What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Ford Explorer

Typical pattern

5.6% of complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (153 complaints), typically at 7.1 yr or about 76,000 miles.

Complaints
602
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
70,000 n=522
Crash / fire / tow
8% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
153 reports · 76,000 mi
7.1 yr
1.3%
Power train
100 reports · 75,000 mi
6.1 yr
4%
Speed control
44 reports · 55,000 mi
4.8 yr
22.7%
Fuel system
40 reports · 60,000 mi
5.0 yr
2.5%
Electrical system
37 reports · 78,000 mi
6.6 yr
5.4%
Engine cooling
30 reports · 45,606 mi
3.6 yr
3.3%
Visibility
23 reports · 53,168 mi
5.7 yr
0%
Fuel / propulsion
17 reports · 86,000 mi
9.4 yr
0%
Engine
17 reports · 120,000 mi
9.8 yr
11.8%
Other
16 reports · 100,000 mi
12.2 yr
0%
Air bags
15 reports · 65,000 mi
5.4 yr
73.3%
Suspension
15 reports · 65,000 mi
3.7 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

07E104000 2007-12-11
Visibility:glass, side/rear

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.

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

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.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

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.

In owners’ own words

Power train 4,629 mi 4 mo in service
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
Power train 41,000 mi 8 mo in service
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.
Power train 43,000 mi 10 mo in service
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS MAKING A MOANING NOISE WHEN THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,00 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT FORD IS "INVESTIGATING" THE PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, MY DEALER TELLS ME MY ONLY RECOURSE IS A $1700 REBUILD OF THE REAR END. IT IS TIME FOR FORD TO ADMIT THAT THE LIGHT ALUMINUM REAR END WAS A POOR DESIGN AND RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT!!! *NM
Air bags 7,000 mi 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow
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

Other Explorer model years

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