Problems · by component

2005 Ford F-150 engine and engine cooling problems

114 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford F-150 cite engine and engine cooling, 10% of all 1,121 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
114
10% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2024Engine and engine coolingODI 11626719
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE EXHAUST PIPE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED, INCLUDING THE DAMAGED EXHAUST PIPE. THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SUBFRAME WAS NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2018Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11097075
“CPSC;2005 FORD F-150 TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR WENT OUT AT 89446 MILES. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE WAS NOT INDICATIVE OF HAVING BEEN AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED WITH SALVAGED/USED PARTS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2017Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 10944868
“2005 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPARK PLUGS AND COILS PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED, UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED WHEN A SPARK PLUS MISFIRED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10641000
“FORD DESIGNED THE FACTORY SPARK PLUGS AS A TWO PIECE DESIGN. ONCE THE TRUCK REQUIRES A TUNE UP THE CURRENT SPARK PLUGS BREAK IN HALF AS THEY ARE REMOVED CAUSING AN ADDITION COST FOR EXTRA LABOR AND SPECIAL TOOLS DESIGNED TO REMOVE THESE PLUGS. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO THEN BROKE 6 OUT OF 8 PLUGS UPON REMOVAL AT AN EXTRA COST OF 80 DOLLARS A PIECE. THE TUNE UP WHICH ONLY INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OFF THE OLD AND THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEWLY DESIGNED ONE PIECE SPARK PLUGS ENDED UP COSTING ME 1000 DOLLARS. THESE SPARK PLUGS ALSO BREAK INSIDE THE ENGINE CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10639068
“WHEN TAKING MY VEHICLE OUT FOR TEST DRIVE AFTER PUTTING NEW BRAKES ON. WHILE DRIVING AN SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. WHILE CHECKING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I WAS VERY UPSET TO FIND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT IT'S GONNA COST $585.70 TO FIX ONE SPARK PLUG AND REPLACE COIL. I ASKED ABOUT REPLACING ALL THE PLUG AND THEY QUOTED $900 TO DO ALL OF THEM. AS A RETIREE OF FORD I THINK THIS IS CRAZY. THEY TELL YOU IN THE MANUAL THAT THE PLUGS ARE GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN EVEN IF WE REPLACED ALL THE PLUGS. I'M THINKING OF TRADING MY TRUCK OFF AND AM CONSIDERING ANOTHER BRAND. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10618384

Showing 6 of 114 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.