2005 Ford F-250 Owner Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact purchased the vehicle from a private seller on social media. The contact stated that the sellers advertisement indicated the odometer mileage was 96,000. The contact later purchased a new vehicle and decided to sell the existing vehicle. The existing vehicle was posted on social media for sale. A potential buyer noticed the vehicle and obtained a Carfax report. The potential buyer then sent a copy of the Carfax report to the contact. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer was reported at 303,000 in 2023. The contact then contacted the seller and informed the seller of the discrepancy. The contact was informed that the odometer had been swapped prior to the sale. The contact stated that seller then deleted the advertisement from social media and rejected all further communications with the contact.

NHTSA ID

11692282

Incident

Jan 29, 2025

Mileage

303,000 mi

Electrical system fails every day. It affects the engine, transmission, radio, windows, gauges. Wiring issue causes the radio to just go out, windows stop working, all gauges stops working, the transmission doesn't shift right, engine doesn't run right. Yes vehicle is available for inspecting. Engine cuts off and won't start back, leaves you stranded side the road. Truck stalls in front of other vehicles. Windows won't roll down when it's 100 degrees inside truck. Fuel gauge doesn't let you know when there's no fuel again leaving you stranded beside the road. Other gauge don't work could cause more damage. Yes it has been inspected my mechanic and he said there are wiring issues. No warning lamps or anything now but the wrench light has came on allot. There is a wiring recall on this year truck but said mine doesn't fall under that recall and I don't know why because I'm having this issue

NHTSA ID

11653078

Incident

Mar 25, 2025

While driving at 65 Mph, towing a fifth wheel camper, encountered a mildly rough section of highway when entire front end began to wobble and shake violently. Slowed the vehicle, maintaining control. When going back up to speed, the same shaking occured again. Also noted a less violent shaking at 45 mph. Took vehicle to have new tires rebalanced but did not change condition much. Inspected front end components. Currently replacing steering damper and shocks in hopes of correcting issue. All other components new or nearly new (3 years) with no issues. Vehicle and components can be inspected, and all replaced parts will be kept for inspection if required. Safety of my vehicle and others on busy highway could have been compromised had I not slowed and maintained control. The problem is being dealt with by me, as I do most maintenance on vehicle. The vehicle has not been seen or inspected by others except by tire mechanic who noted no obvious issues but did re-balance all tires. There was NO advance warning of a failure or compromise.

NHTSA ID

11636147

Incident

Sep 27, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud rumbling noise that sounded like rocks in the engine. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was parked and the engine was turned off, the vehicle was started, however, the vehicle did not start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that her husband was an independent mechanic and had recently replaced several unknown parts, however the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 246,808.

NHTSA ID

11619962

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

Mileage

246,808 mi

Wrench light comes on, but truck goes into limp loses power very dangerous don't know if it's going to cause me to be rear-ended, steering goes back and forth right to left can't hardly hold it in road

NHTSA ID

11606568

Incident

Aug 3, 2024

The back bed rails rot/rust very quickly and trying to buy new beds run 4500$ along with o2 sensors ir intake sensors go out of blue no reasoning let alone the power steering lines rusting very very quickly

NHTSA ID

11582251

Incident

Apr 10, 2024

The tire is a Cooper (Discoverer/Rigged Trek) 35x12.50R20LT. The tire is unreadable as it ripped off the bead. While driving, a sudden pop suddenly occurred and smoke began to appear. I pulled over and realized the entire tire popped/blew up. No accident, it was at 35mph approximately. The vehicle has not been inspected yet as I am typing this while waiting for a tow truck.

NHTSA ID

11543599

Incident

Sep 9, 2023

In 2014, I got the “Ford death wobble” in the right front. VERY scary and dangerous. Trying to quickly slow down to stop it in traffic is almost as dangerous as the wobble itself. You have very little to no control with the steering when it happens. I had to repair the problem out of pocket because Ford won’t do anything about it. Now, two weeks ago, I had the same death wobble happen at 70 mph on the left front. So frightening. My passengers thought we had a blowout and we’re about to crash. I successfully slowed it down but this problem is a road hazard to me and everyone else on the road. So now, once again, it’s on me to shell out to fix a problem that should have been a recall a long time ago but Ford won’t step up and do the right thing. Please give us some relief here.

