2005 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF/

NHTSA ID

11143474

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME IMPAIRED. LUCKY, I WAS IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE AND WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY AVOID COLLISION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER A ~3HR DRIVE AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY (I.E. SLOWING DOWN). UPON RESTART, ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT WAS UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO ITERATIVE SURGE/STALL CYCLES.

NHTSA ID

10862482

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

95,000 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

BECAUSE OF THE RECENT GM RECALL IGNITION ISSUE, I THOUGHT I SHOULD LET SOMEONE KNOW ABOUT THE SERIOUS SIMILAR ISSUE I HAD 3 TIMES BEFORE I TRADED MY CAR IN. THE CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AND ALL 3 TIMES, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A PLACE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TWICE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I TRADED THE 2005 FOR A 2011. I ALSO TOLD THE DEALER THAT I TRADED IT INTO ABOUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUTTING OFF FOR NO REASON AND TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY SOLD IT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575830

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED IN JUNE, 2005. ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH HAD ROUGHLY 49,000 MILES DRIVEN AT THE TIME, INTO REVERSE IN ORDER TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IN DOING SO, THE GEARSHIFT ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEARSHIFT IS NOT A SERVICEABLE PART AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED SHE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE COST FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND ASSOCIATED LABOR WOULD BE MORE THAN $1,600. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT A USED STEERING COLUMN FROM A JUNKYARD WOULD COST MUCH LESS, BUT THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL EARLY MONDAY MORNING. ON MONDAY MORNING, I WAS INFORMED BY KRF SOUTH THAT THEY COULD OBTAIN A USED STEERING COLUMN AND THE TOTAL COSTS FOR PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE $620. I CHOSE TO HAVE THE USED USED STEERING COLUMN INSTALLED DUE TO THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL. SIMPLY PUT, A GEARSHIFT SHOULD NOT BREAK OFF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN THROUGH NORMAL VEHICLE USE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AFTER THE GEARSHIFT BROKE AWAY. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, I WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO REMAIN IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I COULD GET ASSISTANCE. NOW I HAVE A REPLACED STEERING COLUMN, WITH THE EVERLASTING THOUGHT THAT THE GEARSHIFT COULD BREAK OFF AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE A WIFE AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM HESITANT ABOUT HER USING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THIS MAY VERY WELL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429254

Incident

Feb 21, 2009

Mileage

48,958 mi

STARTED EXPLORER TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1500. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384275

Incident

Feb 12, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE FORD EXPLORER HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. I PULLED INTO MY SISTER'S DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A FLAT, GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. THE FORD EXPLORER IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN EXITED THE FORD EXPLORER. AFTER EXITING THE FORD EXPLORER, IT STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND THEN THE TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RAN OVER MY LEG. MY SISTER RAN AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378676

Incident

Nov 14, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

THIS INCIDENT REFERS TO A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER VIN # [XXX]. AFTER MAKING AN INVESTMENT TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIMSELF OR FAMILY BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, THEN GOING TO THE FORD DEALER FOR A PART AND BEING TOLD IT COST 1300.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THE CHEAP WHITE METAL THAT HELD IT TOGETHER JUST SHEARED OFF. DOES A DEATH NEED TO OCCUR TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10363412

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

Mileage

96,000 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

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WHICH LOOSES POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING ABILITY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME IS THERE. FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM OF LOOSING THE BRAKING ABILITY, THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTED HAS NO PROBLEMS BUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (FEW METERS TO UP TO A MILE) THE ADVANCE TRACTION LOSS MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN THE MESSAGE CENTRE AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES THE ABILITY TO STOP IN THE REQUIRED STOP DISTANCE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PULSATION IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PADDLE AND A SCREECHING HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. THEN ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, AND VEHICLE RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE IS RESET AND VEHICLE WORKS FINE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AT RANDOM GIVES THE MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY WITH AN AUDIO SIGNAL INDICATING OIL PRESSURE LOW, SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND OTHER LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY AND RPM METER SHOWING ZERO READING WITH LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING WHEREAS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATES IF PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THRICE BUT THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE FIXED FROM LAST 15 MONTHS. THE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOT BACK ONCE THE ENGINE IS SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED. I HAVE RESORTED TO PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT ROLL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AND GET THE STEERING CONTROL BACK. I HAD LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2005 FOR 10 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE AND RECTIFY BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES AT FORD BUT I AM YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALER OR THE OEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163292

Incident

Jun 22, 2006

Mileage

5,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS DISCOVERED ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL.

NHTSA ID

10150741

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

Mileage

5,248 mi