2009 Ford Explorer

The 2006-2010 Ford Explorer is the fourth generation and the last to use a body-on-frame layout. It carried over the 4.0-liter SOHC V6 and the 4.6-liter Triton V8, the latter upgraded to a three-valve cylinder head paired with a six-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive was standard with part-time and full-time four-wheel-drive systems available. Three rows of seating were standard on most trims, and a power-folding third row was offered.

This generation focused on refinement rather than reinvention, with a stiffer frame, improved sound insulation, and standard stability control with roll mitigation, which was a direct response to the scrutiny the model had received in the previous decade. Towing capability remained a strong point against the unibody crossovers that were beginning to take market share. The fifth generation that followed in 2011 abandoned the frame entirely.

For used buyers, this is generally regarded as the most durable of the frame-based Explorers, but the SOHC V6 timing chain cassette issue persists and should be assumed to be a future expense on any high-mileage V6. The three-valve 4.6-liter V8 is stronger but is part of the Ford modular family associated with spark plug breakage during removal, a known service complication rather than a failure. Rear air suspension on equipped models and rear differential service are the other items worth checking.