2005 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer from North America - Comments

Nothing. Just got it.

Update 2nd April 2007:

At 10k miles the brake shift interlock latch on the shifter broke, causing it to get stuck in park on a few occasions. The temporary cure was to restart the engine several times until it released. Took it to the dealer and had it back within a couple hours, not a big deal.

They redesigned the Explorer for this year and it is much better than the older 2002-2005 version like my relatives had. They updated the suspension and sound insulation to make it ride better and quieter. The commercials don't lie, this thing is as quiet as a luxury car.

Having the independent suspension makes it handle better than our old jeep too. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Jeep, but this truck is impressive. The Explorer is probably faster than the Jeep overall, but it doesn't have the low end torque I was used to, it takes a lot more reving the engine around town to make speed.

They had a deal on the Eddie Bauer model because of its higher residual value, so we went for that instead of the XLT, so it's got some options we weren't used too. The interior is all new for 2006 as well, and it's much better designed than the prior generation. I like how they moved the shifter back to the floor, and the seats are way more comfortable. Plus now roll stability control and skid control are standard, which is a safety bonus.

I'll keep you updated as we put more miles on it, but as of now I'm impressed.

Update 2nd April 2007:

Still impressed with the smooth ride and the quietness of the interior. Handling is top notch for a truck based SUV. To settle aside some comments that knocked the explorer as being unsafe, I once took a sharp left at 35mph and felt like it could do it faster.

After several longer distance trips, the power from the V-6 on the interstate is much better than around town because all of its horsepower and torque is top end.

Gas mileage has averaged from a high of 21.5 on interstate trips with speeds from 70-85, to a low of 17 when windy. City mileage however is terrible, averaging 12-14 depending on the weather.

My only complaint thus far is the front door handles being placed so low on the door panel. Ford has appeared to fixed the issue on 07 models however.

I guess now is the right time to tell us what you think. All new cars feel good and great. Please update us.

Having owned 3 Explorers we've found all of them to be absolutely bullet-proof. Never a second's trouble with any of them. The import crowd rants about the roll-over tendency, but that is basically nothing a competent driver need ever worry about. Even our '98 Sport (supposedly the most roll-over-prone model) was never a problem for me or my wife. Of course we are both skilled drivers who have done stunt driving as a hobby, so behavioral characteristics of different vehicles is not a problem for us. I hope your Explorer is a great a vehicle as our 3 have been. Keep us posted.

The Explorer is the most unsafe vehicle on the road regardless of the driver, and lawsuits and government reports prove it. Only the 2002 and later models are remotely safe.

All Explorers are VERY SAFE. It is the incompetence of the DRIVER that results in accidents, not the vehicle. People with a knowledge of vehicles and the laws of physics have no problem with ANY vehicle. We've driven Explorers since 1998 and none has ever been a problem. When I see arguments maintaining that a Honda Civic will suffer less damage in a collision with an Explorer than the Explorer, it tells me right away that the person making such arguments knows NOTHING about cars or physics.

So, according to comment 13:09, lawsuits prove cars are unsafe. Well, I guess that means that TOYOTA is unsafe. in an incident near our area a man talking on his cell phone ran off the edge of the pavement in his Toyota 4-runner, hit a brick mailbox and rolled over. He sued the CELL PHONE company because they didn't MAKE HIM buy a hands-free setup, he sued the mailbox owner for building a brick mailbox, he sued the U.S. MAIL for ALLOWING brick mailboxes, and he sued TOYOTA because his 4-Runner rolled over after hitting the brick mailbox!! That is PRECISELY the kind of frivolous and ridiculous lawsuits money-hungry incompetent drivers have filed against Ford. Just because unskilled drivers do stupid things DOES NOT make what they are driving unsafe. No Explorer has EVER rolled over that was properly driven and properly maintained. Cars don't just roll over all by themselves. It takes a little help from a stupid driver.

I just saw an accident that is a great example of how POOR DRIVING causes accidents, NOT a particular vehicle. An older Explorer was driving at 70mph on the interstate when another car swerved into its lane. The lady driver of the Explorer veered into the grass median, then panicked and jerked the steering wheel really hard, causing the car to roll over. In fact, it rolled over SEVEN TIMES. The car remained totally intact (no roof deformation to speak of) and the driver suffer only bumps and bruises. If she had been an experienced enough driver she would have known that you NEVER jerk the steering wheel suddenly on ANY high center of gravity vehicle. If she had kept her head and GENTLY steered back onto the pavement she would never have had an accident. This type of poor driving is the cause of the bad rap SUV's get. A good driver knows better.

