2005 Ford Explorer Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2005 Ford Explorer carries a complaint index of 20, the second-lowest among all 21 model years covered, and ranks 17th worst out of those years. It earns a Good verdict, though that verdict is capped due to incomplete complaint records for 2005-2009.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 20/100
- #17 of 21 Explorer years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 497
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 22
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 14
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13 city / 18 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 1
Top 2005 Ford Explorer problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body163 (33%)
- Transmission & Powertrain99 (20%)
- Engine86 (17%)
- Fuel System66 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires39 (8%)
- Electrical System38 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers24 (5%)
- Other22 (4%)
- Brakes19 (4%)
- Airbags15 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden stalling or loss of power at low speed, including one case where the engine died on the freeway without warning.
- Some describe the accelerator pedal sticking, causing unintended acceleration into obstacles like curbs and scaffolding.
- Multiple reports describe airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed collisions, including side and rear impacts.
- Several owners describe vehicles rolling away after being parked and shifted into park, with the parking brake released or disengaged unexpectedly.
- A few reports describe fires starting in the console or engine area while the vehicle was parked and off, in some cases spreading extensively.
- Electrical malfunctions in the center console area were linked to at least one interior fire that damaged control panels.
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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Ford Explorer reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Explorer has a complaint index of 20, one of the lowest among the 21 model years tracked, earning a Good verdict relative to other Explorer years.
- What problems does the 2005 Ford Explorer have?
- NHTSA complaints for this year are led by Structure & Body issues (33% of complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain (20%) and Engine (17%) problems.
- Does the 2005 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Ford Explorer.
- How does the 2005 Explorer compare to other model years?
- The 2005 model ranks 17th worst out of 21 years by complaint index, well below the highest-complaint years like 2016 (complaint index 100) and 2013 (85).
- Why is the 2005 Explorer's Good verdict capped?
- NHTSA complaint records for 2005-2009 Explorers are considered less complete, so the verdict for these years is capped at Good regardless of the raw complaint index.