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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,678 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.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle jerked backwards while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 93,434.
I sitting on a incline put it in reverse and started backing up and the transmission just let loose and started rolling forward it's done this several times and sometimes it want back up at all even on level ground had it checked it was full of fluid but done a fluid and filter changed. And it still doesn't back up at times or when backing it stops backing and will go forward drifting
From park, delay from 1 to 7 seconds for engagement for reverse (automatic trans), worse in warm weather. Serious safety issue, as you may press on gas thinking you're in reverse, and then accelerate!! heard 1st hand from Ford dealer this is well known, and sometimes severe. Something with solenoid pack? happens often!
My Explorer transmission just stopped working going down the highway, almost got hit by a truck. Electrical system kept going in and out. Checked with a Ford dealership they said it was a common problem with Explorer and there was no recall. I checked online and there was over 10,000 complaints made. I am in the military have 14 combat tours, and come home to have my life put in danger again on something that you all know about. When are you going to step in?
Transmission just failed on the highway. No forward or reverse gears. The occurrence of transmission failures for this vehicle is extremely high and well documented. The transmission on this vehicle is unreliable and unsafe because of poor engineering. My family was luck to not get rear ended on the highway resulting in injury or worse.
- Centreville, VA, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While attempting to reverse the vehicle, the reverse gear shifter became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The gear shifter/lever broke off into my hand when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The gear shifter/lever broke at the base, inside the steering column. The broken part seems to be a cast metal part, that the gear shifter/lever rotates to change gears. The fracture surface appears rough -- it is not clean. Fortunately the car is stuck in park, not another gear, and in a safe place (parking garage). Should this have happened when in any other gear I would have to turn off the car in that gear, if I had enough room to maneuver the car to a safe place. Otherwise it would just have to sit wherever it was left, no matter how inconvenient to other drivers. I called Ford and they state this is not a documented issue, therefore no recall or reimbursement is available. However, an internet search reveals this is has happened to many people, with pictures of the same exact break point that I have experienced. Also, there are after-market replacement parts for this exact part, further hinting this is a known problem.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards while the brakes were applied. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 93,434. Updated 7/2/18
Vehicle engine while traveling, generally at high rates of speed greater than 40mph, will randomly turn off. There are no warning lights, no indication on the instrument panel. The engine just turns off. The only way of knowing is once the gas pedal is depressed to increase speed and then realized the car had turned off. This is happening more frequently. I had to by a new car. Explorer just sits in the driveway. This happen randomly with no notice and generally while traveling at speeds above 40 mph
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the transmission warning light randomly flashed and the vehicle shook and jerked violently at any rate of speed. The failure occurred for months. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while trying to reverse at a low speed, an abnormal noise was heard before the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the gear lever in the reverse position failed to operate after three months of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
Vehicle transmission begining to slip, soon will ahve no 4th gear or reverse. The vehicle is up to date with matinanace and everything mileage is still below 95,000 miles. This is an outrage that the Ford company is aware of this problem and no recall has been reported.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While driving at 20 mph making a turn, the 4 wheel drive warning light illuminated and failed to turn off. In addition, the wheels seized and emitted an abnormal noise. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and restarted shortly afterwards. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
The vehicle shuts off while driving causing loss of power steering, power brakes with a complete loss of power. This is an ongoing problem and has happend during highway high speed driving. It happens on cars built 11/24/04 and prior. The codes are P2106 and P2135. It's caused by a faulty throttle position sensor and requires a powertrain control module reset B36.11, B37.2 or higher. This has been an ongoing problem thar Ford readily ackowledges. They have ugraded the throttle position sensor twice without solving the problem.
2005 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regards to steering column gear shifter problems. The consumer stated on December 10, 2010 the steering column was replaced. Unfortunately, the gear shift broke again for the third time. The consumer stated the entire steering column had to be replaced each time.
In Nov of 2014 we took the car to the local Ford dealer for 100K mile service. We told them to check the drive train because when you put the car in reverse there would be a slight hesitation then a clunk then the car would begin to move. They said there was no issue and they installed a computer upgrade to improve the shifting. They also changed the tranny fluid. Then in March of 2015 when you put the car in reverse the transmission began slipping and got worse in a couple of days. We took it to the local dealer again and they took 2 weeks to figure out the transmission needed replaced. They said $3500 for a remanufactured transmission and I would have to pay for all of it.
Im not sure if this should be with engine section but I didn't see a transmission part. I was driving my SUV and transmission light in the message center came on and said, over drive on /off kept flashing. Took to a body shop nearby they diagnosed the problem to be the transmission. With further investigation mechanic told me that second / third gear was gone. I ended up spending $4500 for new transmission to be installed. The mechanic informed me that it is a common problem with the 2005 Ford Explorer.
2005 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle rear axle leaking. The consumer stated the rear axles were replaced at 59,752. A year later after listening to the noise in the rear end for quite some time, the problem returned. Six months later, they were replaced again. Also, the rear panel beneath the window was rusted and the throttle needs to be replaced, as it is causing vehicle hesitation.
As I was driving in traffic, the panel suddenly started beeping and flashing lights and my car would not change gears. The O/D light came on and the information center indicated there was something wrong with my transmission. Now the car will not shift into 3rd gear until it reaches very high RPM and when it does shift it is very hard. I drive the car to and from work a total of 6 miles a day and almost never on the highway. It is almost 10 years old and it only has 70,000 miles. I've heard this has been a problem with Ford transmissions for over 10 years but they refuse to take responsibility for the defect. I have been buying Ford cars since 1995 but this will be my last. Too many other problems that they refuse to fix.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Roswell, NM, USA