2005 Ford F Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford F Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine327.3%
- Fuel system218.2%
- Steering19.1%
- Suspension19.1%
- Tires & wheels19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
- Powertrain (other)19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTING WITH A SERVICE ON 2/19/2008 THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IDLING REALLY ROUGH AND MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHEN STARTED. AT THAT TIME THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE NOISE WENT AWAY WITH FACTORY OIL AND FILTER. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED UP TO AND INCLUDING WHEN WE TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS COULD BE FIXED WITH THICKER OIL, AND TO RETURN WHEN IT IS TIME FOR OUR NEXT SERVICE. THE SECOND ISSUE HAS PERSISTED SINCE MID 2010, IT IS A FOUL FUEL SMELL COMING INSIDE THE CAB, THROUGH THE AC VENTS WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED IN THE MORNING AND WHEN IDLING. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGING THAT NOTHING CAN BE FOUND AND THEY CANNOT SMELL IT. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THEY DROVE THE TRUCK AROUND DURING A SERVICE ON 8/17/2011 TO SEE IF THEY COULD SMELL IT, YET OUR MILES IN AND MILES OUT ON OUR SERVICE RECORDS BOTH STATE 47,771. NOT SURE HOW THEY DROVE IT WITHOUT CHANGING THE MILES. OUR TRUCK BARELY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT, IT IS SERVICED REGULARLY YET IT IDLES HORRIBLY, SMELLS OF FUEL AND GETS 7MPG. SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG! *TR
SPARK PLUGS CAME APART DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE/REPLACEMENT. MY REQUIRE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF CYLINDER HEAD TO REMOVE BROKEN PIECES. DESIGN IS HORRIFIC AND GUARANTEED TO FAIL. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTING WITH A SERVICE ON 2/19/2008 THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IDLING REALLY ROUGH AND MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHEN STARTED. AT THAT TIME THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE NOISE WENT AWAY WITH FACTORY OIL AND FILTER. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED UP TO AND INCLUDING WHEN WE TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS COULD BE FIXED WITH THICKER OIL, AND TO RETURN WHEN IT IS TIME FOR OUR NEXT SERVICE. THE SECOND ISSUE HAS PERSISTED SINCE MID 2010, IT IS A FOUL FUEL SMELL COMING INSIDE THE CAB, THROUGH THE AC VENTS WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED IN THE MORNING AND WHEN IDLING. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGING THAT NOTHING CAN BE FOUND AND THEY CANNOT SMELL IT. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THEY DROVE THE TRUCK AROUND DURING A SERVICE ON 8/17/2011 TO SEE IF THEY COULD SMELL IT, YET OUR MILES IN AND MILES OUT ON OUR SERVICE RECORDS BOTH STATE 47,771. NOT SURE HOW THEY DROVE IT WITHOUT CHANGING THE MILES. OUR TRUCK BARELY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT, IT IS SERVICED REGULARLY YET IT IDLES HORRIBLY, SMELLS OF FUEL AND GETS 7MPG. SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG! *TR
LOST OF POWER, THEN CRANK BUT NOT START THEN START A DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED TO THEM, EXCESSIVE SMOKING TO BLAME ON ERG VALVE AND COOLER, AND TURBO AIR CHARGER LEAK. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ERG VALVE AND COOLER, AND REPLACEMENT OF AIR TURBO CHARGER (COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASE). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUR 2005 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY, (WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES) CONTINUES TO HAVE INSTANCES OF EXTREME FRONT END SHAKING WHEN CROSSING BRIDGES AND GOING OVER ANY SIZE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, (BIG OR SMALL). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS 'OUT OF CONTROL'!!! THIS IS A SEVERE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATAL CRASH TO GET THE ATTENTION FROM THE FORD MANUFACTURER????? OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT???? THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS DENY THERE IS ANY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, HAVE PAID PRIVATE MECHANIC TO INSTALL STABILIZER, ETC., BUT PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. DUE TO THIS BEING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FORMAL RECALL PROCESS BEGIN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUR 2005 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY, (WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES) CONTINUES TO HAVE INSTANCES OF EXTREME FRONT END SHAKING WHEN CROSSING BRIDGES AND GOING OVER ANY SIZE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, (BIG OR SMALL). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS 'OUT OF CONTROL'!!! THIS IS A SEVERE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATAL CRASH TO GET THE ATTENTION FROM THE FORD MANUFACTURER????? OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT???? THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS DENY THERE IS ANY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, HAVE PAID PRIVATE MECHANIC TO INSTALL STABILIZER, ETC., BUT PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. DUE TO THIS BEING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FORMAL RECALL PROCESS BEGIN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN 26570 17" CHAPARAL ON 5/08 FOR A F-250 . LESS THEN A YEAR LATER ONE TIRE HAS BIG LUMPS ON IT . THE TIRE STORE REPLACED IT IN 5/09 IN 8/09 ONE OF THE TIRES CAME APART AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK $3,000.00. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRUCK HAD SEVERAL CRANK-NO START PROBLEMS. IT CONTINUED OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW WEEKS. VEHICLE FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS A LITTLE HESITANT AT TIMES WHEN RUNNING AND I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD DIE ON ME IN TRAFFIC. WE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON VEHICLE IN BEGINNING AND RETRIEVED CODE FOR THE CAM SENSOR. WE REPLACED AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ONE WEEK. THAT'S THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT START. WE HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND UPON THEIR DIAGNOSIS HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE FICM TO PCM AND TO THE INJECTORS HAD SHORTS IN IT. I HAVE READ ON A PREVIOUS RECALL # 05V270000, WHERE THE FICM WIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN US A PRICE OF $2600.00 TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO LAST LONGER THAN 6 YEARS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
IT SEEMS THAT THE FORD MOTOR CORP HAS BEEN INSTALLING DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATORS IN MANY OF THEIR TRUCKS AND LARGER SUV'S. THESE REGULATORS ALLOW THE WINDOW TO BE OPENED IN CLOSED AND OFTEN FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. ONCE THE PART FAILS, THE WINDOW CRASHES DOWN INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR AND CANNOT BE ROLLED UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TWO OF MY FOUR WINDOWS ON MY 2005 F-150 TRUCK. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,000 FOR TOTAL. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE USED IN THE SERVICE AND LAW ENFROCEMENT INDUSTRY AND SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH DEALERS. I REALIZE THAT VEHICLES COST MONEY OVER TIME BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT TWO WINDOWS WITHIN A THREE WEEK TIME PERIOD HAVE FAILED. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE PARTS ARE MADE CHEAPLY OR ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT A RECALL IS JUSTIFIED SO THAT THE CONSUMER CAN RECOUP SOME OF THE LOSS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CHEAPER JUST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR FOR THE $ 500 I SPENT ON EACH WINDOW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM 4HI AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS TURNED OFF IT WILL MAKE A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND, WHICH I THINK HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN FOR 4HI, SO I AM ALSO THINKING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RELAY SWITCH.. ALSO OUR TRUCK VIBRATES, BUT HAS ONLY DONE IT TWICE, HOWEVER THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 68 THOUSANDS KILOMETERS ON IT, IT IS LIKE A BRAND NEW TRUCK. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. ARE THEY ACTUALLY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE IN ONE OF THESE TRUCKS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .