Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle jerked backwards while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 93,434.
I sitting on a incline put it in reverse and started backing up and the transmission just let loose and started rolling forward it's done this several times and sometimes it want back up at all even on level ground had it checked it was full of fluid but done a fluid and filter changed. And it still doesn't back up at times or when backing it stops backing and will go forward drifting
Brought the car to the dealer for the transmission lurching. My wife was parking her car and when she shifted in reverse to back into her parking spot, it lunged backwards and rammed the exhaust into bumper, literally crumpling the exhaust, into a concrete barricade, with no warning. This was at 75000 miles in March of 2009. Anytime she put it in gear it would just jump, like something would make it hesitate, and then all of the sudden full power almost uncontrollably. Brought to Ford dealer and instead of replacing they had rebuilt it. The case for the transmission was cracked, the first sign it needed a new one. Fast forward January 20th 2012. Now the transmission failed on me, and with no warning with cars coming from behind me, it now has 40000 on the rebuild so now the car has 109000+ miles on it. …
The gear shifter/lever broke off into my hand when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The gear shifter/lever broke at the base, inside the steering column. The broken part seems to be a cast metal part, that the gear shifter/lever rotates to change gears. The fracture surface appears rough -- it is not clean. Fortunately the car is stuck in park, not another gear, and in a safe place (parking garage). Should this have happened when in any other gear I would have to turn off the car in that gear, if I had enough room to maneuver the car to a safe place. Otherwise it would just have to sit wherever it was left, no matter how inconvenient to other drivers. I called Ford and they state this is not a documented issue, therefore no recall or reimbursement is available. …
In nov of 2014 we took the car to the local Ford dealer for 100K mile service. We told them to check the drive train because when you put the car in reverse there would be a slight hesitation then a clunk then the car would begin to move. They said there was no issue and they installed a computer upgrade to improve the shifting. They also changed the tranny fluid. Then in March of 2015 when you put the car in reverse the transmission began slipping and got worse in a couple of days. We took it to the local dealer again and they took 2 weeks to figure out the transmission needed replaced. They said $3500 for a remanufactured transmission and I would have to pay for all of it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while trying to reverse at a low speed, an abnormal noise was heard before the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the gear lever in the reverse position failed to operate after three months of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
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.
Vehicle engine while traveling, generally at high rates of speed greater than 40mph, will randomly turn off. There are no warning lights, no indication on the instrument panel. The engine just turns off. The only way of knowing is once the gas pedal is depressed to increase speed and then realized the car had turned off. This is happening more frequently. I had to by a new car. Explorer just sits in the driveway. This happen randomly with no notice and generally while traveling at speeds above 40 MPH
My Explorer transmission just stopped working going down the highway, almost got hit by a truck. Electrical system kept going in and out. Checked with a Ford dealership they said it was a common problem with explorers and there was no recall. I checked online and there was over 10,000 complaints made. I am in the military have 14 combat tours, and come home to have my life put in danger again on something that you all know about. When are you going to step in?
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle suddenly jerked backwards while the brakes were applied. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 93,434. Updated 7/2/18
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular…
Transmission complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 99 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Ford Explorer, 20% of the model year's 497 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (40 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Explorer transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Ford Explorer. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Explorer transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.