2005 Ford Excursion: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2005 Ford Excursion
On the 2005 Ford Excursion, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 125,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other electrical problem, reported by a median of 90,000 miles. Overall it scores 65 out of 100, high risk for a 2005.
High risk for a 2005 — 227th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. 84 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2005 Ford Excursion
Owners have reported 27 named failure modes on the 2005 Ford Excursion, and the three most-reported carry 33% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 12 reports, about 0.9 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 95k to 145,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 11 reports, usually reported between 65k to 115,000 miles.
Stalling while driving follows with 5 reports, median 80,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (24), electrical (17) and fuel (11).
When these failures get reported
75 of the reports on the 2005 Ford Excursion came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 87,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 17% by 50,000 miles, 65% by 100,000 miles and 91% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 60,000 and 70,000 miles, which alone holds 16% of the dated reports.
11% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 27. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 1 mentions a crash, 1 a fire and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.21, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, stalling while driving at $300–$2,500 and no-start or intermittent start failure at $200–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
35% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 12 | 12 | 95k | 123k | 143k | 0.9 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 11 | 11 | 65k | 88k | 114k | 0.9 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 80k | — | 0.4 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 62k | — | 0.4 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 90k | — | 0.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 5 | 2 | — | 57k | — | 0.4 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 5 | 4 | — | 104k | — | 0.4 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 4 | 4 | — | 59k | — | 0.3 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 146k | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 95k | — | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 3 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 84k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 87k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 100 | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 123k | — | 0.2 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 76k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 163k | — | 0.1 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 63k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 84k | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 97k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 185k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 87k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 2 | 1 | — | 132k | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2005 Ford Excursion draws about 6.5 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of complaint rates among 2005 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 12,864 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2005 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Diesel engine, vehicle will on occasion fail to start. Engine will turn over but it seems no fuel gets to engine. Gas pedal module and assembly have been replaced 5 times with the problem continuing. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford excursion. While driving 15 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were 61,463. Updated 7/26/10 *cn updated 07/29/10*jb
Other electrical problem
The transmission in our 05' ford excursion slips and when it finally goes into gear, it jerks really hard. The electrical unit does not always work, the windows will not roll down, the locks will not lock nor unlock, the radio will not turn on. We have had it on the ford dealership for repair 4 different times and it still is not repair, we still have all these problems. *nm
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford excursion. While driving 70 MPH on the highway, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 05v270000 (electrical system:wiring). The contact feels that this issue is very unsafe and wants the manufacturer to repair the vehicle. The current mileage was 69,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.
Stalling while driving
My vehicle randomly experiences engine stalls while driving. It has stalled while traveling up to 40 MPH in traffic. When it stalls I lose power brakes and steering. I've had the vehicle at the dealer off and on for approximately two months and they are unable to fix the problem. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford excursion. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact waited until the engine completely cooled down before resuming operation. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where they detected that the malfunction was contributed to the wiring harness. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 05v270000 (electrical system: wiring); however the VIN was not included in the recall defect. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 94,210.
Recalls on the 2005 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Ford Excursion, affecting an estimated 13,420 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover exterior lighting:tail lights and electrical system:wiring. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
26,715 vehicles 2011-07-13- Defect
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider)…
- Consequence
- Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on august 15, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
180,104 vehicles 2005-06-10- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2005 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2005 — 227th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 6 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2005 comes out best at 65 and 2003 worst at 70, with 2005 itself at 65.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2005, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2000–2005 generation specifically, 2005 is the strongest year at 65 and 2003 the weakest at 70.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2000-2005 generation, 2005 Ford Excursion scores best at 65 and 2003 Ford Excursion worst at 70.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 65k and other engine problem from about 95k.
On a 2005 Ford Excursion with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
84 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 84 reports, 75 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 89% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Excursion?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (12 reports, median 125,000 miles), other electrical problem (11 reports, median 90,000 miles) and stalling while driving (5 reports, median 80,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Excursion problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 90,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 65,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 87,500 miles.
Is the 2005 Ford Excursion reliable?
It scores 65 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 227th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2005 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford Excursion is best?
Within the 2000–2005 generation, 2005 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 70. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed