Your vehicle report

2005 Ford F-150

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints: 1,112; Received Oct 2004 to May 2026
Official recalls listed: 3; Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems: 0; Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

1
Power window regulator fails and window drops202 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
2
Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks127 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
3
Spark plugs blow out of cylinder head60 complaints · 5.4% of this vehicle’s complaints

See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

Recall #11V107000Ford 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 short circuit. If this occurs the air bag warning lamp may illuminate indicating that service is required.
Recall #08V208000Ford 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 fitting during an intake manifold backfire. Should the hose detach from the intake manifold, several brake applications with power assist will be available before the vacuum reserve is depleted.

View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 50 crashes, 29 fires, 57 people injured, 2 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks127 complaints
Spark plugs blow out of cylinder head60 complaints
Unintended acceleration despite braking35 complaints

5 more problems

Engine knocking from rod or main bearings23 complaints
Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power22 complaints
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving15 complaints
Transmission fails or loses power while driving15 complaints
Fuel pump fails and engine stalls12 complaints

1 more problem

Paint peels off roof and hood11 complaints

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2005 Ford F-150

175

Show as a table

Year	Complaints
2004	1
2005	53
2006	62
2007	39
2008	119
2009	152
2010	175
2011	113
2012	65
2013	48
2014	59
2015	49
2016	35
2017	32
2018	25
2019	26
2020	14
2021	12
2022	4
2023	12
2024	6
2025	10
2026 (to Oct 2026)	1
Total	1,112

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

Problem	Complaints	Share	Share ratio	Status
Power window regulator fails and window drops	202	18%	–
Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks	127	11%	–
Spark plugs blow out of cylinder head	60	5.4%	–
Frame rusts and corrodes through	45	4.0%	–
Glass shatters or cracks without impact	44	4.0%	–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes	39	3.5%	–
Unintended acceleration despite braking	35	3.1%	–
Tires blow out or tread separates	29	2.6%	–
Airbag warning light stays on	27	2.4%	–	NHTSA recall #11V107000
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings	23	2.1%	–
Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power	22	2.0%	–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring	19	1.7%	–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed	16	1.4%	–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract	15	1.4%	–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines	15	1.4%	–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving	15	1.4%	–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving	15	1.4%	–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early	13	1.2%	–
Fuel pump fails and engine stalls	12	1.1%	–
Paint peels off roof and hood	11	1.0%	–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

NHTSA recall #11V107000February 23, 20111,325,000 vehicles affected
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 short circuit. If this occurs the air bag warning lamp may illuminate indicating that service is required.
The driver side frontal air bag could inadvertently deploy increasing the risk of injury or loss of vehicle control if occurring while in motion.
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. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This safety recall began on some vehicles in march 2011. The recall campaign on the expanded population is expected to begin on or about may 9, 2011. Owners may contact the Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA recall #08V208000May 7, 2008605,684 vehicles affected
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 fitting during an intake manifold backfire. Should the hose detach from the intake manifold, several brake applications with power assist will be available before the vacuum reserve is depleted.
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #06V033000February 6, 2006211,432 vehicles affected
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.
This error could prevent the antilock brake system (ABS) warning light from illuminating if the ABS module ever became inoperative.
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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2005 Ford F-150.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN