2005 Ford F-350 Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Ford F-350.

20042006
Complaints
439
Crashes
17
Fires
16
Injuries
8
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1

Worst 2005 Ford F-350 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#162 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:60,121 mi
Crash-related:1
#236 complaints

Diesel Fuel System

Avg mileage:71,942 mi
Fires:2
#330 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:180,099 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Ford F-350.

Steering Defects
62
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
60,121
Diesel Fuel System
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
71,942
Electrical Faults
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
180,099
Suspension Failures
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
63,774
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
29
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
48,332
Suspension:Front
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
44,464
Engine Problems
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
94,120
Engine & Cooling
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,596
Tire Defects
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
55,944
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
136,406
Gasoline Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
93,772
Electrical System:Wiring
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,864
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
30,391
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,873
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
8,906
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
92,662
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
61,320
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,683
Service Brakes, Electric
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
15,889
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,321
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Steering:Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Ford F-350. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Ford F-350

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~26,715 vehicles.

11V352000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
~26,715 affected

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Other Ford F-350 Years

2005 Ford F-350 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2005 Ford F-350 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2005 Ford F-350 has 439 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 62 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Ford F-350?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (62 complaints, avg 60,121 mi); Diesel Fuel System (36 complaints, avg 71,942 mi); Electrical Faults (30 complaints, avg 180,099 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Ford F-350?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,087 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Ford F-350?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Ford F-350 include 17 crash-related reports, 16 fire reports, 8 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 26,715 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Ford F-350?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (steering defects) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-350 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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