A best-selling SUV with a mid-life platform change
The Ford Explorer has been one of the best-selling mid-size SUVs in the US for three decades, so every independent shop and alignment shop has done the tie rod job many times and the aftermarket catalogue is deep. The one thing that trips up parts ordering is the 2020 redesign: Ford moved the Explorer from the front-drive unibody it had used since 2011 to a new rear-wheel-drive-based CD6 platform (shared with the Lincoln Aviator). That redesign changed the front steering linkage, so a 2020-and-newer Explorer does not take the same tie rod as a 2011-2019 car.
For the owner facing the repair, the practical impact is simple: confirm the part against your VIN rather than by eye, because the two modern generations look similar but use different linkage. The tie rod failure window on the Explorer sits around 90,000 to 120,000 miles for the outer end, with the inner end typically lasting longer. Police Interceptor Utility fleet cars, built on the same platform, wear their front ends faster under pursuit and idle-heavy duty.
As with most mainstream Fords, the dealer-to-independent spread on the Explorer is moderate. Ford Motorcraft parts are priced above the aftermarket but carry a strong 24-month, unlimited-mile warranty, and a good independent using Moog or TRW parts delivers effectively identical service life for meaningfully less money than the dealer.
By end type
The breakdown below reflects typical independent-shop pricing as of 2026, cross-referenced against RepairPal Explorer estimator data (which puts a single-end job at $199 to $239, labor $87 to $128, parts around $111, excluding alignment), RockAuto current parts pricing, and platform labor times from the ALLDATA service database. Dealer quotes typically run 20 to 30 percent above these numbers.
| Service | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer end (1 side) | $45 to $105 | $165 to $235 | $210 to $340 |
| Inner end (1 side) | $55 to $130 | $255 to $350 | $310 to $480 |
| Both outer ends + alignment | $90 to $210 | $400 to $610 | $490 to $820 |
| Full four-end job (inner + outer, both sides) + alignment | $190 to $420 | $590 to $920 | $780 to $1,340 |
Pricing as of 2026. Add $85 to $135 for the four-wheel alignment that every tie rod job requires.
What changes across the Explorer lineup
6th gen U625 (2020 to 2026)
Ford moved the Explorer to a rear-wheel-drive-based CD6 platform (shared with the Lincoln Aviator) for 2020, replacing the front-drive unibody of the previous generation. The front steering linkage was redesigned, so tie rod fitment differs from the 2011-2019 car; confirm parts by VIN before ordering. ST and Platinum sit at the top of the range, and Police Interceptor Utility fleet units are common and see heavy front-end wear.
5th gen U502 (2011 to 2019)
The most populous Explorer in US shops today. Front-drive unibody (D4 platform, shared with the Flex and Taurus) with FWD and available AWD. Moog outer end ES800952 (2011-2019, shared with the Flex, Taurus and Lincoln MKT) and the EV800893 inner (2011-2017) are the widely-stocked fitments. Outer ends commonly show play from around 90k to 120k miles.
4th gen and earlier (2010 and older)
Body-on-frame truck platform (U251 and earlier) with a different front steering setup from the modern unibody Explorer. Aging fleet, often 150k+ miles; parts remain available but both the parts and the labor differ from the 2011-onward car. Have the shop confirm the linkage type on the lift.
Trim level (Base, XLT, Limited, Timberline, ST, Platinum) does not change the tie rod job within a generation; the linkage is common across the trims. The two things that matter are the generation split at 2020 and whether the car is AWD, which adds a little front-linkage labor.
Five tiers, by Explorer-specific value
Moog Premium and Mevotech Supreme deliver comparable real-world durability at roughly half the OEM cost. TRW is an original-equipment steering supplier worth knowing about at OE-grade quality. Ford Motorcraft is priced above the aftermarket but backs it with the 24-month, unlimited-mile warranty. For any end on the post-2020 U625, confirm fitment by VIN before ordering.
| Brand | Outer (each) | Inner (each) | Warranty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford OEM (Motorcraft) | $90 to $180 | $120 to $220 | 24 mo / unlimited mi | Sold through Ford dealers. Motorcraft service parts carry a 24-month, unlimited-mile warranty that includes labor when dealer-installed. Order by VIN for the correct generation. |
| Moog Premium Steering | $40 to $95 | $60 to $120 | Limited lifetime | Problem Solver line. ES800952 outer (2011-2019) and EV800893 inner (2011-2017) are the common fitments for the unibody Explorer. The indie default. |
| Mevotech Supreme | $38 to $85 | $55 to $115 | Limited lifetime | Strong sleeper pick. Comparable durability to Moog Premium at a slightly lower price. |
| TRW | $40 to $90 | $58 to $118 | Limited lifetime | Original-equipment steering supplier to several automakers. OE-grade quality, usually a touch under Moog on price. |
| MAS Industries | $22 to $55 | $40 to $90 | 1 yr / 12k mi | Budget tier. Adequate for a sold-soon or high-mileage Explorer; step up to Moog, Mevotech, TRW or OEM for a daily-driven keeper. |
One Explorer-specific note: on the 2011-2019 (U502) run, the Moog outer end is ES800952 (shared with the Flex, Taurus and Lincoln MKT), and the Moog inner end is EV800893 (catalogued 2011-2017). The 2020-onward U625 uses different linkage; confirm against your VIN before ordering.
How an Explorer tie rod job prices out
Representative scenarios for a 2016 Explorer XLT AWD with 115,000 miles, full inner-plus-outer both-sides job plus four-wheel alignment. These are illustrative estimates, not collected quotes.
- Dealer (Ford): around $1,320 with Motorcraft parts and four-wheel alignment. Top of the range, but backed by the 24-month parts-and-labor warranty.
- Alignment specialist: around $980 with Moog Premium parts and alignment in one stop. Mid-range indie pricing and the most convenient single visit.
- Independent mechanic: around $820 with Mevotech Supreme parts plus a subcontracted alignment. Bottom of the range for a full quality job.
- Mobile (YourMechanic): around $480 for outer ends only in the driveway, with a separate $120 alignment stop. All-in roughly $600, outer-only.
The dealer-to-best-independent spread is roughly $500 on a full four-end job. It is a typical mid-size-SUV gap, driven mostly by the Motorcraft parts premium and the dealer labor rate.
What it costs on the Explorer
Explorer alignment runs $85 to $135 at independents and $120 to $170 at the Ford dealer. Because the Explorer is a heavy mid-size SUV that often runs larger, pricier tires, the cost of skipping the alignment and scrubbing a tire is higher than on a compact car. A straightforward transactional four-wheel alignment is the right answer for most owners rather than a lifetime plan.
On AWD Explorers a proper four-wheel alignment matters even more, because uneven front toe loads the driveline and the larger tires unevenly. Do not let a shop finish a tie rod job without it.
Common Explorer tie rod questions
How much does a Ford Explorer tie rod replacement cost?+
Did the 2020 Ford Explorer change the tie rod setup?+
What are the Moog part numbers for a 2011-2019 Explorer tie rod?+
Does the AWD Explorer cost more for tie rod work?+
Do I need an alignment after replacing an Explorer tie rod?+
Is the Police Interceptor Utility tie rod different from the civilian Explorer?+
2011-2019 (U502) Explorer: ES800952 outer (Moog Problem Solver, shared with the Flex, Taurus and Lincoln MKT) and EV800893 inner (Moog, catalogued 2011-2017). The 2020-onward U625 on the rear-drive CD6 platform uses different linkage; Ford OEM part numbers vary by year and trim, so order by VIN at the Ford parts counter. Verify any part against your specific vehicle via RockAuto or your local Ford dealer.