2005 Ford Explorer complaints

LAST YEAR THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURES, AND WOULD NOT READ OUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. NOTIFIED THE DEALER, WHO SUPPOSEDLY REPROGRAMMED THE PCM IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE, THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS REPLACED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF COMPONENTS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DESIGN FLAW, AS OPERATING A VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWING THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY WE MAINTAIN A SAFE FUEL LEVEL IN OUR VEHICLE IS BY KEEPING THE TANK TOPPED OFF FREQUENTLY, AND KEEPING TRACK OF THE MILES ON THE ODOMETER. A NEWER VEHICLE, WITH MODERN ELECTRONICS, SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. *TR

VEHICLE HAD A DEAD BATTERY ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS AGO. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DID NO OTHER DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY, THE BATTERY DRAINS DOWN, AND NOW THE BATTERY WILL NOT CHARGE AT ALL. NOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND THE DEALER WILL NOT DIAGNOSE THE CHARGING SYSTEM PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE, AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE IS JUST ONE OF MY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE I WAS TOWING A TRAILER THAT WAS WELL UNDER THE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE FLUID LEAKED DIRECTLY ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE TO COME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY FREEWAY WITH THE VEHICLE SMOKING PROFUSELY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION ON SITE. IT TOOK ALMOST FOUR WEEKS TO GET OUR VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER. I FEAR THAT A LARGE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK ON ONE OF THESE FAULTY DESIGNED VEHICLE COULD START A FIRE OR CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *TR

2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT REAR WHEEL STUDS SHEAR OFF, WHEEL FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES 1ST TIME 9/22/08 REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. TRAVEL SPEED APPROX. 25MPH. ALL FIVE STUDS SHEARED OFF. TOWED IN HAD REPAIRED. COST $442.00 INCLUDING PURCHASE OF A NEW WHEEL. 10/1/08 HEARD A SLIGHT CHIRP IN DRIVERS SIDE REAR SO I REMOVED CENTER CAP AND FOUND TWO SHEARED OFF STUDS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CENTER CAP. REPLACED ALL 5 STUDS TOTAL COST $204.00 10/18/08 ARRIVED HOME FROM A FISHING TRIP A DISTANCE OF 600MILES ROUND TRIP LOOKED AT WHEELS AND FOUND MISSING STUD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR MISSING AND ANOTHER STUD STRIPPED. CURRENTLY HAVE CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHICH WILL BE APPROX. $180.00. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR CO, 4 TIMES YESTERDAY AND TODAY WITH THEM DENOUNCING THIS COULD HAPPEN AND ACCEPTING 0 RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE BY GOGGLING "FORD EXPLORER WHEEL FALLS OFF" OR "FORD EXPLORER WHEEL STUDS FALL OFF" I FIND OVER TWO DOZEN EXACT COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD EXPLORER STUDS SHEARING OFF. LIKE MINE, IN MOST CASES THE SUV HAS BETWEEN 48,000 AND 50,000 MILES. AND IN MANY REPORTS IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE SAME VEHICLE. I FOUND FORD MOTOR CO. REPRESENTATIVES TAKING A TOTAL NO RESPONSIBILITY POSTURE AND TO BE VERY UNCARING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH THAT MY BE CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY C

2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 28,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW ON JULY 7, 2005 WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE END OF JUNE 2008 (INTERMITTENT LOSS OF FUEL GAUGE AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON DASH LIGHT) CALLED THE FORD DEALER ON OR ABOUT JULY 1, 2008. WE WERE DRIVING AND THE TRUCK ENGINE DIED, NO WARNING NO STEERING NO BRAKES, (THE WRENCH LIGHT AND ENGINE FAILED TEST MODE LIGHT CAME ON) SHE MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STARTED UP AS IF EVERYTHING WAS OK, MOMENTS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME SHE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED AGAIN WHILE MOVING. SHE DROVE IT TO MY HOUSE AND TOOK MY CAR HOME. *TR

MY VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE THE FUEL GAUGE ACT ERRATIC . IT WOULD GO UP AND DOWN , THEN IT WOULD GO TO BELOW EMPTY . IN LATE MAY THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT COMPLETELY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON THE ENTIRE TIME . I HAVE NO WARRANTY AND NOW THE FUEL PUMP LOOSES PRESSURE AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT . TODAY IT STARTED TO STUMBLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT . I AM DISABLED AND I CANT AFFORD 770 $ . THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52000 MILES ON IT . I AM TOLD BY FORD DEALER THAT THE PUMP/FUEL SENDER/ GAS CAP SENDER UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SITUATION , BECAUSE A VEHICLE THIS NEW SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM . *TR

