NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THERE IS A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTING UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW. LENGTH OF ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES. JUST SEEMED TO APPEAR. WAS NOT THERE ONE DAY THEN THERE THE NEXT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH ON AN INCLINE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER: I AM WORRYING ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF MY 2005 FORD EXPLORERS REAR END AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TO BE REAR ENDED. THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED: I SHUT THE TAILGATE AND THE AREA ABOVE AND BELOW THE EXPLORER EMBLEM CRACKED VERTICALLY. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HERS CRACKED EXACTLY LIKE MINE A YEAR AGO. NOW I JUST SAW AN EXPLORER PARKED AT THE STORE AND IT WAS CRACKED TOO!!! *TR
WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A GAS STATION HEARD A THUMP FROM THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE/RIM. WHEN LEAVING THE GAS STATION NOTICED A VIBRATION WHICH BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE VIOLENT. WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE 4 OUT OF 5 LUGS SHEARED (CAUSING THE LUGNUTS AND CENTERCAP TO FLY OFF). *TR
HTTP://WWW.TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/LAWSUIT-NEWS/967-FORD-DEFECTIVE-CRACKED-TAILGATE-CLASS-ACTION. *TR
MISFIRES, COILS KEEP FAILING. *TR
I AM THE 1 AND ONLY OWNER OF 2005 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, AND THE REAR UPPER TAILGATE HAS A VERTICAL CRACK RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD LOGO THAT SPANS FROM WINDOW TO BASE 2CM IN WIDTH. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2013, I TOOK MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER (FREEWAY FORD IN BLOOMINGTON, MN) BECAUSE I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES IT HESITATES TO GO INTO REVERSE AND THEN CLUNKS INTO THE GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS OF COURSE MY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,300 PLUS TAXES AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY EXPLORER IN THIS CONDITION, BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE AT THIS POINT. I WENT ONLINE TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND 94 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THE 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. IN ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM - A WOMAN WROTE THAT SHE SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO THE DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 2005 FORD EXPLORES, THEY GET BACK TO HER TO TELL HER THAT THE FORD DEALER WILL PUT THE REPAIR UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY PROGRAM AND JUST CHARGE ME $100 BUCKS TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FORD EXPLORERS MADE IN 2005, SO WHY HAVE THE VEHICLES NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST? [XXXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
OUR 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS ONLY 60 THOUSAND MILES AND WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. OUR MECHANIC HAS TOLD US THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 60 THOUSAND MILES, AND ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD US THAT FORD VEHICLES ARE STARTING TO BECOME KNOWN FOR THE BAD TRANSMISSIONS. AFTER READING SOME COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THIS, AS MANY FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. FORD SHOULD CONSIDER A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE EVENTUALLY DIED WITHOUT BEING EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS HAPPEND DURING HIGHWAY HIGH SPEED DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ON CARS BUILT 11/24/04 AND PRIOR. THE CODES ARE P2106 AND P2135. IT'S CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REQUIRES A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RESET B36.11, B37.2 OR HIGHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAR FORD READILY ACKOWLEDGES. THEY HAVE UGRADED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TWICE WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - GARAGE KEPT, LOW MILES DUE TO WORKING FROM HOME. DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE BACK HATCH UPPER PANEL. WHEN REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY (PROGRESSIVE) THE AGENT INDICATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND ALL FORD DEALERS ARE AWARE OF IT. I DISCOVERED OTHER FORD EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS AROUND THE COUNTY WITH THE SAME CRACK. CRACK IS CAUSED BY LACK OF STABILIZATION BEHIND THE PANEL AND THE CRACK APPEARS DUE TO REGULAR CLOSING OF THE BACK HATCH. STARTS WITH A SINGLE CRACK (CAN LEAD TO MULTIPLE CRACKS). THE CRACK ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE BACK HATCH AREA CAUSING RUST AND DISABLING OR LIMITING THE BACK WINDOW WIPER. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD AND EMAILED THEM REGARDING THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY TAKE CARE OF. COST TO REPAIR CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM $275 TO $1,000, DEPENDING UPON THE SEVERITY. WE HAVE STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THOSE OF US AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND OUR NUMBER IS GROWING EVERY DAY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE 2002 THRU 2006 FORD EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS. FORD HAS CHANGED THE MANUFACTURING FOR THE YEARS FOLLOWING. *TR
THE PART THAT HOLDS THE VISORS JUST FELL APART WITH THE WIRES HANGING AND THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLOCKED MY VIEW AND THE VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL BLOCKING MY SIDE MIRROR SO THE BOTH CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR ME TO SEE. WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP PHILLPOT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT, SO THE GUY CUT THE WIRE NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO HAVE THEM DO THE SAME FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSE I CAN'T SEE MY OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THAT SIDE. THAT IS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSE I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE PANEL AROUND THE REAR GLASS OF THE LIFTGATE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR
