CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH PANEL CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT NO RECALL ISSUED. *TR
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 →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL CAP BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
THE FORD EXPLORER FROM THE MID-2000S IS STARTING TO SHOW MULTIPLE DEFECTS. FORD CO. ADVISED OWNERS TO REPORT THESE PROBLEMS THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT FORM BECAUSE AS OF NOW THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RECALL THE DEFECTS. THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW CRACKS VERTICALLY RIGHT NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM. SOME CARS HAVE MULTIPLE CRACKS. THE MAJORITY OF THIS TYPE OF FORD EXPLORER BODY TYPE ARE SHOWING THE CRACK. IT HAPPENS AROUND THE 5 YEAR MARK. I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO FREEZE/THAW HAPPENING AT THE BACK WINDOW, WHICH THEN CRACKS THE BODY. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR JOB AND OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO NOT EVEN BOTHER BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. IT APPEARS ABRUPTLY AND IS DISCONCERTING TO SEE THIS SUDDENLY AND FOR NO PERSONAL REASON HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR DUE TO BAD DESIGN. NEWER EXPLORERS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THE SECOND DEFECT WHICH IS HAPPENING NOW TO MANY EXPLORER OWNERS AT THE 5 YEAR MARK IS THE FAILURE OF THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE DAMPER FLAP STARTS CLICKING NON-STOP AND THERE IS NO HEAT. AGAIN THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO REPAIR. THESE DEFECTS ARE WIDELY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS IS THE ONLY REAL FORMAL WAY TO DOCUMENT THEM. THE FORD EXPLORER HAS PROVEN TO BE A REAL LEMON, FULL OF DESIGN DEFECTS AND A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE THE TIRE WAS FLAT, SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAD BEEN CAUSED BY THE TIRE BEING TIGHTENED BEYOND ITS CAPACITY BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ON THE THIRD INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER - EVERYTIME I FILL THE GAS TANK FULL - THE FUEL GAUGE STICKS AND GOES DOWN TO EMPTY. *TR
DASHBOARD - WARNING LIGHT FOR OIL CHANGE REQUIRED WILL NOT GO OFF - HAD OIL CHANGE 500 MILES AGO - NOT DUE FOR 2 MORE MONTHS - WILL NOT RESET. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD OIL GAUGE SENSOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR WAS FRACTURED WHERE THE WINDOW ENDED AND WHERE THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
"CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN '00-'05 FORD EXPLORERS. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING, AND IT IS THE RESULT OF EMISSION FAILURE PARTS IN THESE VEHICLES. EACH INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS IS COSTING OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND IS CLEARLY A DEFAULT OF THE COMPANY. ALMOST EVERY REPORT HAS SHOWN TROUBLE CODES OF P0455 OR P0457, OR BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS THREAD AND OTHERS AT HTTP://EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=244624 TO SEE NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS SAME ISSUE IN MULTIPLE FORD EXPLORERS. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED RIGHT AWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AS WELL. AFTER FORD REPLACED MY FUEL CAP AND SAID THIS WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE, MY "CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT ILLUMINATED A WEEK LATER AGAIN. FORD THEN INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AGAIN AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT CAME ON YET AGAIN, AND NOW THEY ARE CHARGING ME OVER $1,000 IN REPAIRS INCLUDING A $108 DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON MY VEHICLE FOR CODES P1000 AND P0457. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUOUSLY BRING MY VEHICLE TO FORD FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THEM, AND THEY STILL CANNOT GUARANTEE ME THIS IS THE PROBLEM. FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE LAUNCHED, AND FOR FORD TO RECALL THEIR EXPLORERS AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE WATERTOWN FORD IN WATERTOWN, MA. *TR
