2005 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 568 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 27 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Seat belts, Aug 11, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE RING PIN GEAR WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE THIRD AND FOURTH CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE SECOND VISIT. THE CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH VISIT. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A SHUTTER COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT HANDLE WAS LOOSE. THE LUMBAR SEAT SWITCH WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Steering, Jul 24, 2006, crash
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WHICH LOOSES POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING ABILITY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME IS THERE. FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM OF LOOSING THE BRAKING ABILITY, THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTED HAS NO PROBLEMS BUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (FEW METERS TO UP TO A MILE) THE ADVANCE TRACTION LOSS MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN THE MESSAGE CENTRE AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES THE ABILITY TO STOP IN THE REQUIRED STOP DISTANCE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PULSATION IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PADDLE AND A SCREECHING HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. THEN ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, AND VEHICLE RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE IS RESET AND VEHICLE WORKS FINE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AT RANDOM GIVES THE MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY WITH AN AUDIO SIGNAL INDICATING OIL PRESSURE LOW, SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND OTHER LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY AND RPM METER SHOWING ZERO READING WITH LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING WHEREAS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATES IF PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THRICE BUT THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE FIXED FROM LAST 15 MONTHS. THE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOT BACK ONCE THE ENGINE IS SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED. I HAVE RESORTED TO PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT ROLL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AND GET THE STEERING CONTROL BACK. I HAD LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2005 FOR 10 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE AND RECTIFY BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES AT FORD BUT I AM YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALER OR THE OEM. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 25, 2006
I HAVE LESS THAN 19000 MILES AND HAD TO INSTALL 2 AIR FILTERS BECAUSE OF BLACK PARTICLES COLLECTING ON THE AIR FILTER. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS 5000 FROM LAST OIL FILTER AND AIR FILTER BEING REPLACED. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY FOUR TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS BEFORE THE STALLING OCCURRED. AFTER EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, DROVE, AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER , THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT TO EVALUATE IT, AND THE CONTACT DECLINED. *AK
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Visibility, Oct 12, 2005
DT: 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES WITH NINE REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASE, APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY/WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE/THE PULLEY IN THE MOTOR, HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE COMPUTER CHIP HAD TO BE RESET. THE KEY WAS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION; THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IGNITION. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION . THE CONTACT WAS ASKING FORD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AT THIS TIME. A SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SUPPOSE TO SPEAK WITH THE CONTACT.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT CHECKED ALL THE FLUIDS AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. SHE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 09/13/2005, AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP FLUSHED ALL THE FLUIDS, DONE OIL CHANGE, AND KEPT UP WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2005. THE HEATER IN THE VEHICLE WENT UP AND DOWN, EVEN AT THE LOWEST SETTING THE HEATER GOT TOO HOT. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 22, 2005
THE TAILPIPE ON THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAD BURNED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUMPER. *JB THE TAILPIPE WAS FOUND TO BE TOO FLEXIBLE. THE DEALERSHIPS FINAL CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. *SC *JB