2005 Ford Explorer Engine

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT 10:30 PM AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. HE WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT. THERE WERE NO MAINTENANCE LIGHTS ON. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE SON IN APRIL 2014 AND THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM. A MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW, AND MY SON IS LEAVING FOR COLLEGE IN AUGUST AND DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING PIECE HAD MELTED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GETS SO HOT, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR. THE CAR STILL GETS SO HOT. I WONDER WHY FORD DISCONTINUE THAT MODEL. *TR

THE ENGINE HAD BEEN BEHAVING STRANGE. THERE WAS A "TINKING" SOUND, LIKE WHEN YOU HIT METAL AGAINST METAL, AND THE ENGINE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHEN UNDER SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE NEXT MORNING IT TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT COULDN'T START. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE SPROCKET JACK SHAFT BROKE, CONTROLS CAM BROKE, THERE WERE BENT VALVES, LIFTERS WERE HIT WITH THE JACK SHAFT AND CAMS WERE HIT TOO. THE ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKED, RUINING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE NATIONAL FORD COMPLAINT CENTER. FORD SAID IT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUTTING IN A NEW MOTOR. *TR

VEHICLE DRIVE BELT FALLS OFF WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SEPARATING FROM ENGINE MAKING VEHICLE INOPERATABLE. *TR

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE KEPT THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS TURNED TO THE WARM/HOT (RED) POSITION OR THE A/C UNIT IS TURNED ON, WE NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE OVER THE YEARS. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE THUMPING SOUND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STRONGER (AS IF SOMEONE WAS PHYSICALLY PUNCHING THROUGH MY DASHBOARD/GLOVE COMPARTMENT), CAUSING MY HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO REPAIR THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO FIX. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ONLINE ALONG WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT WE KNOW. *TR

STARTED TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER AND HEAR KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE SO TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST GARAGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON A LOT OF THE NEW FORDS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD. NO WARNING, NO WARNING. IT IS RECOMMENDED BY EVERYONE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CAR DIED. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN OR CHAINS (THERE ARE 5 AND THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT TO REPLACE THE REAR CHAIN) BROKE AND THE PISTONS HIT AND BENT THE VALVES. (ENGINE SHOT). I RELIGIOUSLY CHANGE THE OIL WITH SYNTHETIC EVERY 3-4000 MILES. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD IS HIDING- THERE ARE COMPLAINTS GALORE ON THE INTERNET. I SPOKE TO [XXX] AT FORD CONSUMER IN MAHWAH, NJ AND GOT NOWHERE. PLEASE HELP, I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B). *TR

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAD A FACTORY SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY ENGINE. IT WAS THE THIRD ONE BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE (35 MPH) WHEN I BLEW A SPARK PLUG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 1.5 MILES AWAY, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC GLUE TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND PULLEY COMES APART AND PULLEY BREAKS LOOSE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BECOME UNBALANCE AND POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *TR

MARCH 08 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED KNOCKING AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. I CALL FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT A PART IN THE MOTOR HAD MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I THEN CALL FORD AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I WAS STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WAS NOT PAID FOR AND I STILL OWED FOR. MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IS TRUCK UNTIL THIS HAPPEN. *TR

CAR HAD DIED APPROX. 4 TIMES BEFORE LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT. ON EACH PRIOR OCCASION WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD DEALER IN OK, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT HAPPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. WE ATTRIBUTED IT TO BAD FUEL BECAUSE DEALER SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS WITH FORD. THEN CAR DIED FOR NO REASON, COULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. FORD REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT WHICH THEY REPLACED THEN THEY STILL COULDN'T GET IT TO START. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THAT WAS WHY IT WOULDN'T START TO A TUNE OF $1100.0 WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD 40,100 MILES AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED @ 36,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,747.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT DROVE ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, IT TOOK THE CONTACT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,113.

FOLLOWING A INCREASINGLY LOUDENING 'TICKING' NOISE, THE ENGINE EJECTED A SPARK PLUG, DESTROYING OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY AND RENDERING THE ENTIRE ENGINE USELESS. SHRAPNEL FROM THE EXPLODED PLUG ENTERED THE CYLINDER CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. FORCE OF PLUG EJECTION DESTROYED THREADS ON CYLINDER HEAD. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RATTLE IN HER ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE WAS LOUDEST WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, AND HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURS EVERY DAY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 75,000 MILES.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 EXPLORER AND THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COASTING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. TO THIS POINT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALER DID NOT FEEL A ERROR CODE WAS PROBABLY LOGGED AND TO THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *JB

WE STARTED TO HEAR KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF OUR VEHICLE, SO WE TOOK IT TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON A LOT OF THE NEW FORDS HAS BEEN GOING UP. NOW OUR 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT WILL NOT START AND IS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY FOUR TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS BEFORE THE STALLING OCCURRED. AFTER EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, DROVE, AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER , THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT TO EVALUATE IT, AND THE CONTACT DECLINED. *AK

I HAVE LESS THAN 19000 MILES AND HAD TO INSTALL 2 AIR FILTERS BECAUSE OF BLACK PARTICLES COLLECTING ON THE AIR FILTER. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS 5000 FROM LAST OIL FILTER AND AIR FILTER BEING REPLACED. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT CHECKED ALL THE FLUIDS AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. SHE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 09/13/2005, AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP FLUSHED ALL THE FLUIDS, DONE OIL CHANGE, AND KEPT UP WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2005. THE HEATER IN THE VEHICLE WENT UP AND DOWN, EVEN AT THE LOWEST SETTING THE HEATER GOT TOO HOT. *AK