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
Transmission failure - driving home and the transmission failed. No drive, no reverse, does not go. I purchased this vehicle brand new and have had all of the recommended services performed by my local authorized ford dealer. After it failed, i searched the web for complaints, i should have done this before buying it. Not very happy about the fact that ford is not doing anything for this very common failure!! I will…
ODI 10455237
Power Train
Just bought this car. Transmission was having trouble shifting gears and is now slipping. This should be a recall, as i have found too many complaints about this transmission falling apart. Ford should fix this issue and replace with a different transmission. I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a transmission that is bound to fail again. This is a blatant missed recall. The trans is model 5r55s. Please…
ODI 10440351
Power Train
Drove the vehicle to work and went to leave and i had no reverse. The transmission had been slamming into reverse and then engaging prior to this-but no slipping or anything else. I had the fluid changed and there were no teeth or any metal in the filter or pan-but this did not fix the problem. Spoke with 3 transmission shops in my town and all told me the 05 explorers had junk transmissions. That the fluid in part…
ODI 10441221
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped and the gear shifter was shifted into park when it rolled forward until crashing into another vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure and the current mileages were 90,000.
Crash reported
ODI 10436551
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated the gear shift was able to be moved from park to reverse and drive without the keys in the ignition or the vehicle being on. The contact stated that a child was able to move the gear shift while it was turned off and the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact was able to be stop the vehicle, get into it and apply the brake pedal. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10432531
Power Train
Took our 2005 ford explorer to service dept. Before warranty expired-previously alexander ford, now ford of murfreesboro. The transmission had been slipping periodically at the time. They drove it & said nothing was noticeable. I indicated to them that it slipped maybe once or twice every month or so. Now vehicle is out of warranty. I was driving in traffic and the transmission slipped on me. I had a car in front of…
ODI 10433559
Power Train
While shifting into reverse sometimes there is a 3-4 second delay. It is also slamming into reverse at times. More frequent as time goes on. This is a know issue from tsb 05-15-4 causing by the ford factory failing to put an additive in the transmission fluid. This should be covered by ford. I'm now looking at a costly repair. *tr
ODI 10428989
Power Train
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ODI 10428933
Power Train
We bought our explorer new july 4th 2005, have had several problems but this is the worst. I have had the transmission checks done on time at 40,000 and 60,000 miles. I told them twice before the transmission was not right it was slipping. Now that i finally paid them $200.00 for their test it shows the bands are about to break and it will be $3900.00 for a rebulit one. I have checked out the list of problems with…
ODI 10436046
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer xlt. The contact stated that the gear shifter would sporadically move into neutral from park or drive without the key being in the ignition. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that there were no recalls for the particular failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
ODI 10402407
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
On july 12, 2013, i took my 2005 ford explorer to the ford dealer where it was purchased because i was having problems when i put the vehicle into reverse. At times it's very difficult to put into reverse and when i put in reverse the vehicle jerks or lunges into gear. This has been happening for about 2 1/2 years. The diagnosis was of course my transmission. I cant afford to have my vehicle repaired at the cost of…
ODI 10524913
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate when the transmission was shifted into reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 53,000 and the current mileage was 70,000.
ODI 10470740
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Today, i started our 2005 ford explorer to drive my two children to the bus stop. The electronic throttle control light on the instrument cluster went on out of the blue. I've had many cars but this is the first ford and since august we've put in an alternator, new engine and now the electronic throttle control light. Our prior suv was a 1999 dodge durango and we didn't have to put any of these repairs into it. *tr
ODI 10384276
Column Shift · Power Train
2005 ford explorer. Consumer writes in regards to steering column gear shifter problems. *smd the consumer stated on december 10, 2010 the steering column was replaced. Unfortunately, the gear shift broke again for the third time. The consumer stated the entire steering column had to be replaced each time. *jb
ODI 10703669
Power Train · Steering
This incident refers to a 2005 ford explorer eddie bauer vin # [xxx]. After making an investment to purchase a vehicle, one should not have to worry about the safety of himself or family because the gear shifter broke off of the steering column. This is what has happened to me, then going to the ford dealer for a part and being told it cost 1300.00 dollars to replace the entire steering column. When the cheap white…
ODI 10363412
Power Train
Bought 2005 ford explorer with only $5700 miles on vehicle. By the time i had 60k miles, o/d light started flashing and i had to get new transmission. Now my vehicle has 125k miles and o/d light is on again. Will need another transmission. Both times, vehicle does not shift gears correctly and sounds like your transmission is going to fall out while driving down the road. *tr
ODI 10345204
Power Train
Brought the car to the dealer for the transmission lurching. My wife was parking her car and when she shifted in reverse to back into her parking spot, it lunged backwards and rammed the exhaust into bumper, literally crumpling the exhaust, into a concrete barricade, with no warning. This was at 75000 miles in march of 2009. Anytime she put it in gear it would just jump, like something would make it hesitate, and…
Crash reported
ODI 10446080
Power Train
Vehicle started skipping and lunging as it changed gears. Took to ford dealer and said it needed to be replaced. Costs up to 3,000. Ford did all service on vehicle at all the right times. No recall can not believe it. Finally took to transmedic had replaced for $2300. Can't someone get ford to do anything. *js
ODI 10462279
Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train
2005 ford explorer xlt 4.0l v6 28,000 miles purchased new on july 7, 2005 we started having problems with the fuel system in the end of june 2008 (intermittent loss of fuel gauge and service engine soon dash light) called the ford dealer on or about july 1, 2008. We were driving and the truck engine died, no warning no steering no brakes, (the wrench light and engine failed test mode light came on) she managed to…
ODI 10241711
Electrical System · Power Train
I bought one of the sharpest suv's i ever saw - a 2005 ford explorer xlt 4x4 6 cylinder. It started randomly dying on me like the others i have read about (70+ on the interstate was the most interesting!) this vehicle doesn't have a cable from the gas pedal to the throttle; the computer takes the request from the pedal and then the computer opens the throttle. So, if the computer can't "see" what the throttle is…
ODI 10228760
Power Train
Rear differential whine is very bad/loud ! This is a known issue by ford motor company. This is a very bad defect. *tr
ODI 10424515
Power Train · Structure · Suspension · Vehicle Speed Control
2005 ford explorer. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle rear axle leaking. *smd the consumer stated the rear axles were replaced at 59,752. A year later after listening to the noise in the rear end for quite some time, the problem returned. Six months later, they were replaced again. Also, the rear panel beneath the window was rusted and the throttle needs to be replaced, as it is causing vehicle hesitation.*jb
ODI 10572495