FaultScore

FaultScore report

2005 Ford F Series problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2005 Ford F Series with NHTSA between 2009 and 2011. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.

A

FaultScore 14/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford F Series.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

43,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

18%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 16 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 31 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 16
Against the median year of the Ford F Series. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 31
18% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2005 compares with every other Ford F Series

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2005 Ford F Series

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 3 25.0%

Median failure at 40,191 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 16.7%

Median failure at 36,071 miles

Electrical System 2 16.7%

Median failure at 167,000 miles

Tires 1 8.3%

Median failure at 78,234 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 8.3%

Median failure at 43,000 miles

Suspension 1 8.3%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

Steering 1 8.3%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 8.3%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 63.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 9.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 9.1%
150,000+ miles 2 18.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2009 peak 2 Dec 2011

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 40,000 miles Salem, OR

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10439670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Salem, OR

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10439670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,143 miles Visalia, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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!

NHTSA complaint #10435540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,143 miles Visalia, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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!

NHTSA complaint #10435540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,240 miles Virginia Beach, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10425904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A FORD 2005 F-150 THAT HAS A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER NUMBER 6 DUE TO A SPARK PLUG DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS. THE SPARK PLUG CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT BREAKING AS IT APPEARS TO BE FUSED TO THE HEAD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS DEFECT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AND JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THUSLY NOT A CONSUMER PROBLEM. THE SPARK PLUG DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED AT THE TIME OF EMISSION TESTING WHICH IS REQUIRED ANNUALLY UNDER GEORGIA LAW IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE A VEHICLE TAG RENEWAL.

NHTSA complaint #10423148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 167,000 miles Cantonment, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10384322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 167,000 miles Cantonment, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10384322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Ione, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

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).

NHTSA complaint #10347848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,234 miles Selma, AL

TIRES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10283482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10278150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Montrose, BC Canada, 00

POWER TRAIN

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?

NHTSA complaint #10261925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.