Ford Expedition · model year

2005 Ford Expedition

452 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash reports, and 5 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
452
Recalls
5

The verdict

The 2005 Ford Expedition posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

24th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
5
recall campaigns

The 2005 Ford Expedition carries 452 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 22 crashes, 6 fires, 21 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2005 Expedition is electrical system with 72 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (61) and engine (57). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 2005 Expedition. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

452
Complaints
22
Crashes
6
Fires
21
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2005 Ford Expedition

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

452 filings

Crashes Reported

22 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

Component Count
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 72
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 61
ENGINE 57
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 38
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 32
POWER TRAIN 29
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 13
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 9
STRUCTURE:BODY 9
STEERING 9
SERVICE BRAKES 8
AIR BAGS 7
TIRES 6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 6

Recalls (5)

06E026000 23/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D

06E064000 17/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

06E056000 13/06/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE

06E023000 13/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME

09E012000 07/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

Recent Complaints

20240312 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Engine Missing

20240312 ENGINE

Engine Missing

20230710 ENGINE

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was notified of an engine misfire. The spark plugs were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the brake pedal became stiff, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the spark plugs, and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

Mileage: 89,000

20200626 WHEELS

COOPER TIRES 265/70/17 DISCOVERER M+S. BELT SEPARATION AND TIRE DEFORMITY ON 3 OF 4 TIRES IN THE LAST 1000 MILES. 2 FAILED WITHIN THE LAST 200 MILES. IN MOTION, HIGHWAY. . SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED. (THINK PAINT MIXER) LOW USE 80% TREAD REMAINS. MAX USE OF 3K MILES PER YEAR BUT NOT ALL YEARS. PURCHASED IN 2013. DOT RM1Y C6J 2412 COOPER CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS I DIDN'T USE THEM ENOUGH. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20200626 TIRES

COOPER TIRES 265/70/17 DISCOVERER M+S. BELT SEPARATION AND TIRE DEFORMITY ON 3 OF 4 TIRES IN THE LAST 1000 MILES. 2 FAILED WITHIN THE LAST 200 MILES. IN MOTION, HIGHWAY. . SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURRED. (THINK PAINT MIXER) LOW USE 80% TREAD REMAINS. MAX USE OF 3K MILES PER YEAR BUT NOT ALL YEARS. PURCHASED IN 2013. DOT RM1Y C6J 2412 COOPER CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS I DIDN'T USE THEM ENOUGH. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20191110 POWER TRAIN

MY TRUCK LOST ALL FORWARD GEARS EXCEPT FOR REVERSE OUT OF THE BLUE THE OTHER MORNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE HOME. VALVE BODY, SERVOS, SOLENOIDS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE VEHICAL HAS LESS THEN 155000 MILES

Mileage: 155,000

20191016 ENGINE

ENGINE MAKES RATTLING NOISE AND MISSING BADLY

Mileage: 30,000

20190626 ENGINE

MY CAR AT TIMES WILL GIVE A HARD START. TURNING, BUT NOT FULLY TURNING OVER OR GIVES OFF A SOUND THAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS AN ELEPHANT TRUMPETING. WHEN IT DOES START AT TIMES IT WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF JUST AS FAST. IT HESITATES TO PICK UP ADEQUATE SPEED AND WILL STUMBLE OR JERK, AND WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL COMPLETELY STALL OUT. I'VE HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND BOOTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

Mileage: 152,600

20190626 POWER TRAIN

MY CAR AT TIMES WILL GIVE A HARD START. TURNING, BUT NOT FULLY TURNING OVER OR GIVES OFF A SOUND THAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS AN ELEPHANT TRUMPETING. WHEN IT DOES START AT TIMES IT WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF JUST AS FAST. IT HESITATES TO PICK UP ADEQUATE SPEED AND WILL STUMBLE OR JERK, AND WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL COMPLETELY STALL OUT. I'VE HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND BOOTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

Mileage: 152,600

20190626 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY CAR AT TIMES WILL GIVE A HARD START. TURNING, BUT NOT FULLY TURNING OVER OR GIVES OFF A SOUND THAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS AN ELEPHANT TRUMPETING. WHEN IT DOES START AT TIMES IT WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF JUST AS FAST. IT HESITATES TO PICK UP ADEQUATE SPEED AND WILL STUMBLE OR JERK, AND WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL COMPLETELY STALL OUT. I'VE HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND BOOTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

