2005 Ford Explorer Power Train Problems
- 47
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 47 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- gear shifter · 8 records
- failure mileage · 7 records
- needed replaced · 6 records
- steering column · 6 records
- taken independent · 4 records
- independent mechanic · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 21 |
| 100–150k mi | 14 |
| 30–60k mi | 6 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
From park, delay from 1 to 7 seconds for engagement for reverse (automatic trans), worse in warm weather. Serious safety issue, as you may press on gas thinking you're in reverse, and then accelerate!! Heard 1st hand from ford dealer this is well known, and sometimes severe. Something with solenoid pack? Happens often!
ODI 11091555
Electrical System · Power Train
My explorer transmission just stopped working going down the highway, almost got hit by a truck. Electrical system kept going in and out. Checked with a ford dealership they said it was a common problem with explorers and there was no recall. I checked online and there was over 10,000 complaints made. I am in the military have 14 combat tours, and come home to have my life put in danger again on something that you…
ODI 11047135
Power Train
Transmission just failed on the highway. No forward or reverse gears. The occurrence of transmission failures for this vehicle is extremely high and well documented. The transmission on this vehicle is unreliable and unsafe because of poor engineering. My family was luck to not get rear ended on the highway resulting in injury or worse.
ODI 10978821
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While attempting to reverse the vehicle, the reverse gear shifter became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
ODI 10954812
Power Train
The gear shifter/lever broke off into my hand when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The gear shifter/lever broke at the base, inside the steering column. The broken part seems to be a cast metal part, that the gear shifter/lever rotates to change gears. The fracture surface appears rough -- it is not clean. Fortunately the car is stuck in park, not another gear, and in a safe place (parking garage). Should…
ODI 10924209
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes
Vehicle engine while traveling, generally at high rates of speed greater than 40mph, will randomly turn off. There are no warning lights, no indication on the instrument panel. The engine just turns off. The only way of knowing is once the gas pedal is depressed to increase speed and then realized the car had turned off. This is happening more frequently. I had to by a new car. Explorer just sits in the driveway.…
ODI 10923761
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated that the transmission warning light randomly flashed and the vehicle shook and jerked violently at any rate of speed. The failure occurred for months. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was…
ODI 10871550
Power Train
Vehicle transmission begining to slip, soon will ahve no 4th gear or reverse. The vehicle is up to date with matinanace and everything mileage is still below 95,000 miles. This is an outrage that the ford company is aware of this problem and no recall has been reported.
ODI 10816557
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards while the brakes were applied. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 93,434. *tt…
ODI 10923913
Power Train
TRANSMISSION GRINDS/SLIPS GOING FROM 2 TO 3 GEAR.
ODI 10780691
Power Train · Wheels
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While driving at 20 mph making a turn, the [redacted] warning light illuminated and failed to turn off. In addition, the wheels seized and emitted an abnormal noise. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and restarted shortly afterwards. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
ODI 10749800
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated that while trying to reverse at a low speed, an abnormal noise was heard before the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the gear lever in the reverse position failed to operate…
ODI 10817132
Power Train
In nov of 2014 we took the car to the local ford dealer for 100k mile service. We told them to check the drive train because when you put the car in reverse there would be a slight hesitation then a clunk then the car would begin to move. They said there was no issue and they installed a computer upgrade to improve the shifting. They also changed the tranny fluid. Then in march of 2015 when you put the car in…
ODI 10702437
Engine · Power Train
Im not sure if this should be with engine section but i didn't see a transmission part. I was driving my suv and transmission light in the message center came on and said , over drive on /off kept flashing . Took to a body shop nearby they diagnosed the problem to be the transmission. With further investigation mechanic told me that second / third gear was gone . I ended up spending $4500 for new transmission to be…
ODI 10652756
Power Train
As i was driving in traffic, the panel suddenly started beeping and flashing lights and my car would not change gears. The o/d light came on and the information center indicated there was something wrong with my transmission. Now the car will not shift into 3rd gear until it reaches very high rpm and when it does shift it is very hard. I drive the car to and from work a total of 6 miles a day and almost never on the…
ODI 10568662
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
Car suddenly quit and the engine fail safe light came on. Computer scan showed the throttle actuator/control was stuck closed, and could clear any codes. Vehicle would not move at all.. I had to have it towed back to my home. Engine would not run at more than an idle with the accelerator fully depressed, and there would be no change in the rpm. *tr
ODI 10564141
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact was driving 40 mph on an incline when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.
ODI 10550087
Power Train
On september 26, 2013, i took my 2005 ford explorer to the ford dealer (freeway ford in bloomington, mn) because i was having problems when i put the vehicle into reverse. At times it hesitates to go into reverse and then clunks into the gear. This has been happening for about 1 year. The diagnosis was of course my transmission solenoid. I cant afford to have my vehicle repaired at the cost of $1,300 plus taxes and…
ODI 10545585
Power Train
Our 2005 ford explorer has only 60 thousand miles and we have had to replace the transmission. Our mechanic has told us that this should not have happened at 60 thousand miles, and another mechanic told us that ford vehicles are starting to become known for the bad transmissions. After reading some complaints online, i have decided to report this, as many ford customers have had to have transmissions replaced at…
ODI 10544681
Electrical System · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
The vehicle shuts off while driving causing loss of power steering, power brakes with a complete loss of power. This is an ongoing problem and has happend during highway high speed driving. It happens on cars built 11/24/04 and prior. The codes are p2106 and p2135. It's caused by a faulty throttle position sensor and requires a powertrain control module reset b36.11, b37.2 or higher. This has been an ongoing problem…
ODI 10748493
Power Train
Gearshift lever can be moved from park without stepping on brake pedal. It can be moved into any position, even when key is removed. *tr
ODI 10510196
Power Train
Driving along and vehicle seemed to slow way down, in traffic. Tried to give it more gas, but realized that it seemed to be out of gear and then all of a sudden it clunked really hard into gear and sped up. Very dangerous in florida interstate highway traffic!!! *tr
ODI 10501849
Power Train
My 2005 ford has been in the dealership service center 3 different timesfor the same problem with the transmission. First time 2006 second 2010 this 2013. I'm told the solenoid pac the od bands are to blame all three times.i'm getting very frustrated with this car and ford motor companies inability to take care of this problem or to atleast except some responsibility for this.with this last failure they have given…
ODI 10496933
Power Train
Transmission continues to go out and an investigation is needed for all 2005 ford explorer transmission problems after 120,000 miles. *tr
ODI 10489571
Power Train
Complete transmission failure at 99k miles and cost to completely rebuild is $2400. Car has been maintained according to ford recommendations. Transmission repair indicated this is a common issue with these transmissions used in ford explorers during these years. Ford should perform a recall as this could cause accidents given the lack of warning before failure occurs. *tr
ODI 10460760