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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,569 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I walked outside to enter my vehicle and noticed a crack in the hatch lift on the back door adjacent to the Ford emblem that was not previously there. Since then, I've noticed this same flaw on most Ford Explorer xlts of approximately the same age as mine.
Rear widow is also a hatch. The hatch has a fracture in the center of where the hatch secures itself to the frame. The hatch will not close properly and needs to be physically manipulated at an angle to be secured.
The plastic bracket that holds up the overhead control console between the drive and passenger and right next to the rear view mirror broke and the entire console fell while the car was off and parked with no one in the car. The console dropped and blocked the rear view mirror. Had I been driving it would have been a shock and caused me not to use my rear view mirror. When I went to remove the bracket to get a replacement I found it was super brittle and falling apart. It broke into a few pieces while just holding it. It clearly was not structurally sound. If this interior and hidden plastic part that was not subject to any passenger interaction or sun exposure is disintegrating what about other parts of the car. I see lots of plastic parts failure complaints for Ford Explorer. Is the plastic they used defective or are car parts like this bracket in Ford products supposed to self destruct?
I have a 2005 Explorer XLT and I also have a large crack down the panel below the back window. Which has led to water seeping into my back wiper motor causing me to replace it frequently. Which replacing this is not cheap.this is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed due to there are many of the exact same complaints. Also the brackets that hold on my back window came off/broke. We were leaving for vacation and the whole window was in my hand when I went to close it. I am a Ford lover through and through and would just like these problems that numerous people are having corrected. Thank you for your time!
I am another very annoyed owner of a 2002-2005 Ford Explorer with a cracked rear panel. From what I can tell, this affects nearly 100% of all Explorer of those model years and it is ridiculous that Ford has not issued a recall notice for this defect.
I went out to my 2005 Ford eddie bauer Explorer to remove items inside back cargo area and noticed that the plastic tailgate panel below the rear window had vertically cracked all the way down and through the whole piece. There was no physical evidence to show cause for the spontaneous wide crack. The car has been well cared for. Parked daily in garage and not even driven daily. I am extremely concerned that the glass window panel might be compromised and could cause deadly damage to passengers in my car or others on the road behind me should it come loose or shatter, including the chance that the back windshield wiper could come unattached and also fly off into the window of a vehicle behind me. I have just researched this problem and have found hundreds of other owners who have had the same spontaneous cracking and have filed complaints. Something must be done. This is an extreme safety issue.
Body issues: I have a 2005 Ford Explorer and have never been in a car accident. My tailgate somehow develop a crack that goes through where the Ford logo is. Nothing happened to the SUV to cause the crack. It just somehow happened on it's own. I believe the vehicle is defective or at least the materials used to make the vehicle. Electrical issues: Another issue I have is with the electrical. My turn signals (most times) do not work. I have to manually move it up and down when turning. When it does work, it goes really fast. My reverse notification no longer works for some strange reason. Also, my radio goes louder when I turn it down. I have to turn it off for a little while, turn it back on then try to lower the volume.
Hinges on the rear glass hatch are broken. Eventually will brake off and possibly cause an injury because that supports the glass. Many other Explorer have this same issue.
The rear hatch has cracked next to the emblem. I'm certain that water gets inside when washed or it rains. Now that I'm paying attn many Explorer have one or more cracks.
The paint bubbled and peeled on the roof of my 2005 Ford Explorer eddie bauer edition. Dealer says it is a paint defect but Ford does not have a recall. Had my roof repainted at my expense. Now, anytime it rains, I am getting water leaking from the rear ac unit controls and my front driver's side carpeting is soaking wet.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear panel near the hatch was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that no recalls were associated with the vehicle. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
There's an obvious defect in the 2005 Ford Explorer, the 7 X 55 panel, the one with the Ford logo in it. It cracks. It did it twice on ours, we replaced it once costing us $500. Our repairman said he's seen this exact problem on many Ford'. we looked into it, and numerous other experts agree on the defect. The first time we tried to bring attention to Ford for this problem, they blew us off, not even having the courtesy to get our letter to the person it was addressed. As human nature, Ford tried to manipulate the problem, at the end of the conversation actually convincing themselves and trying to convince me that there was no problem. We like to keep all our stuff nice but currently our vehicle doesn"T look nice. We cannot afford to throw away our money on a defective product. Again, it is defective, anyone related to the vehicle industry and bodywork, with any sense, can realize the problem. On our first attempt to propose Ford?S resolution of this problem we didn?T draw attention to the problem. This time we"re ready to go at it in full force (attorney general, BBB, local & national news outlets, and the federal trade commission) if Ford doesn"T find a fair way to compensate us. The issue being the first panel being defective and cracked allowing us to drive around in a junky looking vehicle; replacing the product for $500 which still had the issue and once again we"re driving around with a junky looking vehicle; resale value has been compromised. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in hopefully resolving this issue.
I am the 1 and only owner of 2005 Ford Explorer limited, and the rear upper tailgate has a vertical crack right next to the Ford logo that spans from window to base 2cm in width.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured. The vehicle was not taken for inspection or diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he approached the vehicle and noticed that the tail sill plate on the lift gate was fractured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Trenton, SC, USA