There are 26 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2005 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. IT APPEARS THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW HINGE HAD ROTATED OUT OF POSITION AND FRACTURED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BREAK. THE HYDRAULIC ARMS EXTENDED SINCE THE WINDOW WAS NO LONGER THERE TO HOLD THEM BACK, WHICH CAUSED THE LIFT GATE FRAME TO BEND, PLASTIC TO CRACK, AND ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BE EXPOSED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK DEVELOPED ACROSS THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HATCH BACK DOOR. THE GLASS OF THE HATCH BACK DOOR ALSO SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,210.
THE WINDOW WILL GO DOWN BUT IT WONT GO UP ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. *TR
THE PART THAT HOLDS THE VISORS JUST FELL APART WITH THE WIRES HANGING AND THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLOCKED MY VIEW AND THE VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL BLOCKING MY SIDE MIRROR SO THE BOTH CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR ME TO SEE. WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP PHILLPOT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT, SO THE GUY CUT THE WIRE NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO HAVE THEM DO THE SAME FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSE I CAN'T SEE MY OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THAT SIDE. THAT IS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSE I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS CRACK FOR NO REASON, JUST BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE WAS 90S. WE HAVE OTHER CARS AND ALL ARE FINE. I BELIEVE IS THE METAL WHERE THE REAR MIRROR IS MOUNTED. BASED ON MY FORENSIC CLASS, CARS HAVE A LEAST 3 COATS OF PAINT, PRIMER, THE COLOR AND THE CLEAR COAT, THIS CAR ONLY HAS TWO COATS OF PAINT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE CRACK UNDER THE REAR EXTERIOR LIFTGATE WINDOW PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WINDOW PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE WINDOW GLASS FROM DISENGAGING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. KMJ. RETURNED BY USPS ON 4/2/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 4/9/2013 FAILED. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT MANUALLY OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE AND ONE OF THE WINDOW BRACKET BOLTS FRACTURED. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE WINDOW PARTIALLY DETACHED AND WAS TEMPORARILY BEING SECURED WITH A STRAP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,181.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGERS' POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,691. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HATCH PANEL FRACTURED RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE VIA VOICEMAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND THE BLENDING CHAMBER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/15/2013 *JS UPDATED 7/10/13 *CN
VERY LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LIKE 1 FOOT LONG AND 3/16 WIDE CLOSE TO THE FORD LOGO. *TR
HEAT COMPONENT: TRIED TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS ON MY VEHICLE, WHEN I ADJUSTED THE CONTROLS TO THE HEAT I BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE VENT. WINTER IS IN AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME MAKE & MODEL HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH THERE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A FAILED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT CAUSES A HIGH SAFETY RISK. *TR
CRACK AT BACK GLASS RUNNING DOWN THE CAR LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM. GLASS COULD FALL OUT. *JS
PASSENGER VISOR PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED (CRACKED) DRIVER SIDE VISOR PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED (CRACKED) TWO MONTHS EARLIER AND REPORTED SEPARATELY. ENTIRE VISOR ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE PURCHASED BECAUSE THIS SMALL PART WAS NOT SOLD OR SUPPLIED SEPARATELY. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED PREMIUM WARRANTY. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING VISOR TO DROP AND HANG BY ELECTRICAL WIRE SUPPLYING POWER TO LIGHTED MIRROR. ENTIRE VISOR ASSEMBLY WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL PART (SMALL PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET) WAS NOT SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. VISOR RARELY IF EVER USED. REPLACEMENT WAS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE AND NOT COVERED UNDER PREMIUM EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SUN VISOR FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VISOR WAS EXHIBITING DISINTEGRATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER----REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED,WHEN I WENT TO SHUT IT----43,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. ON JANUARY 12, 2010 HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH GLASS WAS SPLIT IN HALF. HE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE NEXT DAY THE VENTS WOULD ONLY RELEASE COLD AIR FROM THE VENTS. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE COULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEATER BOX FAILED AND WOULD COST $800.00 TO REPAIR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53168. UPDATED12/10/09. *LJ THE REPAIR COST WAS $438.00. THE PROBLEM WAS THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR, WHICH WAS INDIDE THE HEATER BOX. UPDATED 12/10/09
THE REAR WINDSHIELD IMPLODED ,AND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS WERE FOUND . IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 26 complaints
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 26, 2026