MY 2005 REAR PANEL UNDERNEATH WINDOW CRACKED BY THE EMBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR PANEL OF THE REAR WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLEND DOOR WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW AIR TO PASS THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER, I PULLED OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION AND HAD NOT REACHED THE SPEED LIMIT YET WHEN THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED THEN CAUSING BOTH STRUTS TO THE HATCH TO EXTEND AND THEREFORE BREAK THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK OF THE REAR HATCH. THIS WINDOW WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO PRIOR CRACKS IN IT AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ANY AROUND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORD HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS AND I AM FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS EXPENSE. *TR
THE REAR LIFTGATE CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM UP TO AND AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR WINDOW. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE 76,306 MILES ON MY EXPLORER. I NOTICED A GAS SMELL. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. DEALER FOUND A GAS LEAK WHERE THE FILLER HOSE ATTACHES TO THE GAS TANK. THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS PART OF THE GAS TANK HAD MANY CRACKS/FRACTURES THAT ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THE ONLY REPAIR OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AT A COST TO ME OF $2,009.00. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GAS TANK HOLDS 22.5 GALLONS OF FUEL THAT COULD FLOW ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE IF THE PLASTIC FILLER PIECE FAILED COMPLETELY. *TR
THIS PROBLEM IS VERY STRESSFUL ON A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH A HEART CONDITION WHO'S HEART IS FUNCTIONING AT 60% AND ON MEDICATION EVERYDAY. UPPER BACK HATCH HAS FACTORY DEFECT CRACK NEXT TO THE LOCK, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IT HAS BEEN UNLOCKING ITSELF AT RANDOM, WHILE SITTING STILL OR DRIVING. NO INJURIES, MUGGINGS ,THEFT,KIDNAPPING OF GRANDCHILDREN AND/ OR ESCAPE OR THEFT OF FOUR CHILDREN YET!!!. I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONIES TO FIX..IT IS FORDS FACTORY DEFECT THAT I SEE ON EXPLORERS EVERYWHERE. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM , AND THEY STILL CLAIM NO SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
REPEATED FAILURE OF 2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION MODEL 5R55S. 3 TOTAL FAILURES REQUIRING COMPLETE OVERHAUL IN 3 YEARS. REPAIRS PERFORMED BY SAME QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT AND FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED REPAIR ALTERNATIVE FACILITY. FORD WOULDN'T PROVIDE A WARRANTY AT 90,000 MILE FIRST FAILURE. MOST RECENT REPAIR 2/24/2011 AND 3RD COSTING $2500. MILEAGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD REPAIRS-38,000 MILES. PRESENT MILEAGE 130,000 ON VEHICLE. CHASSIS MILEAGE IS HIGH BUT 3 FAILURES IN 3 YEARS ON LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN OVERHAULS IS NOT NORMAL. *TR
STARTED EXPLORER TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1500. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS AT ALL. *TR
TODAY, I STARTED OUR 2005 FORD EXPLORER TO DRIVE MY TWO CHILDREN TO THE BUS STOP. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT ON OUT OF THE BLUE. I'VE HAD MANY CARS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST FORD AND SINCE AUGUST WE'VE PUT IN AN ALTERNATOR, NEW ENGINE AND NOW THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT. OUR PRIOR SUV WAS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT ANY OF THESE REPAIRS INTO IT. *TR
MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER CAME WITH METAL VALVE CAPS ON THE TIRES, WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE WITH A LOW PRESSURE SIGNAL ON, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE CAPS WERE FROZEN ONTO THE STEMS, AND IF HE TRIED TO TAKE OFF THE CAPS, THEY WOULD SNAP THE SENSORS IN THE TIRES, AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $600. TO REPLACE ALL FOUR SENSORS. I RESPONDED THAT IT WOULD COST $600. TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES BECAUSE OF A DESIGN DEFECT? THE RESPONSE WAS YES. MY POINT, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO CORRECT A MFR'S DESIGN ERROR, YOU ARE RIDING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES, CREATING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
