18 of the
604 complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer are about the
braking system — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
62,300 miles.
1) ABS, BRAKE, AND WRENCH FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHED ON FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND TURNED OFF WHEN DECELERATING WITH CRUISE CONTROL FROM 55 MPH TO 45 MPH ZONES AT COURLAND, VA. VEHICLE MANUAL PROVIDES NO GUIDANCE ON THIS FAILURE MODE; ONLY 'WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND CONTINUE FLASHING, REDUCE SPEED AND TAKE VEHICLE TO NEAREST SERVICE PROVIDER' AND 'WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND STAY ON, STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST SERVICE PROVIDER.' 2) APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, DRIVER BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOW FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH SCHOOL ZONE SPEED ABOUT 50 TO 60 M BEFORE SCHOOL ZONE WARNING SIGN AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY, VA, ON STATE HIGHWAY 58. 3) DRIVER CHECKED SPEED UPON ENTERING SCHOOL ZONE AND FOUND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STILL ON AND VEHICLE STILL TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. DEPRESSED BRAKE APPROXIMATELY 1/3 TOTAL BRAKING RANGE (4 CM), WHICH SHOULD HAVE LOCKED THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP. NO EFFECT. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ON AND VEHICLE CONTINUED AT 60 MPH. 4) AT THIS POINT, DRIVER REALIZED THAT HE HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, PANICKED, AND DECIDED HE HAD TO STOP OR CRASH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER JAMMED THE BRAKE PETAL AS HARD AS HE COULD AND HELD. IT TOOK PROBABLY 3 SECONDS FOR THE REAR BRAKES TO FINALLY GO UP A LOGISTIC GROWTH RESISTANCE CURVE, GRAB, AND STOP THE VEHICLE. NO BRAKING BY FRONT WHEELS. ABS DID NOT WORK. CONTRIBUTING PHYSICAL DEFECTS: WORN-OUT FRONT BRAKES, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS KEPT UNDER RIGOROUS MAINTENANCE AND HAD VALID VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION STICKER. WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS MOST LIKELY INDUCED INTERMITTENT FALSE SIGNALS TO COMPUTER CONTROL CENTER CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL TO DISENGAGE.
NHTSA complaint #11119977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Concord, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE THE LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE MESSAGE BOARD AND A MESSAGE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ALSO STAYS ON AND IT STALLS WHILE IM IN MOTION ON THE HWY AND STREETS AND TAKES AWHILE TO MOVE FOWARD AGAIN. I
NHTSA complaint #11113152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Markham, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT AND ADVANCE TRACKING LIGHT AND 4X4 LIGHT AND CAR WITH TRACKING LIGHT ALL COMES ON AND THE BRAKING JERK WHEN STOPPING. ALSO LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON EVEN AFTER OIL CHANGE
NHTSA complaint #11090267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesWeatherford, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
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
NHTSA complaint #10923761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,000 milesHouston, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
NHTSA complaint #10899709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Adrian, MICrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WRECKING MY TRUCK AND BRUISING MYSELF BADLY.
NHTSA complaint #10690288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,884 milesWilmington, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30-55 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,884 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,459.
NHTSA complaint #10587866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesTruckee, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
BECAUSE OF THE RECENT GM RECALL IGNITION ISSUE, I THOUGHT I SHOULD LET SOMEONE KNOW ABOUT THE SERIOUS SIMILAR ISSUE I HAD 3 TIMES BEFORE I TRADED MY CAR IN. THE CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AND ALL 3 TIMES, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A PLACE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TWICE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I TRADED THE 2005 FOR A 2011. I ALSO TOLD THE DEALER THAT I TRADED IT INTO ABOUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUTTING OFF FOR NO REASON AND TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY SOLD IT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10575830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesSpring, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE GEARS IN THE POWERED BRAKE/GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY SEEM TO STRIP. THEN THE BRAKE/GAS PEDAL WON'T CHANGE POSITION. THAT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE PEDALS GET STUCK TOO FAR AWAY FOR SOME DRIVERS AND TOO CLOSE FOR OTHERS. THIS IS A FLEET WIDE ISSUE FOR ALL FORDS WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS.
