This vehicle is a motorhome, build on the 2005 e450 cab/chassis with a gas v10 engine. While driving in a single lane construction zone on the interstate the electronic throttle body system failed, and the engine suddenly stopped responding to the accelerator pedal. As a result the vehicle suddenly lost power and slowed to a very very low speed (a few inches per second). As traffic approached and built up behind I inched the vehicle onto the shoulder. The vehicle was unable to move under it's own power any further and required a tow. It was an extremely dangerous situation on a crowded highway, in a construction zone, with my family.
The worst 2005 Ford E-450 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine7
- Electrical5
- Transmission5
- Fuel system4
- Tires4
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine7
- Electrical5
- Transmission5
- Fuel system4
- Tires4
- Acceleration2
- Brakes2
- Suspension2
- Body1
- Locks1
- Steering1
- Wheels1
Recalls 6
Equipment
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 19V401000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 08V644000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 08V643000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Mobilityworks is recalling 133 my 2005-2006 ford e250, my 2000, 2004-2006 e350, my 2000, 2005 e450, my 2005-2006 gmc 2500, gmc 3500, and my 2006 dodge 2500 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift systems for 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
- A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Mobilityworks 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 mobilityworks at 1‑800‑769‑8267.
Recall number 08V519000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Certain pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans equipped with 6.0l diesel engines may experience stalling without warning while driving and may or may not restart.
- Risk
- Should the engine stall, a vehicle crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will upgrade the fuel injection control module (ficm) wire harness or replaced, and/or have a new injection control pressure (icp)) sensor connector installed free of charge. The recall began on july 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 05V270000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Certain cut-away incomplete trucks equipped with lt225/75r16e tires fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, 'tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars.' the tire pressure is incorrectly listed on the label for the rear tires.
- Risk
- At the incorrectly stated pressure, the rear tires are unable to support the gross axle weight rating (gawr) for the rear axle.
- Remedy
- Owners and dealers will be mailed supplementary tire labels containing the correct rear tire inflation information. The recall began on january 11, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 04V603000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 2005 Ford E-450
Defect investigations
HVAC Switch Failures
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers have reported a burning smell or smoke coming from the dash.One fleet reported a vehicle fire.No injuries were sustained.However, the bus was carrying special needs children when the driver noticed smoke coming from the dash.The driver was able to evacuate the children prior to the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames.This PE has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to determine if the blower motor switch failures create a situation where a vehicle fire is possible and presents a safety risk to the driver and other passengers.
PE09055
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Ford E-450 70
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all...
- These SKUs are Trailer Brake Control Modules
- Ford: when shifting between park, reverse and/or during 2-3 shift, an intermittent clunk occurs with a...
- Ford: on some trucks, there is a no crank situation and if voltage on transmission range sensor at pin 21,...
- Ford: there may be a lack of RPM, hesitation, or rough running concerns when the vehicle is in idle
- Ford: runs rough, lacks power, hard start, no start
- Ford: some vehicles with diesel engines may experience no starts, hard starts or rough running when cold...
- Ford/mercury/lincoln: vehicles may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: drive away hesitation,...
- Ford: some vehicles equipped with 6.0L diesel engine may exhibit any one or combination of the following...
- Ford trucks: misfire, lack of power, buck/jerk, excessive smoke, crank/no start-diagnostics for fuel system
What 2005 Ford E-450 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford e-450 chinook motorhome equipped with michelin ltx m/s2 tires, size: lt225/75/r16. While driving 45-50 MPH, the tread separated from the rear passenger outside tire. The contact stated that three of the four other tires also showed signs of tread separation. The motorhome was taken to les schwab tire center (500 deinhard ln, mccall, id 83638, (208) 634-6042) and the tires were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 58,004 and the approximate tire failure mileage was 25,000.
