IllustrationROUGH ACCELERATION FROM STOP FOR YEARS. AFTER 218,000 MILES ENGINE SHUTS OFF REPORTING ENGINE FAIL-SAFE MODE. WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR COUPLE, 5-MINUTES. DEALER STATES BAD THROTTLE BODY - $900.00 REPAIR. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
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
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
24 reportsMY FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAS BEEN UNEXPECTEDLY SURGING WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING FORWARD AND REVERSE. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT…
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MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAS BEEN UNEXPECTEDLY SURGING WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING FORWARD AND REVERSE. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS. THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED THE SAME ISSUE ON BLOGS AND WEBSITES I HAVE READ. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
OUT SIDE AIR TEMP WAS APPROX 96 DEGREES SO AC WAS ON . WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE LUNGED SO HARD IT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE,AND UNSTOPPABLE, IF SOME ONE HAD STEPPED OUT BEHIND ME THEY WOULD HAVE DIED AS I COULD ONLY STOP REWARD MOVEMENT BY SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPAC…
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OUT SIDE AIR TEMP WAS APPROX 96 DEGREES SO AC WAS ON . WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE LUNGED SO HARD IT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE,AND UNSTOPPABLE, IF SOME ONE HAD STEPPED OUT BEHIND ME THEY WOULD HAVE DIED AS I COULD ONLY STOP REWARD MOVEMENT BY SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A CROWDED MALL.THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE LUNGING WAS SO FAST THE BRAKES COULD HARDLY HOLD THE CAR FROM MOVING IN REVERSE. IN CHECKING THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-05-25-13 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON THIS VERY ISSUE BUT NO RECALL, ALSO MANY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS RECORDED IN THIS REGARD. IF I WAS NOT PREPARED ENOUGH DURING THIS INCIDENT IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT SOME ONE WOULD HAVE DIED, THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED B-4 SOMEONE IS RUN OVER. CURRENTLY FORD HAS NO COMMENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS. *TR
WHEN BACK UP THE CAR ACCELERATES LIKE YOU ARE ON THE GAS BUT THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT TOUCH. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, ONCE YOU TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPEN IF STOP AT A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OR EVEN WHILE IN PARK THE CAR WILL JUST ACCELERATE WITHOUT W…
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WHEN BACK UP THE CAR ACCELERATES LIKE YOU ARE ON THE GAS BUT THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT TOUCH. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, ONCE YOU TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPEN IF STOP AT A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OR EVEN WHILE IN PARK THE CAR WILL JUST ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING! MY DAUGHTER ALMOST HIT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE CROSS WALK AND ALL SHE DID WAS RELEASE THE BRAKE TO MOVE UP AFTER A CAR TURN AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ACCELERATE AFTER JUST BEING STOP AT A LIGHT OR MOVING AT SLOW SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS, BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. LAST OIL CHANGE AT FORD DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS...... *TR
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.