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: fuel system
55 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 2, 2006
GAS GUAGE FAILURE.ON THE WAY HOME FROM BUYING THE SUV,THE GAS HAND WOULD NOT WORK.RETURNED CAR TO DEALER.THE DEALER FURNISHED ME A NEW CAR UNTIL THE CAR WAS FIXED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED.WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THE MECHANIC HAD A BULLETION THAT FORD HAD ISSUED SAYING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GUAGE BECAUSE SULFUR IN THE GAS WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. FORD RECOMMENDS USING CHEVRON ADDITIVE IN THE GAS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.THE MECHANIC SAID THE VEHICLE HAD 13000 MILES ON IT THE FRIST TIME THE GAS HAND QUIT WORKING. THE CAR HAD 17000 MILES WHEN THE HAND QUIT WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A NEW GUAGE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL ONLY HELP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND YOU WERE OUT OF GAS IT COULD BE SERIOUS. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 21, 2006
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2004, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY GAS GAUGE WAS READING E AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED MAY 13, 2005. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. SINCE I HAD FILLED THE TANK THE DAY BEFORE THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE AROUND AND USE THE GAS UP. I REFUSED AND THE WOUND UP DRAINING MY TANK. WELL AFTER FILLING MY TANK UP ON JANUARY 20, 2006 AGAIN MY GAUGE IS READY ALMOST E AND THE DASH KEEPS TELLING ME I HAVE A LOW FUEL LEVEL. THIS TIME I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING IT HAPPENED AFTER RESTARTING MY CAR WHEN THEY FINISHED PUMPING MY GAS. BACK TO THE DEALER I GO AND AGAIN I AM TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT AND OR CHANGED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THEY DRAIN THE GAS AND SINCE THE TANK IS FULL I AM SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL I USE MOST OF THE GAS. I AM TOLD THEY DO HAVE THE PART IN STOCK TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Fuel system, Other, Sep 29, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. SAFETY COMPLAINT WAS THAT LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP FIXED. DEALER FIXED THE FUEL PUMP. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPORTS. NO FIRES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON ROAD WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, BEFORE THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Fuel system, Other, Aug 4, 2005
MY GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN READ E AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON CAME ON, ON A THREE MONTH OLD 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH 2200 MILES. I HAVE TO GUESSTIMATE HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE AND IF SOMETHING DOES GO WRONG WITH THE ENGINE I WILL NOT KNOW AS THE LIGHT IS PERPETUALLY ON. THE DEALER STATES THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS BAD AND THE PART IS BACKORDERED, I 'VE BEEN WAITING 3 WEEKS ALREADY. THE DEALER STATES THEY ARE WAITING ON 20 OF THEM FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM, THAT MY SITUATION IS THE FIRST THEY'VE HEARD OF IT. THIS CAN'T BE TRUE AS THE DEALER I TOOK MY CAR TO IS WAITING ON THE PART TO FIX 20 EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO FOUND THIS PROBLEM POSTED IN NUMEROUS FORUMS ONLINE. I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND NOT KNOWING FOR SURE HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE OR WHETHER OR NOT YOUR ENGINE IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND EXPEDITE THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS BACKORDERED PART. *NM
Fuel system, Other, Jun 28, 2005
PURCHASED NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER AFTER FIRST 100 MILES FUEL GAUGE WENT FALSELY TO EMPTY AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FOR MY VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. FORD HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE IN MAY 2005 YET THEY ARE STILL SELLING THE VEHICLE KNOWING THE UNITS ARE FAILING. WILL REQUIRE THEM TO REMOVE MY GAS TANK AND REPLACE UNIT. I BELEIVE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE PRIOR TO SELLING THIS VEHICLE OR I SHOULDHAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO PURCHASING.