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ProblemsByVin File / 2005-FORD-E-250
2005 · ford

ford E-250 problems

4 safety recalls. 11 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
8.0 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 1 category with 3+ complaints

airbags
3 reports · avg $1,100
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2005 E-250 · steering Crash
WARNING. SAFETY HAZARD ABOUT DURALAST CENTER LINK PART# DS1287, ALTERNATIVE PART NUMBER:DS6070X. I INSTALLED THIS PART IN 2005 FORD E250 BUT YOU CAN INSTALL THIS PART IN OTHER VEHICLES ALSO. I REPLACE CENTER LINK 1.5 YEARS AGO(07/17/2015). METAL THREAD ON BALL JOINT BROKEN AND…
12/03/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11052041.0
2005 E-250 · airbags
2005 FORD E250 CONVERSION VAN. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING.* TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AT HIS EXPENSE, AFTER HE WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *JB
10/08/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10359730.0
2005 E-250 · steering
MY 2005 FORD F250 SUPERDUTY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE VIOLENT STEERING VIBRATION WHEN ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2005 I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS BARELY ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE THE…
09/14/2009 · NHTSA ODI #10283944.0
2005 E-250 · fuel system
THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED DUE TO RUST IN FEB OF 2013, THE FUEL TANK WILL RUST THROUGH SOON. THIS IS NOT AN OEM FUEL TANK IN THIS VEHICLE IT HAS A DOT APPROVED FUEL TANK FROM A MFG CALLED TRANSFER FLOW, INC.OUT OF CHINO, CA. I AM DISABLED, THE VAN WAS BOUGHT NEW AS A MODIFIED…
08/12/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10534984.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 09V243000 29/06/2009

HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES IS RECALLING 3 MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD E-250 TRANSIT BUSES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Fix: HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES 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 HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES AT 1-770-422-9674.
severe NHTSA 09V242000 26/06/2009

HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES IS RECALLING 3 MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD E-250 RENTAL VANS BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.T

Fix: HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES 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 HANDICAPPED DRIVER SERVICES AT 1-770-422-9674.
severe NHTSA 09V249000 01/07/2009

J'S MOBILITY UNLIMITED, INC

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Fix: J'S MOBILITY UNLIMITED 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 J'S MOBILITY UNLIMITED AT 1-601-939-2112.
View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2005 Ford E-250 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Ford E-250 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2005 Ford E-250?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 3 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford E-250 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Ford E-250?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 11 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 6 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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