Page 2 of 10 · complaints 51–100 of 497

2005 Ford Explorer complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Structure › Body
Filed May 24, 2016103,597 milesNY

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, WE FOUND THAT THE BACK WINDOW OF THE HATCH WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND THE BODY IN THE BACK WAS LIFTED OFF THE CAR. IT LOOKS AS IF THE HYDRAULIC ARM MALFUNCTIONED OVERNIGHT.

Air Bags1 killed
Filed May 9, 201690,000 milesAK

TAKATA AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AFTER A HEAD ON COLLISION ON A HIGHWAY

Electrical System
Filed May 2, 201695,000 milesNY

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME IMPAIRED. LUCKY, I WAS IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE AND WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY AVOID COLLISION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER A ~3HR DRIVE AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY (I.E. SLOWING DOWN). UPON RESTART, ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT WAS UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO ITERATIVE SURGE/STALL CYCLES.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 17, 201630 milesTX

TAKATA RECALL. DRIVING IN THE CITY MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAVE A CRASH AND AIR BAGS DO NOT OPEN.

Power Train
Filed Dec 30, 201594,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO REVERSE AT A LOW SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR LEVER IN THE REVERSE POSITION FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THREE MONTHS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 28, 201593,000 milesMA

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BEGINING TO SLIP, SOON WILL AHVE NO 4TH GEAR OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS UP TO DATE WITH MATINANACE AND EVERYTHING MILEAGE IS STILL BELOW 95,000 MILES. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN REPORTED.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Dec 7, 2015117,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 24, 2015FL

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLIES AND SENSORS. RANDOMLY ENGINE GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND DURING TURNS. INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOW GOING HAYWIRE. MESSAGE CENTER REPORTS LOW OIL PRESSURE, CHECK CHARGING SYSTEMS, TIRE SENSOR FAILURE FAULT, CHANGE OIL SOON, AND OIL IS FINE. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED. TIRE SENSORS, ALTERNATOR...ALL FINE. IT'S ALL I HAVE AND I MUST DRIVE IT TO WORK EACH DAY! BOUGHT USED IN NOVEMBER 2013. HAD 69K MILES AT PURCHASE. NOW HAS 103K MILES. IT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE :O( PLEASE HELP!

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 23, 2015157,220 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY 10/22/2015 THE BACK GLASS SHATTERED OUT OF THE TRUCK TAKING THE SUPPORT UNDER IT WITH IT.INWAS DRIVING IN THE CITY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 25 MPH

Power Train
Filed Oct 7, 2015124,956 milesAL

TRANSMISSION GRINDS/SLIPS GOING FROM 2 TO 3 GEAR.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 11, 2015123,000 milesNY

CRACK IN REAR HATCH PLATE BY FORD EMBLEM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 6, 2015126,938 milesCA

THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME ACCELERATING, WHEN IT DOES, A "CLUCK" SOUND CAN BE HEARD, SOMETIMES ACCELERATION FAILS ALL TOGETHER. O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND BLINKS. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 4, 2015130,250 milesIL

I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, RETURNING FROM THE SUPERMARKET IN THE 2005 EXPLORER IN A 90 DEGREE DAY. I OPENED THE TOP OF MY LIFT GATE AND STUCK MY HEAD IN TO GRAB MY BAGS WHEN THE RIGHT HINGE ATTACHED TO THE REAR WINDOW DEHISCED AND THE LIFT GATE CAME DOWN ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD. THE TORQUE WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE LEFT HINGE AND IT BENT , SHATTERING THE GLASS OF THE REAR WINDOW ALL OVER AND BREAKING THE BOTTOM DOOR FRAME IN 1/2. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AS WHAT IS LEFT IS HANGING BY THIN HYDRAULIC ATTACHMENT AND COULD DROP AT ANY MOMENT.

Power Train
Filed Aug 19, 2015MI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH MAKING A TURN, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 13, 2015124,000 milesMA

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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Aug 10, 2015IN

2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING COLUMN GEAR SHIFTER PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON DECEMBER 10, 2010 THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME. *JB

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 24, 201576,000 milesCT

CRACK ON BACK PANEL FROM WINDOW DOWN AROUND FORD EMBLEM LITERALLY JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. MY EXPLORER WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2005 AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THIS MYSTERY CRACK THAT I AM NOW NOTICING ON A LOT OF EXPLORERS AROUND THE SAME AGE. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT! WHEN IS FORD GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS?....UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 23, 201568,000 milesFL

THE REAR LIFT WINDOW STARTED CRACKING MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE OPEN BUTTON STOPPED ACTIVATING.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 13, 2015160,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE AND OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 25, 201584,000 milesPA