I own a '97 Explorer Sport 4x4 with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.

I have replaced the stock shock absorbers and done a multi-leaf spring swap for the mono's out back. huge improvement in ride and handling. I live in Canada (Calgary, Alberta to be exact) and let me tell you, someone would have to do something extremely stupid to roll this vehicle. I have done winter drifting around town in it, some light off roading, and very very fast cornering just to test how far I can push it and I have never once felt unsafe. Most of the roll overs in Explorers were actually caused by unacceptably low tire pressures so when turning at a considerable speed (most likely riding the brake I might add) the sidewall gave out as they tried to steer harder to battle the under steer caused by braking in a corner, thus a roll over occurred. Also I highly doubt a Honda Civic would have less damage then an Explorer if both were in a collision, I have iron bumpers, compared to fiberglass on a Civic. Also Honda's are designed to crumple at the front to absorb impact incase of a collision with a pedestrian and lessen the impact to the passengers inside the vehicle.

My 2005 EB explorer still has incredible road noise if radio is not at a good volume. Noise really bad at speeds above 65. Two visits to dealer resolved very little other than adding "insulation." My suspect problem is the tires are the issue. Can't wait to change them. Quiet would be nice.

No matter how high-tech they become, high center of gravity vehicles are going to roll over in lots of situations where a low-slung car might not.

With that said, the WORST injury I have ever personally known of anyone ever getting in ANY SUV rollover (who was wearing a seat belt) was a broken arm. I've polled all my friends and work associates and NOT ONE of them has ever even HEARD of a death caused by an SUV rollover in which the occupants were wearing their belts.

I read some really outlandish statements about Explorers and I have no idea who comes up with some of the erroneous info I come across. I cracked up over one statement about the great number of deaths caused by rollovers of the 1987 Explorer (Uh... There WAS NO 1987 EXPLORER!!) and in one statement more deaths were claimed for the 1992 Explorer than there were 1992 Explorers sold!!

In view of the toughness of the Explorer, I find it hard to believe anyone wearing a seat belt could ever get killed in a simple rollover in one, under ANY circumstances. I have witnessed a 2001 Explorer roll EIGHT TIMES at 75mph and the female driver was unhurt. In another case I was almost hit head-on by a 16-year-old kid who was messing with the stereo and ran off the shoulder of a two lane blacktop, then violently jerked the wheel. His 2005 Explorer rolled 5 times at about 70mph and the kid got only a small cut on his hand. In neither of these vehicles did the roof crush in even slightly.

I tend to take reports of SUV deaths with a grain of salt.

Also, to commenter 10:58: You might want to look at page 20 of the October issue of Scientific American. There is a picture of an old (early 90's) Explorer that has literally DRIVEN THRU a Honda Civic. The windshield isn't even broken on the Explorer, while the Honda's "crumple zones" did their job: They CRUMPLED...totally. The article deals with how much safer SUV's are than small cars. They ARE safer. That's why my wife refuses to drive anything else.

I am not familiar with how Ford's new "stability control" works, but I recently saw clear and concise evidence that it DOES work. While on my way to work I was driving about 70mph on the freeway in my small compact. About 10 car lengths ahead of me was a late model (2006 or 2007) Explorer. An inattentive driver suddenly veered in front of the Explorer. The Explorer driver panicked (NEVER a good thing to do with a top-heavy SUV) and wrenched the steering wheel violently to the left. Unbelievably the Explorer somehow kept all 4 tires firmly planted on the pavement and the driver easily maintained control. I remember the first time I ever made a quick steering correction with our first Explorer (a 1998 Sport). BOTH inside wheels lifted off the ground and only my experience as a former stunt driver saved me from a rollover. Whatever makes the new stability control systems work, it does a good job of it.

Ford Explorer 2007 is the best ever car seen. It has unique design in both interior & exterior. I tested on road & really likes it.

The only thing wrong with the explorer is that the rear seat is not that comfortable.