FORD F-150 · model year

2005 FORD F-150

1363 NHTSA complaints, 66 crash reports, and 14 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005FORDF-150 carries 1363 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 66 crashes, 41 fires, 69 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 F-150 is visibility:power window devices and controls with 181 filings, followed by engine (117) and engine and engine cooling (77). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 14 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2005 F-150, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1363
Complaints
66
Crashes
41
Fires
69
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

1363 filings

Crashes Reported

66 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS181
ENGINE117
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING77
AIR BAGS69
VISIBILITY69
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM65
POWER TRAIN63
STRUCTURE:BODY54
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL52
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE39
UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
SUSPENSION35
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC34
STEERING31
TIRES30

Recalls (14)

06E06000029/06/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST 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 ASSOCIA

07E06600028/08/2007

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

07E08900025/10/2007

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN SPYDER HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2004 THROUGH 2007 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCKS. DURING PRODUCTION, THE HEADLAMPS WERE INTERNALLY MISALIGNED AND THEY FAIL THE PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

07E08000025/09/2007

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES IMPORTED AND SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT BY SONAR AUTO PARTS FOR USE ON 2004-2007 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCKS. DURING PRODUCTION, THE HEADLAMPS WERE INTERNALLY MISALIGNED AND THEY FAIL THE PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REF

11V10700023/02/2011

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 F-150 PICK UP TRUCKS AS WELL AS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 LINCOLN MARK LT VEHICLES. IF THE CLOCKSPRING JUMPER WIRE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG LOWER HORN PLATE, THE WIRE INSULATION MAY BECOME CHAFED, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR A SH

05T02200021/11/2005

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CERTAIN CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TR OWL, CONTITRAC TR BSW, GENERAL GRABBER TR BSW, AND CONTITRAC BSW TIRES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 29 AND JUNE 11, 2005, AND SOLD AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN FORD TRUCKS AND SOLD AS REPLACEMENT TIRES. THESE TIRES CAN WEAR PREMATURELY WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDE

06E06400017/07/2006

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

07E07500014/09/2007

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. FR390-B001L AND FR390-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS IS UNSTABLE INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDE

06E05600013/06/2006

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

06E02300013/03/2006

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

09E02500011/05/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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

08V20800007/05/2008

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FORD IS RECALLING 605,684 MY 2005-2006 F-150 AND LINCOLN MARK LT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L 3-VALVE ENGINES. THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM SUPPLY HOSE ATTACHED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FITTING MAY SWELL OVER TIME AND LOSE RETENTION FORCE. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE HOSE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE F

09E01200007/04/2009

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

06V03300006/02/2006

INTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH EITHER THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 105, 'HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS' OR FMVSS NO. 135, 'PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

Recent Complaints

20251210FireENGINE

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, while the brake pedal was depressed, the brakes failed to engage; the contact pulled the vehicle into a Home Depot parking lot, exited the vehicle, and discovered that the engine compartment was on fire. The Home Depot employees came out to the vehicle and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The Fire Department and Police Department were contacted; however, the contact was unsure if a report was filed for either department. The orgin of the fire was not confirmed however, the fire department informed that timing was critical because any longer the fire would have caused an explosion. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the residence, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 360,000.Â

Mileage: 360,000

20251101STRUCTURE:BODY

customer states that the frame of the vehicle has been compromised by corrosion. the vehicle only has 163,844 miles on it and it has major holes in the frame. The chassis could break in half prohibiting the use of this vehicle on the roadway due to the safety of occupants. I advised the customer of this of which they bought a frame repair kit (Pre-cut over frame c-channel steel) to weld onto the frame to support a longer lifespan. The truck is now safe for the roadway.

20251101UNKNOWN OR OTHER

customer states that the frame of the vehicle has been compromised by corrosion. the vehicle only has 163,844 miles on it and it has major holes in the frame. The chassis could break in half prohibiting the use of this vehicle on the roadway due to the safety of occupants. I advised the customer of this of which they bought a frame repair kit (Pre-cut over frame c-channel steel) to weld onto the frame to support a longer lifespan. The truck is now safe for the roadway.

20251101POWER TRAIN

customer states that the frame of the vehicle has been compromised by corrosion. the vehicle only has 163,844 miles on it and it has major holes in the frame. The chassis could break in half prohibiting the use of this vehicle on the roadway due to the safety of occupants. I advised the customer of this of which they bought a frame repair kit (Pre-cut over frame c-channel steel) to weld onto the frame to support a longer lifespan. The truck is now safe for the roadway.

