, but left me stranded more than not. Look on Craigslist and look for all of them for sale with bad transmissions.
50/50 shot at best.
Probably, seems like every transmission repair/rebuild quote nowadays starts near $2000.
I had a 00 Dakota R/T and it was a pretty good truck all around. I didn't have any of the problems former520 listed, just a couple minor ones. A couple co-workers have or had Durangos and generally liked them and had good luck with them.
I'd be more worried about an engine if you are going to get a 4.0sohc....
I'd be looking at 4.6 Mod or 4.7 in the Durango.
Not too many V8, 4x4, RWD, third row, smaller than Expedition vehicles out there (now that the Disco has been violently torn from my dreams).
My 99 durango has had issues, mostly cooling system and AC related,and 1 door with constant electrical issues, but never a transmission issue and I tow a race car with it.
Keep in mind the gen 1 versions are all at least a decade old so problems are bound to happen and a healthy dose of deferred maintenance should be included in your purchasing decisions.
In reply to Ranger50:
I drove my 4.0 SOHC for 12 years and never had a problem. It had a factory recall done about 4 years into its life.
The Durango is going to get just as bad of mileage if not worse than a Tahoe/Yukon. They are pigs.
Get a Tahoe - vastly better vehicle.
NGTD wrote: The Durango is going to get just as bad of mileage if not worse than a Tahoe/Yukon. They are pigs. Get a Tahoe - vastly better vehicle.
I neglected to mention gas mileage is of little concern but I'm kinda heading in the direction you noted.
If you're looking at a Durango of the same vintage, the first thing you ask is if the trans has been rebuilt, especially if it has more than 100k. If it has less than that, expect that answer to be no.
I never towed with my '03 and it popped the trans at 122k.
Other than that, it's been really reliable for me. '03s were the last year of the 1st gen and I think it was the best because I think they got all the bullE36 M3 bugs worked out of it. I have almost 200k on mine.
Just expect wear items like ball joints and such to be replaced.
Neither of those options are attractive to me. I'd be looking at GM offerings (Tahoe/Escalade/Yukon/H2), Nissan (Pathfinder, Armada, QX4, QX56), and Toyota (4Runner, GX).
Ranger50 wrote: I'd be more worried about an engine if you are going to get a 4.0sohc....
I came in here to say the exact same thing. It seems like everyone in my neighborhood has a bad back side cam chain now. As far as I know, there are no shortcuts to fix it.
I hate to say it, but if you want an older v8 4x4 SUV, and don't want to spend a bunch of money, get a full-size GM like a Tahoe.
Or, buy a v8 Explorer or Mountaineer, and make sure you do it cheaply enough to fit a new transmission in the budget.
Since large GM SUVs are forcing themselves on to the shopping list, how do Ford expeditions compared to them? From the limited amount of time that I've spent with them, they seem pretty good, I just don't like the mod motor, at least not when comparing it to an LS engine for the same or less money.
Intake manifold gaskets in the 4.0l explorer motors kill transmissions. Why? well when they fail they do so in a way that allows enough coolant out of the system to expose the trans cooler in the rad but keeps enough coolant so the cooling system works just fine as long as you don't hammer on it. I had many explorers back in the 90's-2000's and this was a common problem.
Transmission rebuild at reputable shop was around $2400 with a 3 year 40K mile warranty. Best thing you can do is to put a decent mocal cooler up behind the grill and either bypass the cooler in the rad all together or plumb it in line after the one in the rad. The stock coolers in the explorers that some have are way undersized. The upgrade to the mocal is needed as the stock one is supposed to work in conjunction with the one in the rad.
Also I would strongly recommend having a temp sensor put in to the pan of your trans. The trans in these things do not like temps much about 215 deg. Get to 220 even for a short time and you are taking years of life out of the trans get to 220-225 and it is all but assured you will need a rebuild in very short order.
The short of it is explorer transmissions don't like heat. Keep them under 200 deg and they will serve you well.
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