10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 84,607 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2005 Ford-F150. The contact stated that the frame was rusted to the point that it could not be repaired. The rust could prevent the vehicle from passing inspection. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- Avondale, PA, USA
Extensive frame rust compromising vehicle integrity. Cracked frame.
- Altamont, NY, USA
Frame on F150 is rusting through causing frame to become vulnerable to breaking. Rusting and cracking taking place between back of cab and rear wheel mounts. Found during oil change at Ford dealership and body shop did not even want to provide estimate to fix due to complexity of fix and legal implications.
- Urbandale, IA, USA
I own a 2005 Ford F-150 4X4 extended cab with just over 60,000 mi. For its age, the truck is in pretty nice shape except for the frame, it's gone, rusted! there is a section between the cab & engine bay that you can put your fingers through, not one but several fingers, let alone in other areas though out the frame that are also rotted through. It's a boxed frame with no inside coating made with what I read elsewhere was cheep steel, won't mention where from, but not us steel. Yes I live in ne, and it has tasted salt from the roads, but I also kept it clean all winter long. I paid a lot for this truck, bought it new and now feel that I have been cheated. I am now on my third new Ford truck, a 2018, and I'm afraid to walk buy it with a salt shaker in my hand. My first was a 1984 F-250 that I drove for 21 years, put 100,000 miles on it, sold it in 05, and is still on the road to this day on it's third owner. I know where it lives. I'm reading on line that this is happening to a lot of these trucks, let alone I believe Ford has already replaced frames in a mini van for this same reason. I also have a few pictures. There is a pic just showing the underside, which for the most part is in good shape, a little surface rust, no through rot. Now the frame pics, another story. These trucks also have an issue with the exhaust manifold as to where the bolts holding it in place rot out and now you have a noisy exhaust leak truck that has to have its motor taken out to have that repaired, got that going on also. Thank you for your time, from a not so happy Ford owner ps: When I bought my new truck, Nov of 2017, they evaluated my 05 for a trade in, which I wasn't going to do anyway, they only offered me $3000 on what I thought was a good truck, foiled again!
- Newton, NH, USA
Paint on the roof and back of the cab is flaking off.
- Marion, SC, USA
Premature frame corrosion and rust failure, during recent routine maintenance, my mechanic informed me that the frame on the rear half of my 2005 Ford F-150 had rusted under the bed and rear wheel wells to the point of failure where the frame would no longer support the weight of the vehicle on his lift. Rust thru holes and longitudinal cracks had formed on the bottom and side frame surfaces at the stress point before the rear wheel bend. This seems extremely unusual because the truck has been generally been garage kept and maintained in good mechanical condition. The exterior body only exhibits light spots of surface rust on the visible body panels. Providing no hints of the degradation occurring below. My mechanic has told me that catastrophic failure of the frame structure was imminent and that the vehicle was no longer safe to drive. Which in itself is concerning in that I had been totally unaware of the vehicle's deteriorating condition. Had I not taken the vehicle in for maintenance I would likely continued driving the vehicle until one day being totally surprised when the back half of my truck separated from the front.
- Willis, MI, USA
Frame on my 2005 F-150 is rotted and has become a safety concern.
- Olmsted Falls, OH, USA
There is a current recall for this same issue but its till 2004, but should be expanded. I have a 2005 F150 with the same issues as a 2004 F150 and the chassis suffers from massive corrosion. My truck is deemed unsafe to drive. The frame is rotting through and very dangerous to drive. It can separate at any time. The truck only has 88K miles and it could separate at anytime. If involved in an accident it can be fatal. NHTSA you need to investigate and recall this serious issue right away and save peoples lives.
- Pompton Lakes, NJ, USA
When changing the brakes on my 2005 F150 I found the frame completely rusted thru the exterior is in great shape with minimal corrosion.
- Nashua, NH, USA
Frame rusted and cracked, 72,000 miles. I'm the original owner. Note, all other underbody components appear normal for age and miles; though I don't have too much faith in rear drive shaft. Location is in front leaf spring attachment bracket adjacent to fuel tank.
- Buchanan, NY, USA
Ford F 150 cracked rear frame rails truck made in 2004 they had a recall for trucks made in 2004 but my truck is titled as a 2005 they must still have had bad frames left over they used to build 2005 trucks rear of truck is floating when you drive it.
- Monroe, NY, USA
Vehicle went into "failsafe" mode on two separate occasions within the last year! and most recently, two weeks ago! both at highway speed on two different interstates in Florida! very dangerous, and hard to control vehicle to "limp" to a safe place to stop! many possible causes from electrical, fuel, or engine issues that are well documented on many internet sites and F150 forums! also rust issues on roof of vehicle in rain channels! very common, and very poor design!
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. While the vehicle was at the dealer for maintenance, the contact was informed that the subframe displayed excessive corrosion. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe and should not be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 06/23/17 consumer stated he believes that the frame had excessive corrosion due to the liquid salt that mdot puts on highways and failure of a weak frame manufacture. Updated 9/27/18
- Hancock, MI, USA
2005 Ford F150, only 85,000 miles on the vehicle. The overall exterior body of truck has zero rust and is in excellent condition. However, the main "frame" of the truck, which supports all the weight and structure of the truck is rusted through. I live in Wisconsin and have owned many Ford, and other trucks. Never have I had a frame of a truck rust out like this. These truck should last 200,000 miles +, and I have done just that on previous vehicles. However, with the body having zero rust, it is out of the norm to see this frame rusted through with holes in the main structure of the frame. I was advised by multiple auto shops this can not be weld repaired due to safety standards. Further, in order to fix the issue and make the vehicle safe, the entire frame must be replaced. Being this truck only has 85,000 miles on it, I find it absurd that this is even an issue. As previously mentioned, I have never seen this sort of corrosion on the under body, and yet the quarter panels, tailgate, bumper are all zero rust. It is evident that there is a metallurgical defect in the steel used for this frame. I have read numerous postings by others owning the 2005 model and many have experienced the same issue. Frame rusting out before it even hits 100,000 miles, and these are daily drivers. As of now, this vehicle is deemed unsafe by the local Ford dealer, and even the master technician on site was perplexed by the undercarriage corroding as it had, when the vehicle is otherwise "clean" inside and out, with no rust.
- Oshkosh, WI, USA
Took my truck in for service (engine light on for the oxygen sensor) and when they put the truck on the lift the frame folded because it had rusted out on both sides. I was still driving this truck at highway speeds. I bought the truck new and it was driveway parked in Connecticut for the 12 years I have owned it. The mileage on the truck is a little over 40K and the body parts of the truck look very good. I had to scrap the truck for parts, very sad. Someone should notify other owners of the 2005 F150S to check the frames because I had no idea it was this bad.
- Danbury, CT, USA
Frame on drivers side is rotting away.
- Hawthorne, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to and independent mechanic for scheduled maintenance. While the vehicle was on the lift, the mechanic noticed that the entire frame was severely rusted and there were fractured areas in front of the wheel well on both sides. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
- Colrain, MA, USA
Front end collision into the rear of another truck. Whole front end damaged through radiator, hood, headlights, bumpers etc. Airbag never deployed and upon return of vehicle after repairs, I am now getting a code 42 that the sensor is bad and after research find out there is a recall on this but for the opposite reason but also now understand there are corrosion issues with the connection of the sensor also. Hope this helps. Please advise what to do, will Ford fix this whole problem and replace with a new sensor and the wire chaffing problem? thank you in advance!
- Las Vegas , NV, USA
Bad perforation corrosion around wheel arches. Paint blistering.
- Ossining, NY, USA
- Ridgeley, WV, USA