TIRES HAVE SMALL CRACKS ALONG TREAD LUGS AND SIDEWALL TREAD LUGS. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL BLOW OUT AT ANYTIME. *TR

CAR HAD DIED APPROX. 4 TIMES BEFORE LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT. ON EACH PRIOR OCCASION WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD DEALER IN OK, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT HAPPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. WE ATTRIBUTED IT TO BAD FUEL BECAUSE DEALER SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS WITH FORD. THEN CAR DIED FOR NO REASON, COULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. FORD REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT WHICH THEY REPLACED THEN THEY STILL COULDN'T GET IT TO START. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THAT WAS WHY IT WOULDN'T START TO A TUNE OF $1100.0 WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD 40,100 MILES AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED @ 36,000 MILES. *TR

2 DAYS AGO THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 EXPLORER BEGAN TO HESITATE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE NEXT MORNING WHILE ON MY WAY TO A SERVICE STATION, IT SLIPPED OUT OF 2ND AND NEVER FOUND 3RD... THE ENGINE JUST REVVED UP. I COULD SHIFT ON THE COLUMN SO I DID THAT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER RUNNING SOME TESTS, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 3RD GEAR WAS "GONE" AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND I'VE SPENT 1.5 YEARS OF THOSE THREE IN THE DESERT... THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BLOW AFTER 3 YEARS REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT FOR 1.5 YEARS OF IT, IT WASN'T DRIVEN REGULARLY. FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS AND TAKE CARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD. *TR

MY GAS PEDAL IS STICKING. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BRAKES WERE GOING. I JUST HAD MY REAR BRAKES REPLACED AND MY CAR PASSED INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD I'D NEED NEW FRONT BRAKES IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THREE TIMES, I'VE HAD THE GAS PEDAL STICK. WHEN I TRY TO APPLY BRAKES, IT BARELY SLOWS DOWN THE CAR AND THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD. *TR

WHEN I FILL MY GAS TANK, OCCASIONALLY THE ARROW DOES NOT GO TO FULL. I ALSO HAVE AN ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION ON MY DASHBOARD THAT TELLS ME HOW MANY MILES I HAVE LEFT TO DRIVE BEFORE I AM ON EMPTY. THIS ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND TAKES A DAY OR TWO FOR GAUGE TO READ FULL. *TR

PAINT IS PEELING AND CHIPPING OFF ALONG TOP OF ROOF NEAR FRONT AND REAR. FORD SAYS THIS HAPPENS A LOT. THEY SAY I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH EVIDENT THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING A LOT LONGER TO MY CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 63,000 MILES. FORD ONLY COVERS THE PAINT JOB IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

BOTH SUN VISORS IN MY 2005 EXPLORER BROKE WITHIN A DAY OF EACH OTHER. THE SMALL PLASTIC HOLDER ON EACH OF THEM SHATTER INTO MICROSCOPIC PIECES WITH NOTHING ON THE VISORS. NO CD HOLDERS OR SUNGLASSES EITHER. THEY JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY WERE BOTH FOLDED UP AND NOT BEING USED. IT WAS VERY STRANGE. IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT DANGLED BY A WIRE THAT COULD NOT BE CUT DUE TO WHAT IT WAS CONNECTED TO. I TRIED ELECTRICAL TAPE AND ANYTHING I COULD THINK OF BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. I COULD NOT GET AN APPT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH THIS OBSTRUCTION FOR 2 DAYS. NOT ONLY WAS IT ANNOYING BUT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. IT COST ME $205.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MORE COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR. *TR

2005 FORD EXPLORER - FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ALSO FUEL GAUGE READS E THEN EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A KNOWN DEFECT. MY VEHICLE HAD THIS TO HAPPEN AT 32,800 MILES AND I ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR HIGHWAY ACCIDENT. BY MY CHACKS FORD IS AWARE BUT IS NOT CONCERNED SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