DRIVER SIDE HINGE DISCONNECTED,THE BOLT WAS MISSING. THE SHIFTING, UNBALANCE WEIGHT CAUSED PASSENGER SIDE HINGE TO CRACK. THE WINDOW FELL STRIKING THE BACK OF THE HEAD OF THE OWNER,UNLOCKING AND REACHING IN TO THE CARGO SPACE. A SMALL CHILD WAS WITH HER WHO COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED,. HAD THIS TOP OF THE LIFTGATE FALLEN OFF IN TRAFFIC IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AND CAR DAMAGE. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAVE BEEN FILED AND RECALLS WERE IN EFFECT FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 EXPLORER XLT AND I ALSO HAVE A LARGE CRACK DOWN THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW. WHICH HAS LED TO WATER SEEPING INTO MY BACK WIPER MOTOR CAUSING ME TO REPLACE IT FREQUENTLY. WHICH REPLACING THIS IS NOT CHEAP.THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED DUE TO THERE ARE MANY OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS. ALSO THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD ON MY BACK WINDOW CAME OFF/BROKE. WE WERE LEAVING FOR VACATION AND THE WHOLE WINDOW WAS IN MY HAND WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT. I AM A FORD LOVER THROUGH AND THROUGH AND WOULD JUST LIKE THESE PROBLEMS THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING CORRECTED . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! *TR
I HAVE A CRACKED TAILGATE THAT IS A DEFECT. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME CRACK ON NUMEROUS FORD EXPLORER'S 2002-2005. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH THIS PROBLEM.THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THE DOOR WAS CLOSED TO HARD, THAT IS NOT THE CASE UNTIL I KEPT SEEING THE SAME CRACK ON EVERY FORD EXPLORER 2002-2005 THEN A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TAILGATE, THAT MAKES IT EVENTUALLY CRACK. THIS HAS NOT BEEN FIXED ON OUR VEHICLE, WE WORRY THE GLASS COULD SHATTER WHILE CONTINUING TO CLOSE IT AS I HAVE READ WITH SOME OWNERS. PLEASE HELP US SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
TRAVELING ON 459 NORTH, AROUND THE GRANTS MILL ROAD EXIT, I ENCOUNTERED THE POORLY PAVED ROAD/POT HOLES AND MY STEREO/CD SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS. THIS PROBLEM HAD NEVER OCCURRED UNTIL DRIVING ON THE POORLY MAINTAINED ROADS IN THIS STATE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN REGARDS TO HANDLING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
GEARSHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED FROM PARK WITHOUT STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. IT CAN BE MOVED INTO ANY POSITION, EVEN WHEN KEY IS REMOVED. *TR
HINGES ON THE REAR GLASS HATCH ARE BROKEN. EVENTUALLY WILL BRAKE OFF AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INJURY BECAUSE THAT SUPPORTS THE GLASS. MANY OTHER EXPLORERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK AS IF IT WERE FULL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED ONTO HIS CLOTHING AND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TAKATA AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AFTER A HEAD ON COLLISION ON A HIGHWAY
2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT REAR PLASTIC TAILGATE PANEL CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AROUND FORD OVAL EMBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE FRACTURE UNDER THE REAR EXTERIOR LIFTGATE WINDOW PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,976. *TR.....UPDATED 05/09/13 *BF UPDATED 06/10/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH BACK PANEL DEVELOPED A FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
DRIVING ALONG AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO SLOW WAY DOWN, IN TRAFFIC. TRIED TO GIVE IT MORE GAS, BUT REALIZED THAT IT SEEMED TO BE OUT OF GEAR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CLUNKED REALLY HARD INTO GEAR AND SPED UP. VERY DANGEROUS IN FLORIDA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,300.
BELOW REAR WINDOW, TOP HATCH CRACK OUT OF NO WHERE. REASON FOR FILING COMPLAINT IS I JUST SAW ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER THAT HAD THE SAME CRACK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE CRACK UNDER THE REAR EXTERIOR LIFTGATE WINDOW PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WINDOW PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE WINDOW GLASS FROM DISENGAGING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. KMJ. RETURNED BY USPS ON 4/2/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 4/9/2013 FAILED. *KB
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME UP, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY DIFFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE. I TOOK TO ADVANCED AUTO AND THEY SAID THE "GAS TANK SENSOR FAILED". I CHECKED WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WOULD BE MAJOR JOB AND COULD TAKE MORE THAN 6 HOURS LABOR THE ESTIMATE WAS OVER $1000. BUT THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE, BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE " IS ON CONSTANTLY AND IT GOES OFF WHEN THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. WHEN I PUT GAS, IT COME BACK ON AGAIN AND STAYS ON. GAS TANK NEEDLE DROPS TO EMPTY SUDDENLY AND IT GOES UP AGAIN. I CHECKED WITH MIDAS AUTO REPAIR AND THEY CHECKED AND SAID THE SAME PROBLEM OF GAS SENSOR FAILURE. IT IS ANNOYING TO SEE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON, BUT THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE. ANY CHEAPER WAY TO GET THIS FIXED? I DON'T HAVE ANY MECHANICAL SKILLS, OTHER THAN CHANGING THE AIR-FILER. I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
