2005 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls (494 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2005 Ford Explorer is Body / frame (28% of 494 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Body / frame — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 494 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2005 Ford Explorer?

138 of 494 filings named Body / frame (28% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (88 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2004 has 1,279 reports on file; this year has 494. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2005 Ford Explorer

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Body / frame. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Body / frame 138 complaints · 27.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 22
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 14
  • Deaths 1
All Ford Explorer years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Body / frame (STRUCTURE) appears in 138 of 494 owner complaints (27.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 138 complaints, 27.9% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 138 · 27.9% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 88 complaints, 17.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 88 · 17.8% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 56 complaints, 11.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 56 · 11.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 38 complaints, 7.7% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 7 crash reports 1 fire reports 38 · 7.7% Engine (ENGINE): 27 complaints, 5.5% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 27 · 5.5% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 24 complaints, 4.9% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 24 · 4.9% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 22 complaints, 4.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 22 · 4.5% Wheels (WHEELS): 14 complaints, 2.8% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 14 · 2.8% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 13 complaints, 2.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 7 crash reports 13 · 2.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 286 complaints, 57.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 7 crash reports 2 fire reports 286 · 57.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 138 27.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 88 17.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 56 11.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 38 7.7% 7 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 27 5.5% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 24 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 22 4.5% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 14 2.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 13 2.6% 7 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 286 57.9% 7 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2005; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2006. 2005-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2005-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2006-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2006-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2008-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2008-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2009-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2009-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2009-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2010-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2010-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2010-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2010-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2011-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2011-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2011-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2011-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2012-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2012-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2014-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2005 Jan 2024 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 07E104000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E104000 Investigation PE09020 ● Investigation PE09020 Investigation EA09013 ● Investigation EA09013
  • Campaign 07E104000 was reported 326 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2005-Q1 Owner reports 2
2005-Q2 Owner reports 6
2005-Q3 Owner reports 11
2005-Q4 Owner reports 3
2006-Q1 Owner reports 8
2006-Q2 Owner reports 7
2006-Q3 Owner reports 6
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 7
2007-Q2 Owner reports 5
2007-Q3 Owner reports 7
2007-Q4 Owner reports 4
2008-Q1 Owner reports 5
2008-Q2 Owner reports 12
2008-Q3 Owner reports 8
2008-Q4 Owner reports 7
2009-Q1 Owner reports 12
2009-Q2 Owner reports 9
2009-Q3 Owner reports 12
2009-Q4 Owner reports 12
2010-Q1 Owner reports 15
2010-Q2 Owner reports 14
2010-Q3 Owner reports 14
2010-Q4 Owner reports 23
2011-Q1 Owner reports 26
2011-Q2 Owner reports 15
2011-Q3 Owner reports 14
2011-Q4 Owner reports 25
2012-Q1 Owner reports 11
2012-Q2 Owner reports 6
2012-Q3 Owner reports 6
2012-Q4 Owner reports 11
2013-Q1 Owner reports 11
2013-Q2 Owner reports 11
2013-Q3 Owner reports 8
2013-Q4 Owner reports 10
2014-Q1 Owner reports 13
2014-Q2 Owner reports 9
2014-Q3 Owner reports 10
2014-Q4 Owner reports 10
2015-Q1 Owner reports 10
2015-Q2 Owner reports 9
2015-Q3 Owner reports 9
2015-Q4 Owner reports 6
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 9
2017-Q1 Owner reports 2
2017-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q3 Owner reports 7
2017-Q4 Owner reports 3
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 5
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 07E104000
Defect investigation 1 PE09020
Defect investigation 1 EA09013
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06E049000

    Safety recall 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 07E104000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
    Remedy:
    SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 494 complaints · page 1 of 20
2024-02-21Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11573106
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle independently jerked forward. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
2023-01-12Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11501514
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking sound and shaking. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the timing chain was fractured, and a plastic piece had detached. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was not available.
2022-11-09Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11492889
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle jerked backwards while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 93,434.
2022-09-01Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11482456
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
2021-10-23Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11437921
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I sitting on a incline put it in reverse and started backing up and the transmission just let loose and started rolling forward it's done this several times and sometimes it want back up at all even on level ground had it checked it was full of fluid but done a fluid and filter changed. And it still doesn't back up at times or when backing it stops backing and will go forward drifting
2021-05-10Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11416005
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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!!!!
2020-09-28Wheels (WHEELS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11361510
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT FOUR OF FIVE WHEELS STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE WHEEL STUDS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
2020-09-25Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11361210
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ALL THE ELECTRICAL TURNS OFF LIKE THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR SLOWED QUICKLY. I AM CONCERNED AS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. EITHER FORD SHOULD FIX THE ISSUE OR PULL THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED.
2020-08-19Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11350238
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE CLOSE TO HOME SO THEY PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WAS LOW. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE OIL SENSOR NOT PROPERLY INFORMING THE CONTACT WHEN THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER CAPITAL CITY FORD LOCATED AT 8623 E. WASHINGTON ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,406. INVALID VIN.
2019-08-27Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11251812
CrashFireInjuryDeath
METAL SEAT FRAME BAR COMING THROUGH OUTSIDE OF DRIVERS SEAT.. I AM 5' 3" TALL, 125 LBS...NOT FROM OVER WEIGHT DRIVER.. VERY PROMINENT METAL BAR MAKES SEAT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT ON. LUMBAR SUPPORT DIDNT LAST 5 YEARS...SEAT DANGEROUS TO ANYONE SITTING ON IT.

Ford Explorer Complaints by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2005 Ford Explorer?

Owners named Body / frame most often — 138 of 494 reports (28%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Ford Explorer?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2005 Ford Explorer?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources