CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
7.3
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$130
Average Mileage:
66,850 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (6 reports)
the salvage yards, say it is a hot item can't find one (3 reports)
Replacement Bracket For 2005 Ford Explorer Sun Visor Mount - I have a replacement bracket that is being professionally machined to fix this problem. The Silver Bullet Bracket will mount the visor and allow the cover plate to be re-attached.
Sun visor brackets have crumbled. Ford wants to replace the complete sun visor. I do not need that! It cost over $300 to replace. It just needs brackets. This is a rip off of major proportions. Just another way to get more dollars from the consumer. This is a safety factor and should be repaired by Ford before someone is injured because the driver cannot see or it falls in your lap and distracts you.
FOURTH TIME--now it is my driver's side visor holder that broke off into pieces WHILE I was driving...a road hazard--I was not only distracted but blinded. If I had had a wreck my family would have sued as EVERYONE knows about the previous THREE occurrences. One was when my aunt was my passenger and her visor popped off and shot pieces of plastic over us--good thing she was wearing glasses! THIS IS A FLAW---but there is no recall. I was on a trip out of state and had to TRY to duck tape the dangling visor so I could see to drive--did NOT work. Pretty embarrassing at a stoplight when other drivers stare at the dangling visor.
The visors must be replaced, not just the plastic holders & covers--cost is $150-154. each time (4 times). I am driving the past 2 days by holding my driver's side visor, driving with one hand and switching off when my arm tires! On Monday I will be forced to get this 5th faulty, broken part placed for another $152. PLUS I had to postpone my trip to see my elderly parents--I cannot drive more than a few miles around my home with my car in this condition. FORD should be embarrassed--WHY don't they support us on this since they didn't RECALL the parts. I had a 1995 Explorer that was better quality than my 2005 Eddie Bauer which cost me $38,000. so I may not buy another Ford...may be going Toyota. SAD!
My 2005 Explorer XLT Eddie Bauer is my 2nd Explorer. I have had FOUR sun visor breakage incidents--two very dangerous. The 1st happened on a trip to Oklahoma--my passenger (elderly aunt) wanted to use the mirror and gently moved the visor downward and plastic pieces (holder) popped off, scattered in our laps...it had to dangle until I could get to a Ford place. I had about 20k miles on my car. About a year later, the driver's visor did the same thing--cost me $150. to have it repaired--you have to buy the entire visor to get the faulty plastic part replaced! I tried junk yards and even paid a man (I am a widow) to look for the parts--entire visor & told him to get me TWO just in case--but he couldn't locate one in the Houston area. Last year, 2010, 3rd time, it was the passenger visor again--same thing--plastic pieces of holder & cover broke, dangled. I again had it replaced, another $150. So, now, 2 days ago, my driver's visor broke again--I had only used it 3 times when I was blinded by the sun--I had not used it because of the breakage. So FOUR incidents of visors--I looked online and there is no recall of this defective item. This is my 2nd Explorer and I'm ready to buy a car but am seriously considering leaving Ford and purchasing a Toyota Highlander. This is totally unfair and no warranty/extended warranty help...so much for the resale value.
- cowgirl17,
Humble, TX, US
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This is a design flaw. This visor was replaced by Ford.
Update from Jul 3, 2011: The information above is incomplete. Should read: This is a design flaw. This visor was replaced by a Ford Dealer less than two years ago as part of a used vehicle sale. The visor has seen only very light use. Plastic cracked in multiple places and the visor fell down while driving.
The plastic bracket holding the sun visor broke. I tried all the pick and pull yards. They say it is a popular item. I couldn't find one. A new one cost at least $120.00.
I'm riding down the interstate and the passenger sunvisor just falls and pieces are broken. It dangles and is annoying. I noticed that the driver's side might do the same. Could cause me to jump and wreck if it catches me off guard. I went to the Ford dealer and they could only replace the enitre visor for $106 each - didn't cover labor cost.
Why can't Ford just sell the little plastic piece that holds it up. I went to one junk yard and they were going to sell me that part for only $10 but it was broken, too. I am in the process of looking for other junk yards.
The plastic piece that holds the visors broke, first the drivers side fell in my lap while I was driving. The passengers side fell off when my passenger was putting it down. I did take it to the Ford Service Center and was told my extended warranty did not cover it. They wanted over $300.00 to repair so I didn't have it repaired. It is an inconvenience and dangerous in bright sun.
The sun visor must be too heavy for the plastic assembly to support. The plastic cracked and broke; and the visor fell out. This is the 2nd time it happened. This happened on the driver side. I'm glad I found this site because I'm so frustrated with inferior parts! I emailed Ford to complain, then I called and spoke with a customer service rep. She reported that she could find no complaints about this issue! The first time I replaced it with a part that I found online. I just checked Ebay and there are no sales for this part. Obviously other owners have snapped them up!
plastic visor support broke..have to relace complete visor..pars was $90 and Ford dealer wanted $90 to install..I installed it myseld in about 10 minutes.
The suppor piece of the sun visor breaks. It happens to me twice under warranty, and now again out of warranty. This is obviously a very bad designed piece, a quality problem and Ford should be responsible for that. Or at least, they should sell only the defective part. I'm wondering if is there a legal way to fight this. I mean, it may be just a small plastic piece, but multiplied by all people affected, I think they (ford) should be more responsive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Sun visor brackets have crumbled. Ford wants to replace the complete sun visor. I do not need that! It cost over $300 to replace. It just needs brackets. This is a rip off of major proportions. Just another way to get more dollars from the consumer. This is a safety factor and should be repaired by Ford before someone is injured because the driver cannot see or it falls in your lap and distracts you.
- kstanton, Temple Terrace, FL, US