Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–114 of 114

2005 Ford F-350 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Dec 23, 200875,114 milesCT

WHILE ON I-95, MY 2005 F-350 SUPER-DUTY SPUTTER AND LOST POWER. THE TRUCK WENT FROM 60MPH WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC TO 40MPH IN SECONDS. MAKING EVASIVE MEASURE FROM GETTING TAG FROM BEHIND, I WAS FORCED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHICH WAS TAKING UP BY SNOW. THE TRUCK CRAWLED HALF ON SHOULDER AND HALF IN THE RIGHT LANE WHILE CARS MADE THERE EVASIVE ACTION IN ORDER TO MISS ME. AFTER GETTING TO A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IT TOOK ABOUT 5-10MIN FOR IT TO CLEAR UP. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DETERIORATING AND PROCEEDED TO ASK ME ABOUT MY FUEL AND WERE I GET IT, BECAUSE IT MUST BE CONTAMINATED. I ALSO OWN THREE OTHER DIESEL TRUCKS A 1995, 1996 AND 2000 AND THEY ALL RUN ON THE SAME FUEL FROM THE SAME GAS STATION. BUT YET ALL THESE TANKS ARE FIND. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THIS TANK AT MY COST WITH A NEW ONE. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEB SITES, THIS PROBLEM WILL UNMASK IT SELF AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. AT THIS TIME I WILL PROBABLY BRING THE TRUCK HOME UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 15, 200827,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F350. THE MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY FAILS. WHILE TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TURBO CHARGER BLEW OUT. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TURBO CHARGER UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MOTOR OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TESTED THE MOTOR AND REPLACED TWO HEADS, THE OIL COOLER, AND THE EGR VALVE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO NOT USE STRETCH VOLTS TO PREVENT THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NON STRETCH VOLTS WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCES OF THE FAILURE NOT RECURRING BECAUSE IT WAS A BETTER PRODUCT THAN WHAT THE MANUFACTURER USED. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT THE PRODUCTS USED BY THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD WORK PROPERLY. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE WORKED WELL FOR LESS THEN A MONTH. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY WORKING. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SHOP FOR MORE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Suspension › Front
Filed Nov 15, 2008CA

ON JULY 4, 2005, I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY LARIAT WITH LONG BED AND DUAL WHEELS AND 4WD AT EL CAJON FORD. FROM THE BEGINNING, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT-END VIBRATION WHEN I REACHED ABOUT 60 MPH. IT CONTINUED UNTIL I GOT TO ABOUT 80 MPH. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST VISIT FOR SERVICE AT DOWNEY FORD. AFTER A FEW VISITS FOR DIAGNOSTICS, DOWNEY FORD INSTALLED A "DAMPENER" ON THE FRONT END. IT MADE THE PROBLEM BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY CURE THE DEFECT. I EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A LANCE CAMPER, WHICH WAS ON THE TRUCK FOR OVER A YEAR. WHILE THE TRUCK HAD THE 3000 LB CAMPER ON IT, THE VIBRATION WENT AWAY ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY, BUT WAS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS ON THE CURVES. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SUCH CURVE IS THE 605 SB TO THE 405 SB IN LONG BEACH. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE/CAMPER ON THIS CURVE UNLESS I ALMOST STOPPED. I REMOVED THE CAMPER ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK IS WORSE. IT NOW WILL VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY AT 40-50 MPH. I REPORTED THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM EVERY TIME I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY DID ALL THEY COULD WITH THE DAMPENER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO EL CAJON FORD ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AGO. NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, FORD NOW SAYS IT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS DAMAGE THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID IN A VOICE MAIL THAT DOWNEY PUT ON A DAMPER THAT WAS TOO SMALL FOR MY TRUCK. I DEMANDED THEY FIX IT FREE AND THEY REFUSE. I WANT MY TRUCK FIXED. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, SI

Steering
Filed Aug 21, 2008CA

LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES I CAN NOT COUNT. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Aug 18, 200825,500 milesNJ

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND WAS LOSING POWER. THE 2005 FORD F350 DIESEL TRUCK STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RUN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCATION WHERE THE FUEL FILTERS WERE CHANGED. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DELAMINATED AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD CLAIMED THAT BIO DIESEL CAUSED THE PROBLEM. BIO DIESEL IS NOT SOLD IN NJ. THE TRUCK NEVER GOES OUT OF STATE. THE STALLING IN TRAFFIC IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL DRIVERS. THE TRUCK IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 25,500 MILES. *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 27, 20082,000 milesCA

