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 FA…
2005 Ford Explorer powertrain problems
moderate 92 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
92
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BEGINING TO SLIP, SOON WILL AHVE NO 4TH GEAR OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS UP TO DATE WITH MATINANACE AND EVERYTHING MILEAGE IS STILL BELOW 95,000 MILES. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN REPORTED.
DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND WENT TO LEAVE AND I HAD NO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SLAMMING INTO REVERSE AND THEN ENGAGING PRIOR TO THIS-BUT NO SLIPPING OR ANYTHING ELSE. I HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AND THERE WERE NO TEETH OR ANY METAL IN THE FILTER OR PAN-BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SPOKE WITH 3 TRANSMISSION SHOPS IN MY TOWN AND ALL TOLD ME THE 05 EXPLORERS HAD JUNK TRANSMISSIONS. …
TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO GO OUT AND AN INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED FOR ALL 2005 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER 120,000 MILES. *TR
JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS AND IS NOW SLIPPING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS I HAVE FOUND TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION FALLING APART. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE WITH A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A TRANSMISSION THAT IS BOUND TO FAIL AGAIN. THIS IS A BLATANT MISSED RECALL. THE TRANS IS MODE…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 92 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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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