2005 Ford Explorer Driver assistance Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A BACKYARD, DROVE OVER A CURB, DROVE THROUGH A NEIGHBOR'S BACKYARD, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BLACK EYES AND A CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CRASH WAS NOT IN RELATION TO ANY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,673.

NHTSA ID

11186174

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

108,673 mi

1) ABS, BRAKE, AND WRENCH FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHED ON FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND TURNED OFF WHEN DECELERATING WITH CRUISE CONTROL FROM 55 MPH TO 45 MPH ZONES AT COURLAND, VA. VEHICLE MANUAL PROVIDES NO GUIDANCE ON THIS FAILURE MODE; ONLY 'WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND CONTINUE FLASHING, REDUCE SPEED AND TAKE VEHICLE TO NEAREST SERVICE PROVIDER' AND 'WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND STAY ON, STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST SERVICE PROVIDER.' 2) APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, DRIVER BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOW FROM 60 MPH TO 35 MPH SCHOOL ZONE SPEED ABOUT 50 TO 60 M BEFORE SCHOOL ZONE WARNING SIGN AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY, VA, ON STATE HIGHWAY 58. 3) DRIVER CHECKED SPEED UPON ENTERING SCHOOL ZONE AND FOUND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STILL ON AND VEHICLE STILL TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. DEPRESSED BRAKE APPROXIMATELY 1/3 TOTAL BRAKING RANGE (4 CM), WHICH SHOULD HAVE LOCKED THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP. NO EFFECT. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ON AND VEHICLE CONTINUED AT 60 MPH. 4) AT THIS POINT, DRIVER REALIZED THAT HE HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, PANICKED, AND DECIDED HE HAD TO STOP OR CRASH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER JAMMED THE BRAKE PETAL AS HARD AS HE COULD AND HELD. IT TOOK PROBABLY 3 SECONDS FOR THE REAR BRAKES TO FINALLY GO UP A LOGISTIC GROWTH RESISTANCE CURVE, GRAB, AND STOP THE VEHICLE. NO BRAKING BY FRONT WHEELS. ABS DID NOT WORK. CONTRIBUTING PHYSICAL DEFECTS: WORN-OUT FRONT BRAKES, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS KEPT UNDER RIGOROUS MAINTENANCE AND HAD VALID VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION STICKER. WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS MOST LIKELY INDUCED INTERMITTENT FALSE SIGNALS TO COMPUTER CONTROL CENTER CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL TO DISENGAGE.

NHTSA ID

11119977

Incident

May 11, 2018

Mileage

130,100 mi

WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER IS GOING DOWN HILL OR WHEN PRESSING COAST BUTTON, THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER STALL, ENGINE CUTS OUT. STEERING AND BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ID

11075313

Incident

Feb 27, 2018

Mileage

166,000 mi

I WAS BACKING UP FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND MY CAR ACCELERATED WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE AND IT PEELED OUT AND HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES REALLY HARD.SOMETIMES THE ENGINE SHAKES WHEN GOING FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT GOES AWAY.

NHTSA ID

11074582

Incident

Feb 22, 2018

Mileage

256,450 mi

MY GAUGES GO HAYWIRE THE NEEDLES SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN CAR IS OFF NO KEY IN IGNITION. THE LIGHTS FLASH AS WELL. CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP, THE RPM WON'T GO ABOVE 2 EVEN WHEN HWY GOING 60 MPH. MECHANIC SAID IT'S ELECTRICAL, THE DEALER TOOK OUT TOP COUNSEL AS A WORK AROUND FOR THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE CLAIMING IT WAS NOT A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11019486

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME ACCELERATING, WHEN IT DOES, A "CLUCK" SOUND CAN BE HEARD, SOMETIMES ACCELERATION FAILS ALL TOGETHER. O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND BLINKS. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ID

