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Ford Territory 2005 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2005 Ford Territory? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2005 Ford Territory issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2005 Ford Territory in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Ford Territory review: 2004-2015
By Ewan Kennedy · 30 Mar 2016
Ford Territory is arguably the best vehicle ever designed by Ford Australia. Indeed some even say it may be the best automotive design in Australia bar none. Territory is based on the Ford Falcon and shares some of its mechanical components, particularly in the powertrain, but many parts are unique to the big wagon.
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Used Ford Territory review: 2004-2012
By Ewan Kennedy · 25 Feb 2013
Ford Territory is unique in being an Australian-designed and built SUV. Every other vehicle in this market segment is an imported design that may or may not have been adapted to suit Australia driving conditions.Launched way back in May 2004, with a major makeover in May 2011, the Ford Territory showcases the immense talent of Australian automotive engineering.While it’s getting on in years, it looks to have some life left in it yet. Older models are holding their values well, particularly with smart buyers who are more interested in Aussie practicality than in Euro prestige.The Territory SUV is based on the Ford Falcon and shares some of its mechanical components, particularly in the powertrain, but quite a few other parts are unique to the wagon.Seating in Ford Territory is for five or seven people according to the number of rows of seats installed. The third row of seats isn’t too bad for adults, with good head and reasonable legroom.However, a more realistic passenger load is four adults and three children. Luggage space with all seven seats in place isn’t expansive, but the Territory is hardly on its own in this regard.Fascinatingly, the Territory SUV isn’t nearly as large as it appears, being significantly shorter than a Falcon station wagon. Indeed, it surprises many who learn that it’s not even as long as a Falcon sedan. Thus the Territory is easier to drive and park than many expect. Good handling and ride comfort are major features of the Territory, it’s well-suited to Australian roads and also meets the tough needs of keen Aussie drivers. The big Ford has precise handling for a big wagon and rides better than many European 4WDs that cost far more.Ford Territory uses major components from Falcon’s six-cylinder drivetrain, including a turbocharged variant of the engine from July 2006. There's no V8 option as Ford feels the big sixes have been developed to the stage where they virtually replace the eight. Territory with a petrol engine isn't the most economical of vehicles, though things have improved over the years due to advances in engine technology. The six-speed autos are noticeably better than the four-speeds.Automatic transmissions are used on all models. The auto had four forward speeds on all models until October 2005, when a six-speed was introduced on the upmarket models. The automatic six is the only transmission installed in the turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel Territory.The big news in the face lifted territory was the long-overdue option of a turbo-diesel engine. The diesel is a 2.7-litre V6 diesel and runs a single turbocharger. It uses the latest thinking in variable-vane turbines, as well as high-pressure injection to produce maximum power of 140 kilowatts. Torque of 440 Newton metres is produced between 1900 and 2500 revs.Interestingly, Jaguar and Land Rover use diesels from the same engine family as the Territory unit.Territory is sold with two-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The sales split has generally been in the region of 60/40 in favour of the 2WD model, proving that most buyers of 4WDs are in reality looking for a practical wagon, not an off-road vehicle.Electronic aids improve traction off-road in the Ford Territory 4WD variants so they can handle virtually anything the adventurous family demands. In particular, there are hill-start and hill-descent assistance features and these take much of the scariness out of extreme slopes.Though there's good under-bonnet and under-vehicle access, this is a modern vehicle that’s complex in its mechanical components. So unless you are an expert it’s best to leave all but the simplest of repairs and maintenance to the professionals. Spare parts for the Territory are generally favourably priced and we haven’t heard of any recurring complaints about availability.Virtually every town of any significance has a Ford dealership, and many private garages will have a mechanic or two who was trained in a Ford workshop. Insurance is usually towards the bottom end of the scale, but some companies may take exception to turbocharged engines so ask around before settling for one insurer or the other.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe big Ford wagon is built to a reasonably high standard in Ford's Australian factory at Geelong. We do see the occasional problems so be sure to get a professional inspection.Check the engine starts up easily and idles smoothly and quietly.Make sure the automatic transmission works quietly and doesn’t hold onto gears, or change gears too often when it really should be holding the one ratio.Ensure that the brakes work properly with the ABS system pulling the Territory up in a straight line.Possible leaks at front brake hoses were the subject of a voluntary recall in March 2009. Check with a Ford dealer or the company's head office to see if the work has been done.Take the wagon for a run on rough roads to see if there are any rattles or squeaks as cabin parts move. Even the rear-drive models are sometimes used to explore bush tracks and the like.Look at the condition of the body, especially on an AWD in case one has been taken into off-road territory. Signs of the latter damage are generally at the bumper corners, the underneath of the door sills and on the underbody. Also look for tiny scratches in the body side where it has been squeezed through bushes and the like.Visually check the condition of the interior as kids can do a lot of damage when they get bored.CAR BUYING TIPPeople movers suffer more severe interior use and abuse than just about anything this side of sanitary collection vehicles. Check the condition of all areas inside a Territory carefully.
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2005 Territory a lemon
Answered by Graham Smith · 16 Oct 2015

Unfortunately I don't think there is much you can do about it, the car is 10 years old and well beyond the warranty. It's even stretching the limit where you might expect goodwill. You bought an old car without inspecting it, took the salesman's word, and bought a model with known issues.

