The Lemon Index
200420064th generation
55 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 7,500 and 37,000 miles (12,000–60,000 km) (the middle half of the 39 complaints, of all 55 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V401000 (equipment), 11E047000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 11V131000 (equipment) done? It has 19 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Ford sent dealers 78 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Various driveability concerns such as hard start, no start, hesitation, runs rough, erratic…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Ford's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 55 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 7K to 37K miles (12K to 60K km) on the car (39 of all 55 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
2005 Ford e-350 had alternator problems, a short in the dashboard wiring and check engine light illuminated.
2005 Ford E-Series owner · NHTSA complaint 10165829
More owner reports
Truck engine dies while going up a hill causing truck to roll backwards.. No brakes to stop the truck. No power steering.
NHTSA complaint 10143708
2005 Ford e-350 alternator failed, check engine light illuminated.
NHTSA complaint 10165835
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 78 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Various driveability concerns such as hard start, no start, hesitation, runs rough, erratic…
- Crank no start, hard start, runs rough at idle - 6.0l engine
- Hard start, no start and/or other symptoms caused by a high pressure oil system leak - service…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 19
- Equipment · recall issued 2019
The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2011
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL TANKS THAT COULD BE INSTALLED INTO MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 E-150, E-250, AND E-350 VANS AND WAGONS.
- Equipment · recall issued 2011
BRAUN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2011 PARATRANSIT VANS BUILT ON FORD E-350 CHASSIS FROM APRIL 27, 2005, THROUGH JULY 29, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER GENV EM-1 EVAPORATOR UNITS (EM-1) MANUFACTURED FROM J…
Show all 19 recalls
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
QUALITY VANS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2006 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
QUALITY VANS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2005 AND NOVEMBER 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
CUSTOMIZERS IS RECALLING 6 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
FREEWHEEL MOBILITY IS RECALLING 4 MY 2005 FORD E-350 AND MY 2006 FORD E-250 PASSENGER VANS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
FREEWHEEL MOBILITY IS RECALLING 4 MY 2005 FORD E-350 AND MY 2006 FORD E-250 PASSENGER VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
VAN CONVERSIONS IS RECALLING 52 MY 2004-2007 FORD E-150, E-250 E-350 AND MY 2006 GM SAVANNA 3500 VANS BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
VAN CONVERSIONS IS RECALLING 74 MY 2004-2007 FORD E-150, E-250 E-350 AND MY 2006 GM SAVANNA 3500 VANS BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
LEADER INDUSTRIES IS RECALLING 14 MY 2005-2006 VANS BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
LEADER INDUSTRIES IS RECALLING 14 MY 2005-2006 VANS BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2009
ONENESS MOBILITY IS RECALLING 19 MY 1998, AND 2005-2006 E-350 VANS BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2008
NEW YORK BUS SALES IS RECALLING 1 RICON WHEELCHAIR LIFT WHICH IT INSTALLED ON A FORD SCHOOL BUS, MODEL E450.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2008
NEW YORK BUS SALES IS RECALLING 1 RICON WHEELCHAIR LIFT WHICH IT INSTALLED ON A FORD SCHOOL BUS, MODEL E450.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2008
MOBILITYWORKS IS RECALLING 133 MY 2005-2006 FORD E250, MY 2000, 2004-2006 E350, MY 2000, 2005 E450, MY 2005-2006 GMC 2500, GMC 3500, AND MY 2006 DODGE 2500 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- Electrical · recall issued 2005 6.0L diesel only
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.
- Equipment · recall issued 2004
CERTAIN CUT-AWAY INCOMPLETE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH LT225/75R16E TIRES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedHvac switch failures2010–2012
- ClosedHvac switch failures2009–2010
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Every Ford E-Series year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-e-series/?y=2005" title="Ford E-Series reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="698" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/ford-e-series/2005/">Lemon Index</a> (2005 Ford E-Series reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2005 Ford E-Series reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew a bit under half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 44; 100 is average, lower is better). The Ford E-Series year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2010.
What are the most common 2005 Ford E-Series problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (40%), electrical (33%) and fuel system, gasoline (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford E-Series have?
19 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford E-Series problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 7,500 and 37,000 miles (12,000–60,000 km) (the middle half of the 39 complaints, of all 55 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2005 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2005 Ford E-Series have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
What Ford E-Series year is better than the 2005?
Nearby, the 2007 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2010 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works