2005 Ford F-150

◆ Worse than typical
2005 Ford F-150
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Complaints
1,112
Recalls
14

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Visibility

24% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 306 complaints 1992: 479 complaints 1992 1993: 588 complaints 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1997: 2,758 complaints 1997 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2002: 821 complaints 2003: 423 complaints 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2005 1,112 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2008: 369 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2012: 1,781 complaints 2012 2013: 2,987 complaints 2014: 1,532 complaints 2015: 1,711 complaints 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2020: 732 complaints 2021: 1,014 complaints 2022: 592 complaints 2022 2023: 408 complaints 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2027: 0 complaints 2027
1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1990 1991: 306 complaints 1992: 479 complaints 1993: 588 complaints 1993 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1996 1997: 2,758 complaints 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 1999 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2002: 821 complaints 2002 2003: 423 complaints 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2005 1,112 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2008: 369 complaints 2008 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2011 2012: 1,781 complaints 2013: 2,987 complaints 2014: 1,532 complaints 2014 2015: 1,711 complaints 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2020: 732 complaints 2020 2021: 1,014 complaints 2022: 592 complaints 2023: 408 complaints 2023 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1989 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 306 complaints 1991 1992: 479 complaints 1993: 588 complaints 1993 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1995 1996: 324 complaints 1997: 2,758 complaints 1997 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 1999 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2001 2002: 821 complaints 2003: 423 complaints 2003 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2005 1,112 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2007 2008: 369 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2009 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2011 2012: 1,781 complaints 2013: 2,987 complaints 2013 2014: 1,532 complaints 2015: 1,711 complaints 2015 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2019 2020: 732 complaints 2021: 1,014 complaints 2021 2022: 592 complaints 2023: 408 complaints 2023 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2025 2026: 10 complaints 2027: 0 complaints 2027

2005: 1,112 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19842
19872
198914
199021
1991306
1992479
1993588
1994700
1995626
1996324
19972,758
19981,381
19991,044
20001,076
20011,236
2002821
2003423
20042,029
20051,112
2006585
2007488
2008369
2009324
2010843
20112,188
20121,781
20132,987
20141,532
20151,711
20162,054
20171,438
20182,307
20191,325
2020732
20211,014
2022592
2023408
2024191
2025105
202610
20270

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Visibility

24% · 265 reports

Most commonly citing power window devices and controls and glass, side/rear.

INJURY

Service brakes

11% · 120 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the driver started the vehicle and heard a popping noise. There was smoke seen rising from under the hood.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-07-23

Engine

11% · 117 reports
CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-12-10

Power train

10% · 114 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and driveline.

FIRE

Engine and engine cooling

10% · 111 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2005Complaint volume 1,112 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2005-12-07Tires05T022000 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…

    Remedy: Continental will notify owners and replace the tires free of charge. The recall began on December 7, 2005. Owners may contact continental at 704-588-5895.

  3. R
    2006-02-27Interior lighting06V033000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the instrument cluster in these vehicles. The recall began on February 27, 2006. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  4. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 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…

    Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.

  5. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 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…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

  6. R
    2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 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…

    Remedy: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters USA at 800-230-5876.

  7. R
    2007-09-05Equipment07E066000 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…

    Remedy: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.

  8. R
    2007-11-06Exterior lighting07E075000 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…

    Remedy: Eagle eyes will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on November 6, 2007. Owners may contact eagle eyes at 1-800-568-1098.

  9. R
    2007-11-21Exterior lighting07E089000 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…

    Remedy: Spyder will notify owners and offer a full reimbursement for any noncompliant headlamps. The recall is expected to begin during November 2007. Owners can contact spyder at 866-558-4264.

  10. R
    2007-12-14Exterior lighting07E080000 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…

    Remedy: Sonar will notify owners and offer a full reimbursement for any noncompliant headlamps. The recall began on December 14, 2007. Owners can contact sonar at 866-558-4264.

  11. I
    2008-01-08Preliminary evaluationClosed 2008-05-09 Loss of brake power-assist
  12. R
    2008-06-27Service brakes, hydraulic08V208000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace a rubber hose on the brake booster vacuum supply tube assembly. The recall began on June 27, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  13. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

  14. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

  15. I
    2009-09-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 2010-01-19 Inadvertent airbag deployment
  16. I
    2010-01-13Engineering analysisClosed 2011-04-25 Inadvertent airbag deployment
  17. R
    2011-03-23Air bags11V107000 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…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer to have a new clockspring jumper wire installed that incorporates a protective mesh cover.…

  18. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.

    Remedy: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006. Owners may contact tradesonic at 626-934-8884.

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Ford F-150 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Visibility: 265 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 120 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 117 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 05T022000 · Tires
  • Recall 06V033000 · Interior lighting
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07E066000 · Equipment
  • Recall 07E075000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E089000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E080000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08V208000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 11V107000 · Air bags

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2005 Ford F-150 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Ford F-150 is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford F-150?
The most-reported component is visibility, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford F-150 have?
14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.