Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Ford F-150 problems
Owners filed 1,121 complaints about the 2005 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Oct 2004 and May 2026. The most-cited component is visibility (261).
Complaints
1,121
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
50
Reported by owners
Fires
29
Reported by owners
Injuries
57
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
53
62
39
119
155
176
118
65
48
59
49
35
32
25
26
14
12
4
12
6
10
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 53 |
| 2006 | 62 |
| 2007 | 39 |
| 2008 | 119 |
| 2009 | 155 |
| 2010 | 176 |
| 2011 | 118 |
| 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 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Visibility
261 reports
“REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE FOR SECOND TIME ALLOWING WINDOW TO FALL AND SHATTER INSIDE DOOR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. VERY DANGEROUS, VERY EXPENSIVE.”
Engine
117 reports3 crashes3 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
114 reports1 crash7 fires
“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.”
Power train
113 reports1 fire
“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.”
Air bags
101 reports21 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
90 reports12 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop sign, he had to pump the brake pedal to fully stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.