FaultScore

2005 Ford Explorer electrical problems

37 of the 604 complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer are about the electrical system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.

B

37

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 32 86.5%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 2 5.4%
Ignition 1 2.7%
Wiring 1 2.7%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 2.7%

Electrical System across every Ford Explorer year

1991 62 2.7%
1992 53 2.3%
1993 49 2.1%
1994 86 3.8%
1995 58 2.5%
1996 47 2.1%
1997 86 3.8%
1998 120 5.2%
1999 93 4.1%
2000 79 3.5%
2001 29 1.3%
2002 151 6.6%
2003 54 2.4%
2004 57 2.5%
2005 37 1.6%
2006 39 1.7%
2007 25 1.1%
2008 39 1.7%
2010 12 0.5%
2011 95 4.2%
2012 63 2.8%
2013 163 7.1%
2014 101 4.4%
2015 90 3.9%
2016 128 5.6%
2017 94 4.1%
2018 59 2.6%
2019 21 0.9%
2020 185 8.1%
2021 41 1.8%
2022 38 1.7%
2023 13 0.6%
2025 21 0.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,000 miles Midvale, ID

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ALL THE ELECTRICAL TURNS OFF LIKE THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR SLOWED QUICKLY. I AM CONCERNED AS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. EITHER FORD SHOULD FIX THE ISSUE OR PULL THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #11361210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 250,406 miles Indianapolis, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE CLOSE TO HOME SO THEY PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WAS LOW. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE OIL SENSOR NOT PROPERLY INFORMING THE CONTACT WHEN THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER CAPITAL CITY FORD LOCATED AT 8623 E. WASHINGTON ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,406. INVALID VIN.

NHTSA complaint #11350238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Markham, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 87,000 miles Howell, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 EXPLORERS 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?

NHTSA complaint #11047135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 162,000 miles Laona, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT MY VEHICLES DASHBOARD BEGAN TO ACT ERRATIC. THEN THE BATTERY GAUGE RAPIDLY DROPPED INTO THE RED ZONE. WITHIN ABOUT 3 MILES I LOST MY INTERIOR POWER, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND SIGNALS INCLUDING MY HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN LIMPING OFF THE INTERSTATE MY TRUCK HAD LOST ENOUGH POWER TO WHERE IT DIED OUT. ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR FRIED OUT CAUSING A SURGE THAT WIPED OUT THE PCM AND UTILITY CLUSTER ALL WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #11020712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green Cove Springs, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY GAUGES GO HAYWIRE THE NEEDLES SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN CAR IS OFF NO KEY IN IGNITION. THE LIGHTS FLASH AS WELL. CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP, THE RPM WON'T GO ABOVE 2 EVEN WHEN HWY GOING 60 MPH. MECHANIC SAID IT'S ELECTRICAL, THE DEALER TOOK OUT TOP COUNSEL AS A WORK AROUND FOR THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE CLAIMING IT WAS NOT A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11019486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,597 miles Rochester, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, WE FOUND THAT THE BACK WINDOW OF THE HATCH WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND THE BODY IN THE BACK WAS LIFTED OFF THE CAR. IT LOOKS AS IF THE HYDRAULIC ARM MALFUNCTIONED OVERNIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10870598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Loudonville, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME IMPAIRED. LUCKY, I WAS IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE AND WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY AVOID COLLISION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER A ~3HR DRIVE AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY (I.E. SLOWING DOWN). UPON RESTART, ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT WAS UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO ITERATIVE SURGE/STALL CYCLES.

NHTSA complaint #10862482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ormond Beach, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLIES AND SENSORS. RANDOMLY ENGINE GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND DURING TURNS. INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOW GOING HAYWIRE. MESSAGE CENTER REPORTS LOW OIL PRESSURE, CHECK CHARGING SYSTEMS, TIRE SENSOR FAILURE FAULT, CHANGE OIL SOON, AND OIL IS FINE. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED. TIRE SENSORS, ALTERNATOR...ALL FINE. IT'S ALL I HAVE AND I MUST DRIVE IT TO WORK EACH DAY! BOUGHT USED IN NOVEMBER 2013. HAD 69K MILES AT PURCHASE. NOW HAS 103K MILES. IT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE :O( PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10806635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 124,000 miles Halifax, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10748493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Gresham, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MISFIRES, COILS KEEP FAILING.