FILLED UP THE GAS TANK THE DAY BEFORE AND NOW THE GAS METER ON THE DASHBOARD READS EMPTY. I KNOW THERE'S GAS ON THE CAR. NOW THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHTS APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE IT SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IT REALLY HAS. THE INFO BUTTON TELLS ME HOW MANY MILES I HAVE TO THE GALLON BUT HOW SURE IS THAT INFORMATION IS IF THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" IS ON. I REACHED ONLINE TO FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. COME TO FIND THE REPAIR IS PRICEY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!!! NO ONE IS SAFE WHILE DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT SHOWS FALSE INFORMATION ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR
THE PANEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW CRACKED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PANEL. APPROXIMATELY 8 INCH CRACK. I HAVE SINCE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORERS AND A MERCURY SUV WITH THE SAME CRACK. OBVIOUSLY FORD HAS A PROBLEM WHICH THEY ARE NOT MAKING GOOD ON. *TR
MY 2005 FORD HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER 3 DIFFERENT TIMESFOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. FIRST TIME 2006 SECOND 2010 THIS 2013. I'M TOLD THE SOLENOID PAC THE OD BANDS ARE TO BLAME ALL THREE TIMES.I'M GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR AND FORD MOTOR COMPANIES INABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR TO ATLEAST EXCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.WITH THIS LAST FAILURE THEY HAVE GIVEN ME TO OPTIONS REBUILD AGAIN OR PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHY WOULD I WANT TO REPLACE A CRAPPY TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW CRAPPY TRANSMISSION. IS THEIR ANY HELP WITH THIS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
THE REAR LIFT GATE TRIM PANEL SPLIT VERTICALLY FROM THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT GATE. THE CRACK RUNS ADJACENT TO THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE LIFT GATE. I SEE A LOT OF THIS OCCURRING ON SIMILAR YEAR MODELS AND CONSIDER THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE LUG NUTS BECAME DETACHED FROM THE REAR TIRES WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BARELY AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE INCORRECT LUG NUTS WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER A SCHEDULED TIRE ROTATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THEM BEING REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY COMPROMISED.
PAINT IS BUBBLING/FLAKING ALONG FRONT EDGE OF HOOD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH BACK PANEL DEVELOPED A FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
LIFTGATE PLASTIC BODY PANEL CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LEFT OF THE FORD LOGO INSERT. *TR
LARGE CRACK THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW. *TR
TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO GO OUT AND AN INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED FOR ALL 2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER 120,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH MICHELIN T235- 70T16 16' LATITUDE TOUR TIRES . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE TIRE WALL BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
THE ENGINE HAD BEEN BEHAVING STRANGE. THERE WAS A "TINKING" SOUND, LIKE WHEN YOU HIT METAL AGAINST METAL, AND THE ENGINE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHEN UNDER SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE NEXT MORNING IT TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT COULDN'T START. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE SPROCKET JACK SHAFT BROKE, CONTROLS CAM BROKE, THERE WERE BENT VALVES, LIFTERS WERE HIT WITH THE JACK SHAFT AND CAMS WERE HIT TOO. THE ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKED, RUINING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE NATIONAL FORD COMPLAINT CENTER. FORD SAID IT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUTTING IN A NEW MOTOR. *TR
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I NOTICED A LARGE VERTICAL CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN. THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE ARM AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
CRACK UNDER REAR WINDOW ON REAR HATCH DOOR. *TR
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER, THE 7 X 55 PANEL, THE ONE WITH THE FORD LOGO IN IT. IT CRACKS. IT DID IT TWICE ON OURS, WE REPLACED IT ONCE COSTING US $500. OUR REPAIRMAN SAID HE'S SEEN THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON MANY FORD'. WE LOOKED INTO IT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER EXPERTS AGREE ON THE DEFECT. THE FIRST TIME WE TRIED TO BRING ATTENTION TO FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY BLEW US OFF, NOT EVEN HAVING THE COURTESY TO GET OUR LETTER TO THE PERSON IT WAS ADDRESSED. AS HUMAN NATURE, FORD TRIED TO MANIPULATE THE PROBLEM, AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION ACTUALLY CONVINCING THEMSELVES AND TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE LIKE TO KEEP ALL OUR STUFF NICE BUT CURRENTLY OUR VEHICLE DOESN?T LOOK NICE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO THROW AWAY OUR MONEY ON A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. AGAIN, IT IS DEFECTIVE, ANYONE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE INDUSTRY AND BODYWORK, WITH ANY SENSE, CAN REALIZE THE PROBLEM. ON OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO PROPOSE FORD?S RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM WE DIDN?T DRAW ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME WE?RE READY TO GO AT IT IN FULL FORCE (ATTORNEY GENERAL, BBB, LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS, AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION) IF FORD DOESN?T FIND A FAIR WAY TO COMPENSATE US. THE ISSUE BEING THE FIRST PANEL BEING DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED ALLOWING US TO DRIVE AROUND IN A JUNKY LOOKING VEHICLE; REPLACING THE PRODUCT FOR $500 WHICH STILL HAD THE ISSUE AND ONCE AGAIN WE?RE DRIVING AROUND WITH A JUNKY LOOKING VEHICLE; RESALE VALUE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION IN HOPEFULLY RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026