2.6
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 57,638 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
We've replaced the fuel sensor in our 2005 Ford Explorer XLT twice in the past two years. We had 68,000 miles when we first replaced the fuel sensor. It is a costly fix. Now, August 2017, the fuel sensor is not working and our service engine soon light is on. This is a safety issue because we never know how much gas we have in the tank. The gas goes up and down and is not reliable. The computer never states the correct number of miles till emply. I'll be driving along and the gauge goes down to empty and the computer states -------.
- Sun Lakes, AZ, USA
Fuel gauge drops to empty after filling the tank up and starting it. The fuel gauge remains on empty. Service engine light comes on and stays on. It is unsafe not knowing how much fuel is in the tank because you could run out of gas at 70+mph and cause a crash. Searching the issue online brought me to hundreds of 2002-05 Ford Explorer owners with the same exact problem. Ford motors should put out a recall for this issue because it is extremely dangerous.
- Rochester, NY, USA
Throttles body assy. Stall or surge while enter in traffic make very danger
- Palmdale, CA, USA
When trying to fill the gas tank it is slow and will not fill properly. Had 3 different mechanics try to fix the problem with no resolve.
- Stoneboro, PA, USA
Driving down the road, suddenly the wrench light came on and the fail safe light came up. Vehicle would barely run. Cleaned throttle body and it seemed fine for a while. Then the same thing happened again, driving normal, then bam. This time it shut down and would barely stay running...just ordered a new throttle body. I will not own another Ford.
- Bruin, PA, USA
In the last two weeks the fuel gauge will go from full( when the tank is full)to empty then the low fuel alert continues to sound.... today Apr 16 2015 the truck started sputtering then shut off in the middle of a highway at 65mph..... it started after 3 tries I took it to gas station and it's full of gas but gauge says it's empty..... this isn't safe..... my 2 yr old could have been in an accident.... why isn't it being recalled ? if you google the problem it's up to $2000 to fix and everyone is having this problem but no investigation or recall.
- Desoto, MO, USA
Cannot fill gas tank without nozzle or pump constantly shutting off. Have to bearly squeeze nozzle and trickle the gas in. Takes 10 times longer to fill tank than it should. Sounds like a very common problem with older Ford.
- Harpers Ferry, IA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Explorer. While refueling the vehicle, fuel spewed out of the fuel tank as if it were full. The contact stated that fuel spilled onto his clothing and the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
- South Rockwood, MI, USA
Whenever I fill up with gas the gas gauge goes to empty and the mile to empty numbers become two blank spaces and the check engine light comes on.
- Edmond, OK, USA
Filled tank to full (automatic shut off). When I started car the next time, gas gauge read empty and check engine light was on. I have had the malfunction of gauge before and has always come back after a few miles, but never light. After getting error light read, it is determined to be a faulty fuel sensor. This can be a safety hazard as there is no way for the vehicle to display the fuel correctly when the sensor malfunctions. I make sure not to overfill the tank as Ford warns that this could be an issue, which should have been fixed (not just that they know it can happen). Even by following the manufacturer's precautions, the part still failed.
- Henderson, NV, USA
Fuel gauge is working intermittent. Tank is fill up with gas, but gas gauge show empty. Sometimes it comeback, after an hour or so and then, after 30 mins goes back to empty again. I read this is an issue on almost all Ford Explorer.
- Fernley, NV, USA
Car suddenly quit and the engine fail safe light came on. Computer scan showed the throttle actuator/control was stuck closed, and could clear any codes. Vehicle would not move at all.. I had to have it towed back to my home. Engine would not run at more than an idle with the accelerator fully depressed, and there would be no change in the RPM.
- Lynchburg, OH, USA
Had fueled (full) 2 hours before. Gas gauge dropped to empty. Miles to empty shows dashes. Service engine soon light is on.
- Eatonville, WA, USA
"check engine" light came up, but the car did not show any difference in performance. I took to advanced auto and they said the "gas tank sensor failed". I checked with a local mechanic and he said it would be major job and could take more than 6 hours labor the estimate was over $1000. But the car is running fine, but the "check engine " is on constantly and it goes off when the tank is almost empty. When I put gas, it come back on again and stays on. Gas tank needle drops to empty suddenly and it goes up again. I checked with midas auto repair and they checked and said the same problem of gas sensor failure. It is annoying to see the check engine light always on, but the car seems to run fine. Any cheaper way to get this fixed? I don't have any mechanical skills, other than changing the air-filer. I think Ford should fix this free of charge.
- Jersey City, NJ, USA
Filled up the gas tank the day before and now the gas meter on the dashboard reads empty. I know there's gas on the car. Now the "service engine soon" lights appears on the dashboard. I'm afraid to drive the it since I don't know how much gas it really has. The info button tells me how many miles I have to the gallon but how sure is that information is if the "service engine soon" is on. I reached online to find I am not the only person with the same issue with this vehicle. Come to find the repair is pricey. This should be a recall!!!!! no one is safe while drive a vehicle that shows false information on the dashboard.
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA
There is a defect in the fuel gauge indicator. It will randomly drop from the true fuel level to zero fuel. After some variable time period it will again go from zero fuel to that actual fuel level. This is a safety hazard because it confuses the driver as to how much fuel there is in the fuel tank and may cause the driver to stop the car in an unsafe location. I have had this car for seven years and it has persisted all these years. I checked the web and other Ford Explorer owners have the same complaint. I believe that Ford should recall these cars and fix this safety hazard.
- Potomac, MD, USA
- Vineland, NJ, USA