FordTaurus2005Overview/ford/taurus/2005/base/

2005 Ford Taurus

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

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2005 Ford Taurus is a full‑size passenger car built on Ford’s mid‑1990s platform and equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission that draws on a 6.0‑quart oil capacity using 5W‑20 API‑rated fluid, delivering EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and a combined 20 mpg. Its drivetrain and chassis are notable for a relatively modest total of 774 owner complaints, with vehicle‑speed control emerging as the most frequent issue and a single recall recorded for the model year. When placed within the broader 1990‑2019 Taurus reliability record, 2005 sits well after the peak complaint year of 1993 (1,822 complaints) and well before the low‑complaint tail end of 2019 (11 complaints), indicating a middle‑ground position in the model’s overall durability trajectory.

Model year20192018201720162015201420132005

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 36R OHV · 600 OHV 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 36R OHV · 600 OHV CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length197.6 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight3307 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume105 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Taurus of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.2–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.20 sec — 2013 SHO Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2002SEL Sedan 3.0L V68.90 sec16.80 sec155 hpFWD
2008Limited Sedan 3.5L V66.80 sec15.50 sec263 hpFWD
2008Limited Sedan 3.5L V67.20 sec15.70 sec263 hpAWD
2008Limited Sedan 3.5L V67.50 sec16.00 sec263 hpAWD
2008X Limited Wagon 3.5L V67.70 sec16.00 sec263 hpFWD
2000SE Sedan 3.0L V68.10 sec16.10 sec145 hpFWD
2000SE Sedan 3.0L V68.30 sec16.30 sec145 hpFWD
2010SHO Sedan 3.5L Twin-Turbo V65.20 sec13.70 sec365 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. 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 FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity13.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.12 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.60 oz
Optional BCI Group Number36R DOHC, Opt. and Canada
Optional BCI Cranking Performance600 DOHC, Opt. and Canada cca
Standard BCI Group Number36R OHV

Service checks

Pressure Test13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature2
Pressure Test18-20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-207 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30.0-55.0
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 DOHC ohms
Engine Oil Pressure11 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket24 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.140 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.998 in / 0.614 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.974 in / 0.591 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
159 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
2mum of one full turn
333-41 ft. lbs.33–41 ft. lbs
463-73
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

137.0 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
2Loosen bolts 360 degrees360 degrees
322.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3Loosen bolts 360 degrees360 degrees
430 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees90 degrees
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 167 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 5,000 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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (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 (inspect fluid level)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · 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 Taurus sits within a generation (2000–2007) that saw a general decline in complaints, recalls, investigations, and TSBs from earlier peaks, yet it stands out with a sharp complaint spike to 774 from just 375 in 2004, before dropping again to 318 in 2006. This rise is overwhelmingly driven by 403 vehicle speed control complaints, which also account for 40 crash and 10 fire incidents, though the data does not specify root causes. Recalls and investigations for 2005 are at generation lows of 1 and 2 respectively, suggesting no widespread, officially acknowledged defect campaign. However, the concentration of speed control issues and associated safety incidents makes the 2005 model year riskier than its immediate neighbors. A buyer would be better served by a 2006 or 2007 Taurus, which show substantially fewer complaints and a similar recall profile.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
774
Owner complaints
40 involved a crash · 10 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 774 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control403
Power Train80
Vehicle Speed Control,Engine26
Engine & Engine Cooling20
Air Bags19
Unknown Or Other18
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control16
Vehicle Speed Control,Fuel/Propulsion System14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16E026000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:PadsReported 01/04/2016

Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598… Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 20-22332020-07-13StructureThis article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-20262019-02-07StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
06072006-12-06Power TrainEXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES WITH HARD START WHEN OPERATING ON E85 FUEL…

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 Taurus. 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

How much oil does the 2005 Taurus take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 Taurus have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Taurus get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.