I HAVE A 2005 FORD F-350 4X4 DIESEL DUALLY TRUCK. SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK I EXPERIENCED A ROUGH SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS ON THE FREEWAY OR CITY STREETS THE FRONT END SHIMMY'S OUT OF CONTROL. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FULL SIZE TRUCK AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT ACTS LIKE THIS. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS SENT ME INTO THE LANES BESIDE ME. I ALSO TOW A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER AND IT AMPLIFIES THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND FORD IN NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

Steering
Filed Jun 16, 200826,382 milesTN

FORD F350 STEERING SHAKES TO THE POINT OF LOOSING CONTROL AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON ROUGH UNEVEN FREEWAY OR HITTING POT HOLE. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Apr 22, 2008104,050 milesMO

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PULLING A TRAILER MY 2005 F -350 DIESEL QUIT RUNNING AND ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A SEMI. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK IT RAN ROUGH. WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO THE SHOP WITH THE HAZARDS ON. TO FIND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THE FUEL TANK IS DELAMINATING WHICH CAUSE DEBRIS TO GET INTO THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS CAUSING IT TO STALL. FORD HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CHANGE THERE FUEL TANK DESIGN BUT DID NOT INFORM ANY OWNERS OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. NOW I AM ALSO LOOKING AT A $3000. REPAIR BILL THAT FORD WILL NOT BACK ME ON. TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW SAFE ONE. I AM ALSO LOOKING AT MY OTHER TWO TRUCKS AND WONDER IF THEY ARE SAFE TO DRIVE. I HOPE THAT NO ONE WILL GET KILLED DUE TO THIS LACK OF PUBLIC INFORMATION BY FORD. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Mar 7, 200860,000 miles00

THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. THE 2005 FORD F350 HAS A LARGE PART OF ITS REAR BUMPERS' HORIZONTAL SURFACE REMOVED. THE BUMPER IS THEN COVERED IN A HARD PLASTIC. I STEPPED OFF THE DECK OF MY TRUCK ONTO THE BUMPER AND THE PLASTIC SURFACE GAVE WAY. I ALMOST BROKE MY ANKLE AND LOST MY BALANCE , NOT BECAUSE THE PLASTIC BROKE THROUGH , IT JUST HAD WAY TOO MUCH FLEX IN IT. I'VE TRIED TO DEAL WITH FORD CO REGARDING THIS BUT AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW ,THEY WANT ZERO TO DO WITH THE RETAIL / POST WHOLESALE APPARATUS. I WAS TOLD TO TALK TO THE DEALER. I WOULD HAVE MORE COMPETENCE AND HONEST FEEDBACK FROM MY DOG. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 10, 200712,000 milesOH

WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR DRIVING OVER CHUCK HOLES AND PARTICULARLY WHEN MANEUVERING TURNS, THE FRONT END "HOPS" SEVERELY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL AND SKID SIDEWAYS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
Filed Aug 3, 2007NC

2005 F-350 WITH OVERHEATING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED CUSTOMER WANTS FORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 25 DAYS FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER 90 DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE AIR TAKE TO THE TURBO WOULD BLOW OFF AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER, 2 EGR VALVES WERE REPLACED. FINALLY, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THERE IS TOO MUCH HEAT WITH THE TURBO ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. *JB

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 20, 200760,000 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE DRIVES OVER A BUMPY ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed Mar 9, 2007LA

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A AEVIT BY EMC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS EQUIPMENT WAS USED TO HELP WITH STEERING, BRAKING, AND ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AEVIT SYSTEM MADE A HARD LEFT AND SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO GET SEVEN STITCHES ON HIS THE RIGHT SIDE OF FOREHEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE WEATHER THAT DAY WAS COLD, BUT CLEAR. HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 - 30 MPH. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT HE HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER HAD THE VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 31, 200640,000 milesNC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED UP WHEN STARTING UP, AND WHEN PUT INTO FIRST GEAR, THE ENGINE JERKED PROFUSELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO UPON EXAMINATION COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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