FordE-3502005Overview/ford/e-350/2005/base/
350 platform

2005 Ford E-350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 E.

Body VAN

The 2005 Ford E-350 is a van built on the 350 platform. This model year is associated with eight recalls and 26 total owner complaints, with the most frequent issues occurring in the engine and engine cooling area. Within the model's reliability history spanning 1991 to 2027, the 2005 version sits between the 1998 peak of 64 complaints and the 2023 low of one complaint.

Model year20172016201520142005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY · 625 - AUXILIARY CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY · 625 - AUXILIARY CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT245-75R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length211.8 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.1 in
Wheelbase138.2 in
Curb weight4645 lb
Track (front / rear)70.1 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts28 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)130.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket295.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle85.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket111.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY
Standard BCI Cranking Performance625 - AUXILIARY cca
Optional BCI Group Number65 - PRIMARY
Optional BCI Cranking Performance650 - PRIMARY cca
Standard BCI Group Number65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY

Service checks

Pressure Test18-20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-207 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)0-55
RPM45-55 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM28-45 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket23 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket23 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5033 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
166 ft. lbs., step 2: loosen one turn 37 ft. lbs., step 3: 9066 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
150 ft. lbs., step 2: 9050 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt · threads and flanges with engine oil

1finger tight
2bolts 1 to 1065 ft. lbs
3bolts 1, 3, 5, 7, 985 ft. lbs
4bolts 1-1090 degrees
5bolts 1-1090 degrees
6bolts 1-1090 degrees
7bolts 11 to 1518 ft. lbs
823
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 694 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13 ft. lbs., step 2: 183 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 181.5 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
190 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120 ft. lbs., Step 3: 17090 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAir Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miPCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2005 Ford E-350 sits near the peak of the generation's issue curve, with 55 complaints and the highest recall count in the entire dataset at 14—significantly more than both the 1998 model year (7 recalls) that preceded it and the 2013 model year (9 recalls) that followed. The 75 TSBs issued for 2005 also represent the highest volume of technical service bulletins of any year in the record, indicating extensive manufacturer attention to known issues. Complaints declined substantially after 2005, dropping to 13 by 2013, suggesting that issues were progressively identified and addressed in subsequent model years. The top complaint areas—Engine & Engine Cooling and Fuel System, Diesel—point to powertrain concerns, though crash complaints (2) and fire complaints (0) are relatively modest. The high recall and TSB counts suggest the 2005 model had significant teething problems that were later corrected, making it a less favorable purchase compared to later years in the generation.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
59
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
26
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling4
Fuel System, Diesel3
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Air Bags2
Service Brakes1
Engine1
Steering1
Power Train,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

11E047000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 08/11/2011

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL TANKS THAT COULD BE INSTALLED INTO MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 E-150, E-250, AND E-350 VANS AND WAGONS. THE AFFECTED FUEL TANKS HAVE AN EXTRA OBDII SENSOR HOLE ON THE TOP OF… Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER…

09V102000Equipment Adaptive/MobilityReported 27/03/2009

VAN CONVERSIONS IS RECALLING 74 MY 2004-2007 FORD E-150, E-250 E-350 AND MY 2006 GM SAVANNA 3500 VANS BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY… Remedy: VAN CONVERSIONS 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 VAN CONVERSIONS AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 59 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 519092023-09-07Power TrainWhen performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV…
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
ASI-445342014-05-01Power TrainFORD: WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN PARK, REVERSE AND/OR DURING 2-3 SHIFT, AN INTERMITTENT CLUNK…
ASI-444042014-02-01Power TrainFORD: ON SOME TRUCKS, THERE IS A NO CRANK SITUATION AND IF VOLTAGE ON TRANSMISSION RANGE…
TSB-12-7-42012-07-10EngineFORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific E. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2005 E have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.