2005 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10110185 · 2005-02-09 (February 9, 2005)
BACK DOOR LATCH ON MY FORD EXPLORER 2005 HAS COME OPEN TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117631 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
BOTH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ROLLING OVER. BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S EARS WERE STILL RINGING FROM THE IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117631 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 10121444 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS IS LEAKING AT 41,000 MILES. NOTICED THE LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO LOOK AT IT THEY TELL ME IT IS THE AXEL SEALS AND IS 450.00 TO FIX.NOW I LOOK AT 2002 EXPLORER REAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET AND THEY ARE EPIDEMIC IN PERPORTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121444 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 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 10127965 · 2005-06-22 (June 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127965 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.