2005 Ford Explorer: engine failure

8 of the 497 complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer describe engine failure.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 92,318
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 12 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine failure by model year

2026
2
2025
1
2023
1
2022
6
2021
15
2020
23
2019
4
2018
38
2017
42
2016
70
2015
38
2014
58
2013
89
2012
34
2011
67
2010
2
2008
2
2007
1
2006
16
2005
8
2004
10
2003
10
2002
27
2001
3
2000
12
1999
6
1998
20
1997
27
1996
9
1995
3
1994
3
1993
3
1992
2
1991
3

What owners say

Filed Aug 19, 2015 · Transmission, Wheels · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While driving at 20 MPH making a turn, the 4 wheel drive warning light illuminated and failed to turn off. In addition, the wheels seized and emitted an abnormal noise. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and restarted shortly afterwards. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Nov 23, 2011 · Engine · 92,318 miles · GA

Started to feel a loss of power and hear knocking from under the hood of the vehicle so took it to the nearest garage to have it checked out and I was told us that it was the timing chain and that the timing chain on a lot of the new fords have been going bad. No warning, no warning. It is recommended by everyone to replace the engine.

Filed Sep 7, 2011 · Engine · 105,000 miles · NJ

I was driving home and the car died. Aaa towed the car to my repair shop. My mechanic said that the timing chain or chains (there are 5 and the engine has to come out to replace the rear chain) broke and the pistons hit and bent the valves. (engine shot). I religiously change the oil with synthetic every 3-4000 miles. This is a defect that ford is hiding- there are complaints galore on the internet. I spoke to [xxx] at ford consumer in mahwah, nj and got nowhere. Please help, I cannot afford a new engine. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b).

Filed Feb 24, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 121,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Sep 10, 2008 · Fuel system, Transmission · 27,000 miles · FL

2005 ford explorer xlt 4.0l v6 28,000 miles purchased new on july 7, 2005 we started having problems with the fuel system in the end of june 2008 (intermittent loss of fuel gauge and service engine soon dash light) called the ford dealer on or about july 1, 2008. We were driving and the truck engine died, no warning no steering no brakes, (the wrench light and engine failed test mode light came on) she managed to get it to the side of the road where it started up as if everything was ok, moments later it happened again, this time she put it in neutral and it started again while moving. She drove it to my house and took my car home.

Filed Mar 15, 2008 · Acceleration · 70,235 miles · VA

While driving the 2005 ford explorer xlt, 4x4 (4.0 l, 6-cyl, advance trac with roll stability control) vehicle , the cruise control was engaged at approximately 48 MPH. Less than 5 seconds later, while driving between 48 MPH and 50 MPH the vehicle engine shut-off. Ford car/truck dealer was notified that the engine shut-off while the vehicle cruise control was engaged at approximately 50 MPH. During the past two years the ford car/truck dealer was previously notified that engine failure had also occurred five separate times immediately after the cruise control was engaged.

Filed Mar 2, 2007 · Engine · IA

My wife was driving our 2005 explorer and the engine died while coasting. Power steering was lost. My wife was able to coast it to the side of the road since it was late at night and there was no other traffic on the road. To this point there has been nothing done about it. The dealer did not feel a error code was probably logged and to this point we have not been able to find what the problem is.

Filed Sep 24, 2005 · Acceleration · 20,650 miles · UT · crash

While turning around in a large driveway at low speeds, my 2005 ford explorer suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated causing it to run into a fence causing damage to the front end of the vehicle (minor) also ripping off the running board after running over a large log. This car has also failed to start at times and once the engine died while driving on the freeway for no apparent reason.