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2006 Ford 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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76,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP AND THE SPARK PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED ON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP AND THE SPARK PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618004

162,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617722

91,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
EnginePower Train

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICE BY A PERSONAL MECHANIC. WHEN CONTACTED, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE SYSTEM JUST NEEDS TO BE RESET. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 TO POSSIBLY 70, THE GAS PEDAL DISENGAGE, I FELT A JERK FROM THE ENGINE AND CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN P…

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THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICE BY A PERSONAL MECHANIC. WHEN CONTACTED, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE SYSTEM JUST NEEDS TO BE RESET. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 TO POSSIBLY 70, THE GAS PEDAL DISENGAGE, I FELT A JERK FROM THE ENGINE AND CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN PRESSED DOWN. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE TO AN EXIT AND TOOK IT. I STOPPED, PRAYED TO AVOID PANIC ATTACK, THE CAR WOULD DRIVE ON REVERSE MANY TIMES WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD WHEN PRESSING ON GAS EXCEPT BY ITSELF VERY SLOWLY. HAD TO LEAVE IT AT A CHURCH AND WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY WITH MY MECHANIC. THE CAR WOULD ENGAGE WITH NO PROBLEM. I WENT TO PEPBOYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. THEY DID AND SERVICE EVERYTHING ELSE, MY BILL WAS ABOUT $475. 2 DAYS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND LATER ON CAR STOPPED THE SAME WAY AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING TO WORK. HAD IT CHECK BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, COULD NOT SEE ANY ENGINE PROBLEM NOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT ADVISE ME TO TAKE IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I AM AFRAID TO GO BECAUSE MY SAVINGS IS NOT YET $500. TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ANY SERVICE REQUIRED. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10616787

98,200 miles · Dec 18, 2013
Power Train

ORIGINAL OWNER UNAWARE OF ISSUES WITH CVT TRANSMISSION UNTIL I HAD ONE AND INVESTIGATED ONLINE .I HAD NOISE AT PARK AND IDLE ALSO REVERSE SOUNDED VERY STRANGE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE MY SAFETY AT RISK AT THIS TIME, IF LET GO THERE IS NO DOUBT LOSS OF PROPULSION WAS EMINENT. THIS TRANSMISSION IS EITHER SO COMPLICAT…

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ORIGINAL OWNER UNAWARE OF ISSUES WITH CVT TRANSMISSION UNTIL I HAD ONE AND INVESTIGATED ONLINE .I HAD NOISE AT PARK AND IDLE ALSO REVERSE SOUNDED VERY STRANGE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE MY SAFETY AT RISK AT THIS TIME, IF LET GO THERE IS NO DOUBT LOSS OF PROPULSION WAS EMINENT. THIS TRANSMISSION IS EITHER SO COMPLICATED OR SO FILLED WITH FLAWS THAT NO TRANSMISSION SHOP I CONTACTED WILL ATTEMPT A REBUILD. FORD HAS A MONOPOLY AS THIS IS ONLY SOURCE FOR A REMANUFACTURED UNIT. IF THIS IS A THROW AWAY PART THEN REMAN SHOULDN'T COST 4300 PLUS LABOR. ABERRANTLY TRANSMISSION WAS SHORT LIVED MAYBE FORD WAS AWARE OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556529

95,000 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Power Train

WHEN YOU SLOW THE CAR WILL QUIT AND WHEN YOU DRIVE IT ON THE OPEN ROAD YOU LOSE POWER NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. NO TOOL LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IT STARTED QUITTING ON ME AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. ON ONE OCCASION I TRIED TO START IT AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE A…

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WHEN YOU SLOW THE CAR WILL QUIT AND WHEN YOU DRIVE IT ON THE OPEN ROAD YOU LOSE POWER NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. NO TOOL LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IT STARTED QUITTING ON ME AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. ON ONE OCCASION I TRIED TO START IT AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED A MODULAR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START CHARGED $1500.00 HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL BECAUSE THE WIRING HAD BURNED STILL CONTINUED TO QUIT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS COMPLAINTS TO FORD ARE THE SAME FROM MANY OWNERS FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED WHEN THE CAR QUITS IN TRAFFIC . FORD HAS DISCONTINUED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS FAULTY HOW CAN THEY BUILD A LEMON AND NOT STAND BEHIND IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548100

137,403 miles · Jul 5, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN. I WAS STOPPING FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR SURGED. LATER, AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR, JERKED AND SURGED. I HAD A RECALL NOTICE OF AN RPM SURGE, SO WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ON …

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THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN. I WAS STOPPING FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR SURGED. LATER, AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR, JERKED AND SURGED. I HAD A RECALL NOTICE OF AN RPM SURGE, SO WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY HUSBAND STARTED TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER AND WHEN HE ACCELERATED, THERE WAS A HESITANCY AND THEN, THE TRANSMISSION "CAUGHT" AND WE WERE ABLE TO PASS. PERIODICALLY, SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523318

