YearToAvoid

2005 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 Taurus years

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

The 2005 Ford Taurus has 774 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 93 out of 100 — #2 highest of 15 Taurus model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (579 complaints, 75% of the total). Complaints report 40 crashes, 10 fires, 28 injuries, and 2 deaths.

Complaints
774
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
40 / 10
Injuries / deaths
28 / 2
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2005 Ford Taurus problems

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

  1. Engine579 (75%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain123 (16%)
  3. Fuel System41 (5%)
  4. Brakes37 (5%)
  5. Electrical System32 (4%)
  6. Other30 (4%)
  7. Airbags27 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body25 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (1%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers8 (1%)
2005 Ford Taurus complaints: complaints filed per quarter1432005 Q12007 Q32009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q3
929 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2023 Q4; peak 2012 Q1 (143).

2005 Ford Taurus recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Taurus 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
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid93774019.5
2006Caution64318220
2007Good36149020

All Ford Taurus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Ford Taurus a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Ford Taurus ranks #2 of 15 among Taurus model years (Complaint Index 93/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 774 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Taurus?
The most reported problem areas are engine (579 complaints), transmission & powertrain (123 complaints), and fuel system (41 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 90,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Ford Taurus in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Ford Taurus?
EPA rates the 2005 Ford Taurus at 19.5 MPG combined (17 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.