2013 during highway driving the brake caliper on the left rear stuck holding the brake pads against the disk. I noticed it when stopping for gas. As I removed the gas cap I saw considerable smoke rising around that left dual wheel. The wheel and tire was too hot to touch. Smoke got worse and afraid of the heat and proximity of the gas pump I moved the rv a safe distance away. I had the caliper, pads, and disc replaced. Later on a trip after repairs were made I had a tire blow out on left inside wheel. When the tire was removed I saw that it had been damaged from the extreme heat. On the way home from our 2015 christmas trip I felt as though the rv was not accelerating as it should but thought it was the up hill climb of the roadway. Again when I stopped for fuel I saw a wisp of smoke coming from the left rear wheel and the wheel was hot. I have not had the brake system checked out yet. I have a friend with a 2005 rv on a chevy chassis and had the same problem. In that case there had been a recall of the brake system. May not be related but sounds as if it could be the same problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford e-450. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ficm module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred six days later. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,213.
2005 ford e-450. Consumer writes in regards to throttle body failure. *smd the consumer stated the throttle body failed, without warning and there was no acceleration. Also, the check engine light illuminated. The throttle body was replaced at a cost of $ 682.
On 5/19/2010 I purchased 6 chaparral tires size 2257516 for my 2005 dutchmen class c motorhome on a ford e450 chassis. While on a vacation trip to the west the 4 rear tires developed blisters. This initiated replacing all 4 of them. We decided to replace the front tires also because of the danger. Of a blow out. The tires had only 7945 miles on them. All this can be documented with receipts. I called the dealer where these tires were purchased and was told this is a road hazard therefore not guaranteed. I maintain this is not a road hazard but defects in the tires. This occurred on 9/11/2013. I contacted 2 companies on line that deal in this tire brand and have had no response. I am contacting you to make you aware of this condition and problem. I would like some sort of compensation from this company. I have asked for compensation but was ignored.
I recently had three (3) bf goodrich tires (225/75r16e bfg comml) on my rv separate within 1,000 miles of each other. These tires were less than 3 years old - 2 failed with less than 10,000 miles and 1 failed within 11,000 miles of purchase. At the time of the separations we were in rural southern oregon about 1,000 miles from our home in southern california. The first incident occurred in may 2013 when 2 rear tires had separation at the sidewall and tread. At the time of the second incident in july 2013 another tire started separating at the tread. We replaced all 3 tires in oregon at the local tire dealer. At the time of the first separation, I contacted the dealer where I purchased the bf goodrich tires requesting his assistance in submitting a warranty claim. He told me there was nothing he could do until I returned home. I took pictures of all the separated tires inclusive of separation areas and dot numbers. Upon returning home, the dealer said he needed the old tires for warranty claims. It is ridiculous to expect us to carry 3 damaged tires around in our rv until we returned home. This is especially unreasonable when he told me at the time of the first incident that there was nothing I could do at that time - that was when I could have made arrangements to ship the tires somewhere for inspection. I contacted the tire dealer's corporate customer service representative who made many calls to his supplier and bf goodrich. He could get no help for this issue without the old tires and actually was told by a bfg rep that "bfg did not make tires that failed". Needless to say I was astonished to hear such an outrageous claim since 50% of the bfg tires I purchased in march 2011 failed due to separation with less than 12,000 miles and within 28 months of purchase.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford e-450. The contact stated that the tire pressure ratings were conflicting. The rim label indicated that the recommended tire pressure was 60 pounds and the label on the frame indicated 80 pounds. The contact did not call the manufacture to inquire about the contradictory recommendations. The contact had not experienced a failure. The current mileage was 12,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford e-450. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact was unsure of what was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 05v266000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 175.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford e-450. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the engine stalled without warning and the vehicle could not be restarted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, who advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 05v270000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 56, 831.
Compare the 2005 Ford E-450
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Questions about the 2005 Ford E-450
Is the 2005 Ford E-450 reliable?
Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 2005 Ford E-450, 2.8 times a typical E-450 model year.
What is the 2005 Ford E-450 year score?
The 2005 Ford E-450 scores 30 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford E-450: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Ford E-450?
Engine and cooling, with 7 complaints, typically around 46,000 miles. Next is electrical (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford E-450 have?
6 recalls, covering equipment, equipment adaptive/mobility and electrical system.
What year does the Ford E-450 have bad engine?
The Ford E-450 model years with the most engine complaints are 2004 (10 complaints) and 2006 (10 complaints).
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