2005 Ford Explorer Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I HAVE A 2005 EXPLORER XLT AND I ALSO HAVE A LARGE CRACK DOWN THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW. WHICH HAS LED TO WATER SEEPING INTO MY BACK WIPER MOTOR CAUSING ME TO REPLACE IT FREQUENTLY. WHICH REPLACING THIS IS NOT CHEAP.THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED DUE TO THERE ARE MANY OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS. ALSO THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD ON MY BACK WINDOW CAME OFF/BROKE. WE WERE LEAVING FOR VACATION AND THE WHOLE WINDOW WAS IN MY HAND WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT. I AM A FORD LOVER THROUGH AND THROUGH AND WOULD JUST LIKE THESE PROBLEMS THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING CORRECTED . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! *TR
THE PAINT BUBBLED AND PEELED ON THE ROOF OF MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. DEALER SAYS IT IS A PAINT DEFECT BUT FORD DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. HAD MY ROOF REPAINTED AT MY EXPENSE. NOW, ANYTIME IT RAINS, I AM GETTING WATER LEAKING FROM THE REAR AC UNIT CONTROLS AND MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CARPETING IS SOAKING WET. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL NEAR THE HATCH WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR
PAINT IS BUBBLING/FLAKING ALONG FRONT EDGE OF HOOD. *TR
I WALKED OUTSIDE TO ENTER MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE HATCH LIFT ON THE BACK DOOR ADJACENT TO THE FORD EMBLEM THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY THERE. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME FLAW ON MOST FORD EXPLORER XLTS OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AGE AS MINE. *TR
TOOK MY SUV TO BODYSHOP YESTERDAY I NOTICED THE ROOF TOP EXTERIOR WAS PEELING PAINT AND RUSTING. IT WILL LEAD TO LEAKING PROBLEMS IF NOT REPAIRED BUT OWNER OF SHOP SAYS THAT THERE IS NO WAY OF THEM BEING ABLE TO SEAL IT PERMANANTLY IT IS A MATTER OF HOW LONG NEW PAINT WILL LAST . TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IS VERY COSTLY BUT IF NOT WILL DO FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR
REAR WIDOW IS ALSO A HATCH. THE HATCH HAS A FRACTURE IN THE CENTER OF WHERE THE HATCH SECURES ITSELF TO THE FRAME. THE HATCH WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND NEEDS TO BE PHYSICALLY MANIPULATED AT AN ANGLE TO BE SECURED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR KNOWN CAUSE,THE LIFTGATE CRACKED FROM THE REAR WINDOW, ALONG THE FORD EMBLEM, TO THE BOTTOM. *TR
CRACK APPEARED TO LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM ON REAR HATCH DOOR, UNDER GLASS. *TR
THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. I'M CERTAIN THAT WATER GETS INSIDE WHEN WASHED OR IT RAINS. NOW THAT I'M PAYING ATTN MANY EXPLORERS HAVE ONE OR MORE CRACKS. *TR
DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HATCH ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER, THE 7 X 55 PANEL, THE ONE WITH THE FORD LOGO IN IT. IT CRACKS. IT DID IT TWICE ON OURS, WE REPLACED IT ONCE COSTING US $500. OUR REPAIRMAN SAID HE'S SEEN THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON MANY FORD'. WE LOOKED INTO IT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER EXPERTS AGREE ON THE DEFECT. THE FIRST TIME WE TRIED TO BRING ATTENTION TO FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY BLEW US OFF, NOT EVEN HAVING THE COURTESY TO GET OUR LETTER TO THE PERSON IT WAS ADDRESSED. AS HUMAN NATURE, FORD TRIED TO MANIPULATE THE PROBLEM, AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION ACTUALLY CONVINCING THEMSELVES AND TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE LIKE TO KEEP ALL OUR STUFF NICE BUT CURRENTLY OUR VEHICLE DOESN?T LOOK NICE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO THROW AWAY OUR MONEY ON A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. AGAIN, IT IS DEFECTIVE, ANYONE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE INDUSTRY AND BODYWORK, WITH ANY SENSE, CAN REALIZE THE PROBLEM. ON OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO PROPOSE FORD?S RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM WE DIDN?T DRAW ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME WE?RE READY TO GO AT IT IN FULL FORCE (ATTORNEY GENERAL, BBB, LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS, AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION) IF FORD DOESN?T FIND A FAIR WAY TO COMPENSATE US. THE ISSUE BEING THE FIRST PANEL BEING DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED ALLOWING US TO DRIVE AROUND IN A JUNKY LOOKING VEHICLE; REPLACING THE PRODUCT FOR $500 WHICH STILL HAD THE ISSUE AND ONCE AGAIN WE?RE DRIVING AROUND WITH A JUNKY LOOKING VEHICLE; RESALE VALUE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION IN HOPEFULLY RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
I AM THE 1 AND ONLY OWNER OF 2005 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, AND THE REAR UPPER TAILGATE HAS A VERTICAL CRACK RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD LOGO THAT SPANS FROM WINDOW TO BASE 2CM IN WIDTH. *TR
I WENT OUT TO MY 2005 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER TO REMOVE ITEMS INSIDE BACK CARGO AREA AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC TAILGATE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HAD VERTICALLY CRACKED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THROUGH THE WHOLE PIECE. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW CAUSE FOR THE SPONTANEOUS WIDE CRACK. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. PARKED DAILY IN GARAGE AND NOT EVEN DRIVEN DAILY. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS WINDOW PANEL MIGHT BE COMPROMISED AND COULD CAUSE DEADLY DAMAGE TO PASSENGERS IN MY CAR OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD BEHIND ME SHOULD IT COME LOOSE OR SHATTER, INCLUDING THE CHANCE THAT THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER COULD COME UNATTACHED AND ALSO FLY OFF INTO THE WINDOW OF A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I HAVE JUST RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SPONTANEOUS CRACKING AND HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
DRIVER SIDE FRONT EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAD BEEN BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ON THE LAST PULL TO GET IN, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO REMOVE THE DRIVER. *TR
HINGES ON THE REAR GLASS HATCH ARE BROKEN. EVENTUALLY WILL BRAKE OFF AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INJURY BECAUSE THAT SUPPORTS THE GLASS. MANY OTHER EXPLORERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TAIL SILL PLATE ON THE LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE PANEL AROUND THE REAR GLASS OF THE LIFTGATE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE FENDER. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE RUST SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT STATE WHAT CAUSED THE RUST BUT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE FENDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW METAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
2005 FORD EXPLORER: I AM WORRYING ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF MY 2005 FORD EXPLORERS REAR END AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TO BE REAR ENDED. THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED: I SHUT THE TAILGATE AND THE AREA ABOVE AND BELOW THE EXPLORER EMBLEM CRACKED VERTICALLY. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HERS CRACKED EXACTLY LIKE MINE A YEAR AGO. NOW I JUST SAW AN EXPLORER PARKED AT THE STORE AND IT WAS CRACKED TOO!!! *TR
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND THERE IS A CRACK IN THE BACK ON THE HATCH THIS IS NOT ONLY ON MY VEHICLE THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE FROM THE YEAR 2000 AND UP THAT HAVE THE SAME CRACK IN THE BACK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED I CALL FORD ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO CONTACT THE NHSM I FEEL THAT I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND THERE ARE SO MANY FORD EXPLORERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME THING I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THIS. *TR
HTTP://WWW.TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/LAWSUIT-NEWS/967-FORD-DEFECTIVE-CRACKED-TAILGATE-CLASS-ACTION. *TR
FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW THE PAINT PEALING OFF THE BODY AFTER WASHING IT, FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER, I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES, AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING FIGHT WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT THEY WILL ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY THAT IT WAS A BAD PAINT JOB. AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BY THERE WARRANTY. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2005 Ford Explorer has 143 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.