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: structure
164 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Oct 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFTGATE NEAR THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.
Structure, Oct 13, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. AS A RESULT, THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 12/06/11*LJ UPDATED 12/12/11
Visibility, Structure, Oct 7, 2011
VERY LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LIKE 1 FOOT LONG AND 3/16 WIDE CLOSE TO THE FORD LOGO. *TR
Structure, Sep 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW AND EXTENDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GATE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM. THE CRACK HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IF IT WAS REPAIRED, IT WOULD PROBABLY CRACK AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,992.
Structure, Sep 5, 2011
FRONT ALUMINUM HOOD BEGAN PAINT BLISTERING AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. TWO YEARS LATER, PAINT BLISTERS RETURN. TSB 6-25-15 ISSUED WITH PAINTING GUIDELINES BUT NO REPAIR AUTHORITY. AFTER SECOND OCCURRENCE, DEALER SAID NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AND ADVISED US TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND PAINT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A $45K CAR (LIMITED VERSION WITH ALL OPTIONS) *TR
Structure, Aug 31, 2011
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE PAINT IS BLISTERING AND PEELING FROM THE ROOF RUNNERS. I NOTICED THIS JUST RECENTLY WHEN I WASHED THE TRUCK AND WAS GETTING READY TO WAX IT. *TR
Structure, Aug 18, 2011
NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY REAR WINDOW DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE REAR LIFT GATE TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON MY 2005 EXPLORER. CRACK JUST APPEARED FOR NO REASON. DID NOT TAKE IT IN OR HAVE IT FIXED. FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THIS FLAW SO I WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I ONLY HAVE 41000 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *KB
Structure, Aug 17, 2011
ON FRIDAY, 8/12/11, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM, I NOTED AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH PANEL, LOCATED JUST ABOVE AND BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. AS OF THIS PAST MONDAY, 8/15/11, THIS CRACK HAS NOW EXTENDED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PANEL. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF BODY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENTS. THIS IS NOT AN AREA WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HIT MINE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS JUST APPEARED WITH NO REASON. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOTED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF FORD AND IS APPARENTLY BASED ON DEFECTIVE GLUE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD COMPANY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
Structure, Aug 14, 2011
THE PAINT ON OUR 2005 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2008, BUT NOW IS GETTING WORSE. WHEN AT THE FORD DEALER WHILE GETTING THE COMPUTER CHANGED WICH IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH FUEL EFFICIENCY, WE ASKED ABOUT THE PAINT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ISN'T ANY TYPE OF RECALL. WE ARE ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TO CHANGE TIRES EVERY 15000 MILES. THI TRUCK HAS MANY DEFECTS. *TR
Structure, May 20, 2011
MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS A LARGE VERTICAL CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN DOZENS OF VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR BODY STYLES, FOR REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $472. *TR
Structure, May 19, 2011
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
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 8, 2011
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.
Structure, Apr 27, 2011
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.
Structure, Mar 26, 2011
MY 2005 REAR PANEL UNDERNEATH WINDOW CRACKED BY THE EMBLEM. *TR
Structure, Equipment, Mar 16, 2011
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.
Structure, Mar 15, 2011
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
Structure, Mar 14, 2011
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
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 1, 2011
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
Structure, Feb 18, 2011
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.
Structure, Feb 9, 2011
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
Structure, Feb 2, 2011
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
Electrical system, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Jan 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BODY STRUCTURE , GAS PEDAL. *TR
Structure, Jan 26, 2011
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.
Structure, Jan 10, 2011
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
Structure, Jan 7, 2011
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.