NHTSA ID

11487504

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

towing a trailer, traveling at 70 mph, I hit a pothole and vehicle violently shook. The episode lasted for approx 30 seconds. It was very Difficult to maintain control and I almost ran off the road. It happened several times before I took it for repairs. The stabilizer bar was replaced, however the violent shaking has still continued.

NHTSA ID

11486705

Incident

Sep 24, 2022

Front end suspension shimmy> My granddaughter and I were driving at 60mpa and hit a bump and could not control shaking of truck until pulling over to stop. This happened without warning. Had to drive back roads to get home.

NHTSA ID

11481545

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the front suspension started to bounce and vibrate, causing the vehicle to shift independently to the right lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed the vehicle and the failure stopped. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11481253

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Transmission has a hole in it. Linkage inside broke and caused hole on case. Can’t use item for a core due to this. Happened while driving home from just across town.

NHTSA ID

11466076

Incident

May 25, 2022

Death wobbles at random

NHTSA ID

11445200

Incident

Dec 8, 2021

Driving on the freeway at apps 65 miles per hour, the truck hit a numb in the road and started to shaking causing the truck to shake violently. I was able to get to the side of the road and slow down which eased the shaking. I started driving again and after reaching speeds this happened two more times, then I got off the freeway and drove backroads home under 40 miles per hour.

NHTSA ID

11440138

Incident

Nov 8, 2021

The steering is extremely lose and has a shimmy or “death wobble” when going over any type of bumps or other issues and at speed on the highway. Similar to recall 09L02

NHTSA ID

11437875

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power. The vehicle was later restarted and the vehicle operated as designed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel injection control module however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 05V270000 (Electrical System). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 36,000.

NHTSA ID

11418273

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

36,000 mi

A SCARY AND SERIOUS WOBBLE AT 35 MPH. HAD TO CREEP HOME. ALMOST LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11408496

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

112,000 mi

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF AND AND WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL THE BATTERIES WERE DISCONNECTED. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULDN'T REENACT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THE AIR BAG EXPANDS AND CAN PUSH ON THE HORN. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IS REMOVE THE AIR BAG WHICH IS BEHIND THE HORN TO FIX WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. I THINK THIS IS A FORD ISSUE AND A HORN IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A VERY MUCH NEEDED PART OF A VEHICLE. SO THEY TOOK THE FUSE OUT OF THE HORN SO THE HORN WOULDN'T BLARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. TRIED PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE ISN'T COLD, BUT THE HORN IMMEDIATELY STARTS TO BLARE AND WON'T STOP. THEREFORE, THE TRUCK HAS NO HORN. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11408307

Incident

Jan 13, 2013

Mileage

62,011 mi

WHEN DRIVING, THE TRUCK WILL DIE. SOMETIMES TRUCK CAN BE RESTARTED OTHER TIMES HAD TO HAVE IT TOLLED. WE HAVE REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, REGULATOR, START SWITCH R&R INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERIES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED ON RECALL 05V270000

NHTSA ID

11396937

Incident

Nov 26, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. WHEN MY HUSBAND PRESSED THE BRAKES, THE CAR SPED UP. WE HAD TO PASS 5 VEHICLES, BARELY ENOUGH ROOM. HE FINALLY TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY (I70). BUT FOR THE GRACE NOT GOD, WE WOULD HAVE DIED OF INJURED OURSELVES AND OTHERS. BRAKES SHOULD NEVER MAKE YOUR CAR SPEED UP.

NHTSA ID

11339271

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

MY TRUCK VIOLENTLY SHAKE AT ANY TIME BETWEEN 30 AN 70 MPH I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE IT STOP WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AN HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11316737

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

265,000 mi

THE FORD 250 INITIATES A 'DEATH WOBBLE' OR INTENSE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH ANYTIME ANY SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON ROAD. THIS INSTANCE INITIATED 5 TIMES IN A 500 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AT SUCH AN INTENSE RATE THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SIGNIFICANT STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO NEARLY 20 MPH FOR IT TO STOP. INITIAL SPEED WAS CLOSE TO 63 MPH. THE SHIMMY INITIATED WHEN A SMALL BUMP IS PASSED OVER AND ON THREE OF THESE INSTANCES IT INITIATED WITH THE CROSSING OF A EXPANSION GAP OR TRANSITION FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A BRIDGE OR BRIDGELIKE STRUCTURE. THE WOBBLE SHOOK TRUCK SO MUCH THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. APPROACHING (TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR) HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THEY WAY TO AVOID A REAR COLLISION. IF DECELERATION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPOSED THE VEHICLE MAINTAINS THE SHIMMY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. IN TWO INSTANCES ON THIS TRIP I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE WOBBLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO THE SHOULDER TO THEN BRAKE TILL CONTROL COULD BE RETRIEVED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHEN ACCESS TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS IMPEDED SUCH AS WHEN PASSING IN LEFT LANE. THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON A HIGHWAY TRIP TO ANOTHER STATE 6 MONTHS BEFORE.

