2005 Ford Explorer Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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 WARN ALL POTENTIAL BUYERS OF ANY FORD PRODUCTS. *TR
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 THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN FULL POWER ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEY HAD REBUILT IT. THE CASE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED, THE FIRST SIGN IT NEEDED A NEW ONE. FAST FORWARD JANUARY 20TH 2012. NOW THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME, AND WITH NO WARNING WITH CARS COMING FROM BEHIND ME, IT NOW HAS 40000 ON THE REBUILD SO NOW THE CAR HAS 109000+ MILES ON IT. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALUMINUM FILINGS INSIDE OF IT FROM THE PARTS INSIDE COMING LOOSE AND SHREDDING THE CASE ON THE INSIDE. FOR WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT AND IT SHOULD STILL HAVE A WARRANTY. IT IS A DANGEROUS CAR, IF SHE WOULD HAVE DROVE TO WORK AND IT LOST POWER ON A BUSIER INTERSTATE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR WRECK. I CAN'T REPLACE A LOVED ONE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM GETTING RID OF IT SO THAT MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE SAFE. *TT
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 OF THEM FROM THE FACTORY WAS BAD AND THE TRANNY ITSELF WAS JUST A BIG MISTAKE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED- $1338 LATER, I HAVE A REBUILT 'JUNK' TRANSMISSION. I HAVE OWNED FORDS IN THE PAST AND LOVED THEM, BUT MY EXPLORER ENDED THIS LOVER AFFAIR. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK ONLINE THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE- AND NO ONE IS MAKING FORD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
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 RECALL THIS. *TR
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.
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 THERE TRANSMISSIONS,SO WHERE IS THE RECALL,COME ON WE CAN'T ALL BE WRONG. LOOKING FOR HELP IN THESE HARD TIMES,BEING DISABLED AND WIFE ABOUT TO RETIRE THIS PRICE IS ABSURD,BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. BOUGHT LAST TWO CARS FROM FORD ,DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE OCCURRED SWITCHING SUDDENLY FROM DRIVINIG TO NEUTRAL, GEAR COULD NOT BE CHANGED UNLESS VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN. SCARY SITUATION CONSIDERING THAT I COULD BE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A SAFETY COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR SAFETY RECALL. *KB
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 ME & WHEN IT FINALLY LET UP, I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME-WITH A BABY IN A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT. WHEN I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION KICKED IN, I SUFFERED WHIPLASH. IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. THERE APPEAR TO BE SO MANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 EXPLORERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FOR A RECALL. THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED MY VEHICLE OUT MORE EXTENSIVELY RATHER THAN BARELY DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I COULD HAVE INJURED A CHILD & I DID INJURE MYSELF. *TR
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 NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE INSPECTED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CORRECTION TO BE MADE OR RECALL RELATED TO THE VIN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I PURCHASED MY SPORT TRAC IN 2005. IN 2011 I HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD SENT OUT A SERVICE MEMO STATING THIS PARTICULAR FORD MODEL HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVESHAFT AND A NEW ALUMINUM ONE WAS NECESSARY. I CONTACTED FORD BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. ON JUNE 15, I WENT TO CLASSIC FORD LINCOLN-MERCURY AND TOLD THEM I NEEDED AN UPDATED DRIVESHAFT. AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED THE VIBRATION CONTINUED AND I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY THEN INSTALLED THE RIGHT ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE VIBRATION IT CAUSED AND HAD WRITTEN A SERVICE MEMO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT MY CAR HAD 36,000 MILES BUT THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BECAME SERIOUS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSED. I THINK FORD MOTOR SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT SINCE I WAS MADE AWARE THAT FORD REALIZED THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE WRONG ONE AND FAILED TO HAVE A RECALL . HOPEFULLY NO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS RESULTED FROM THIS FORD ENGINEERING ERROR.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINE IS VERY BAD/LOUD ! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS IS A VERY BAD DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR SELECTOR THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
HTTPS://AIAHD.TELESISHQ.COM/MRCGI/MRSPELLCHECK.PL
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHETHER DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
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.
REPEATED FAILURE OF 2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION MODEL 5R55S. 3 TOTAL FAILURES REQUIRING COMPLETE OVERHAUL IN 3 YEARS. REPAIRS PERFORMED BY SAME QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT AND FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED REPAIR ALTERNATIVE FACILITY. FORD WOULDN'T PROVIDE A WARRANTY AT 90,000 MILE FIRST FAILURE. MOST RECENT REPAIR 2/24/2011 AND 3RD COSTING $2500. MILEAGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD REPAIRS-38,000 MILES. PRESENT MILEAGE 130,000 ON VEHICLE. CHASSIS MILEAGE IS HIGH BUT 3 FAILURES IN 3 YEARS ON LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN OVERHAULS IS NOT NORMAL. *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILING WITH MILEAGE OF 65K MILES! WAS TOLD BY FORD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3500 PLUS TAX TO FIX. CALLED FMC AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OTHER COMPLAINTS BY FMC MAIN OFFICE OR DEALERSHIP; DISMISSED NOTION OF ANY VALIDITY TO COMPLAINTS SHOWING UP ONLINE; WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD SIMPLY MAKE NOTE OF IT IN THEIR SYSTEM AND THAT WAS IT! SO FAR NOTHING SERIOUS HAS HAPPENED, BUT APPARENTLY OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE HOME FROM A FUNERAL OUT OF TOWN. *TR
I HAVE 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT I WAS DRIVING IN FREEWAY WITH SPEED OF 60MPH WITH 3 KIDS IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE AND JUST TRANNY FAILED AND SPEED DROP ALMOST GET IN ACCIDENT NOW I AM WITHOUT THE CAR AND WITHOUT THE WORK I DID CHANGE MY TOYOTA TO THE AMERICAN VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO TO HELP ECONOMY OF USA AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA THAT WHERE I GET $3000.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANNY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT RINGS ON THE AXLE FRACTURED AND LOCKED UP THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE LEFT FRONT AXLE RING. THE FRONT RIGHT RING HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS CHECK TRANSMISSION. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT AN ESTIMATE O $1800.00. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2005 EXPLORER NEW. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. AT 13000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 64000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION IS JERKING INTO REVERSE AND DRAGGING INTO 3RD JUST LIKE BEFORE. WHAT REALLY SCARED ME WAS I WAS TRYING TO PASS A CAR AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MY CAR JERKED, REVVED UP AND THEN CLUNKED INTO GEAR. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T A CAR COMING OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE. I TOOK IT IN AND FORD SAYS THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SAID I JUST NEEDED MY COMPUTER UPDATED. WELL $200 LATER IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE CAR IS STILL SLIPPING AND JERKING. MY CAR IS NOT QUITE 5 YEARS OLD AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
I OWN A 2005 FORD EXPLOER WITH 74K MILES THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING SHIFTING HARD WHEN PLACING IN REVERSE, AS WELL AS LURCHING UPON SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MAY 2005 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 65K MILES. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED A SOLENOID VALVE BODY BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT WILL COST $1100 WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION BODY SHOP TO BE INFORMED THAT MY YEAR VEHICLE HAS SUCH PROBLEMS AND WHY FORD DOESN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION PLACE DID NOT FIND TRANSMISSION CODE PROBLEMS, BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. THEY DID RECEIVE GET AN ENGINE CODE ERROR AND REFERRED ME TO ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. I'M DISTURBED TO FIND OUT ON-LINE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING CONCERNING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELP RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES AND COVER THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW THE ISSUE EVEN WITHOUT DOING A DIAGNOSTIC. *TR
COMMON TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 2002 TO 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALMOST CAUSED MY FAMILY TO GET REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ALMOST INTO A ROLLOVER ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO BEING IN THE PASSING LANE AND TRYING TO GET OVER TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 46,000 MILES WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I DRIVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO, WHEN I SHIFT THE CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR JUMPS WHILE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2005 Ford Explorer has 83 Power Train complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.