It shouldn't matter how old a safety recall is, it's a safety issue, so it needs to be fixed. That's why there's no actual time limit for these repairs to be made.

Here's the official response from the Department of Infrastructure: “There are no time limits applied to vehicle recalls by the department. It is expected that if a vehicle is presented for an older recall, the manufacturer will repair it as per the original recall notice”.

The potential spanner in the works there would be if the manufacturer is no longer represented in Australia or, if the parts required were no longer being made or otherwise available. In any case, this would definitely be worth chasing up with Ford as the recall was for potentially faulty brake lines which could cause a catastrophic failure with horrendous results.

My 2005 Ford Territory keeps shutting down when driving
Answered by David Morley · 07 Dec 2022

Relatively modern, computerised cars like the Territory absolutely loathe low battery voltage. Without enough electricity to power all the fuel-injection and electronic ignition systems (not to mention the electric fuel pump and the on-board computers) the car will never run properly and is a good bet to enter limp-home mode as you've described. Other symptoms include the dazzling array of warning lights on the dashboard as the various on-board computer systems are left high and dry by a lack of voltage.

You're possibly on the right track with a replacement alternator as the 12.6 volts it's outputting is nowhere near enough to power the Territory successfully. Closer to 14 volts (at least about 13.7) checked at the battery terminal with the engine running and all lights and accessories switched off is where you should be.

Unfortunately, you've already replaced a whole bunch of parts that were probably okay. This approach of random replacement can ultimately cost you a lot of money you didn't need to spend, and a much better way is to have the car scanned to see if there's any electronic fault codes to give you a clue on what's wrong. But even if the alternator is not the sole cause of your problems, at 12.6 volts it is, indeed, worn out and should be replaced or reconditioned.

You could visually check the transfer case and CV joints, but I doubt you’ll see anything that might tell there’s a problem with them. It could also be a diff. Get it to a specialist mechanic and have them check it for you.

Early model Ford Territory recall service
Answered by Graham Smith · 03 Jun 2016

The recall was to inspect the front-end on the Territory when it became obvious there was a widespread problem with the front lower balljoints wearing out prematurely. It related to the early models, which included yours. It was an inspection and some balljoints that were worn were replaced, but it didn't fix the problem. The balljoints still wear and as a rule require replacement every 75,000 km or so for the rest of the car's life. There was change to the design of the Territory front-end in in 2010 and that fixed the problem. I doubt you'll have any joy getting Ford to replace the joints for you free of charge; your car is now 11 years old and well out of warranty.

Ford Territory vibrating when stopped
Answered by David Morley · 22 Nov 2022

It sounds as though the engine’s idle-speed is set a little too low, and that’s making the engine feel lumpy (because it’s almost stalling). Having the transmission in Drive is adding a little load to the equation, slowing the engine even further. There are many things that can cause this, including a stepper-motor that is faulty and not controlling the idle properly.

The best advice is to have the car scanned for a hardware or sensor fault and proceed from there. But first, try this: With the engine idling and in Drive (and the vibration present) turn off the air-conditioning. If the vibration goes away, it could be that the electronics that detect the extra drag of the air-conditioner and automatically bump up the idle, aren’t working properly.

The Territory has a yellow check-engine light just on the outside of the tachometer’s face, around the 2000rpm mark. Perhaps that’s what you saw flickering on. This is probably nothing to worry about as the light immediately switched itself off, suggesting that whatever the problem was, it was a fleeting one.

This light is linked to the car’s onboard diagnostic system which monitors the entire car for faults and then logs them for future problem-shooting. If a problem occurs twice within a certain time-frame, then the check-engine light must illuminate to warn the driver to have the car checked and the problem fixed.

If the light reappears and stay lit up, then you need to act to have the problem found and fixed before it has the chance to do any permanent damage to the car’s driveline. As a side-note, a car with an illuminated check-engine light is technically unroadworthy.

The transmission in this era of Ford Territories was notorious for suffering a failed transmission oil cooler. If that happened, the coolant would often mix with the transmission’s fluid, causing massive damage to both the electronics and the mechanical components of the transmission. In severe cases, the vehicle could lose drive altogether. A replacement transmission is the usual fix, so it’s an expensive failure.

But the first check to make is of another part of the Territory that is also known for giving trouble. In this case, though, the end result is nothing like as dramatic as it’s caused by damaged or poorly adjusted (loose) selector linkages. A quick tighten or adjustment will have the transmission operating properly again, but you need to ascertain what’s causing your problem in the first place. Don’t forget to check that there’s actually sufficient fluid inside the transmission, too, as low fluid can cause a loss of drive. Most workshops will be able to diagnose either problem pretty quickly.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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