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2005 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 497 owner complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer, most often about the structure. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2005 Ford Explorer
69
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years55% below the Explorer median · #27 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints49741 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage76kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 21, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Ford Explorer has problems

497 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure1512
Power train994
Vehicle speed control4410
Fuel system, gasoline401
Electrical system362
Engine and engine cooling291
Visibility230
Engine172
Fuel/propulsion system170
17 other systems12625

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2005 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Mileage at failure

When do structure problems start?

76kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 137 structure complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
7under 30k miles100under 100k miles37100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Power train

17 owners mentioned a cost

$2,400median

Middle half: $1,300 – $3,500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other Explorer year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. How we score

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Vehicle Rollaway AllegationsEA09013 · closed Feb 12, 2013
    No recall
  2. VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONSPE09020 · closed Aug 19, 2009
    No recall
In owners' words

What Explorer owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was a crack on the top panel of the rear liftgate. The contact was concerned that the rear liftgate would fracture if she opened the liftgate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The…
Complaint 11482456 · Sep 1, 2022 · 120,000 miles
REAR WHEEL WELL SHOCK TOWER MOUNT IS RUSTED OUT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Complaint 11191216 · Mar 24, 2019 · 120,313 miles
2005 FORD EXPLORER. FRAME IS ROTTING ALONG THE WELDS. NOT UP AND DOWN. LENGTH WISE RUNNING WITH THE FRAME. OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY WELD ISSUE AND A BIG ISSUE AT THAT AS THE ISSUE COULD HAVE THE FRAME FAIL AND ENTIRE HUB/AXLE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY RIP RIGHT OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMMON ISSUE…
Complaint 11084224 · Apr 9, 2018 · 84,000 miles

Own a 2005 Explorer?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.