28,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY MOTHER'S 2006 FORD 500, HAS FAILED. THIS CAR HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT, WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE MILEAGE THE CAR IS/WAS IN PRISTINE CONDITION UNTIL HER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ON 4/17/13 SHE LEFT HOME, TURNED THE CORNER AND THE CAR SPUTTERED, THEN STALLED A…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY MOTHER'S 2006 FORD 500, HAS FAILED. THIS CAR HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT, WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE MILEAGE THE CAR IS/WAS IN PRISTINE CONDITION UNTIL HER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ON 4/17/13 SHE LEFT HOME, TURNED THE CORNER AND THE CAR SPUTTERED, THEN STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, FORTUNATELY MY SISTER AND A FRIEND WERE ABLE TO COME AND GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. NEXT DAY 4/18/13 SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED ($45) TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO WANTED ($5000) TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, SO SHE HAD IT TOWED ($45) BACK TO HER HOUSE. ON FRIDAY 4/19/13 SHE HAD IT TOWED ($100) TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 33 MILES AWAY. TODAY 4/24/13 SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FORD SERVICE ADVISER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AS IT SHOWS LOTS OF FAULTY STUFF IN THE CIRCUITS. I SPOKE WITH FORD RELATIONSHIP CENTER INITIALLY ON 4/16/13 AND NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES, AND WHILE THEY ACTED AS IF THEY WOULD TRY TO POSSIBLY ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, I CALLED THEM TODAY WITH THE ($6,955) TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, NOW CAME THEIR SO CALLED SYMPATHIZING THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO HELP TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. THEIR REASON IS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION, AS WELL AS THE ARE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AS THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION EXPIRED 8/29/11. SHE WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT SHE WAS TURNING ONTO A FARM ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED, INSTEAD OF BEING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AS THE SITUATION POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509495

99,000 miles · Jan 6, 2013
Power Train

IN SEPT 2012 THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY QUIT ON ME. WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I NEEDED A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION ($6,000). OK'D THE REPAIR ONLY TO FIND OUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AFTER WAITING 12 WEEKS FOR REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED STILL NO PARTS, NO REPAIR. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CONSU…

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IN SEPT 2012 THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY QUIT ON ME. WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I NEEDED A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION ($6,000). OK'D THE REPAIR ONLY TO FIND OUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AFTER WAITING 12 WEEKS FOR REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED STILL NO PARTS, NO REPAIR. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT. WHICH OFFERED NO HELP, NO SATISFACTION. THIS CVT TRANSMISSION IS A TOTAL FAILURE AND FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY. HAD TO TAKE THE TOTAL FALLOUT (BROUGHT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE) ON A BAD PRODUCT WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD WHATSOEVER. AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY HAD TO PAY $291 IN ORDER GET THE CAR RELEASED. SEEMS UNFAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491605

77,235 miles · Nov 20, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OR EXTREMELY LATE RESPONSE THEN LUNGE FORWARD WHEN COMMANDED BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU ARE TURNING IN FRONT OF OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH BEING STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OR A VERY DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE LUNGING ME INTO ON COMING TRAFF…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OR EXTREMELY LATE RESPONSE THEN LUNGE FORWARD WHEN COMMANDED BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU ARE TURNING IN FRONT OF OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH BEING STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OR A VERY DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE LUNGING ME INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE OR THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO ACT UP AFTER THIS HAPPENS. I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH. ALSO THE CAR HAS HAD UNCOMMANDED ENGINE SPEEDS AT A STOP SIGN OR REDLIGHT. SEEMED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL OR THE A/C IS ON. ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE THREE KIDS I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND AND I FEEL UNSAFE IN IT. I HAVE SEEN THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THIS CAR ALL OVER THE INTERNET ADDRESSING FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODIES AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOME THING HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485282

155,000 miles · Nov 13, 2012
Power Train

MY CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON MY CAR JUST STOPS ACCELERATING AND I AM ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT. THE CAR STARTS BACK UP AND DOES IT AGAIN DOWN THE STREET. HAPPENED …

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MY CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON MY CAR JUST STOPS ACCELERATING AND I AM ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT. THE CAR STARTS BACK UP AND DOES IT AGAIN DOWN THE STREET. HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, OF COURSE IT DOESN'T DO IT FOR THE MECHANICS AND NOTHING SHOWS UP ON THE DIAGNOSTICS BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THEY SEE THAT IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE BODY (I DID THE SAME RESEARCH SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH FORD 500'S AMONG OTHER CARS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING). THEY DECIDE TO JUST CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY THINKING IT WOULD STOP AND IS THE CHEAPER OPTION ($350 INSTEAD OF $1000) BUT IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN! THIS TIME TO MY HUSBAND (BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE IT'S UNPREDICTABLE), IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GETS HIM KILLED. SO NOW I AM LOOKING AT $1350 TOTAL WHEN THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD. I HAVE READY SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS, WHY HASN'T FORD RECALLED THE THROTTLE BODY YET????? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484106

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.