I BOUGHT ONE OF THE SHARPEST SUV'S I EVER SAW - A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 6 CYLINDER. IT STARTED RANDOMLY DYING ON ME LIKE THE OTHERS I HAVE READ ABOUT (70+ ON THE INTERSTATE WAS THE MOST INTERESTING!) THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A CABLE FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE THROTTLE; THE COMPUTER TAKES THE REQUEST FROM THE PEDAL AND THEN THE COMPUTER OPENS THE THROTTLE. SO, IF THE COMPUTER CAN'T "SEE" WHAT THE THROTTLE IS ACTUALLY DOING, THAT COULD BE A BAD THING, AND FOR SAFETY REASONS, SHUTS EVERYTHING DOWN (FORD'S SO CALLED FMEM "LIMP HOME MODE"). WELL, I REPLACED THE TPS, AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND IN RETURN FOR 90 DOLLARS, THEY PLUGGED A BOX INTO MY SUV, PUSHED A BUTTON AND THEN TOLD ME THE PCM WAS BAD. THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) IS THE MAIN BRAIN FOR THE CAR. EVERYTHING IS EITHER DIRECTLY CONTROLLED BY IT, OR BY A SUBMODULE (SRS, 4WD, ABS, EATC, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TPMS, AND VCM) THAT IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS. HERE IS THE RUB: CONSIDER PEOPLE THAT LOSE A LIMB, BUT CONTINUE TO FEEL ITS' PRESENCE. THAT'S' BECAUSE EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF REAL TIME DATA FROM THE LIMB, THE BRAIN HAS A PROBLEM AND 'THINKS' IT SEES THE LIMB. IN CASE THE ANALOGY ISN'T CLEAR, IF THE PCM BEGINS TO FAIL, IT MIGHT SAY *ANY* SENSOR IS FAILING. BUT THE SENSOR IS FINE ' THE BRAIN IS 'BROKEN'. IF IT IS BROKEN DUE TO A HEAT OR VIBRATION ISSUE, IT CAN WORK PERFECTLY FOR HOWEVER LONG, THEN JUST GO NUTS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST ' THIS PCM CONTROLS EVERYTHING, RIG

MY ACCELERATOR ON A 2005 FORD EXPLORER STUCK AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

2005 FORD EXPLORER GAS GAUGE FAILURE. 2ND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FIXED. NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPS TO EMPTY AND THE 'SERVICE ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON. I AM DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE LEFT IN THE TANK. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEAR NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS BELOW THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE FUELED IT SEVERAL TIMES, ALWAYS FILLING THE TANK TO THE TOP. EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE VEHICLE UP, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS DROPPED TO EMPTY AND THE MILEAGE TILL EMPTY INDICATOR SHOWS JUST DASHES. IN ADDITION TO THE GAUGE DROPPING TO EMPTY MY "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE SO I FIGURED I'D HAVE IT FIXED. THEN OUT OF CURIOSITY I DECIDED TO CHECK ONLINE AND WITH OTHER FELLOW OWNERS OF THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER MODEL TO SEE IF THEY WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. AND TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE DISTURBS ME MAINLY BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. GOD FORBID MY WIFE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 14-MONTH-OLD SON AND RUNS OUT OF FUEL DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE ON A DESERTED DARK HIGHWAY. SINCE THIS WAS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO COME ONLINE AND FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. BUT I DID NOT FIND THAT. ALL I FOUND WAS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING. NOW MY QUESTION IS, WHY HASNT THERE BEEN A RECALL YET WITH AN UPDATED PART FOR REPLACEMENT? IF SOMEONE COULD CONTACT ME AND ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND INTO A SCAFFOLD, WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD, HOOD, ROOF, FENDER, FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, AND PASSENGER'S SUN VISOR ALL SUSTAINED OVER $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE BACK BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

CONTINUOUS AND REPETITIVE MALFUNCTION OF GAS GAUGE. IT OCCURS VERY OFTEN AND IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM IN FORD EXPLORERS. ADDITIVE HAS BEEN ADDED TO NO AVAIL, I THINK FORD JUST WANTS OWNERS TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AND PURPOSELY CONTINUES TO DESIGN VEHICLES LIKE THIS. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN...WHAT IF I RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE FREEZING COLD WITH TWO BABIES? *TR

5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 2005 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER, SLIPS/FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS USUALLY EITHER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (PASSING SLOWER VEHICLES, UPHILL DOWNSHIFTING) AND ALSO HAS A SEVERE DELAY IN ENGAGING IN REVERSE (3-5 SECONDS) I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TWO ISSUES COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE OR DEADLY ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, USUALLY RESULTING IN FORD DEALER NOT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE OFTEN AND FEEL THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION "CAN'T FIND THE GEAR" , ANOTHER VEHICLE COULD STRIKE MINE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT DROVE ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, IT TOOK THE CONTACT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,113.