NHTSA ID

11315775

Incident

Feb 14, 2020

Mileage

148,000 mi

VEHICLE RANDOMLY DIES WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD DOES NOT MATTER SPEED OR WHAT ROAD YOU ARE ON HAPPENS TO THE POINT WE ALMOST EXPECT IT NOW EVERYTIME WE DRIVE. IT WILL ACT FINE NO WARNING THEN IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT JUST SHUTS OFF VERY DANGEROUS. IT ALSO, WILL RANDOMLY LOSS POWER NOT ALL THE TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY IF GOING OVER 45MPH, THE A/C WORKS UNTIL YOU DRIVE OVER 45MPH THEN JUST STOPS UNTIL YOU GET TO A STOP SIGN. TAKE OFF AGAIN ITS FINE TIL THAT 45MPH MARK THEN BLOWS HOT. HAD TRUCK SINCE SEPT. 2018 & HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST 1 OUT OF 4X DRIVING THIS WILL ALL HAPPEN. TRUCK ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH FUELING UP THE TANK IT SHUTS THE PUMP OFF CONSTANTLY. MAIN PROBLEM & MOST WORRISOME IS THE SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11271166

Incident

Oct 6, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

2005 FORD F250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,100 MILES. ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES, SUSPENSION- NO MODIFICATIONS. TIRE PRESSURE SET TO FACTORY DOOR LABEL SPECS. ON MONDAY, 8-19-2019 WHILE ON I-95, TRAVEL SPEED AT ABOUT 60 M.P.H., I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT & THE ENTIRE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING/SHAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IN MY ESTABLISHED LANE AND NEARLY TOOK OUT SEVERAL CARS IN THE ADJACENT LANES NEARLY CAUSING MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION. WENT ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE I JUST EXPERIENCED. LATER FOUND OUT IT IS CALLED HARMONIC RESONANCE A.K.A. THE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST'S AND THEIR PASSENGERS WHOM SHARE THE SAME ROADWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11246578

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

19,100 mi

MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK EXHIBITS A CONDITION REFERRED TO IN FORUMS AS 'DEATH WOBBLE', IN WHICH THE TRUCK'S FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS CONDITION IS GENERALLY BROUGHT ON BY EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEELS HITTING ANY DEVIATION IN THE ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS, POTHOLES, ETC. THE CONDITION IS SO BAD THAT IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL OR AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED, GENERALLY TO 25 MPH. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, MOST RECENTLY ON JULY 12TH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE 57 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT 65 MPH. I WAS TRAVELLING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE (IN MODERATE TRAFFIC) WHEN I ROLLED OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND CAUSING ME TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY MY BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE SEVERITY SEEMS TO BE GREATLY REDUCED WHEN HAULING A SUBSTANTIAL LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED, BUT I DID EXPERIENCE THIS TWICE WHILE HAULING A 20' CARGO TRAILER ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST FORD IN JUNE/2019 AND THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER TRUCK OWNERS FILING COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS CONDITION. I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT GONE TO FORD REGARDING THIS AS IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME. THE COMPONENTS THEY REPLACE DO NOT CURE THE PROBLEM, AS MANY TRUCK OWNERS WILL ATTEST. IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND A COMPANY IN UTAH THAT PROVIDES AN AFTERMARKET KIT THAT APPEARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER 6000 MILE JOURNEY WITH MY WIFE AND FAMILY, I INTEND TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THIS KIT ON MY VEHICLE. IF I FIND UPON RETURNING THAT THIS KIT HAS ALLEVIATED MY TRUCK'S ISSUE, I WILL RE-CONTACT NHTSA WITH MY RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

11246395

Incident

Jul 12, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi