CarModelProblems.com

2005 Ford F-150 Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls — runs 4.3× the fleet median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
1,112Complaints
14Recalls
50Crashes
29Fires
57Injured
2Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls (16.3% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls complaints here are 4.3× the median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.

1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls181 · 16.3%No official action
Engine117 · 10.5%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling77 · 6.9%No official action
Air Bags69 · 6.2%RecalledRecall 11V107000
Visibility69 · 6.2%No official action
Electrical System65 · 5.8%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

ENGINE117 · 10.5%
AIR BAGS69 · 6.2%
VISIBILITY69 · 6.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM65 · 5.8%
POWER TRAIN63 · 5.7%
STRUCTURE:BODY54 · 4.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL52 · 4.7%
Unspecified / other40 · 3.6%

Percentages are the share of the 1,112 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 14 campaigns

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

NHTSA campaign 11V107000 · 2011 · reported 02/23/2011

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF OCCURRING WHILE IN MOTION. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E060000 · 2006 · reported 06/29/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA campaign 06E056000 · 2006 · reported 06/13/2006

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E080000 · 2007 · reported 09/25/2007

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Tires:tread/belt

NHTSA campaign 05T022000 · 2005 · reported 11/21/2005

AFFECTED TIRES MAY NOT MEET THE ENDURANCE TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. CONTINUED USE OF THE AFFECTED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE WHICH COULD LEAD TO VEHICLE DAMAGE OR MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

NHTSA campaign 08V208000 · 2008 · reported 05/07/2008

ONCE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVE IS DEPLETED, THE DRIVER WILL HAVE FOUNDATION BRAKE FUNCTION, BUT WITH INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT. REDUCED VEHICLE BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:electrical

NHTSA campaign 07E066000 · 2007 · reported 08/28/2007

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Interior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06V033000 · 2006 · reported 02/06/2006

THIS ERROR COULD PREVENT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING IF THE ABS MODULE EVER BECAME INOPERATIVE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E089000 · 2007 · reported 10/25/2007

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E075000 · 2007 · reported 09/14/2007

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY WITH TRANSMISSION PLACED IN PARK AND KEY REMOVED. INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES AND DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIR 4 TIMES, LAST REPAIR IS…”NHTSA complaint 10173819 — filed 11/19/2006 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“I EXPERIENCED EXTREME FRONT BRAKE SHUDDER AFTER ONLY 6200 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FAULT OF THE FRONT…”NHTSA complaint 10173777 — filed 11/17/2006 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
“: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES WERE…”NHTSA complaint 10172790 — filed 11/06/2006 · TIRES

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

84201255822014665320164634201835202020195202215820241412026

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford F-150?

Visibility:power window devices and controls issues are the most-reported category, cited in 181 of 1,112 NHTSA complaints (16.3%), followed by engine (117), engine and engine cooling (77), air bags (69). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2005 Ford F-150 have?

1,112 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 50 involved a crash, 29 involved a fire, and 57 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.

Does the 2005 Ford F-150 have any recalls?

Yes — 14 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 11V107000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2005 Ford F-150's reported problems?

1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.