GAS HAND DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, SOMETIMES YOU MAY FILL THE VEHICLE UP AND THE GAS HAND WILL SHOW EMPTY. SINCE THE GAS HAND STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON. NO WAY OF KNOWING IF I'M ALMOST OUT OF GAS..SO I HAVE TO KEEP FILLING IT UP SO I WON'T BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BACK TAILGATE WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHSTA HOTLINE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR VALID WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER AND EVERY TIME WE FILL THE TANK WITH GAS THE GAUGE STOPS WORKING UNTIL IT REACHES HALF A TANK THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT DROPS TO ALMOST EMPTY. SO WE NEVER KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF GAS WE HAVE IT. BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. *TR
NOTICED A GRINDING OR HUMMING NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TURNS OUT I NEEDED BOTH LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AND THE RIGHT REAR IS ALSO GOING BAD ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. NOW A MONTH LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM W FORD EXPLORERS AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE WHEELS SEIZE ON THEM, SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE. *TR
PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF (OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) IN THE GROOVES OF THE ROOF. ALSO, THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE LIFTGATE. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK AND 20 MILES LATER MY GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN READ E AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, THE REPAIR SHOP STATES THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS BAD AND THE REPAIR IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS? I SURE HOPE I AM NOT LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
NOTICED THE BACK PANEL OF MY 05 EXPLORER WAS DEEPLY CRACKED. DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT OF MANY EXPLORERS. I DON'T HAVE TO MONEY TO FIX IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SINCE I DID NOTHING WRONG. *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILING WITH MILEAGE OF 65K MILES! WAS TOLD BY FORD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3500 PLUS TAX TO FIX. CALLED FMC AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OTHER COMPLAINTS BY FMC MAIN OFFICE OR DEALERSHIP; DISMISSED NOTION OF ANY VALIDITY TO COMPLAINTS SHOWING UP ONLINE; WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD SIMPLY MAKE NOTE OF IT IN THEIR SYSTEM AND THAT WAS IT! SO FAR NOTHING SERIOUS HAS HAPPENED, BUT APPARENTLY OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE HOME FROM A FUNERAL OUT OF TOWN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH THE TAILGATE CRACKED UNDER THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE CRACK WAS COSMETIC AND NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE; THEREFORE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE PIECES FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BODY STRUCTURE , GAS PEDAL. *TR
I OWN A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE FORD EXPLORER HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. I PULLED INTO MY SISTER'S DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A FLAT, GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. THE FORD EXPLORER IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN EXITED THE FORD EXPLORER. AFTER EXITING THE FORD EXPLORER, IT STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND THEN THE TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RAN OVER MY LEG. MY SISTER RAN AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. *TR
REFUELING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WILL ACCEPT ONLY A VERY SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL AT A TIME, CAUSING AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF ON FUEL NOZZLE TO ACTIVATE. IT TAKES 15-20 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK.
