2005 Ford Five Hundred

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MARCH 26, 2007. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS AND REAR BRAKES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 19600.*AK THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THE DEALER FIXED THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE WORN AND STATES THAT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. *4/17TR

TOOK MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION (17K MILES), 12 MONTHS OLD. WAS CALLED BY THE FORD DEALER SERVICE MANGER AND TOLD I NEEDED REAR BRAKE PADS ASAP!. I QUESTION HOW A CAR THAT HAS ONLY BEEN OWNED FOR 12 MONTHS NEED BRAKES (AND ONLY REAR ONES!). TOLD FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND RESIGNED THE PADS, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $250 FOR THE BRAKE JOB (I DECLINED). MULTIPLE CONTACTS (VIA EMAIL) TO FORD HQTS. HAVE BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. NO RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM, NO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2005 FORD 500 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 34900 MILES AND HIS REAR BREAK PADS HAVE WORN OUT. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT HIS REAR BREAK PADS ARE GRINDING INTO THE ROTORS, BUT HIS FRONT BREAK PADS ARE LESS THAN HALF WAY WARN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS SERVICE BULLETIN (06-22-17) FROM FORD WHICH STATES THAT DEFECTIVE MATERIALS USED ON THE REAR BREAK PADS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (WEBSTER DUDLEY LINCOLN MERCURY) AND THEY STATED THAT HE WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED FORD AND STATED THAT IT IS A WEAR ITEM AND IS NO LONGER COVERED. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD THE BRAKE PADS FAIL WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ELEVEN DAYS WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF METAL GRINDING ON METAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. FORD AGREES THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE CONTACT WAS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED THISWAS NOT A WEAR ISSUE INSTEAD ITWAS A SAFETY/FAILURE ISSUE. FORD REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. FORD REDESIGNED THE BRAKE PADS DUE TO THIS INCIDENT. FORD STATED RUST APPEARS ON THE BRAKE PADS AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF BRAKE PROBLEMS AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT REFERENCED FORD BULLETIN # 06-22-17. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED IN JULY 2005. I HAD NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLACK BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATED ON THE REAR WHEELS. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 80 TO 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MINIMAL BRAKING. AT 6000 MILES I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAD WORN OUT AND RUINED THE ROTORS. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES ON WARRANTY. AT 32,000 MILES DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE SHOP MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE GONE. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAD COMPLETED THE LAST BRAKE REPLACEMENT AND ASKED THEM IF PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 500 HUNDRED. THEY DID NOT RESPOND. I ASKED THEM IF THEY THOUGHT IT UNUSUAL FOR THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT TWICE IN 32,000 MILES? I TOLD THEM THAT ALL OF MY OTHER VEHICLES WHICH WEAR/ARE DRIVEN IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS USUALLY DO NOT NEED A BRAKE REPLACEMENT UNTIL THEY ARE AT 80,000 MILES OR MORE? THEY TOLD ME THAT IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE MY DRIVING HABITS. I DO NOT DRIVE ANY DIFFERENTLY NOW THAT I HAVE OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS. THEY TOLD ME ON THIS SECOND VISIT FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AND IF THEY DID NOT FIND A MECHANICAL PROBLEM, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE STICKING. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE REAR ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACE AGAIN. FOR SOME REASON TWICE NOW THE REAR BRAKES ARE FAILING LONG BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE EVENT 25% OF THEIR WEAR GONE. IT APPEARS THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE DOING MOST OF THE BRAKING AND THE FRONT ARE DOING LITTLE. THIS MAY CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM . *JB

I TOOK MY 2005 FORD 500 WITH 18,000 MILES TO THE DEALER FOR A NOISE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND AFTER REPLACING THE STRUT UNDER WARRANTY TO TAKE CARE OF THE NOISE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY REAR BRAKES SHOULD BE REQUIRED AND CERTAINLY NO EXCUSE FOR THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAVE 18,000 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM SINCE THE REAR BRAKE WHEELS ARE DOING MOST OF THE WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY FORD AND NHTSA. *JB

