YearToAvoid

2005 Ford E-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

95/100

#2 most-complained of 20 E-450 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Ford E-450 has 34 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 95 out of 100 — #2 highest of 20 E-450 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (8 complaints, 24% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries.

Complaints
34
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2005 Ford E-450 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine8 (24%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (21%)
  3. Electrical System5 (15%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (15%)
  5. Fuel System4 (12%)
  6. Brakes2 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (6%)
  8. Other1 (3%)
  9. Steering1 (3%)
2005 Ford E-450 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2005Aug 2005Nov 2006Feb 2008Jul 2009Jan 2013Oct 2013Nov 2017
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2005 to Jul 2018; peak Aug 2005 (3).

2005 Ford E-450 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V401000May 29, 2019Other22 vehicles

    Equipment

    VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.

    Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.

  2. NHTSA 08V644000Dec 5, 2008Other1 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    New york bus sales is recalling 1 ricon wheelchair lift which it installed on a ford school bus, model e450. The vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.

    Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

    Remedy: New york bus sales 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 york bus sales at 1-315-687-3969.

  3. NHTSA 08V643000Dec 4, 2008Other1 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    New york bus sales is recalling 1 ricon wheelchair lift which it installed on a ford school bus, model e450. The vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

    Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

    Remedy: New york bus sales 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 york bus sales at 1-315-687-3969.

See all 6 recalls for the 2005 Ford E-450 →

2005 compared with other E-450 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid95346—
2006Avoid842011—
2007Caution741211—

All Ford E-450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Ford E-450 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Ford E-450 ranks #2 of 20 among E-450 model years (Complaint Index 95/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 34 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford E-450?
The most reported problem areas are engine (8 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (7 complaints), and electrical system (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 21,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Ford E-450 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Ford E-450, most recently reported 2019, covering other and electrical system.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.