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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 1 of 6)

problem #107

Mar 242019

Explorer

  • 120,313 miles

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

Rear wheel well shock tower mount is rusted out. There is no reason this should be happening. This is a major safety issue.

- Normal, IL, USA

problem #106

Aug 152017

Explorer

  • 84,000 miles
2005 Ford Explorer. Frame is rotting along the welds. Not up and down. Length wise running with the frame. Obviously a factory weld issue and a big issue at that as the issue could have the frame fail and entire hub/axle/wheel assembly rip right off the vehicle. This is also a very common issue with Ford's in general from 02-2005. As you already know I'm sure. This vehicle was well maintained and taken care of and the frame issue has made an otherwise great running low mileage vehicle worthless. Not to mention had the issue not been found very dangerous! please get these death traps off the road!! have pictures but the files are to large to send. Thanks.

- Burlington, ME, USA

problem #105

Aug 262017

Explorer

  • 157,000 miles
The back lift gate panel cracked on the back of our Ford Explorer and when we went to shut the lift gate the whole back window shattered. Ford won't replace it because they say its not a safety issue and our year of our Ford was not apart of the recall of these panels being cracked. Please be aware that if you have one of these cracks that the back window can shatter when closing the lift gate.

- Arvada, CO, USA

problem #104

Aug 262017

Explorer

  • 157,000 miles

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

We have a 2005 Ford Explorer and the back lift gate panel was cracked right by the Ford symbol. When we went to open the back lift gate and the panel where it was cracked broke in half and shattered the whole back window and injured us. Ford wants to charge me $140 to just look at it. Come on Ford do what's right! beware if you have a cracked panel on your Ford! it can break in half and the glass can shatter.

- Arvada, CO, USA

problem #103

Jul 082017

Explorer

  • 112,000 miles
I have a 2005 Ford Explorer and upon opening my rear tailgate, the screws on the two hinges broke from the glass. Tthe only thing holding it halfway up is the hydraulic power lifters. Glad I was parked and not on the highway

- Neillsville, WI, USA

problem #102

Feb 272017

Explorer

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was fracture in the rear hatch above the rear windshield wiper and all the way down to the bottom of the hatch. The failure allowed moisture to enter the door. The contact was concerned that the fracture would cause the rear windshield to shatter, causing serious injuries or worse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

- St. George, UT, USA

problem #101

Jul 012012

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles

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

Rear liftgate crack

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #100

Nov 122016

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
Cracked applique on rear lift gate.

- Ormond Beach, FL, USA

problem #99

Jan 012007

Explorer

  • 15,000 miles
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.

- Morristown, TN, USA

problem #98

May 242016

Explorer

  • 103,597 miles
While parked in the driveway, we found that the back window of the hatch was completely broken and the body in the back was lifted off the car. It looks as if the hydraulic arm malfunctioned overnight.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #97

Sep 102015

Explorer

  • 123,000 miles

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

Crack in rear hatch plate by Ford emblem

- Fairport, NY, USA

problem #96

Feb 132015

Explorer

  • 76,000 miles
Crack on back panel from window down around Ford emblem literally just appeared one day. My Explorer was purchased new in 2005 and is in excellent condition except for this mystery crack that I am now noticing on a lot of Explorer around the same age. It is an obvious defect! when is Ford going to take care of this?....updated 11/13/15

- Watertown, CT, USA

problem #95

May 022011

Explorer

  • 68,000 miles
The rear lift window started cracking multiple times and the open button stopped activating.

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #94

Mar 272015

Explorer

  • 84,000 miles
Walked out to my garage and noticed a cracked had showed up overnight. It goes from the back eindow, by the right edge of the Ford logo, to the bottom of the lift gate. It is almost perfectly vertical, I have seen a ton of these on xlts. I thought I was lucky, I was wrong.

- Bruin, PA, USA

problem #93

Jan 012010

Explorer

  • 43,000 miles
My 2005 Ford Explorer has multiple paint problems peeling all over the car, ,the dealer said its any after market paint job I bought the car used from dave smith Ford in 2008 they are trying to say that the car was completely repainted within the first 3 years of the cars life.

- Alden, NY, USA

problem #92

Jun 012013

Explorer

  • 100,000 miles
I have a cracked tailgate that is a defect. I have seen this same crack on numerous Ford Explorer's 2002-2005. I have contacted Ford and have gotten no where with this problem.there are numerous complaints of this same problem. I thought the door was closed to hard, that is not the case until I kept seeing the same crack on every Ford Explorer 2002-2005 then a light bulb went off there's something wrong with the tailgate, that makes it eventually crack. This has not been fixed on our vehicle, we worry the glass could shatter while continuing to close it as I have read with some owners. Please help us solve this problem.

- Cheraw, SC, USA

problem #91

Apr 072015

Explorer

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While opening the rear door, the contact noticed a large crack on the rear panel that extended from the rear window vertically all the way down to the end of the panel where the Ford emblem was located. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance adjustor. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic nor the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Mt Vernon, IN, USA

problem #90

Feb 142015

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
Typical Ford problem with 2002-2005 Explorer/Mountaineer. Rear tailgate cracked all on it's own because it's cold here, and because it's a defect Ford should have fixed when they knew of the issue. I am not the only one (of many) with this problem.

- Weston, WI, USA

problem #89

Jan 232013

Explorer

  • 100,000 miles
The rear lift gate trim panel split vertically from the glass to the bottom of the lift gate. The crack runs adjacent to the Ford emblem on the lift gate. I see a lot of this occurring on similar year models and consider that this is a design defect that should be addressed.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #88

Jun 012014

Explorer

  • 74,000 miles
First noticed what appeared to be a scratch underneath rear window. Grew into a crack which runs from the bottom of the rear window down around the Ford emblem to the bottom of the window hatch. Crack has widened to about 1/8 inch. Vehicle purchased my myself brand new.

- Ada, OK, USA

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