10761853

Incident

Aug 12, 2015

Mileage

126,938 mi

THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS HAPPEND DURING HIGHWAY HIGH SPEED DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ON CARS BUILT 11/24/04 AND PRIOR. THE CODES ARE P2106 AND P2135. IT'S CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REQUIRES A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RESET B36.11, B37.2 OR HIGHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAR FORD READILY ACKOWLEDGES. THEY HAVE UGRADED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TWICE WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10748493

Incident

Aug 5, 2013

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE AND OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ

NHTSA ID

10733768

Incident

Jun 22, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SUDDENLY THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME UP. VEHICLE WOULD BARELY RUN. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND IT SEEMED FINE FOR A WHILE. THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, DRIVING NORMAL, THEN BAM. THIS TIME IT SHUT DOWN AND WOULD BARELY STAY RUNNING...JUST ORDERED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER FORD.

NHTSA ID

10730484

Incident

Jun 22, 2015

Mileage

86,000 mi

HELLO WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE UPPER BALL JOINT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AXLE, TIRE, AND WHEEL. THIS CAUSED ISSUES WITH CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A MUCH GREATER ACCIDENT THAN WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT, PARTIALLY DUE TO THE LOW SPEED AT THE TIME, HOWEVER HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE OR ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, THIS COULD HAVE HAD EXPONENTIALLY WORSE OUTCOMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS MECHANICS THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE AN ISSUE FOR FORD EXPLORERS AND THIS ISN'T MY FIRST ISSUE WITH THEM MYSELF. I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH MY 2004 EXPLORER. THIS WAS NOT AN ORIGINAL PART TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS CHECKED LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE IT BROKE AND PASSED INSPECTION. PLEASE LOOK INTO BALL JOINT ISSUES FOR FORD EXPLORERS AND KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE IS BELOW. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION IF NEEDED. HTTP://OI59.TINYPIC.COM/T658XD.JPG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662643

Incident

Nov 30, 2014

Mileage

113,641 mi

OUR 2005 EXPLORER WITH V8 ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND A HILL IS CRESTED (FOR EXAMPLE) AND THE ENGINE GOES TO IDLE IT DROPS BELOW STALL SPEED AND DIES WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER MUST MOVE SHIFTER INTO N AND RESTART, OBVIOUSLY CRITICALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NO PROBLEM WITH NORMAL DRIVING OR IDLING WITHOUT CRUISE ON. THIS PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND EASY TO REPRODUCE EVEN ON FLAT SURFACES WHEN CRUISE BACKS OFF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN. A/C CAN BE ON OR OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593952

Incident

Dec 23, 2013

Mileage

69,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10572495

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

Mileage

59,752 mi

WHEN SPEED CONTROL IS SET, AND COAST BUTTON IS PRESSED FOR MORE THEN A FEW SECONDS, ENGINE WILL STALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510198

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE GEARS IN THE POWERED BRAKE/GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY SEEM TO STRIP. THEN THE BRAKE/GAS PEDAL WON'T CHANGE POSITION. THAT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE PEDALS GET STUCK TOO FAR AWAY FOR SOME DRIVERS AND TOO CLOSE FOR OTHERS. THIS IS A FLEET WIDE ISSUE FOR ALL FORDS WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443668

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON. THE ENGINE ALSO HAS A HUM SOUND WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428233

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

49,600 mi

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR LURCHED AND MADE A NOISE. ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER THAT, A WARNING LIGHT THAT STATED "ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE" AND A LITTLE WRENCH SHOWED UP ON THE LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I WAS DRIVING HOME, AND THE CAR STARTED TO SPEED UP WITHOUT MY INCREASING THE SPEED USING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO LURCH OFF AND ON UNTIL I GOT HOME. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMED TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY THAT HAD FAILED. UPON TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WAS. THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THE CAR'S SPEED KEPT INCREASING. THE REPAIR WAS $1026.00.

