TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TAIL SILL PLATE ON THE LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
2005 Ford Explorer body problems
moderate 153 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500
Complaints
153
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$1,500
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
THE LAST WEEK IN NOV. 2009, I HAD BACKED MY VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE, THE FIRST THING I CAN SEE IS THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE AND A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE PANEL BETWEEN THE TOP HATCHBACK AND THE LIFTGATE. THE CRACK WAS IN THE CENTER TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE CRACK WAS THE FULL DISTANCE VERTICALLY OF THE PANEL. IT HAS SINCE WIDENED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO …
RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM A CRACK DEVELOPED. IT'S ON THE REAR GLASS HATCH AND RUNS FROM THE TOP OF THE FIBERGLASS PANEL TO THE BOTTOM. THE PANEL KEEPS EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING WITH THE CRACK GOING FROM JUST A SLIGHT LINE TO A 3/16" GAP! DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE TRUCK WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN IT APPEARED AND FORD SAYS T…
2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS PAINT PEELING ALONG THE ROOF RACK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY FORD. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. *TR
THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE, TIRE CAME APART AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE'S BODY AND POSSIBLY OTHER DAMAGES NOT SEEN. I NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER DAMAGES. THE TIRE IS A GOOD YEAR EAGLE RS-A. THE DOT # IS 4B08 DLWR 3701. TIRE SIZE P235/70R16. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-75 WHEN THE TIRE CAME APART. IT WAS TERRIBLY SCARY. I DID …
LIFTGATE PLASTIC BODY PANEL CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LEFT OF THE FORD LOGO INSERT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK THAT EXTENDED FROM THE WINDOW TO THE LIFT GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
PAINT IN ROOF CHANNELS BUBBLING, ROOF RUSTING. *TR
CAME OUTSIDE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN MY REAR HATCH GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. FORD DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT, EVEN WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
THE PAINT ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER IS PEELING OFF BIG CHUNKS IN NUMEROUS SPOTS ON THE ROOF. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS PAST MY 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT IT WAS UP TO ME TO GET FIXED.I WANT FORD TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PAINT THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON FORD VEHICLE PAINT. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2005 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 153 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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