NHTSA complaint #10443668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,367 milesColumbia, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PARKING BRAKE SHOES BROKEN. ADVISED DURING REGULAR SERVICE THAT SHOES WERE BROKEN DURING EARLIER SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO WAIT UNTIL REAR BRAKES REQUIRED SERVICE SINCE PARKING BRAKE IS RARELY USED. DURING SERVICE ON 9/21/2011 REQUEST REPAIR OF PARKING BRAKE IN WHICH THE SHOES WERE REPLACED AT COST OF $424.19. INQUIRED AS TO CAUSE SINCE PARKING BRAKE IS RARELY USED AND WAS TOLD THAT COULD BE THE REASON. OVERHEARD ANOTHER SERVICE REP STATE THAT, QUOTE, "EXPLORER'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THAT". CURRENTLY CONTACTING FORD NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE ABOUT POSSIBLE PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT SINCE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD.
NHTSA complaint #10426652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesJonesboro, ARCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SENSOR AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10291631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,300 milesBandera, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE: 2005 FORD EXPLORER; MILEAGE 62,300; SYSTEM MALFUNCTION INDICATING SERVICE WAS NEEDED; DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATE THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR DEACTIVATION OF SPEED CONTROL NEEDS REPLACED. CURRENT NHTSA/FORD RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO 2005 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER INDICATES LACK OF INTEREST IN PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10289082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesBecket, MACrash
PARKING BRAKE
I PARKED MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER 'EDDIE BAUER' AT THE FLAT TOP OF A DRIVEWAY AT 115 HOPKINS LANE IN BECKET, MA 01223. I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO 'P' AND EASILY REMOVED THE KEY WHICH I STASHED IN THE CUP HOLDER AS ALWAYS. THE DRIVE OF THE CAR PARKED BEHIND ME WAS STANDING ABOUT 20 FEET TO MIGHT RIGHT AND AS I WAS WALKING BEHIND MY VEHICLE SHE YELLED 'MOVE! YOUR CAR IS ROLLING!'. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AS THE FORD ROLLED VERY SLOWLY BACK ABOUT 6 FEET AND THE TRAILER HITCH CRUSHED THE REAR BUMPER OF HER 1999 PORSCHE 'BOXSTER'. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE TO THE PORSCHE WILL BE $1,400 + . HAD THE FORD MECHANISM BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXTRICATE MY KEY.
NHTSA complaint #10285472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL - THE VEHICLE OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HESTITATES AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTAT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN ON IT'S ON. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2000.
NHTSA complaint #10186754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,102 milesCanton, GACrash
PARKING BRAKE
SUV WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. DRIVER RELEASED HOOD IN ERROR GOT OUT TO CLOSE HOOD AND OWNER GOT OUT OF MIDDLE ROW TO RELEASE BRAKE. WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS RELEASED CAR ROLLED AND DOOR HIT PARKED VEHICLE DAMAGING FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. CHILD WAS IN CAR STRAPPED IN CHILD'S CAR SEAT. VERY SCARY FEELING FOR CAR TO BE ROLLING BACKWARDS WITH CHILD INSIDE CAR ALONE.
NHTSA complaint #10177690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesWest Bloomfield, MICrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WHICH LOOSES POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING ABILITY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME IS THERE. FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM OF LOOSING THE BRAKING ABILITY, THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTED HAS NO PROBLEMS BUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (FEW METERS TO UP TO A MILE) THE ADVANCE TRACTION LOSS MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN THE MESSAGE CENTRE AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES THE ABILITY TO STOP IN THE REQUIRED STOP DISTANCE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PULSATION IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PADDLE AND A SCREECHING HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. THEN ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, AND VEHICLE RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE IS RESET AND VEHICLE WORKS FINE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AT RANDOM GIVES THE MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY WITH AN AUDIO SIGNAL INDICATING OIL PRESSURE LOW, SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND OTHER LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY AND RPM METER SHOWING ZERO READING WITH LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING WHEREAS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATES IF PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THRICE BUT THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE FIXED FROM LAST 15 MONTHS. THE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOT BACK ONCE THE ENGINE IS SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED. I HAVE RESORTED TO PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT ROLL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AND GET THE STEERING CONTROL BACK. I HAD LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2005 FOR 10 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE AND RECTIFY BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES AT FORD BUT I AM YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALER OR THE OEM.
NHTSA complaint #10163292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,000 milesMillerton, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED ALL THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD, THE RADIO CAME ON AND WENT OFF, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER CAME ON AND WENT OFF. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE BRAKES VIBRATED AND A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE; HOWEVER THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10157023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Calhoun, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE ON 2005 FORD EXPLORER, ALSO AM HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE TOWARD ANY OBJECT IN FRONT
NHTSA complaint #10122210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.