2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac engine and engine cooling problems

“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. I WENT ONLINE TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND 94 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THE 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. IN ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM - A WOMAN WROTE THAT SHE SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO THE DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 2005 FORD EXPLORES, THEY GET BACK TO HER TO TELL HER THAT THE FORD DEALER WILL PUT THE REPAIR UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY PROGRAM AND JUST CHARGE ME $100 BUCKS TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FORD EXPLORERS MADE IN 2005, SO WHY HAVE THE VEHICLES NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS?? *TR”

“WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE KEPT THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS TURNED TO THE WARM/HOT (RED) POSITION OR THE A/C UNIT IS TURNED ON, WE NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE OVER THE YEARS. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE THUMPING SOUND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STRONGER (AS IF SOMEONE WAS PHYSICALLY PUNCHING THROUGH MY DASHBOARD/GLOVE COMPARTMENT), CAUSING MY HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO REPAIR THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO FIX. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ONLINE ALONG WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT WE KNOW. *TR”

“STARTED TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER AND HEAR KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE SO TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST GARAGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON A LOT OF THE NEW FORDS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD. NO WARNING, NO WARNING. IT IS RECOMMENDED BY EVERYONE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CAR DIED. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN OR CHAINS (THERE ARE 5 AND THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT TO REPLACE THE REAR CHAIN) BROKE AND THE PISTONS HIT AND BENT THE VALVES. (ENGINE SHOT). I RELIGIOUSLY CHANGE THE OIL WITH SYNTHETIC EVERY 3-4000 MILES. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD IS HIDING- THERE ARE COMPLAINTS GALORE ON THE INTERNET. I SPOKE TO [XXX] AT FORD CONSUMER IN MAHWAH, NJ AND GOT NOWHERE. PLEASE HELP, I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B). *TR”

“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. THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THE CAR'S SPEED KEPT INCREASING. THE REPAIR WAS $1026.00.”

“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. SO NOW I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 45,000 MILES THAT HAS NO DEFROST CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF MALFUNCTIONING. *TR”