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.
Glad I found this site- at least I know it's the stupid truck and NOT ME. Many, many issues with the '05 Explorer. For this post, I just want to report strange noises in the front brakes. I was traveling Rt. 495 at highway speeds for about an hour (55-65 mph). I exited the highway on a ramp that inclined (rather than declined) with a slight turn to the right. All of the sudden it sounded like I had a bunch of small driveway rocks in my brakes (noise happened as I was turning wheel slightly to the right). It really scared me. I removed foot from brakes and just kinda slowed down until I had to re-accelerate to merge with traffic on new route. It has happened a few times since then. And it's just one more thing that's wrong with my truck...almost immediately after purchasing (new in '05) there have been problems and they haven't stopped since.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Glad I found this site- at least I know it's the stupid truck and NOT ME. Many, many issues with the '05 Explorer. For this post, I just want to report strange noises in the front brakes. I was traveling Rt. 495 at highway speeds for about an hour (55-65 mph). I exited the highway on a ramp that inclined (rather than declined) with a slight turn to the right. All of the sudden it sounded like I had a bunch of small driveway rocks in my brakes (noise happened as I was turning wheel slightly to the right). It really scared me. I removed foot from brakes and just kinda slowed down until I had to re-accelerate to merge with traffic on new route. It has happened a few times since then. And it's just one more thing that's wrong with my truck...almost immediately after purchasing (new in '05) there have been problems and they haven't stopped since.
- Stephanie C., South Kingstown, RI, US