Most common 2005 Ford E Series problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford E Series complaints by model year
Best E Series years: 2006, 2007, 2000. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998. Compare all years →
2005 Ford E Series recalls (6)
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New england wheels, inc. Is recalling 513 ricon wheelchair lifts which it installed on my 2005 through 2007 Ford e-series commercial vans. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: New england wheels 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 new england wheels at 1-800-886-9247.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility is recalling 43 my 2005-2006 Ford e-series and Chevrolet express vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Mobility 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 mobility at 714-674-0480.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility is recalling 86 my 2005-2006 Ford e-series and Chevrolet express van equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Mobility 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 mobility at 714-674-0480.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
American emergency vehicles is recalling 8 my 2005-2006 e-series vans built on Ford chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: American emergency vehicles 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 American emergency vehicles at 1-336-982-9824.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
American emergency vehicles is recalling 8 my 2005-2006 e-series vans built on Ford chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: American emergency vehicles 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 American emergency vehicles at 1-336-982-9824.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New england wheels is recalling 513 my 2005-2007 Ford e-series vehicles equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: New england wheels 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 new england wheels at 1-800-886-9247.
What 2005 Ford E Series owners say
Engine & cooling
The van would start losing power on the highway, where even if the accelerator is pushed down, the van continues to lose speed. The van eventually reaches a speed of 0 MPH and at which point the engine stalls. After waiting 20 minutes on the side of the highway, turning the engine off for 20 minutes then starting it seems to temporarily get it going, but only for another 30 minutes. Since the first time it happened, it would reoccur almost every other day. This is very dangerous during the morning rush hour when driving on the number 2 lane because the speed decreases as if the accelerator is not pushed. Because of this dramatic loss of speed, vehicles behind my van either brake or change lanes fast. It is very difficult to go from the number 2 lane to the number 4 lane while losing speed. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford excursion. The contact stated that intermittently the vehicle would stall, and then immediately restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer multiple times to diagnose the failure; however, since the technicians are unable to identify the cause of the failure, no repairs have been made. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 52,800.
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford econoline 350. While driving approximately 65 MPH up a hill the vehicle lost power and it became difficult to accelerate. The failure occurred every time the vehicle was driven in the last two weeks. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated that the failure was due to delamination in the gasoline tank and that the fuel pump, oil and fuel filters would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford econoline. The contact stated that she could smell fuel inside the vehicle and smoke escaped from the tailpipe. The dealer replaced the liner on the fuel tank twice. The dealer stated that the diesel fuel ate through the lining. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000 and the current mileage was approximately 78,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Ford E Series a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 E Series rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the E Series at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Ford E Series?
The engine & cooling — 3 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (3) and electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford E Series have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2005 Ford E Series, the most recent from March 24, 2009 (equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford E Series?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2007 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1998. See the full Ford E Series years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford E Series problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.