Model year guide

2005 Ford e-150

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2005 Ford e-150 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

2005 Ford e-150 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2005 Ford e-150 at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints26
Combined13–15 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2005 Ford e-150 recalls 4

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly NHTSA Campaign #11E047000 · manufacturer #11S22 · 08/11/2011

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. THE AFFECTED FUEL TANKS HAVE AN EXTRA OBDII SENSOR HOLE ON THE TOP OF THE TANK THAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED AND MAY LEAK FUEL.

Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-800-232-5952.

Equipment Adaptive/mobility NHTSA Campaign #09V100000 · 27/03/2009

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. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES," THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILIT…

Fix: VAN CONVERSIONS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR VAN CONVERSIONS AT 610-837-0707.

Equipment Adaptive/mobility NHTSA Campaign #09V102000 · 27/03/2009

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. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBI…

Fix: VAN CONVERSIONS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR VAN CONVERSIONS AT 610-837-0707.

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #06E056000 · 13/06/2006

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. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2005 Ford e-150 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2005 Ford e-150 safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2005 Ford E-150 Passenger Wagon. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2005 Ford e-150 MPG & running costs

Combined13–15 mpg
City13 mpg
Highway17 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,713
EPA size classVans, Passenger Type
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$11,563 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2005 Ford e-150 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$23,565
Fuel only$23,565
Per mile$0.31

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
211.8 in
Width
79.5 in
Height
81.1 in
Wheelbase
138.2 in
Curb weight
4,645–5,119 lb
Front track
70.1 in
Rear track
66.9 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2005 Ford e-150 — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 59

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 59.

When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all versions of MERCON SP and can be used going forward. Mixing MERCON LV and MERCON SP in the same transmission is acceptable. After 30-Jun-2023, MERCON SP A…

Bulletin SSM 51909 · Power Train · Sep 2023

The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these P…

Bulletin SSM 46085 · Engine And Engine Cooling, Engine · Sep 2016

FORD: WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN PARK, REVERSE AND/OR DURING 2-3 SHIFT, AN INTERMITTENT CLUNK OCCURS WITH A TORQSHIFT TRANSMISSION. MODEL 2003-2014 F-SUPER DUTY, E SERIES, EXCURSION, F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS, LOW CAB FORWARD. *PE

Bulletin ASI-44534 · Power Train · May 2014

FORD: ON SOME TRUCKS, THERE IS A NO CRANK SITUATION AND IF VOLTAGE ON TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AT PIN 21, IS LESS THAN 5 VOLTS, DISCONNECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH, ELECTRONICALLY, AND RECHECK VOLTAGE. MODEL 2003-2007 F SUPER DUTY, 2004-2010 E SERIES, 20…

Bulletin ASI-44404 · Power Train, Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2014

FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE HARD STARTS AND ENGINE IDLE RPM FLUCTUATION AND EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0505, P0506, P2111 AND P2112. *PE

Bulletin TSB-12-7-4 · Engine · Jul 2012

FORD: THE BLOWER MOTOR ON SOME VEHICLES ARE OPERATING EITHER INCORRECTLY OR NOT OPERATING OR JUST FUNCTIONING ON ONE SPEED. *PE

Bulletin TSB-11-11-21 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2011

FORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT; SPECIFIC COMPONENT WARRANTY EXTENSION. AWARENESS COMMUNICATION, DATED 4/20/09. *PE

Bulletin SB-09M02 · Equipment · Aug 2009

FORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT; PCM PART NUMBER INSPECTION. AWARENESS COMMUNICATION DATED 4/20/09. *PE

Bulletin SB-09B09 · Power Train, Equipment · Aug 2009

FORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES, E SERIES AND F SUPER DUTY, WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT-6.0L DIESEL ENGINE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY EXTENSION. AWARENESS COMMUNICATION DATED 4/20/09. *PE

Bulletin SB-09M03 · Equipment · Aug 2009

FORD: MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH A TORQ SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN DRIVE, REVERSE AND PARK AND/OR DURING 2-3 UPSHIFT. MODELS F SUPER DUTY; E SERIES; EXCURSION; F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS AND LOW CAB FORWARD. *PE

Bulletin SB-20937 · Power Train · Aug 2009

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the E-150 RWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

2005 Ford e-150 trims & engines on record

Engines
4.6L 8-cyl

2005 Ford e-150 vehicles on record

Other Ford e-150 model years

2005 Ford e-150 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Ford e-150 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2005 Ford e-150. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford e-150?

Across all 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel system, engine, service brakes.

What is the 2005 Ford e-150 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2005 Ford e-150 crash-test ratings of frontal 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2005 Ford e-150 get?

The 2005 Ford e-150 has U.S. EPA estimates of 13–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.