2005 Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
114 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 114 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 28 | 24.6% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 21.1% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 20.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 9.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 28 |
| Suspension | 20 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 15 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
Steering: 28; Suspension: 20; Engine: 18; Fuel System, Diesel: 15; Electrical System: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 13
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 9; 2009: 7; 2010: 9; 2011: 18; 2012: 13; 2013: 7; 2014: 6; 2015: 6; 2016: 8; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10184647 · 2007-03-09 (March 9, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A AEVIT BY EMC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS EQUIPMENT WAS USED TO HELP WITH STEERING, BRAKING, AND ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AEVIT SYSTEM MADE A HARD LEFT AND SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO GET SEVEN STITCHES ON HIS THE RIGHT SIDE OF FOREHEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE WEATHER THAT DAY WAS COLD, BUT CLEAR. HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 - 30 MPH. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197033 · 2007-07-20 (July 20, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE DRIVES OVER A BUMPY ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225370 · 2008-04-22 (April 22, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PULLING A TRAILER MY 2005 F -350 DIESEL QUIT RUNNING AND ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A SEMI. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK IT RAN ROUGH. WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO THE SHOP WITH THE HAZARDS ON. TO FIND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THE FUEL TANK IS DELAMINATING WHICH CAUSE DEBRIS TO GET INTO THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS CAUSING IT TO STALL. FORD HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CHANGE THERE FUEL TANK DESIGN BUT DID NOT INFORM ANY OWNERS OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. N…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238777 · 2008-08-18 (August 18, 2008)
THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND WAS LOSING POWER. THE 2005 FORD F350 DIESEL TRUCK STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RUN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCATION WHERE THE FUEL FILTERS WERE CHANGED. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DELAMINATED AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD CLAIMED THAT BIO DIESEL CAUSED THE PROBLEM. BIO DIESEL IS NOT SOLD IN NJ. THE TRUCK NEVER GOES OUT OF STATE. THE STALLING IN TRAFFIC IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248890 · 2008-11-15 (November 15, 2008)
ON JULY 4, 2005, I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY LARIAT WITH LONG BED AND DUAL WHEELS AND 4WD AT EL CAJON FORD. FROM THE BEGINNING, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT-END VIBRATION WHEN I REACHED ABOUT 60 MPH. IT CONTINUED UNTIL I GOT TO ABOUT 80 MPH. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST VISIT FOR SERVICE AT DOWNEY FORD. AFTER A FEW VISITS FOR DIAGNOSTICS, DOWNEY FORD INSTALLED A "DAMPENER" ON THE FRONT END. IT MADE THE PROBLEM BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY CURE THE DEFECT. I EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A LANCE CAMPER, WHICH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10248890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465856 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE TURBO CHARGER WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE HEAD GASKETS, AND THE REAR END RINGS HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE COULD NO LONGER BE STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512948 · 2013-05-21 (May 21, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 212,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 212,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421092 · 2011-08-23 (August 23, 2011)
OCCURRING SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW ON JULY 9, 2005 WITH SIX YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY TWO DEALERS TO AS THEY SAY "ADJUST" IT. THE BRAKE WORKS AND ACTUATES 1-2 TIMES OUT OF 10 AND DOES NOT WORK IN REVERSE EVER. DEALER TOLD ME IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO WORK IN REVERSE AT ALL AND WILL NOT HOLD IN REVERSE. THE DEALERS SEE NO DEFECT AND HAVE NEVER REPLACED ANY PARTS. THE BRAKE LINING IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. DUE TO THIS SITUATION I SUSPECT IT IS SIMPLY A M…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439128 · 2011-12-09 (December 9, 2011)
TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER TRUCK AFTER I STARTED IT TO LET WARM UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT A SNAP RING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION HAD WORN A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REAL BAD IF I HAD NOT LET THE TRUCK WARM UP AS I LIVE ON A HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS COMING OUT SO FAST I AM SURE THE ROAD WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. I CHECK TO SEE IF FORD HAD RECALLED THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY DID NOT, EVEN AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD FORUM WEBSITE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THERE WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439128 at NHTSA ↗