2005 Ford Explorer Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 6%of 497 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,113miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2005 Ford Explorer, 6% of the 497 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,113 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving my 2005 Ford Explorer in a residential zone (35 MPH) when I blew a spark plug. I took it to the dealership 1.5 miles away, and they verified that is what happened. I have researched this problem and Ford has had this problem for years. There really needs to be a recall on this.”
NHTSA complaint #10320619, filed 2010-03, 100,600 miles“We started to hear knocking from under the hood of our vehicle, so we took it to a garage to have it checked out and the dealership told us that it was the timing chain and that the timing chain on a lot of the new fords has been going up. Now our 2005 Ford Explorer xlt will not start and is sitting in our driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #10173331, filed 2006-11, 39,000 miles“On july 12, 2013, I took my 2005 Ford Explorer to the Ford dealer where it was purchased because I was having problems when I put the vehicle into reverse. At times it's very difficult to put into reverse and when I put in reverse the vehicle jerks or lunges into gear. This has been happening for about 2 1/2 years. The diagnosis was of course my transmission. I cant afford to have my vehicle repaired at the cost of $3946.20 and I don't feel safe driving my Explorer in this condition, but I have no choice at this point. …”
NHTSA complaint #10524913, filed 2013-07, 75,000 miles“I just bought a 2005 Ford Explorer xlt 4.0l v-6 4x4 with 45,000 miles, and within one month, the transmission began to slip while driving. I took it to rob sight Ford in kansas city, mo and they charged me $1,200 to fix the valve casing, but the transmission is still slipping. A week later, the defroster quit working, and now only blows out of the front vents. I checked with several dealerships and they all said it would be at least $1,100 to fix the blend door actuator. …”
NHTSA complaint #10347105, filed 2010-08, 45,606 miles“While driving, when I applied the brakes, the car lurched and made a noise. About 1 minute after that, a warning light that stated engine fail safe mode and a little wrench showed up on the left of the instrument panel. I was driving home, and the car started to speed up without my increasing the speed using the gas pedal. The car continued to lurch off and on until I got home. I researched this problem on the internet and it seemed to be the throttle body assembly that had failed. Upon taking it to the mechanic, that is exactly what is was. …”
NHTSA complaint #10413050, filed 2011-07, 58,084 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes…
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10017931Jun 7, 2005No start/hard start on cold soak - 4.0l engine.
- 10017882Apr 1, 2005No start/hard start on cold soak.
- 10012953Feb 21, 2005Mil on and/ or runs rough/misfire dtcs p0300-p0308 p0316 and or p0171/p0174 4.6l engine.
- 10012947Feb 21, 2005Maf diagnostic service tip - vehicles equipped with egr system module (esm).
- 10013399Dec 31, 2004Throttle pedal response on tip in vehicles built before 10/4/2004 equipped with a 4.0l engine.
- 10013383Nov 1, 2004Rough idle in drive.
- 10011162Aug 23, 2004Engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. To include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 10 | 2% |
| 2020 | 21 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 2% |
| 2018 | 29 | 4% |
| 2017 | 77 | 5% |
| 2016 | 114 | 5% |
| 2015 | 66 | 4% |
| 2014 | 67 | 4% |
| 2013 | 67 | 3% |
| 2012 | 14 | 2% |
| 2011 | 21 | 2% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 164 | 26% |
| 2005 | 29 | 6% |
| 2004 | 71 | 5% |
| 2003 | 69 | 6% |
| 2002 | 163 | 5% |
| 2001 | 39 | 10% |
| 2000 | 90 | 9% |
| 1999 | 100 | 7% |
| 1998 | 189 | 10% |
| 1997 | 198 | 11% |
| 1996 | 81 | 6% |
| 1995 | 45 | 5% |
| 1994 | 74 | 6% |
| 1993 | 55 | 6% |
| 1992 | 64 | 10% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Explorer
151 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
99 complaintsFuel system
66 complaintsVehicle speed control
44 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
26 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsWheels
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology