There are 17 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2005 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
REAR WHEEL WELL SHOCK TOWER MOUNT IS RUSTED OUT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
DISCOVERED UNDERNEATH THE BODY WHERE THE BODY AND FRAME MEET FOR THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS, THEY HAVE NEARLY DISINTEGRATED ON ALL FOUR BUSHINGS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THESE BUSHINGS WERE MADE OF SOME INFERIOR FOAM MATERIAL WHEREAS THE REAR BUSHINGS ARE RUBBER AND STILL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THE REPAIR FOR THIS DEFECT WILL COST AROUND $600 TO $1,300 AND IF NOT DONE WILL RESULT IN THE CAB FALLING DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME THUS CREATING NUMEROUS SAFETY PROBLEMS INCLUDING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FAILURE OF THE TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL SPORT TRACS MADE FROM 2001 TO 2005. THE INCLUDED PICS BEGIN WITH THE DRIVER SIDE (DRIVER SEAT) FRONT BUSHING, DRIVER SIDE (REAR SEAT) BUSHING, PASSENGER SIDE (FRONT SEAT) BUSHING, PASSENGER SIDE (REAR SEAT) BUSHING AND FINALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND DRIVER SIDE REAR BUSHINGS (BOTH IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND MADE OF ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATERIAL) DISCLAIMER: THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ANY SALT WATER (BEACH) ENVIRONMENT NOR WINTER WEATHER ENVIRONMENT (WHERE SALT WAS USED), OR MUD RIDING OF ANY TIME NOR HAS BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH FLOODED AREAS WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE CONDITION OF THE BUSHINGS. VEHICLE ODOMETER READING IS 125,496.
2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER A SCHEDULED TIRE ROTATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THEM BEING REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY COMPROMISED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH GOODRICH TOURING T/A TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS P235/75/R16 AND THE DOT NUMBER WAS AP70L2113710. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTREME AND CONSISTENT TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,575 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,874. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/21/12 *BF UPDATED 06/01/12
2005 FORD EXPLORER FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS BAD AT 87,000 MILES AND BALL JOINTS HAVE SLACK IN THEM. RIDICULOUS THAT A CAR THIS NICE HAS SUCH PROBLEMS. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ON THE INTERNET, REAR END HAS A ROAR IN IT TOO, OF COURSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THIS STUFF FIXED. FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE AUTO AND FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A NEW VEHICLE WHICH HAS NEVER PULLED ANYTHING, ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK 12 MILES A DAY AND TOP SPEED IS 45 MILES PER HOUR. LAST FORD I WILL EVER OWN. *TR
UPPER BALL JOINT BOOTS FELL APART GREASE WASHES OUT BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 52,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS CRACKING; IT WAS ENCASED WITH PLASTIC AND WATER GOT INTO IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 59,000. UPDATED 09/15/10. *LJUPDATED 09/16/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $600. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE REAR AXLE SEAL STARTED LEAKING AND HE COULD SMELL THE FLUIDS. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,732 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE. HE STATED THAT THE REAR HUB PRESSED INTO THE BEARING. HE REPLACED THE BEARING APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS AGO. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR AND PINION SET FAILED. REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
THERE ARE TWO CRACKS ON THE BACK TOP LIFT GATE WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO GET TO THE ELECTRIC LOCKS AND IT OPENS BY ITSELF WHEN WET. THE WHEELS BEARINGS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS. THE PASSENGER FRONT BELT TIGHTENS AND WILL NOT LOOSEN.
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.
DT: 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES WITH NINE REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASE, APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY/WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE/THE PULLEY IN THE MOTOR, HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE COMPUTER CHIP HAD TO BE RESET. THE KEY WAS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION; THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IGNITION. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION . THE CONTACT WAS ASKING FORD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AT THIS TIME. A SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SUPPOSE TO SPEAK WITH THE CONTACT.*AK
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND SHE HEARD A LOW HOWLING NOISE. WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WHERE NOT USE TO DRIVING A SUV. SHE FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PINION IN THE REAR END. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT PLANNING ON DOING A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES ARE CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR JOB WAS ABOUT 2000 DOLLARS. THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE 2005 FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REALIZE THAT THIS NOISE IS A PROBLEM. THEY TOLERATE THIS BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS JUST THE VEHICLE. *JB
2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR AXLE LEAKING. *SMD 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.*JB
THIS REPLACES FILE #10134158 WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. SHEARING AT THE CAST IRON KNUCKLE BEHIND THE WHEEL. THERE ARE NO SCUFF MARKS OF ANY KIND ON THE TIRE INDICATING THAT IT WAS A PART FAILURE AS OPPOSED TO IMPACT WITH THE CURB. FORD WAS CONTACTED. AFTER A MEETING WITH THE ZONE REPRESENTATIVE I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO CLEAR LITIGATION PREVENTION BEFORE ENGINEERS COULD LOOK AT IT AFTER 4 WEEKS I WAS TOLD FORD HAS NO INTEREST IN CHECKING IT OUT AND BLAMED THE DRIVER NOT THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED WE ARE DEALING WITH A SAFETY DEFECT. LITIGATION OVER RODE THE SAFETY ENGINEERS AS FAR AS INSPECTING THE DAMAGED PARTS. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026