2005 FORD EXPLORER, DRIVING ON A TWISTY COASTAL HIGHWAY, ABOUT 35 MPH, TURNED WHEEL TO FOLLOW RIGHT HAND TURN IN THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, OR TO THE BRAKES. I HAD TO WRENCH THE WHEEL REALLY HARD TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP FROM DRIVING OFF OF THE ROAD. I FINALLY PULLED TO THE SIDE, TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS, REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION. I REINSERTED KEY, CAR STARTED AND RAN AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 20 MILES, ABOUT 40 MINUTES, WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT AGAIN-NO WARNING, JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SMALL WRENCH ICON LIT UP, AND DIGITAL DISPLAY MESSAGE "ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" APPEARED. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT THIS WARNING MESSAGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO FORD DEALER SERVICE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAVE TOLD ME A SENSOR ON A BELT WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE BELT SLIPPED OFF ITS PULLEY, AND THAT SENSOR WAS THEREFORE UNABLE TO SENSE THE CRANKSHAFT, AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF WHY THIS OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR WHAT MEASURES COULD BE DONE TO ASSURE THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS ENGINE SHUTOFF HAD OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE, BUT BOTH TIMES THE ROAD WAS UNCROWDED, AND STRAIGHT, AND THE CAR RAN FINE AFTER STARTING BACK UP, SO I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. BUT THE IDEA THAT I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD, OFF A CLIFF (!) AND DIED, OR HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND THIS SAME THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED, THIS TO M

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4X4 (4.0 L, 6-CYL, ADVANCE TRAC WITH ROLL STABILITY CONTROL) VEHICLE , THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 48 MPH. LESS THAN 5 SECONDS LATER, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 48 MPH AND 50 MPH THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT-OFF. FORD CAR/TRUCK DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS THE FORD CAR/TRUCK DEALER WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED THAT ENGINE FAILURE HAD ALSO OCCURRED FIVE SEPARATE TIMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. *TR

LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER DOOR STOPPED WORKING AFTER ONLY 41 THOUSAND MILES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED, THEY ADVISED THAT THE WIRES FOR THE LOCK MECHANISM WERE CAUGHT INSIDE THE DOOR JAM, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BUTTON ON THE INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK THE CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THE BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL, THEREFORE I AM SUBMITTING THIS REQUEST FOR REVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP FOR POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECTS. NO ACCIDENTS LED UP TO THIS EVENT, IT WAS JUST A SUDDEN ONSET WHERE THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AFTER VERY LITTLE USE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,747.

I PURCHASED A NEW FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES FROM MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. IT WAS CONSIDERED "NEW" BECAUSE IT HAD UNDER 6,500 MILES (IT WAS THEIR DEMO CAR.) 5000 INTO MY NEW PURCHASE, AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE DRIFTED BACK WHILE IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR SMOOTHLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AS A TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT. 8,000 MILES LATER (AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES), I WAS HAVING MORE DIFFICULTY WITH A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION AND TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN MY AREA. THEY FOUND A LEAK WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND OTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUES. AT APPROXIMATELY 49,000 MILES (CURRENT MILEAGE), I WAS AGAIN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE REAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND BASICALLY THE ENTIRE BACK END WAS FALLING APART. I COULD FEEL THIS WAS ALSO RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. I, AGAIN, TOOK IT IN FOR THE 3RD TIME AS A TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT. THE DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS REPAIRED, BUT APPARENTLY, THEY ONLY FIXED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE REAR. I PAID $1500 TO FIX THE REAR. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND I NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND IT WAS MORE OBVIOUS THAN BEFORE. I LIVE ONLY 6 BLOCKS AWAY. I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED THE CAR. THAT MORNING, I COULD BARELY GET MY CAR TO GO INTO GEAR. IT WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO REVERSE. IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO GO INTO DRIVE AND WAS JUST BARELY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN CROSS TOURING (NA), SIZE LT235/70/R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE TIRE MOUNT. PRIOR TO OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE AND THE TREAD WAS 4 AND 5/30 SECONDS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,100. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ THE TIRE BLOW CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AN HOUR AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO FLAMES, BUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY BURNED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE SEAT HEATER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

