Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Ford explorer sport trac. While decelerating from 45 MPH, the engine stalled when the brake pedal was depressed. The dealer was able to duplicate the failure, but could not find the cause. They believe it could be the torque converter, solenoid, or the transmission needs to be replaced. The current mileage is 48,600 and failure mileage was 48,580. Updated…
2005 Ford Explorer brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 18 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ford Explorer owners report brake failures across several distinct patterns. Some describe sudden loss of braking ability during normal driving—the pedal requires excessive pressure, feels unresponsive, or fails entirely, with one owner hitting a vehicle ahead at 60 mph when brakes did not engage. Others experience brake pulsation and screeching linked to a "Traction Loss" warning message that clears only after restarting the engine.
Electrical and sensor faults appear frequent. Owners report ABS warning lights, erratic "Service Engine Soon" messages, and brake pressure switch failures. One owner documents over 15 months of unresolved issues involving intermittent loss of both braking and power steering control triggered by traction-control faults; restarting the engine temporarily restores function.
Mechanical brake issues include a front brake caliper that failed, producing grinding noise, and parking brake shoes that broke during light use—one service technician allegedly described Explorers as "notorious" for this problem. One owner reports the powered adjustable brake/gas pedal assembly gears stripped, causing pedals to jam in unsafe positions.
Several owners also note brakes engaging independently while driving, with ABS lights illuminating. One incident involved engine stalling when brakes were applied during deceleration, though dealers could not diagnose the root cause.
Same Ford Explorer brakes reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of braking ability with traction control warning
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or requires excessive pressure to stop; vehicle displays 'Traction Loss' or 'Service Engine Soon' message; fault clears after engine restart
When: Occurs after short driving distance (few meters to 1 mile) of normal operation; 15+ months of recurring failures reported
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal feels unresponsive or requires excessive pressure; Pulsation felt in brake pedal; Screeching noise during braking; Advance traction loss message displayed; Vehicle unable to stop in normal distance; Fault clears temporarily after engine restart
Codes mentioned: Traction Loss warning, Service Engine Soon
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to provide satisfactory repair despite multiple service visits; problem reported to Ford authorities with no resolution reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports problem escalated to Ford authorities in October 2005; no resolution provided after 15 months
Brake failure—complete loss of stopping ability
Brakes fail to engage during emergency braking; vehicle unable to stop and collided with vehicle ahead
When: At 60 mph during normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of brake response when pedal depressed; Vehicle unable to stop in normal distance; No warning lights or messages reported; Collision resulted from brake failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documentation provided; collision damage to vehicle and owner injury reported
Independent brake engagement with ABS warning
Brakes engage on their own while driving; 4x4 High light and ABS warning light illuminate
When: While driving at 30–55 mph; failure occurred at 76,884 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes engage independently without driver input; 4x4 High light illuminated; ABS warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not taken to dealer or mechanic; no repairs documented
Front brake caliper failure
Front passenger side brake caliper failed; grinding noise from wheel area during braking
When: At 116,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from front passenger side wheel; Caliper mechanical failure
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed failed caliper requiring replacement; not repaired by owner
Parking brake shoe breakage
Parking brake shoes broke during normal use; dealer noted as recurring issue specific to Explorer generation
When: Identified during service; replaced 9/21/2011 at 62,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake shoes broken; Parking brake inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Shoes replaced at cost of $424.19; service rep overheard stating 'Explorers are notorious for that'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner attempted to contact Ford Customer Relations for partial reimbursement; no documented response
Brake pressure switch failure
Brake pressure switch for speed control deactivation malfunction; diagnostic code indicates replacement needed
When: At 62,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service system malfunction warning; Speed control malfunction
Codes mentioned: Brake pressure switch failure
Repairs/costs cited: Recall for this issue does not apply to 2005 model year per owner report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Customer Service Center reportedly showed lack of interest in addressing the problem
Powered adjustable pedal assembly gears stripped
Gears in powered brake and gas pedal assembly strip, causing pedals to jam in fixed position; creates unsafe driving conditions
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Brake and gas pedal gears stripped; Pedals stuck in position—either too far or too close for driver reach; Dangerous pedal positioning for operation
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes this is a fleet-wide issue for all Fords with adjustable pedals
Engine stall when brakes applied during deceleration
Engine stalls when brake pedal is depressed while decelerating from 45 mph; dealer unable to identify root cause
When: At 48,580 miles; stopped occurring within 2 weeks of initial report
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls when brake pedal depressed during deceleration; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer able to duplicate failure but could not find cause; suspected torque converter, solenoid, or transmission issue
Vehicle hesitation, knocking, and unexpected slowdown
Vehicle hesitates with knocking noise and slows down on its own; no warning indicators; dealer unable to diagnose
When: At 2,000 miles (early in vehicle life)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hesitates during acceleration; Knocking noise audible; Vehicle slows down on its own without driver input; No warning lights or messages
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to find cause
Brake and accelerator pedal cross-engagement
Driver simultaneously hits brake and accelerator pedals, causing vehicle to surge forward; pedal positioning or control issue
When: During braking attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal activation causes accelerator engagement; Vehicle surges forward when attempting to brake
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documentation provided
Loss of steering and brake control with electrical faults
Intermittent loss of power steering and braking ability triggered by electrical system faults; low oil pressure and traction control messages; requires engine restart to restore function
When: Occurs at random intervals while driving; recurring issue over 15+ months
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist; Loss of braking ability; Oil pressure low warning message; RPM meter shows zero; Traction control faults; Service Engine Soon light; Function restored only after engine restart
Codes mentioned: Low oil pressure warning, Traction control fault
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle left at dealership for 10-day diagnostic period in October 2005; no resolution achieved after multiple service visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Problem reported to Ford authorities; no resolution reported to owner after 15 months
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2005 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2005 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 61,590 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Ford/Explorer.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.