SUBJECT: EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. NEW CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 17, 2005. REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED BY FORD DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 13, 2006 AT 29,976 MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON NOV. 17, 2006 AT 46,691 MILES. WHY DID THE FORD FACTORY REAR BRAKE PADS/ROTORS GET 29,976 MILES AND FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED REAR BRAKE PAD/ROTORS GET ONLY 16,715 MILES? PADS FRONT: FORD FACTORY INSTALLED STILL ON CAR WITH 46,691 MILES: LEFT FRONT: OUTSIDE 6MM THICK INSIDE 8MM THICK RIGHT FRONT: OUTSIDE 6 MM THICK INSIDE 8 MM THICK PADS REAR: FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW 0 MILES LEFT REAR: OUTSIDE 8 MM THICK INSIDE 10 MM THICK RIGHT REAR: OUTSIDE 8MM THICK INSIDE 10 MM THICK FORD RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS IS LESS THAN 3 MM. THE FRONT PADS ARE 6 INCHES LONG AND THE REAR PADS ARE ONLY 2 INCHES LONG. WHY ARE THE REAR PADS ONLY 1/3 THE SIZE OF THE FRONT PADS? THE REAR WHEEL RIMS ARE ALWAYS BLACK WITH EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. THE FRONT WHEEL RIMS HAVE VERY LITTLE BRAKE DUST. THE REAR WHEELS WHEN JACKED UP AND SPUN BY HAND SEEM TO DRAG ON THE PADS/ROTORS. OTHER CARS I HAVE WILL SPIN BY HAND 8 TO 10 SECONDS. THE FORD 500 WILL SPIN ONLY 3 SECONDS. IS IT POSSIBLE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE THE PROBLEM FOR THIS DRAG AND WEAR? THE FORD DEALER IS HELPFUL, BUT FORD WARRANTY IS ONLY 18,000 MILES/12 MONTHS ON FACTORY INSTALLED BRAKES, AND 12,000/12 MONTHS ON FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED BRAKES. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER. THEIR ANSWER WAS THAT THERE ARE NO BRAKE PROBLEMS. FORD DEALERSHIP CHECKED WITH THE FORD FACTORY TECH AND AGAIN NO BRAKE PROBLEMS. NHTSA WEB SITE HAS 11 COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. HOW CAN FORD CORP AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP TELL ME THERE ARE NO REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE REAR ROTORS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE ROTORS DUE TO BRAKE PAD DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISORY IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER # 10014650 ABOUT THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. THE VEHICLE WAS ON ITS THIRD SET OF BRAKE PADS.

I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD 500 NEW IN JULY 2005. I HAD IT SERVICED BY THE BOOK AT MY DEALERSHIP. ON NOV 14,2006 I TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THE 22,000 MILE CHECK UP. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AND "ROTORS". SINCE 75% OF THESE MILES ARE ALL HIGHWAY MILES (VERY LITTLE BRAKING), THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY REAR BRAKES SHOULD BE REQUIRED....AND CERTAINLY NO EXCUSE FOR THE ROTORS NEEDING REPLACED. SINCE I TAKE EXTREMELY GOOD CAR OF MY VEHICLES, INCLUDING WASHING IT BY HAND, I HAVE NOTICED SINCE I BOUGHT IT THAT THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALWAYS BLACK WITH BRAKE DUST. THE FRONT WHEELS ARE TYPICALLY CLEAN. THAT MUST MEAN THE REAR WHEELS ARE DOING MOST OF THE WORK. THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT AN ENGINEERING ISSUE. ALSO, HAVING VISITED THE NHTSA WEBSITE, IT IS LITTERED WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD 500 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AND VIA THEIR REPORTS, A DENIAL BY FORD THAT THERE IS NOT PROBLEM. (WONDER WHY THEY ARE ON THE ROPES AS A CAR MAKER???) I "CHATTED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO NO AVAIL. I PLAN ON GOING HIGHER....WISH ME LUCK. ON THE OTHER HAND, I PRESENT TO BETWEEN 15 AND 20 THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY TALKING ABOUT INTEGRITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. FORD IS ABOUT TO LEARN THE TRUE MEANING OF THE TERM "CUSTOMER TERRORIST". I CAN ASSURE THEM THAT I WILL GET MY MONEY'S WORTH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED TIMES OVER. MAYBE YOU SHOULD WISH THEM LUCK...THEY ARE GOING TO NEED IT. *NM