IllustrationWHILE DRIVING DASH LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS LEVEL, AND TEMPERATURE GO OUT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS DANGEROUS; UNABLE TO TELL SPEED! PER INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING IN SEVERAL FORD MODELS AND STEMS FROM A BAD SOLDER JOINT.
2005 Ford Five Hundred
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Five Hundred years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
640–25K
7625–50K
8750–75K
8875–100K
79100–150K
49150K+
443 reports with mileage · 67 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.
- Power Train. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
14 reportsINSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY WENT DARK AND/OR GAUGES WENT TO ZERO/OFF POSITIONS, WE PULLED OVER TO SEE IF EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED AND ALL DID, AS WELL AS BLINKERS AND FLASHERS, BUT WE NOTED THAT REVERSE LIGHTS WERE NOW ON. IT HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES, ITS MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DARK AS DASH LIGHTS GO BLACK. ONLY LIGHT ON DA…
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY WENT DARK AND/OR GAUGES WENT TO ZERO/OFF POSITIONS, WE PULLED OVER TO SEE IF EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED AND ALL DID, AS WELL AS BLINKERS AND FLASHERS, BUT WE NOTED THAT REVERSE LIGHTS WERE NOW ON. IT HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES, ITS MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DARK AS DASH LIGHTS GO BLACK. ONLY LIGHT ON DASH WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT. I WENT ONLINE & FOUND INFO ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN "TSB 06-17-9 09/04/06 - INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER", IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL ITEM SO ASSUMING ANY REPAIRS ARE ENTIRELY OWNER COST ? *TR
REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ON DRIVER SIDE, NOTED ELECTRICAL BURN MARKS ON ONE TERMINAL. REPLACEMENT BULB DID NOT WORK, HAD TO WIGGLE TO GET IT TO WORK. QUIT WORKING DAILY WITHOUT WIGGLING WHOLE LIGHTING SOCKET , TOOK APART NOTICED THAT THE SOCKET HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND CRACKED WITH BURN MARK ON METAL FEMALE LEAD. TWO TO THR…
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REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ON DRIVER SIDE, NOTED ELECTRICAL BURN MARKS ON ONE TERMINAL. REPLACEMENT BULB DID NOT WORK, HAD TO WIGGLE TO GET IT TO WORK. QUIT WORKING DAILY WITHOUT WIGGLING WHOLE LIGHTING SOCKET , TOOK APART NOTICED THAT THE SOCKET HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND CRACKED WITH BURN MARK ON METAL FEMALE LEAD. TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK, WIGGLED PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT, CAME BACK ON. SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT SAME TIME. PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING THROUGH AUGUST. FOUND THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER FORD FIVE HUNDREDS DUE TO SOCKETS OVERHEATING. CHECKED PASSENGER SOCKET AND COMPARED TO DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH SOCKETS AND LIGHT BULBS LOOK IDENTICAL IN DAMAGE. BURNED/MELTED PLASTIC ON BULB BASE AND CRACKED BURNED SOCKETS. REPLACED BOTH SIDE BULBS AND SOCKETS LAST WEEKEND, BOTH LIGHTS WORKED FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE APPARENTLY FUSED THE SOCKET WITH THE BULB ON THE DRIVER SIDE. GUESSING THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL DO THE SAME WITHIN NEXT MONTH LIKE IT DID BEFORE.
THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE OVER HEATING AND MELTING CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO OPERATE. I'M JUST NERVOUS THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FIRE AS ALL THE PARTS ARE PLASTIC. I ALSO NOTED ON LINE THAT IT IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR REVERSE SENSOR WOULD ONLY OPERATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR REVERSE SENSOR WOULD ONLY OPERATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE WHILE IN DRIVE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A HARD RESET ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BECAME BRITTLE AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BECAME BRITTLE AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT HAD WORN. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THESE WERE MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,700.
SIMILAR ISSUE AS IN PE07058. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. IN THIS TIME I HAVE NO INSTRUMENTATION AVAILABLE, SPEED, RPM, FUEL, ETC. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, INCLUDING AIRBAG. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING DIMS SIGNIFICANTLY. REVERSE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE EVEN WHILE IN PARK, OR DRIVING FORWARD. *TR
05 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, AWD MALFUNCTION LIGHTS STAYED ON, SPEED FLUCTUATION UPWARD RAPIDLY WHEN TAKE OFF CAUSING VERY UNSAFE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD BECOME DARK INTERMITTENTLY WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD BECOME DARK INTERMITTENTLY WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
AT FIRST OUR 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAD ISSUES WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURES (BLACKING OUT AND NEEDLES ZEROING ETC. BUT NOW REAR BACK UP LIGHTS COME ON GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL .THANK YOU
Official recalls
206V383000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Oct 5, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
05V515000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Nov 9, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
2PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in
PE07058 · Instrument Cluster Failure
Opened Nov 16, 2007 · Closed Mar 11, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF PROPER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OPERATION.TYPICALLY, THE PROBLEM APPEARS AS THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND/OR TEMPERATURE) SWEEPS AND RESETS INTERMITTENTLY.FORD REPORTS THE PROBLEM AS MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTION CAUSES THE GAUGES TO SWEEP AND THEN RECOVER TO NORMAL FUNCTION.IN AUGUST 2006, FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-17-9) TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THIS CONDITION.ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S INFORMATIONREQUEST LETTER REVEALS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTS TO FORD (63%) INDICATE THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER.FORD REPORTS THAT THISLASTS FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS.ALSO FORD STATES, THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD NOT FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVEN IN THE EVENT OF POWER INTERRUPTION TO THE CLUSTER BECAUSE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE POWERED SEPARATELY AND DO NOT RELY ON ANY SIGNAL FROM THE CLUSTER.ADDITIONALLY, ODI CONTACTED COMPLAINANTS WHO AFFIRMED THE INTERMITTENT CONDITION AND THAT NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY POWER INTERRUPTIONS TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.ODI LAST RECEIVED A REPORT REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN AUGUST OF 2007.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.ODI WILL HOWEVER CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ISSUE AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.