WALKED OUT TO MY GARAGE AND NOTICED A CRACKED HAD SHOWED UP OVERNIGHT. IT GOES FROM THE BACK EINDOW, BY THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE FORD LOGO, TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT GATE. IT IS ALMOST PERFECTLY VERTICAL, I HAVE SEEN A TON OF THESE ON XLTS. I THOUGHT I WAS LUCKY, I WAS WRONG.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 25, 201586,000 milesPA

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SUDDENLY THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME UP. VEHICLE WOULD BARELY RUN. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND IT SEEMED FINE FOR A WHILE. THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, DRIVING NORMAL, THEN BAM. THIS TIME IT SHUT DOWN AND WOULD BARELY STAY RUNNING...JUST ORDERED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER FORD.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 7, 201543,000 milesNY

MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS MULTIPLE PAINT PROBLEMS PEELING ALL OVER THE CAR,,THE DEALER SAID ITS ANY AFTER MARKET PAINT JOB I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM DAVE SMITH FORD IN 2008 THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY REPAINTED WITHIN THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF THE CARS LIFE.

Structure › Body
Filed May 12, 2015100,000 milesSC

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 16, 2015MO

IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE FUEL GAUGE WILL GO FROM FULL( WHEN THE TANK IS FULL)TO EMPTY THEN THE LOW FUEL ALERT CONTINUES TO SOUND.... TODAY APR 16 2015 THE TRUCK STARTED SPUTTERING THEN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH..... IT STARTED AFTER 3 TRIES I TOOK IT TO GAS STATION AND IT'S FULL OF GAS BUT GAUGE SAYS IT'S EMPTY ..... THIS ISN'T SAFE ..... MY 2 YR OLD COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.... WHY ISN'T IT BEING RECALLED ? IF YOU GOOGLE THE PROBLEM IT'S UP TO $2000 TO FIX AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM BUT NO INVESTIGATION OR RECALL. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 10, 2015145,000 milesIA

CANNOT FILL GAS TANK WITHOUT NOZZLE OR PUMP CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF. HAVE TO BEARLY SQUEEZE NOZZLE AND TRICKLE THE GAS IN. TAKES 10 TIMES LONGER TO FILL TANK THAN IT SHOULD. SOUNDS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH OLDER FORDS. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 10, 2015160,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPENING THE REAR DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE REAR PANEL THAT EXTENDED FROM THE REAR WINDOW VERTICALLY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE END OF THE PANEL WHERE THE FORD EMBLEM WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 7, 201598,000 milesMI

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.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 3, 2015113,570 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,570.

Power Train
Filed Mar 29, 2015110,000 milesIN

IN NOV OF 2014 WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR 100K MILE SERVICE. WE TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE DRIVE TRAIN BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT HESITATION THEN A CLUNK THEN THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO MOVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THEY INSTALLED A COMPUTER UPGRADE TO IMPROVE THE SHIFTING. THEY ALSO CHANGED THE TRANNY FLUID. THEN IN MARCH OF 2015 WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND GOT WORSE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AGAIN AND THEY TOOK 2 WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. THEY SAID $3500 FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF IT. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 26, 2015OK

WHENEVER I FILL UP WITH GAS THE GAS GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY AND THE MILE TO EMPTY NUMBERS BECOME TWO BLANK SPACES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Mar 18, 201574,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK PANEL CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE PANELING, BUT IT WAS DISCONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW WAS CRACKED. UPDATED 04/21/15*JB

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 17, 201556,000 milesNV

FILLED TANK TO FULL (AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF). WHEN I STARTED CAR THE NEXT TIME, GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I HAVE HAD THE MALFUNCTION OF GAUGE BEFORE AND HAS ALWAYS COME BACK AFTER A FEW MILES, BUT NEVER LIGHT. AFTER GETTING ERROR LIGHT READ, IT IS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE VEHICLE TO DISPLAY THE FUEL CORRECTLY WHEN THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS. I MAKE SURE NOT TO OVERFILL THE TANK AS FORD WARNS THAT THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED (NOT JUST THAT THEY KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN). EVEN BY FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURER'S PRECAUTIONS, THE PART STILL FAILED. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 3, 201555,000 milesNV

FUEL GAUGE IS WORKING INTERMITTENT. TANK IS FILL UP WITH GAS, BUT GAS GAUGE SHOW EMPTY. SOMETIMES IT COMEBACK, AFTER AN HOUR OR SO AND THEN, AFTER 30 MINS GOES BACK TO EMPTY AGAIN. I READ THIS IS AN ISSUE ON ALMOST ALL FORD EXPLORER. *TR