NHTSA complaint #10641322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

CONSUMER WRITES TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR CENTER. *TGW THE CONSUMER DID NOT THINK, THE REPAIR FACILITY WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMING THE SERVICES ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO LOW TIRE TREAD. HE STATED HE WAS JUST IN THE REPAIR FACILITY ONE MONTH PRIOR, AND NO MENTIONED TO HIM, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10638957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 134,000 miles Trumbull, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRIC WINDOWS WON'T WORK. ALL FUSES ARE WORKING. SOME WIRES THAT GO FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ARE SEVERED AND MELTED. THE WIRES ARE IN A PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT THAT IS BETWEEN VEHICLE FRAME AND DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10630956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10588964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Truckee, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 165,000 miles Eatonville, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAD FUELED (FULL) 2 HOURS BEFORE. GAS GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY. MILES TO EMPTY SHOWS DASHES. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10560784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles West Sacramento, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE EVENTUALLY DIED WITHOUT BEING EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA complaint #10542332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Helena, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRAVELING ON 459 NORTH, AROUND THE GRANTS MILL ROAD EXIT, I ENCOUNTERED THE POORLY PAVED ROAD/POT HOLES AND MY STEREO/CD SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS. THIS PROBLEM HAD NEVER OCCURRED UNTIL DRIVING ON THE POORLY MAINTAINED ROADS IN THIS STATE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN REGARDS TO HANDLING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10511610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,120 miles Gilbert, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I SWITCHED ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO INDICATE A RIGHT TURN AND NOTICED THE NORMAL CLICK OF THE TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT OCCURRING. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SAW THE RIGHT TURN LIGHT WAS LIT BUT NOT FLASHING. THE REST OF THE TRIP I HAD TO CONTINUALLY TURN ON AND TURN OFF THE TURN SIGNAL TO LET OTHERS NOW MY INTENTIONS SINCE THE SIGNALS WOULD NO LONGER FLASH. FINALLY I RAPIDLY WORKED THE SWITCH UP AND DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE TURN SIGNALS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY AGAIN. ALSO ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE SIGNAL WOULD CLICK VERY FAST WHICH AND THE ACTUAL SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD NOT FLASH OR LIGHT BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY START WORKING AGAIN. I ASSUMED IT WAS A BURNED-OUT BULB BUT WHEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN I KNEW THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I SAW A RECALL RECENTLY FOR THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ON RANGER PICKUPS AND EXCURSION SUVS IN THE AGE RANGE OF MY VEHICLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY EXPLORER.

NHTSA complaint #10417248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,000 miles WA, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASHBOARD - WARNING LIGHT FOR OIL CHANGE REQUIRED WILL NOT GO OFF - HAD OIL CHANGE 500 MILES AGO - NOT DUE FOR 2 MORE MONTHS - WILL NOT RESET. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD OIL GAUGE SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10398641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles St.paul, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BODY STRUCTURE , GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #10378795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Yacolt, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUST DRIVING ALONG TAKING A MILD CORNER AND MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER JUST DIED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. TOOK TO THE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR AND THEY GOT TWO CODES P2104 AND P2112. WHICH HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD LOCALLY THE PART(S) FOR THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE AT LEAST AUGUST AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN. 2010 OR LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10291826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2005 FORD EXPLORER FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION: STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, BUT IS NOW CONSTANT. FUEL GAUGE REGISTERS EMPTY UNTIL TANK IS ABOUT HALF FULL, AFTER WHICH THE GAUGE WORKS PROPERLY. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. A SCAN OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD HAS NO PROGRAM IN PLACE TO FIX IT. SINCE THE GAUGE IS CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON, THAT LIGHT CANNOT ALERT ME TO OTHER POTENTIAL FAILURES. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $500+.

NHTSA complaint #10279615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,007 miles Franklin, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS, MY CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER. ON TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS, I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN IN THE ROAD AND ON THE THIRD TIME, I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT-AWAY. EACH TIME I WAS DOING LESS THAN 40 MPH. ONLY ONE TIME WAS ANYONE ELSE IN THE VEHICLE BUT IT WAS STILL VERY SCARY AND VERY UPSETTING, CONSIDERING I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS. I AM JUST AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN I AM GOING FASTER OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10269892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Vail, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