NHTSA ID

10413050

Incident

Jul 12, 2011

Mileage

58,084 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ON THE THIRD INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10399193

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi

TODAY, I STARTED OUR 2005 FORD EXPLORER TO DRIVE MY TWO CHILDREN TO THE BUS STOP. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT ON OUT OF THE BLUE. I'VE HAD MANY CARS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST FORD AND SINCE AUGUST WE'VE PUT IN AN ALTERNATOR, NEW ENGINE AND NOW THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT. OUR PRIOR SUV WAS A 1999 DODGE DURANGO AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT ANY OF THESE REPAIRS INTO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384276

Incident

Feb 24, 2011

Mileage

121,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BODY STRUCTURE , GAS PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378795

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

53,000 mi

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER. MY SON FIRST DISCOVERED IT BACK IN JULY-AUGUST 2010. WHILE HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS SPEED FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AND HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THANK GOODNESS, HE HAD THE PEACE OF MIND TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY TO START IT AGAIN. I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT TO DO THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED TRYING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. SINCE THAT INITIAL EPISODE, BOTH MY SON AND MY HUSBAND HAVE TESTED IT AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND HAVE HAD THE SAME RESULTS. SO WE BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER IN OUR AREA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BOX AND THAT IT WOULD COST IN THE RANGE OF $800-850 TO FIX. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAID THERE WASN'T. I QUESTIONED WHY THERE WASN'T SINCE THIS WAS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE, STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I REALIZE IT IS ONLY WHEN I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE SAFETY CONCERN. HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT USED. SO I OPTED TO CONTACT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO. $800-850 IS A LOT OF MONEY. I GOT FEEDBACK ON THE ISSUE A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THAT BASICALLY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL SO THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. THEN I WAS ASKED TO FILL OUT A CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY WHERE I REITERATED THAT MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE WERE NOT ANSWERED. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM THEM AND THAT WAS BACK ON 8-10-10. SO I AM NOW WRITING TO YOU. JUST HOW DOES A SAFETY RECALL GET STARTED? ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10359268

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON 77 NORTH IN FANCY GAP, VA, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM CAR AND IN FACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SAID HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY IN FLAMES. I EXITED THROUGH DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY PASSENGER HAD TO EXIT THROUGH DRIVER DOOR AS WELL BECAUSE FLAMES WERE SPREADING ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WE DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE ENTIRE THING BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CARROLL COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND VA STATE POLICE ARRIVED. IT TOOK OVER 45 MINUTES FOR THE FIRE TO BE EXTINGUISHED; THE CAR KEPT RE-IGNITING, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL APPLICATIONS OF WATER AND ANTI-FLAME CHEMICALS. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE MELTED, INCLUDING TIRES. NOTHING WAS SALVAGEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES. IT WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND RECENTLY SERVICED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328216

Incident

Apr 29, 2010

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SENSOR AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10291631

Incident

Jul 21, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE SHE LIGHTLY PLACED HER FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE PARKED VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. SHE STATED THAT HER VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE FLOOR MATS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE'S BODY WAS REPAIRED. THE POLICE REPORT NUMBER IS 09-19790. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,287. UPDATED 11/18/09.LJ UPDATED 11/19/09

NHTSA ID

10290412

Incident

Oct 12, 2009

Mileage

52,287 mi

VEHICLE: 2005 FORD EXPLORER; MILEAGE 62,300; SYSTEM MALFUNCTION INDICATING SERVICE WAS NEEDED; DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATE THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR DEACTIVATION OF SPEED CONTROL NEEDS REPLACED. CURRENT NHTSA/FORD RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO 2005 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER INDICATES LACK OF INTEREST IN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289082

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

62,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED, THE SCDS DEACTIVATED WITHOUT INTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND SHE RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,550. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RESUME AFTER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO REDUCE THE SPEED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE SYSTEM WOULD WORK PROPERLY. UPDATED 11/04/09

NHTSA ID

10288538

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

Mileage

1,550 mi