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 24, 2015MI

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WRECKING MY TRUCK AND BRUISING MYSELF BADLY. *JS

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 19, 201595,000 milesWI

TYPICAL FORD PROBLEM WITH 2002-2005 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS. REAR TAILGATE CRACKED ALL ON IT'S OWN BECAUSE IT'S COLD HERE, AND BECAUSE IT'S A DEFECT FORD SHOULD HAVE FIXED WHEN THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE (OF MANY) WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 28, 2015100,000 milesNC

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

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 7, 201574,000 milesOK

FIRST NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SCRATCH UNDERNEATH REAR WINDOW. GREW INTO A CRACK WHICH RUNS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW DOWN AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW HATCH. CRACK HAS WIDENED TO ABOUT 1/8 INCH. VEHICLE PURCHASED MY MYSELF BRAND NEW. *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Jan 2, 201571,420 milesMI

THE BACK TAILGATE PANEL HAS A CRACK BESIDE THE FORD LOGO. LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THIS IS A LISTED PROBLEM WITH 2005 EXPLORERS.CALLED FORD THEY WERE NO HELP. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 14, 2014160,000 milesSC

PAINT IN ROOF CHANNELS BUBBLING, ROOF RUSTING. *TR

WheelsCrash
Filed Dec 7, 2014113,641 milesNC

HELLO WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE UPPER BALL JOINT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AXLE, TIRE, AND WHEEL. THIS CAUSED ISSUES WITH CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A MUCH GREATER ACCIDENT THAN WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT, PARTIALLY DUE TO THE LOW SPEED AT THE TIME, HOWEVER HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE OR ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, THIS COULD HAVE HAD EXPONENTIALLY WORSE OUTCOMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS MECHANICS THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE AN ISSUE FOR FORD EXPLORERS AND THIS ISN'T MY FIRST ISSUE WITH THEM MYSELF. I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH MY 2004 EXPLORER. THIS WAS NOT AN ORIGINAL PART TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS CHECKED LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE IT BROKE AND PASSED INSPECTION. PLEASE LOOK INTO BALL JOINT ISSUES FOR FORD EXPLORERS AND KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE IS BELOW. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. HTTP://OI59.TINYPIC.COM/T658XD.JPG. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 5, 2014132,000 milesAL

I WALKED OUTSIDE TO ENTER MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE HATCH LIFT ON THE BACK DOOR ADJACENT TO THE FORD EMBLEM THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY THERE. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME FLAW ON MOST FORD EXPLORER XLTS OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AGE AS MINE. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 12, 2014CA

NOTICED A CRACK IN THE BACK WINDOW PANEL NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

Structure
Filed Nov 5, 2014167,000 milesMD

TOOK MY SUV TO BODYSHOP YESTERDAY I NOTICED THE ROOF TOP EXTERIOR WAS PEELING PAINT AND RUSTING. IT WILL LEAD TO LEAKING PROBLEMS IF NOT REPAIRED BUT OWNER OF SHOP SAYS THAT THERE IS NO WAY OF THEM BEING ABLE TO SEAL IT PERMANANTLY IT IS A MATTER OF HOW LONG NEW PAINT WILL LAST . TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IS VERY COSTLY BUT IF NOT WILL DO FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2014150,000 milesMD

IM NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE WITH ENGINE SECTION BUT I DIDN'T SEE A TRANSMISSION PART. I WAS DRIVING MY SUV AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT IN THE MESSAGE CENTER CAME ON AND SAID , OVER DRIVE ON /OFF KEPT FLASHING . TOOK TO A BODY SHOP NEARBY THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT SECOND / THIRD GEAR WAS GONE . I ENDED UP SPENDING $4500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION TO BE INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 4, 2014148,500 milesGA

CRACK APPEARED TO LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM ON REAR HATCH DOOR, UNDER GLASS. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 3, 201488,900 milesNY

DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HATCH ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 3, 201478,000 milesOR

MISFIRES, COILS KEEP FAILING. *TR

Tires
Filed Oct 1, 2014NC

CONSUMER WRITES TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR CENTER. *TGW THE CONSUMER DID NOT THINK, THE REPAIR FACILITY WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMING THE SERVICES ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO LOW TIRE TREAD. HE STATED HE WAS JUST IN THE REPAIR FACILITY ONE MONTH PRIOR, AND NO MENTIONED TO HIM, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

Wheels
Filed Sep 29, 2014209,000 milesCT

AT 55MPH THE REAR LUGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FLY OFF. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

Wheels
Filed Sep 29, 2014190,000 milesCT

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

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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