A FIRE STARTED IN MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN THE CONSOLE AREA ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE SELF EXTINGUISHED AS THE OXYGEN WAS REDUCED. THE FIRE CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CONSOLE AREA UP THROUGH THE CENTER CONTROLS TO THE CEILING CONTROLS. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES IT IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE CONSOLE AREA. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO EMPTY EVEN WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAD THIS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAPPENED BEFORE 36000 MILES. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT WE JUST BOUGHT IN APRIL 2007. HIS JUST HIT 37,000 MILES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HIM AS WELL. IT ALSO HAPPENED IN MY COWORKER'S 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS WITH V6 ENGINE COVERING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE 2005S ARE NOT IN THE RECALL AND SHOULD BE. *TR

FOLLOWING A INCREASINGLY LOUDENING 'TICKING' NOISE, THE ENGINE EJECTED A SPARK PLUG, DESTROYING OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY AND RENDERING THE ENTIRE ENGINE USELESS. SHRAPNEL FROM THE EXPLODED PLUG ENTERED THE CYLINDER CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. FORCE OF PLUG EJECTION DESTROYED THREADS ON CYLINDER HEAD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR AND PINION SET FAILED. REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

ELECTRIC WINDOWS FOR BACK SEAT PASSENGERS WERE INOPERABLE. DRIVER SIDE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2006 WITH 21,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE BACK WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2007. DRIVER SIDE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW QUIT WORKING IN SEPTEMBER 2007, BUT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO GET FIXED YET. THE WINDOWS HAD AT DIFFERENT TIMES DID NOT WORK SOMETIMES WHEN I TRIED TO LOWER THEM . I DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN UNTIL THE WINDOW HADN'T WORK IN SEVERAL DAYS. *TR

2005 EXPLORER WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR SHUTTING OFF AND PASSING GEARS ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *KB THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO PASSING GEAR WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

FUEL SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I JUST FILLED MY CAR UP WITH GAS AND I DROVE FOR LESS THAN A MILE AND THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECK OUT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO CRASH BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,172.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE. HE STATED THAT THE REAR HUB PRESSED INTO THE BEARING. HE REPLACED THE BEARING APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS AGO. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ALL POWERWAS LOST. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ONLY IF I CAE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN VEHICLE RE-STARTED AND ACTED NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED SOMETIMES 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY OR NOT FOR A MONTH. I WAS TOLD BY MY FORD DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DESPITE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND HOOKING UP THE COMPUTER TO IT. THE LAST ADVICE I RECEIVED FROM FORD WAS TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED IN WHEN STOPPAGE OCCURS. THATWAS NOT THAT EASY WHEN YOU NEED THE VEHICLE TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION OR YOU WERE STUCK IN A BAD AREA. THIS OCCURRED 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. ALSO, I HAVE A NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGESD WHEN THE BRAKEWA S APPLIED AS IF THE GAS HAD BEEN APPLIED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE STATED THAT MOST OF THE VEHICLE'S DAMAGE WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATES AT RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING INTO THE SERVICE BAY AT 5 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS I HAVE NO GAS WHEN THERE IS A FULL TANK OR LESS. *JB

FORD EXPLORER WITH A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR/BRAKE PEDAL CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ACTS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE SURGE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. 4/23/07 *TR

TL - THE VEHICLE OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HESTITATES AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTAT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN ON IT'S ON. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2000.

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RATTLE IN HER ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE WAS LOUDEST WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, AND HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURS EVERY DAY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 75,000 MILES.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH 30500 FAILURE MILEAGE ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

OUR VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND COASTING WITH THE COAST BUTTON DOWN TO 30 MPH THE CAR SHUTS OFF. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT COURTESY FORD IN PORTLAND OREGON AND WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SERVICE WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE OUR CAR SHUTTING OFF WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN COASTING TO 30 MPH. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ALL SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR CAR. COURTESY FORD WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM IN 3 OTHER NEWER MODEL EXPLORERS, BUT TODAY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM IN 2 OTHER 2005 EXPLORERS.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 EXPLORER AND THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COASTING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. TO THIS POINT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALER DID NOT FEEL A ERROR CODE WAS PROBABLY LOGGED AND TO THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *JB