Mileage: 152,600

20190424 ENGINE

THE CAR TURNS OFF. I NEED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND IT WORKS. THE BAD THING IS IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

Mileage: 186,609

20180117 ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CAR LITERALLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING.. I COASTED TO THE SIDE AND I TURNED OFF CAR.. TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT KEPT CRANKING AND I KEPT DOING IT LIKE 5 TIMES UNTIL IT STARTED BACK UP. SURE IT IS A 2005, BUT IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT, NOW IT IS WORSE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS WEAR AND TEAR I ACTUALLY REPLACED THE WHOLE ENGINE 4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR WHICH IS RIDICULOUS TO BEGIN WITH. IF MY CAR BURNS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING I WILL REALLY MAKE A STINK..

Mileage: 200,000

20180117 STEERING

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CAR LITERALLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING.. I COASTED TO THE SIDE AND I TURNED OFF CAR.. TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT KEPT CRANKING AND I KEPT DOING IT LIKE 5 TIMES UNTIL IT STARTED BACK UP. SURE IT IS A 2005, BUT IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT, NOW IT IS WORSE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS WEAR AND TEAR I ACTUALLY REPLACED THE WHOLE ENGINE 4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR WHICH IS RIDICULOUS TO BEGIN WITH. IF MY CAR BURNS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING I WILL REALLY MAKE A STINK..

Mileage: 200,000

20180117 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CAR LITERALLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING.. I COASTED TO THE SIDE AND I TURNED OFF CAR.. TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT KEPT CRANKING AND I KEPT DOING IT LIKE 5 TIMES UNTIL IT STARTED BACK UP. SURE IT IS A 2005, BUT IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT, NOW IT IS WORSE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS WEAR AND TEAR I ACTUALLY REPLACED THE WHOLE ENGINE 4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR WHICH IS RIDICULOUS TO BEGIN WITH. IF MY CAR BURNS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING I WILL REALLY MAKE A STINK..

Mileage: 200,000

20171229 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CRANK NO START, AFTER REPLACED NEW FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND OTHER PARTS WOULD NOT START AND NOT GETTING FUEL. WAS IN MOTION AND DIED AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK.

Mileage: 133,000

20171229 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CRANK NO START, AFTER REPLACED NEW FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND OTHER PARTS WOULD NOT START AND NOT GETTING FUEL. WAS IN MOTION AND DIED AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK.

Mileage: 133,000

20171205 STEERING

MY GEAR SHIFT BROKE WHICH BROKE THE STEERING COLUMN AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS DEFAULTED SYSTEM SO DO FORD BECAUSE DID CONTINUE THIS STEERING COLUMN SO I HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH ONE FROM JUNK YARD SO HOW IS THAT SAFE FOR ME AS A CONSUMER WELL I FILING THIS JUST IN CASE IT BREAK AGAIN AND MY LIFE IS IN DANGER MY CAR CAME OUTTA OF PARK LIKE TO TANNED ME OVER SO I'M SPEAKING UP BECAUSE THIS PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER

Mileage: 212,461

20171021 STRUCTURE:BODY

ALUMINUM BODY PANELS ARE CORRODING UNDERNEATH THE PAINT, CAUSING BUBBLING, FLAKING, AND CHIPPING OF THE PAINT. THIS IS NOT CAUSED NATURALLY, THIS IS A FAILURE ON THE PART OF FORD AND THEIR QUALITY CONTROL. THE ALUMINUM UNDERNEATH WAS CONTAMINATED FROM THE FACTORY WITH IRON CAUSING CORROSION. WHILE KNOWING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL.

Mileage: 100,000

20171020 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FUEL CAP AND THE TIRE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CAPITAL FORD OF CHARLOTTE LOCATED AT 5411 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28213) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR, THE FUEL CAP AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING LIGHT, FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,368.

Mileage: 94,368

20171020 VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FUEL CAP AND THE TIRE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CAPITAL FORD OF CHARLOTTE LOCATED AT 5411 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28213) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR, THE FUEL CAP AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING LIGHT, FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,368.

Mileage: 94,368

Compare 2005 Ford Expedition to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 Ford Expedition have?▼
The 2005 Ford Expedition has 452 NHTSA complaints, 22 crashes, 6 fires, 21 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 Ford Expedition?▼
Yes, the 2005 Ford Expedition has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Expedition?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 Ford Expedition is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 72 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE.
Is the 2005 Ford Expedition safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2005 Ford Expedition; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.