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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.

Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,569 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Ford Explorer body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2005 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 6 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #7

Apr 132007

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the paint is peeling from the roof and the roof is starting to rust. The manufacturer stated that this has not been an issue with other vehicles and it is not covered under any warranty. The contact is worried about the long term affects of the rusting. The VIN was rejected from the system. The failure mileage was 25000 and the current mileage was 58000.

- Lake Lotatcong, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jan 252010

Explorer

  • miles
Dep crack in the rear hatch

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #5

Dec 302009

Explorer

  • 38,000 miles
I have a 2005 Ford Explorer and noticed that the rear hatch has a crack in it to the left of the Ford emblem, the vehicle has only 38,000 miles on it and I think this is a defect in workmanship which Ford should cover, but they will not pay for repairs of it at all. Further more I will not buy another Ford vehicle as the company does not stand behind their products at all. Shame on Ford and their cheap construction of materials.

- Brighton, MI, USA

problem #4

Nov 272009

Explorer

  • 40,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The last week in Nov. 2009, I had backed my vehicle into the garage. The next morning, when I came outside, the first thing I can see is the back of my vehicle and a vertical crack on the panel between the top hatchback and the liftgate. The crack was in the center to the left of the Ford emblem. The crack was the full distance vertically of the panel. It has since widened. I took my vehicle to my local Ford dealership to have it looked at within 3 days of the incident. The next day, I received a call that it would cost me $430 to have fixed. My local dealer said Ford would not pay for this incident which was of no fault of my own. I have since researched this problem and found out that hundreds of Explorer owners have had this happen to their vehicle and Ford won't pay for it nor do a recall to fix the problem. It is obvious that there is a manufacturing problem. Since I have experience this problem, I have been very observant of other Explorer and 1 out of 3 Explorer I see, has the same cracked panel in almost the exact same spot. Sometimes I see the crack on the left of the emblem, sometimes the right, but basically its the same vertical crack.

- Blacksburg, SC, USA

problem #3

Jul 152009

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
Have a 2005 Ford Explorer that just went out of warranty and the back tailgate area cracked by the Ford applique. Ford will not extend any goodwill repairs and claims it is not a design flaw. I have seen thousands of posts on just one website where others report the same problem and same response from Ford. There was not damage or event to the tailgate to cause the crack. Just occurred one very hot day while parked in the heat. Contacted an auto repair shop to get a quote and they stated that they see this all the time and they can't believe Ford doesn't have a recall on this problem.

- Orem, UT, USA

problem #2

Aug 012009

Explorer

  • 40,800 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the Ford emblem was cracking on the rear of the vehicle. The crack begins near the rear window and extends all the way down to the Ford emblem. The contact will take her vehicle to the dealer for inspection. There were no recalls for this issue. The failure mileage was 40,800.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 212008

Explorer

  • 40,600 miles
Paint is peeling and chipping off along top of roof near front and rear. Ford says this happens a lot. They say I am out of warranty, even though evident that this has been occurring a lot longer to my car.

- Madison, AL, USA

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