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2005 Ford Explorer Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026

49Power Train complaints
9.9%Of all 497 complaints
#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE:BODY107 · 21.5%
POWER TRAIN49 · 9.9%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION40 · 8%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE38 · 7.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL34 · 6.8%

Share of the 497 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“I BOUGHT ONE OF THE SHARPEST SUV'S I EVER SAW - A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 6 CYLINDER. IT STARTED RANDOMLY DYING ON ME…”NHTSA complaint 10228760 — filed 05/23/2008

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train complaints by year filed

2200822010112011620127201342014720154201632017120181202112022

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Ford Explorer have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Ford Explorer: 49 of 497 complaints on file (9.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Ford Explorer have in total?

497 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.