Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-150. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to lock into it's buckle. The buckle fails to activate the lock and release the seat belt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH when a vehicle slipped on ice in front of their vehicle, in order to avoid crashing, the contact ended up steering into a nearby ditch crashing into trees. The seat belt buckle failed to secure the seat belt causing it to swing and hit the contact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that the seat belt caused his teeth to be fractured and medical attention was needed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who had not diagnosed anything regarding the seat belt as of yet. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,00.
Yes a drunk driver ran into me and I think the officer let him just call his wife to come get him cause he was to drunk to drive and it was maybe involving him doing on repairs to the officers car the reason he got off scot free, I May could understand it but he like broad sided me and sent me flying across the seat and I saw him take off and so I was reaching around the steering wheel to try and make a sharper turn and give it some more gas evidently it did not work cause this was June 2 of 2018 and my shoulder is still hurt,he has insurance I have insurance but after the emergency room visit I have not been able to hire a lawyer,I have not even been able to get a doctor to tell me what's wrong with my shoulder,I can't get into an ortho group cause they say we don't take third party checks ,I finally got into the regional one in memphis and made the appointment 4 months ago,and still …
Dt: the contact stated while traveling on the highway going at 55 MPH the vehicle hit something in the middle of the highway with the left front tire. The brakes were applied but they did not work. The consumer then lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled into the median and collided with the retaining wall. This was a frontal impact. The seat belts failed to properly restrain the consumer and the air bags failed to deploy which resulted in injuries to the occupant. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop a couple of weeks prior to the accident for an ABS problem. They were unable to duplicate the problem with the brakes. Updated 1/25/2006.
On 9-14-19 I got into my truck to drive. Without realizing it, my seat belt did not recoil the last time I got out of my truck. When I reached to put the seat belt on, without knowing it, the seat belt wrapped itself around the seat reclining handle. While driving I stopped at a light and the belt must of tightened up more and pulled the reclining handle which put me in a lateral position while driving. If I hadn't pull myself up by the steering wheel and slam on my brakes, I would have hit the vehicle in front of me! I am afraid to drive my truck anymore without checking on the seat belt every day.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-150. The contact stated that the three of the four seat belts failed to retract. The location of the seat belts were unknown. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would not be covered due to an expired warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-150. While the vehicle was idling at a red light, the seat belt tension seized and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt pretensioner failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-150. The contact stated that in an attempt to avoid crashing into a deer, the contact crashed into a ditch and the driver's side seat belt failed to restrain the contact. The contact suffered a broken leg and wrist. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-150. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the seat belt pretensioner and stabilizer bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the dealer advised the contact that the seat belts were not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.
Dt: the contact stated the front seat belts did not lock during heavy braking. He tested the vehicle at 30, 50, and 70 MPH by slamming on the brakes hard enough for the tires to squeal. The seat belts never locked . This caused one injury to the passenger. She slammed into the dashboard and injured her wrist and back. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and they stated the seat belts were acting as intended. Updated 01/19/06.
Dt*: the contact stated while applying the brakes in emergency situations, the front seat belts do not lock. The seat belts retracted, but do not hold the passengers in the seat. The seat belts leave enough webbing to where the passengers could impact the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for inspection. The dealer replaced the seat belts with new ones; however the new seat belts have the same problem.
Seat Belt complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2005 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the seat belts of the 2005 Ford F-150, 2% of the model year's 1,112 complaints. The component named most often is front (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford F-150 seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for the 2005 Ford F-150, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford F-150 seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to seat belts problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.