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.
We are leaving our Son's game open the liftgate to put things away and when we shut it the window exploded. Glass went everywhere including on the third row where my daughters are getting into their seats. We tried to fix it and as they were putting the hinges on the new window exploded all over my husbands head.
JUST BOUGHT THIS 2005 FORD EXPLORER JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. I WAS PARKING AND I HAD MY NINE YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK. LUCKY HE WASN'T SITTING IN THE 3ROW SEAT CUZ THE REAR WINDOW JUST SHATTERED TO PIECES...
We bought this car for our granddaughter. I'm so happy this happened before we gave it to her. This is a total black mark on Fords Quality that I always thought they had. I've been a Ford owner for many years, this has me rethinking whether I want to own another one. Terrible design!! They ought to be ashamed of themselves. I'm just happy nobody was hurt. Okay Ford it's time you owned up to the design flaw and fix it!!
I had just picked my 4 year old daughter up from day care. We went into my home to get ready for my son's open house at school and to wait for my wife and son to get home. They arrived about 20 minutes after a got home and they greeted me with confusion as they asked what had happened to the back glass of my 2005 Ford Explorer. I had no idea. Everything was fine when I arrived home. I went out to see what they were fussing about and was greeted with a shattered back window. The panel underneath the window was bent and the glass had looked like it literally exploded. Glass was everywhere! The vehicle was sitting idle for at least 20 minutes. What if we were still in the vehicle when the glass exploded? My daughter would have been hit with the glass! Someone at Ford needs to fix this problem because, judging from other instances and research, this isn't the first time it has happened.
I have always had Fords. 35 years ago I tried to branch out and bought a Buick and it was nothing but trouble. That was before they had "lemon" laws, so I couldn't do much about it than return to Fords. I bought this Explorer new 10 years ago. It is my personal daily vehicle. It had the tiny crack in the lift gate by the insignia that everyone of them get but that was just cosmetic. So I return from the supermarket in 90 degree weather and I pull up the lift gate and stick my head in to grab my bags, when the hinge that attaches to the glass part of the lift gate fails and the lift gate crashes on the back of my head. The torque was so great it bent the other hinge and shatters the glass all over and completely cracks the gate. I am waiting for the adjuster to make an appointment to see the disaster. Of course it's a 3 day weekend. I have a $500 deductible. I just switched to this insurance company 3 days ago. I had my previous company for 15 years and never made a claim. Whats' this new company (cheaper) going to do? What's Ford (the company I am so loyal to) going to do?
- msergeant,
St. Anne, IL, US
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top section of rear window was open +when i went to shut it-----it just exploded into a a million pieces+cut me in several places ---i was luckey on that-----the back panel by the ford emblem also had a crack ----there is no reason that window should have exploded like that--waitin on a adjuster+then down to the ford dealership where i am sure they will blow me off
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We are leaving our Son's game open the liftgate to put things away and when we shut it the window exploded. Glass went everywhere including on the third row where my daughters are getting into their seats. We tried to fix it and as they were putting the hinges on the new window exploded all over my husbands head.
- Lindsay C., Grantsville, UT, US