2005 Ford Explorer problems
The 2005 Ford Explorer has 604 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (25%) concerns body & structure. Next are fuel system (11%) and drivetrain & axles (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 604 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 30 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 522 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 51 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 46 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 100 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 105 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 99 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 41 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 43 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 13 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 16 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Of the 522 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 70,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 76,000 miles (140 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 30 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 26th most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford Explorer with enough data (303 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was involved in an accident on fl state road 85 at the okalossa regional airport on wednesday, february 1, 2006 at approximately 6:30 p.m. While traveling north on highway 85 another vehicle ran the stop sign exiting the airport to travel south on highway 85. My 2005 ford explorer was traveling at 55 MPH and t-boned a 2003 ford minivan. None of my airbags deployed!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While driving at speeds of 30 MPH in slightly icy road conditions, the vehicle slid over black ice and crashed into a nearby wall. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sustained injuries to her arm, shoulders and neck. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. The dealer advised contacting the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was awaiting a return call. The vehicle was not repaired.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated the driver was driving approximately 55 MPH, when she crashed into a truck and the air bags did not deploy. The driver was taken to the hospital, by ambulance for serious injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing yard. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileage was 118,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The 2005 ford explorer, when shifted into reverse, has a delay then slams into gear and the vehicle lurches rearward. Also, the truck has a delay when shifting through some forward gears as well. The truck will delay or hesitate when shifting through the gears, then slam into the next gear.
2005 ford explorer transmission issues. Very common on this model, based on customer/car owners complaints. Reverse is affected. Could not reverse quickly, almost hit by oncoming car. Very dangerous. I have children!!!!