YearToAvoid

2005 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#17 most-complained of 21 Explorer years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Ford Explorer has 497 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 20 out of 100 — #17 highest of 21 Explorer model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is structure & body (163 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 22 crashes, 6 fires, 14 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
497
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
22 / 6
Injuries / deaths
14 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy

Top 2005 Ford Explorer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body163 (33%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain99 (20%)
  3. Engine86 (17%)
  4. Fuel System66 (13%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires39 (8%)
  6. Electrical System38 (8%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers24 (5%)
  8. Other22 (4%)
  9. Brakes19 (4%)
  10. Airbags15 (3%)
2005 Ford Explorer complaints: complaints filed per quarter312005 Q12007 Q22009 Q32011 Q42014 Q12016 Q22018 Q32023 Q1
587 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2024 Q1; peak 2011 Q1 (31).

2005 Ford Explorer recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Explorer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Best20497015
2006Good35630115
2007Best15208115.5

All Ford Explorer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Ford Explorer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Ford Explorer ranks #17 of 21 among Explorer model years (Complaint Index 20/100, verdict: Best). It has 497 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Explorer?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (163 complaints), transmission & powertrain (99 complaints), and engine (86 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Ford Explorer in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Ford Explorer?
EPA rates the 2005 Ford Explorer at 15 MPG combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.