CRACK IN PANEL BENEATH REAR WINDOW. KNOWN DEFECT IN EXPLORERS 02-05. SAFETY ISSUE TO OTHER DRIVERS SHOULD PANEL SECTION(S) COME OFF. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO WATER, DIRT GETTING INTO ANY UNDERLYING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHILCE'S REAR HATCH PLASTIC MOLDING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER COLLISION CENTER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A SAFETY RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
AFTER COMING BACK FROM A VACATION TO THE AIRPORT TO GET MY CAR, I NOTICED THE TAILGATE OF MY BLUE 2005 EXPLORER XLT WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH A 8" LONG CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TAILGATE. AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH, IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, WHICH THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I EVEN HAVE A FORD FULL-EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS EVERYTHING AND THEY STILL REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING. THE REPAIR WILL BE $400-$500, WHICH I AM NOT GOING TO PAY FOR. IT'S A FORD DESIGN FLAW, THEY KNEW IT BACK IN 2002, YET CONTINUED TO PRODUCE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE TAILGATE PIECE IS BROKEN AND CAN COME FLYING OF THE VEHICLE AT ANYTIME. *TR
I NOTICED THE PLASTIC TRIM PANEL BELOW MY REAR HATCH GLASS CRACKED IN HALF AFTER GETTING MY TRUCK WASHED AT A TOUCHLESS CAR WASH!! I'VE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS, SO IT DOESN'T SEEM THIS IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE. *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS PAINT PEELING ALONG THE ROOF RACK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY FORD. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS BAD AT 87,000 MILES AND BALL JOINTS HAVE SLACK IN THEM. RIDICULOUS THAT A CAR THIS NICE HAS SUCH PROBLEMS. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ON THE INTERNET, REAR END HAS A ROAR IN IT TOO, OF COURSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THIS STUFF FIXED. FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE AUTO AND FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A NEW VEHICLE WHICH HAS NEVER PULLED ANYTHING, ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK 12 MILES A DAY AND TOP SPEED IS 45 MILES PER HOUR. LAST FORD I WILL EVER OWN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK THAT EXTENDED FROM THE WINDOW TO THE LIFT GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
CAME OUTSIDE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN MY REAR HATCH GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. FORD DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT, EVEN WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A FRACTURE WHERE THE EMBLEM AND THE WINDSHIELD CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE REAR LIFT-GATE WINDOW WITH A LARGE CRACK ACROSS ITS ENTIRE HEIGHT JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. FORD DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS JUST POOR ENGINEERING AND THEY WILL NOT COVER OR ASSIST WITH THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, NOR WAS THERE ANY PLAN TO MAKE AVAILABLE A METAL VERSION OR PROPERLY ENGINEERED REPLACEMENT PANEL. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAD A FACTORY SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY ENGINE. IT WAS THE THIRD ONE BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE REAR AXLE SEAL STARTED LEAKING AND HE COULD SMELL THE FLUIDS. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,732 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT RINGS ON THE AXLE FRACTURED AND LOCKED UP THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE LEFT FRONT AXLE RING. THE FRONT RIGHT RING HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AFTER HAVING IT FOR 3 MONTHS THE REAR LIFT GATE GOT A CRACK IN IT RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD SYMBOL. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT ON RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THIS WAS A USED VEHICLE, MY PARENTS OWN A 2003 EXPLORER AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, MY NEIGHBOR OWNS A 2004 AND ALSO THE SAME THING HAPPENED, I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL, WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR EXPLORERS RANGING FROM 2002-2005, IF THIS CRACK CONTINUES TO SPREAD MY GLASS WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OUT. *TR
THIS INCIDENT REFERS TO A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER VIN # [XXX]. AFTER MAKING AN INVESTMENT TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIMSELF OR FAMILY BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, THEN GOING TO THE FORD DEALER FOR A PART AND BEING TOLD IT COST 1300.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THE CHEAP WHITE METAL THAT HELD IT TOGETHER JUST SHEARED OFF. DOES A DEATH NEED TO OCCUR TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
REAR TAILGATE WINDOW PORTION WITH FORD LOGO CRACKED VERTICALLY. I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS IS FROM REGULAR USE SINCE NOTHING HIT THE CAR. I ONLY USE THE UPPER PORTION OR THE TAILGATE AS IF YOU USE THE LARGER PORTION OF THE TAILGATE, ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FALLS OUT. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE REAR WINDOW TO BE LESS THAN SECURE. *TR
SUN VISORS BROKE OFF. NOT BEING ABLE TO BLOCK SUN MAKING DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS DURING SUNNY DAYS. *TR
HATCH PANEL BETWEEN WINDOW AND LATCH SPLIT (CRACKED) WHEN I CLOSED WINDOW AFTER PUTTING IN GROCERIES. CAR HAS 60,000 MILES, CALLED DEALER IN JULY TO SEE IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I KNOW OF 7 OTHER 2005 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACK, HAPPENED THE EXACT SAME WAY. TOLD ME NO BUT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. DIDN'T OFFER TO TAKE CARE OF. *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.
Full record for the 2005 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →