2005 Ford Explorer SUV

2005 ford explorer xlt

by jeff279 on Mar 17, 2014
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.6L 8cyl 5A)

This is one of the best suv's we have ever owned! We have owned it for 4 yrs and no problems at all Only thing we have done is a battery and alt. Starts no matter how cold. Great on snow Alot of room for a xlt. Great value Love the all wheel drive

Now scared and confused

by gespin on Feb 6, 2014
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

Bought my 2005 Explorer XLT in 2006 with 18K miles on it. My wife drives it for the most part and only has 76K in Jan 2014; it is and has been the PERFECT vehicle. A Utah to Texas trip once a year and normal driving in the city. Prior to reading some of the horror stories below I slept well at night but I will toss and turn tonight. I bought it expecting similar reliability as I did with my '93 F-150 which gave me 225K miles before I sold it but will now look over my shoulder. I do maintain it religiously though, hopefully that explains my experience I can only hope.

Kinda like my explorer

by tigger22 on Mar 11, 2013
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

I got my explorer as a second vehicle because I was trying to keep my miles low on my 2009 Mazda 6 SI sport fully loaded. At 97K and for my engine to be running as well i t does, I made a good decision. Disadvantage is my transmission doesn't switch as quiclk as my mazda but I deal with it. I wove how I could go outside in the snow and no one else can drive like I can. Overall its a good secondary car and as long as its good to me , ill be good to it.

9 of 33 people found this review helpful

Explorer does work but is

by bonschmidt on Feb 21, 2012
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

Recently hit 116k miles. I started driving it around 112k. I drive this SUV as hard as I drive my 2001 Jaguar XJ8. I whip it around corners, accelerate hard, weave it through the twists at high speeds and the Explorer takes it all pretty well... but doesn't give me feedback like the Jag does. It doesn't react, and driving is not enjoyable as much as it is scary. I freak out and feel like I'm losing control of it, something I've never experienced in the XJ8. But the Explorer is resilient. The transmission has handled my coasting-in-neutral practice, high speed travels and incessant shifting well. With my driving style, abominable gas mileage is not just occasional, its expected.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Ok except for the transmission

by whizkidcat on Sep 3, 2011
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer XLT Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)

We bought our Explorer in 2005 new. It ran great for 36,000 miles. It now has 68,000 miles. The best gas mileage we have gotten is 18 hwy/11 city with a constant average of 14.6. NOT very desirable. No repairs, just regular maintenance for 3 years. Shortly after 36,000 miles we had problems with the reverse: going into reverse and going from reverse into drive. It would take about 3 to 5 seconds for the gears to catch and move the car. After a new transmission everything else started to go wrong. Interesting that until we took it to the dealer we had no other problems! The blinkers work intermittently, the rear windows work sometimes or NOT and the leather is cracking sides/edges.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Solid truck & tow vehicle

by tbill2 on Aug 19, 2011
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD 4dr SUV (4.6L 8cyl 5A)

We bought this vehicle to tow a 5,500lb boat and it does it easily and safely. We had bad reliability previously with a Ford Windstar and were reluctant to buy Ford again. But the Explorer fit into our garage (vs. the competing & huge GM products with 3rd row seating), had more than adequate tow specs, and had a nimble feel due to the independent supension. 6 yrs and 70,000 miles later we couldn't be happier. It has required only minor repairs, oil, brakes, etc. It rides smooth and quiet at xway speeds and is a powerful tow platform (glad we bought the V8). Gas econ is 16 - 18 which is acceptable given the fact that this is actually a heavy body-on-frame truck vs. the hybrids which are n