2005 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
497 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 430 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 107 of 497 complaints (21.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 72 | 14.5% |
| Braking behavior | 50 | 10.1% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 107 |
| Power Train | 49 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 40 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 38 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Structure | 25 |
| Engine | 17 |
Structure:Body: 107; Power Train: 49; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 40; Fuel System, Gasoline: 38; Vehicle Speed Control: 34; Electrical System: 32; Structure: 25; Engine: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 74 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 114 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 102 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 74; 50,000 to 74,999: 114; 75,000 to 99,999: 102; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (114). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 46 |
| 2010 | 66 |
| 2011 | 80 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2005: 22; 2006: 22; 2007: 23; 2008: 33; 2009: 46; 2010: 66; 2011: 80; 2012: 35; 2013: 40; 2014: 42; 2015: 34; 2016: 16; 2017: 14; 2018: 12; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 72 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10108007 · 2005-01-27 (January 27, 2005)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118437 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH I INTENDED TO PASS SLOWER-MOVING VEHICLES BY ACCELERATING. HOWEVER, IT TOOK THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-5 SECONDS TO KICK-IN, AND FOR THE EXPLORER TO ATTAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO SAFELY PASS OTHER VEHICLES, EVEN IF THE PEDAL WASFLOORED. THE TIME INTERVAL WAS TOO LONG (OTHER VEHICLE MADE WITH A/T TOOL ONLY 2-3 SECONDS), AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REFERRED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND TO FORD GROUP PHILIS. INC. 4 MONTHS AGO YET BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET FOUND A SOLUTION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,629 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122210 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE ON 2005 FORD EXPLORER, ALSO AM HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE TOWARD ANY OBJECT IN FRONT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128953 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
CAR RPMS INCREASED WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKES
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147216 · 2006-01-09 (January 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
Owner-reported narrative. 11,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159227 · 2006-06-07 (June 7, 2006)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS COMPLETELY DIED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. BOTH INSTANCES HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE GOES DEAD, AS IF THE KEY HAS BEEN TURNED FROM "RUN" TO THE NEXT POSITION BACK. THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER, ALL GAUGES GO DEAD AND ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, SO I KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL POWER. SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150741 · 2006-02-21 (February 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS DISCOVERED ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,248 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163292 · 2006-07-24 (July 24, 2006)
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 PUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126813 · 2005-06-28 (June 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138145 · 2005-09-29 (September 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
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208097 · 2007-11-06 (November 6, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208097 at NHTSA ↗