2005 Ford Explorer engine problems

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle independently jerked forward. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

NHTSA complaint #11573106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking sound and shaking. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the timing chain was fractured, and a plastic piece had detached. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint #11501514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION ISSUES. VERY COMMON ON THIS MODEL, BASED ON CUSTOMER/CAR OWNERS COMPLAINTS. REVERSE IS AFFECTED. COULD NOT REVERSE QUICKLY, ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHILDREN!!!!

NHTSA complaint #11416005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

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 EXPLORERS.

NHTSA complaint #10652756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10630608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT 10:30 PM AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. HE WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT. THERE WERE NO MAINTENANCE LIGHTS ON. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE SON IN APRIL 2014 AND THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM. A MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW, AND MY SON IS LEAVING FOR COLLEGE IN AUGUST AND DRIVING HIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10595766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

CAR SUDDENLY QUIT AND THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME ON. COMPUTER SCAN SHOWED THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR/CONTROL WAS STUCK CLOSED, AND COULD CLEAR ANY CODES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL.. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO MY HOME. ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN AT MORE THAN AN IDLE WITH THE ACCELERATOR FULLY DEPRESSED, AND THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN THE RPM.

NHTSA complaint #10564141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON JULY 12, 2013, I TOOK MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND WHEN I PUT IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE JERKS OR LUNGES INTO GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS OF COURSE MY TRANSMISSION. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $3946.20 AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY EXPLORER IN THIS CONDITION, BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE AT THIS POINT. I WENT ONLINE TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND 94 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THE 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. IN ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM - A WOMAN WROTE THAT SHE SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO THE DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 2005 FORD EXPLORES, THEY GET BACK TO HER TO TELL HER THAT THE FORD DEALER WILL PUT THE REPAIR UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY PROGRAM AND JUST CHARGE ME $100 BUCKS TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FORD EXPLORERS MADE IN 2005, SO WHY HAVE THE VEHICLES NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS??

NHTSA complaint #10524913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE ENGINE HAD BEEN BEHAVING STRANGE. THERE WAS A "TINKING" SOUND, LIKE WHEN YOU HIT METAL AGAINST METAL, AND THE ENGINE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHEN UNDER SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE NEXT MORNING IT TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT COULDN'T START. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE SPROCKET JACK SHAFT BROKE, CONTROLS CAM BROKE, THERE WERE BENT VALVES, LIFTERS WERE HIT WITH THE JACK SHAFT AND CAMS WERE HIT TOO. THE ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKED, RUINING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE NATIONAL FORD COMPLAINT CENTER. FORD SAID IT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUTTING IN A NEW MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10484098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE KEPT THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS TURNED TO THE WARM/HOT (RED) POSITION OR THE A/C UNIT IS TURNED ON, WE NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE OVER THE YEARS. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE THUMPING SOUND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STRONGER (AS IF SOMEONE WAS PHYSICALLY PUNCHING THROUGH MY DASHBOARD/GLOVE COMPARTMENT), CAUSING MY HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO REPAIR THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO FIX. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ONLINE ALONG WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT WE KNOW.

NHTSA complaint #10475572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE DRIVE BELT FALLS OFF WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SEPARATING FROM ENGINE MAKING VEHICLE INOPERATABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10443433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

STARTED TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER AND HEAR KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE SO TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST GARAGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON A LOT OF THE NEW FORDS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD. NO WARNING, NO WARNING. IT IS RECOMMENDED BY EVERYONE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10436865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CAR DIED. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN OR CHAINS (THERE ARE 5 AND THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT TO REPLACE THE REAR CHAIN) BROKE AND THE PISTONS HIT AND BENT THE VALVES. (ENGINE SHOT). I RELIGIOUSLY CHANGE THE OIL WITH SYNTHETIC EVERY 3-4000 MILES. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD IS HIDING- THERE ARE COMPLAINTS GALORE ON THE INTERNET. I SPOKE TO [XXX] AT FORD CONSUMER IN MAHWAH, NJ AND GOT NOWHERE. PLEASE HELP, I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B).

NHTSA complaint #10424132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON TRIGGERING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10416647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON TRIGGERING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10416647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR LURCHED AND MADE A NOISE. ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER THAT, A WARNING LIGHT THAT STATED "ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE" AND A LITTLE WRENCH SHOWED UP ON THE LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I WAS DRIVING HOME, AND THE CAR STARTED TO SPEED UP WITHOUT MY INCREASING THE SPEED USING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO LURCH OFF AND ON UNTIL I GOT HOME. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMED TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY THAT HAD FAILED. UPON TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WAS. THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THE CAR'S SPEED KEPT INCREASING. THE REPAIR WAS $1026.00.

NHTSA complaint #10413050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAD A FACTORY SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY ENGINE. IT WAS THE THIRD ONE BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10367946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V-6 4X4 WITH 45,000 MILES, AND WITHIN ONE MONTH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO ROB SIGHT FORD IN KANSAS CITY, MO AND THEY CHARGED ME $1,200 TO FIX THE VALVE CASING, BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING. A WEEK LATER, THE DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING, AND NOW ONLY BLOWS OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS. I CHECKED WITH SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THEY ALL SAID IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $1,100 TO FIX THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. SO NOW I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 45,000 MILES THAT HAS NO DEFROST CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA complaint #10347105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE (35 MPH) WHEN I BLEW A SPARK PLUG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 1.5 MILES AWAY, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10320619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MARCH 08 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED KNOCKING AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. I CALL FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT A PART IN THE MOTOR HAD MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I THEN CALL FORD AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I WAS STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WAS NOT PAID FOR AND I STILL OWED FOR. MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IS TRUCK UNTIL THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10269533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.