05 FORD EXPLORER HAS REPEATED (ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL) LIGHT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE, WHILE MOVING, LOSES POWER AND THEN STALLS. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESET AND THE VEHICLE THEN RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON (2) OCCASIONS AND NOW FEEL THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10261973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Buffalo, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SWITCH THAT SELECTS HEAT AND COLD IS BROKEN AND ONLY MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, AND WILL NOT PULL IN HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WARM UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR COSTS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. THIS IS ALSO A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE NEED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10257816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles High Point, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (ABOUT 6 TIMES TOTAL) AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS LOST ALL POWER. ALL INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. EACH INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BELOW 45 MPH AND WHILE COASTING ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I WILL LOSE POWER IN A CRUCIAL SITUATION AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER OR STOP EFFECTIVELY SINCE THESE FEATURES FUNCTION MOST EFFECTIVELY WITH FULL POWER. IN ALL INSTANCES I MOVED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. I DID CATCH IT ONE TIME BEFORE IT LOST POWER, AGAIN WHILE COASTING I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER DROP TO ALMOST 0. AT SEEING THIS I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR, THE RPM WENT BACK TO A NORMAL RANGE AND I DROVE ON AS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10250417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Felton, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAD A DEAD BATTERY ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS AGO. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DID NO OTHER DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY, THE BATTERY DRAINS DOWN, AND NOW THE BATTERY WILL NOT CHARGE AT ALL. NOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND THE DEALER WILL NOT DIAGNOSE THE CHARGING SYSTEM PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE, AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE IS JUST ONE OF MY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10246681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,827 miles Harriman, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I BOUGHT ONE OF THE SHARPEST SUV'S I EVER SAW - A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 6 CYLINDER. IT STARTED RANDOMLY DYING ON ME LIKE THE OTHERS I HAVE READ ABOUT (70+ ON THE INTERSTATE WAS THE MOST INTERESTING!) THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A CABLE FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE THROTTLE; THE COMPUTER TAKES THE REQUEST FROM THE PEDAL AND THEN THE COMPUTER OPENS THE THROTTLE. SO, IF THE COMPUTER CAN'T "SEE" WHAT THE THROTTLE IS ACTUALLY DOING, THAT COULD BE A BAD THING, AND FOR SAFETY REASONS, SHUTS EVERYTHING DOWN (FORD'S SO CALLED FMEM "LIMP HOME MODE"). WELL, I REPLACED THE TPS, AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND IN RETURN FOR 90 DOLLARS, THEY PLUGGED A BOX INTO MY SUV, PUSHED A BUTTON AND THEN TOLD ME THE PCM WAS BAD. THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) IS THE MAIN BRAIN FOR THE CAR. EVERYTHING IS EITHER DIRECTLY CONTROLLED BY IT, OR BY A SUBMODULE (SRS, 4WD, ABS, EATC, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TPMS, AND VCM) THAT IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS. HERE IS THE RUB: CONSIDER PEOPLE THAT LOSE A LIMB, BUT CONTINUE TO FEEL ITS' PRESENCE. THAT'S' BECAUSE EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF REAL TIME DATA FROM THE LIMB, THE BRAIN HAS A PROBLEM AND 'THINKS' IT SEES THE LIMB. IN CASE THE ANALOGY ISN'T CLEAR, IF THE PCM BEGINS TO FAIL, IT MIGHT SAY *ANY* SENSOR IS FAILING. BUT THE SENSOR IS FINE ' THE BRAIN IS 'BROKEN'. IF IT IS BROKEN DUE TO A HEAT OR VIBRATION ISSUE, IT CAN WORK PERFECTLY FOR HOWEVER LONG, THEN JUST GO NUTS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST ' THIS PCM CONTROLS EVERYTHING, RIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS IF IT COMMANDS THE THROTTLE TO WIDE OPEN, COMMANDS THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT TO 1ST, THEN FIRES THE AIRBAGS? CAN YOU PROVE IT COULDN'T? MY PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL IS THAT AN EMISSIONS CONTROL ITEM LIKE THE PCM SHOULDN'T FAIL IN THREE YEARS. FORD SHOULD JUST FIX IT INSTEAD OF CHARGING A GRAND PLUS LABOR. ALL OF THESE OTHERS HAVING INTERMITTENT SURGING, STALLING FAILSAFE MODE AND THROTTLE ISSUES I AM BETTING IS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10228760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Little EGG Harbor, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEAR NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS BELOW THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE FUELED IT SEVERAL TIMES, ALWAYS FILLING THE TANK TO THE TOP. EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE VEHICLE UP, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS DROPPED TO EMPTY AND THE MILEAGE TILL EMPTY INDICATOR SHOWS JUST DASHES. IN ADDITION TO THE GAUGE DROPPING TO EMPTY MY "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE SO I FIGURED I'D HAVE IT FIXED. THEN OUT OF CURIOSITY I DECIDED TO CHECK ONLINE AND WITH OTHER FELLOW OWNERS OF THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER MODEL TO SEE IF THEY WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. AND TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE DISTURBS ME MAINLY BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. GOD FORBID MY WIFE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 14-MONTH-OLD SON AND RUNS OUT OF FUEL DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE ON A DESERTED DARK HIGHWAY. SINCE THIS WAS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO COME ONLINE AND FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. BUT I DID NOT FIND THAT. ALL I FOUND WAS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING. NOW MY QUESTION IS, WHY HASNT THERE BEEN A RECALL YET WITH AN UPDATED PART FOR REPLACEMENT? IF SOMEONE COULD CONTACT ME AND ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10226347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Ford Explorer problems

← Full 2005 Ford Explorer report