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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
104 reportsI WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST STALLED OUT ON ME WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. HAD TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND TRY TO RESTART CAR, RESTARTED AND THEN AS SOON AS I PUT IT INTO DRIVE IT STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES UNTIL I COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT LIGHT AND STOP AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. FINALLY GO…
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I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST STALLED OUT ON ME WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. HAD TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND TRY TO RESTART CAR, RESTARTED AND THEN AS SOON AS I PUT IT INTO DRIVE IT STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES UNTIL I COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT LIGHT AND STOP AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. FINALLY GOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOT HOME. THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WHILE PICKING UP CHILDREN FROM DAYCARE. STALLED OUT WHILE AT LOW RPM AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. HAD FUEL FILTER REPLACED. HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AT THE STORE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SPENT OVER 6 HOURS TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND PCM REPROGRAMMED/UPDATED. WITHOUT MUCH CONFIDENCE, THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DROVE IT FOR A DAY AND THEN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN TRAFFIC WHEN AT LOW RPM, WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AT INTERSECTION CAR STALLED OUT! FINALLY GOT IT STARTED BY HOLDING BRAKE AND PUSHING ON ACCELERATOR WHILE PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE SO THAT IT WOULD NOT STALL OUT. DROVE IT HOME AND HAVE NOT TAKEN IT OUT SINCE. EXPECT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ON "DIAGNOSTICS" WHEN FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM PART AND THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND IT!!!!! THEY HAVE PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK MORE THAN ONCE AND THEY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
ONE DAY DRIVING MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED AS I AM GETTIN ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR DIDNT ACCELERATE EFFECTIVELY ACTIVATING RPM SURGES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T SPEED MORE THAN 30MPH DOING SO TAKING LONG NEARLY CAUSING A ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO SLOWING FLOW OF TRAFFIC AFTER FINALLY GETTING HOME AND PARKED THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIDN'T START IT …
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ONE DAY DRIVING MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED AS I AM GETTIN ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR DIDNT ACCELERATE EFFECTIVELY ACTIVATING RPM SURGES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T SPEED MORE THAN 30MPH DOING SO TAKING LONG NEARLY CAUSING A ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO SLOWING FLOW OF TRAFFIC AFTER FINALLY GETTING HOME AND PARKED THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIDN'T START IT WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START I HAD A MECHANIC COME LOOK AT THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER THE PCM WOULD ALSO CLICK WHEN TRYING TO START AFTER DOING RESEARCH I DISCOVERED NHTSA HAD A RECALL FOR FORD FIVE HUNDREDS 12N03 AND IN THE SUMMARY IT INCLUDED THROTTLE AND PCM REPROGRAMMING AND CLEANING OR REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY. THEREFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THESES BEING THE CARS ISSUES HOWEVER FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NOT REPROGRAMMED WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER 12N03 PROTECTION PROGRAM. *TR
MY CAR HAS ENGINE READ CODE P2107 AND P2110 ON THREE OCCASIONS NOW AND WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING ITS A LITTLE WRENCH UP AND MY CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE PAST 20 IT HAPPENED ONCE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE EXPRESSWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE COMPUTER MODULE BUT THE FAILURE PE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE COMPUTER MODULE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AND THE FAIL SAFE ENGINE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AND THE FAIL SAFE ENGINE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
THROTTLE/ACCELERATOR THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES WITHOUT PUSHING THE PEDAL. I HAVE ALMOST HIT VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. IT APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, THEN ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION CENTER AND A LITTLE WRENCH WAS ALSO DISPLAYED. WITH NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL OVER QUICKLY IN LUNCHTIME TRAFFIC. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, I WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTED IT. NO PROBLEMS WITH …
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I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, THEN ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION CENTER AND A LITTLE WRENCH WAS ALSO DISPLAYED. WITH NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL OVER QUICKLY IN LUNCHTIME TRAFFIC. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, I WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTED IT. NO PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A MECHANICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE AC. IT APPEARED, AT FIRST, THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD COME OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I SUDDENLY REMEMBERED TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE RPMS SUDDENLY STUCK ON 3000 AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES AND STUTTERS SLIGHTLY WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN VERY SLIGHT INCLINES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE MOUNTS TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE MOUNTS TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/03/14*LJ UPDATED 09/25/2014 *JS
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.