IllustrationTHE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. AND NEARLY PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THEN ON THE HWY HAS LOSE OF POWER NEARLY REAR-ENDED @60MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOW W/WRENCH. DIAGNOSED CODE P2106 AND P2135 THROTTLE BODY . OCCURS MORE WHEN A/C IS ON. HAD AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *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
Power Train complaints
136 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BOTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BOTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102, 000.
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD 500 LTD AWD IN MAY 2008. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A LEASE TURN IN. THE MILEAGE WAS VERY LOW, UNDER 30,000 MILES. THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2008. IN OCTOBER 2008, MY DASH BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. THE GAUGES WOULD GO COMPLETELY DEAD. I COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING, HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT OR TH…
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I PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD 500 LTD AWD IN MAY 2008. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A LEASE TURN IN. THE MILEAGE WAS VERY LOW, UNDER 30,000 MILES. THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2008. IN OCTOBER 2008, MY DASH BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. THE GAUGES WOULD GO COMPLETELY DEAD. I COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING, HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT OR THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE. NOTHING ON MY DASH WOULD WORK. IT VARIED FROM LASTING SECONDS TO APPX A HALF AN HOUR. I DROVE HOME ONE NIGHT (IT TOOK ME APPX 25 MINUTES) NOT KNOWING HOW FAST I WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT. ALSO, THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE ON WHEN MY CAR WAS IN BOTH DRIVE AND PARK. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT (MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE) AND THE REVERSE SENSOR ALARM WENT OFF WHEN A CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT FROM & WERE TOLD IT WAS A CLUSTER IN THE DASH THAT WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE" BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE" FORD DID NOT HAVE TO RECALL THIS. I FEEL THAT NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO HAVING YOUR REVERSE LIGHTS ON WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK OR DRIVE SEEMS A BIT DANGEROUS AS WELL. WE HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT COST US OVER 400.00. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, WE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER "CLUSTER" REPAIRED THAT WAS MAKING MY TRANSMISSION SHAKE & THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT APPEAR. IT WAS A SENSOR THAT WENT BAD AND WAS MAKING MY CAR THINK IT WAS OUT OF GAS. THIS COST US ALMOST 350.00 TO REPAIR. NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SENSORS/CLUSTERS ON THESE CARS BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. *TR
MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME FROM CHURCH IN BUSY TRAFFIC. THE 2005 500 FORD MOVED INTO ETC - ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, 22 JANUARY. WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AS SOON AS MONDAY ARRIVES. *LN
TRAVELING ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS TRACTOR TRAILER DEPRESSED THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO NEXT LOWER GEAR THAN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR. LOSS OF ALL ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THAN TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE ELECTRONICALLY DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE (NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ALL, M…
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TRAVELING ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS TRACTOR TRAILER DEPRESSED THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO NEXT LOWER GEAR THAN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR. LOSS OF ALL ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THAN TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE ELECTRONICALLY DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE (NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ALL, MIND YOU I WAS TRYING TO PASS) ENGINE REVOLUTIONS INCREASED TO OVER 7,000 RPM. BOTH TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER A BRIEF REST AT SIDE OF RODE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND COULD BE MOVED BOTH LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AFTER 5 OR 10 RESTARTS BOTH ERROR LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED. *TR
OUR CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT OFTEN HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT ALSO ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WILL ALL LIGHT UP, AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING US TO HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. WHEN WE TRY TO RESTART THE CAR IT…
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OUR CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT OFTEN HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT ALSO ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WILL ALL LIGHT UP, AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING US TO HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. WHEN WE TRY TO RESTART THE CAR IT WILL SPUTTER AND DIE AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET IT TO A PARKING LOT, WE HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. WE HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SPARK PLUGS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DROVE IT AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND FOUND NOTHING TO TELL THEM ANYTHING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY WEEK OR SO FOR NEARLY A YEAR, AND NO ONE CAN TELL US WHAT'S WRONG. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR A MONTH. MANY PEOPLE'S DESCRIPTION OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION BODY MATCHES OUR DESCRIPTION, BUT THAT PART IS, APPARENTLY, ON BACKORDER. THE CAR IS ESSENTIALLY UN-DRIVABLE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT COUNT ON IT TO GET TO US WORK ON TIME OR SAFELY. *TR
2005 FORD 500 AWD MALFUNCTION, FORDS REFUSAL TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
WE OWN A 2005 FORD 500 AND MY WIFE HAS TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS TO HAVE AN ISSUE LOOKED AT. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON HER OVER A DOZEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAS GONE INTO FAIL SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LURCH WHEN IN GEAR EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. I'VE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ON LINE AND IT …
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WE OWN A 2005 FORD 500 AND MY WIFE HAS TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS TO HAVE AN ISSUE LOOKED AT. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON HER OVER A DOZEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAS GONE INTO FAIL SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LURCH WHEN IN GEAR EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. I'VE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ON LINE AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY HURT. *TR
SHIFTING CONCERNS ARE GENERALLY NOTICED DURING PASSING MANEUVERS WITH TRANSMISSION AT TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 212 F (100 C) OPERATING TEMPERATURES. SYMPTOMS MAY BE PRESENT DURING DOWNSHIFT 5-3 AT 35 MPH (56 KM/H) AND/OR 4-3 AT 20 MPH (32 KM/H) WITH THROTTLE OPENING AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OR GREATER AND INCLUDE: HARSH SHIFT AN…
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SHIFTING CONCERNS ARE GENERALLY NOTICED DURING PASSING MANEUVERS WITH TRANSMISSION AT TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 212 F (100 C) OPERATING TEMPERATURES. SYMPTOMS MAY BE PRESENT DURING DOWNSHIFT 5-3 AT 35 MPH (56 KM/H) AND/OR 4-3 AT 20 MPH (32 KM/H) WITH THROTTLE OPENING AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OR GREATER AND INCLUDE: HARSH SHIFT AND/OR CLUNK NOISE DELAYED SHIFT AND/OR PERCEIVED SLIP/ENGINE FLARE. *TR
FORD 500 SE 2005 . PUT THE CAR DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE CAR LUNGES. PUSH DOWN ON ACCELERATOR AND CAR LAGS . THROTTLE BODY DEFECTIVE. HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BACK ORDERED UNTIL DECEMBER. *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.