20251031ENGINE

Spark plug blew out no check enginge lite until after coil an plugs replaced now motor has a knocking sound 5/23 not 1969 like date happended onlys puts down even if i select present day

20250908UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While changing the spark plugs 7 of the eight broke off in the engine block, the threaded section came out but the ceramic bottom portion is what broke. I find that this is somewhat common because Auto Zone rents a spark plug extractor specifically for this. My safety isn’t at risk. Problem not reported to a dealership yet. No inspection yet. The check engine light was on

20250829POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact shifted the gear shifter into park and turned off the vehicle; however, the vehicle rolled backwards again. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspecting under the hood, the contact became aware that the shifter cable had melted. The contact purchased a new shifter cable and replaced the shifter cable. The vehicle was started and driven to the residence. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred at night, which was dangerous for being on the side of the road. The contact stated that the shifter cable had melted again within 12 hours. The contact stated that the failure was the result of a design flaw. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the f

Mileage: 260,000

20250725AIR BAGS

My airbag light is on and the dealership says I have no active recalls but when I ask about recall number 11V-107 no one can confirm the when and where for this recall. I would like it repaired at no cost and the criteria of this recall number.

20250719STRUCTURE:BODY

This is an extended cab - 4 door - the rear doors are half doors with a a handle allowing entry and exit to and from the rear passenger seats. (It is not a crew cab 4 door). The doors LOCKED and the handles failed with a child in the rear seat. THe doors cannot be opened. The child and his mother had to climb over the center console to exit the vehicle. THe vehicle is at a mechanic who states no part are available to repair this faulty and unsafe door mechanism. Both rear doors are LOCKED. QUalified mechanic estimates the cost to rig a fix, in absence of any left door mechanism parts will be near or over $500.00. THe mechanic reports that the control cables from the handles to the door latch stretched and failed. If there had been a collision or engine fire, rear seated passengers would be trapped inside the vehicle. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED and REPAIRED BY FORD.

20250718ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 122,180 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 216,350.

Mileage: 216,350

20250428POWER TRAIN

I don't even have 150,000 miles on this thing. I get it serviced regularly. I've used the 4x4 when needed, as I live in the Sierra Nv Mountains area. I don't overdo it, I don't abuse it. One day with "ZERO" Clues or indications my truck popped out of drive into neutral ON ITS OWN I put it back into drive. Then as I tried to accelerate NOTHING, I got a code/msg saying faulty transmission, my O/D kept turning off and on. I pushed it to the side if the road. I eventually got reverse back, 1st gear, but that's it. And NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. Its Automatically you need a transmission. [XXX]!! You go online and this is happening to TONS of people. Are you saying WE ALL NEED NEW TRANSMISSIONS?? Kinda odd same trucks, same issues on the same part. What's the common denominator here ford??? Your [XXX] transmissions. Figure it out!!! My truck is paid off and I can't even drive the [XXX]. I'm walking because of a [XXX] transmission, on top of paying over 20,000 you want me to dish ou

20250119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My electrical fixtures have failed or blinks off and on, on its own.

20250119ENGINE

My electrical fixtures have failed or blinks off and on, on its own.

20250119EXTERIOR LIGHTING

My electrical fixtures have failed or blinks off and on, on its own.

20241121ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20241023POWER TRAIN

Issues with transmission/ over drive snap ring vehicle only has 145,000 miles. This truck has many complaints and many failures and flaws that need fixed.

20240604UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The DMV has a extended warranty coverage on the fuel injectors .. coming up a recall at DMV. What do I do.

20240303SUSPENSION

Nothing has happened yet but frame of truck is rusting apart and suspension is going to fall off. This is not just this truck it’s lots of 04-06 f150

20240211STRUCTURE:BODY

Frame started rusting through frame the inside out, first discovered in 2021. I had to have the frame repaired with no help from Ford in October of 2022

20240107SUSPENSION

Frame on passenger and drive side by transmission, fuel tank, and rear leaf springs are rusted and have no integrity left. No structure integrity if in an accident. If fractures completely, will loose control of vehicle as the bed will contact cab, driveshaft will jamb into transmission, lock up brakes from pinched brake lines, loss of brakes from severed brake lines, lose control and go into on coming traffic or into roadside structures including pedestrians. NOTE: Your system will not let me upload pictures.

Compare 2005FORDF-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 FORD F-150 have?
The 2005 FORD F-150 has 1363 NHTSA complaints, 66 crashes, 41 fires, 69 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 FORD F-150?
Yes, the 2005 FORD F-150 has 14 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 F-150?
The most-complained component for the 2005 FORD F-150 is VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS with 181 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2005 FORD F-150 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.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.