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, Jan 2, 2011
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
Structure, Jan 1, 2011
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
Structure, Dec 22, 2010
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
Structure, Dec 15, 2010
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.
Structure, Dec 14, 2010
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
Structure, Dec 6, 2010
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.
Structure, Nov 29, 2010
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
Structure, Nov 5, 2010
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
Structure, Oct 26, 2010
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
Structure, Oct 22, 2010
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
Structure, Oct 18, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR LIFTGATE THAT EXTENDED TO THE EMBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
Structure, Oct 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS BUBBLING OF PAINT AND RUST IN THE GROVES ON TOP OF MY ROOF. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECT I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO HAS ALSO ADVISED THIS IS A PAINT DEFECT AND CONTACTED FORD DIRECT THEMSELVES TO HAVE THIS DEFECT REPAIRED AND FORD STATES THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE IF THE ROOF HAS RUST HOLES THRU THE TOP OR IF I WAS THE 1ST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY APPARENT THAT IT IS A PAINT DEFECT AND NOTHING MORE. I HAVE DONE AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY REGULAR PROBLEM FOR MOST VEHICLES BETWEEN 200-2005. *TR
Structure, Sep 30, 2010
THE REAR PANEL UNDER MY BACK WINDOW IS CRACKED ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FALLS OFF AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAS A CRASH TRYING TO AVOID IT? WILL FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING? DOUBT IT. THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT IS RAMPANT ON THE INTERNET. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE GUY BEHIND ME CAN BE ASSURED HE WON'T HAVE TO PLAY DODGE THE PLASTIC WHEN IT FALLS OFF. *TR
Structure, Sep 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH THE SIZE OF THE CRACK INCREASED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG THESE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Structure, Sep 15, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF AND THE ROOF IS STARTING TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE CONTACT IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS OF THE RUSTING. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58000.
Structure, Sep 10, 2010
REAR WINDOW TRIM CRACKED. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT THE PIECES WILL FALL OFF AND CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD TO OTHER DRIVERS, BUT FORD SAYS THIS IN NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Aug 26, 2010
MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORTTRAC HAS PAINT ISSUES. THE PAINT ON THE HOOD HAS BUBBLED AND IS NOW FLAKING OFF. THE RUNNING BOARDS HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST SPOTS. I AM NOW WORRIED WHAT ELSE MIGHT GO WRONG. =-( *TR
Structure, Aug 24, 2010
PAINT IS DELAMINATING ON THE ROOF OF MY 2005 EXPLORER. VEHICLE HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GENERATION EXPLORER (2002-2005). I OWNED A 1998 EXPLORER FOR 10 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PAINT RELATED PROBLEMS. *TR
Structure, Jun 17, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL LIFT GATE WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18000. UPDATED 08/06/10*JB
Structure, May 22, 2010
APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER BEGAN TO CHIP OFF. I WAS TOLD FORD WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS IT WAS RUSTED, HOWEVER NOW WHAT BEGAN AS A CHIP HAS GROWN TO APPROXIMATELY AN 18IN CIRCLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY VEHICLE. FORD HAS INDICATED THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE DEFECT HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Structure, May 17, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL ON THE LIFT GATE WAS CRACKED DOWN THE SIDE BY THE FORD LOGO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS A DESIGN FLAW ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD THE CRACK WHILE PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
Structure, Mar 15, 2010
I HAVE A CRACK ON THE TAILGATE OF MY 2005 FOR EXPLORER. I SAW ON OUR LOCAL NEWS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Feb 8, 2010
DEP CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH *CN
Structure, Feb 7, 2010
PANEL BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAS VERTICAL CRACK. PURCHASED 2005 EXPLORER 2 WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION (HAD AN 02 EXPLORER WITH SAME CRACK ISSUE SO I KNEW WHAT TO LOOK FOR). CRACK LITERALLY HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. IF TOYOTA CAN HAVE A MASSIVE RECALL THEN SO CAN FORD. *TW
Structure, Jan 21, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79000.