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

What owners actually said

510 reports

38,800 miles · Apr 29, 2008

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES EXCESSIVE WEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226002

34,500 miles · Apr 28, 2008

Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.

NHTSA ODI #10225911

4,000 miles · Apr 18, 2008

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSE TO HER RESIDENCE AND DROVE THERE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE PCM AND TCM WERE REPROGRAMMED. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS CHARGED OVER $500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08

NHTSA ODI #10224884

34,000 miles · Apr 11, 2008

Air BagsSeat Belts

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER SEEMED TO IGNORE THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT IT WAS MINIMAL. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HIS SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAM AT THE BELT WAS LOOSE. THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $129. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 05/07/08 *BF UPDATED 05/07/08

NHTSA ODI #10224212

34,086 miles · Apr 11, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY(SURGING). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. JUST BEFORE GETTING HOME THE ENGINE BACKFIRED THROUGH THE TAILPIPE(TWICE) THE CAR STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP. AN EXHAUST VALVE HEAD AND THE REMAINS OF THE PISTON…

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NHTSA ODI #10224191

37,500 miles · Apr 8, 2008

Electrical System

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I WOULD LIKE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED FOR THE FORD 500, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS A DEFECT CAUSING ALL OF THE NEEDLES AND CONTROLS TO MALFUNCTION LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE OR TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FORD IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS, HOWEVER, WITH NO RECALL YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PANEL AND THIS MAY KEEP SOME PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEM REPLACED, I WAS CHARGED A $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR AND IN ALL FAIRNESS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A FORD RECALL SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223728

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2008

Electrical System

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I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED USED LAST 2/07; ON 3/4/08 MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. NO GAUGES, LIGHTS, NOTHING. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER 3/5/08 WHO LOOKED AT IT, AFTER 3 HOURS RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING I NEEDED A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT THEY HAD TO ORDER ONE AND SAID TO COME BACK WHEN THEY HAD IT. THE PANEL WORKED, SO I WONDERED WHAT WAS UP; HOWEVER AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT MOMENTARILY BEFORE WORKING AGAIN PERIODICALLY. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM FORD ABOUT MY PART, ALSO, THEY SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT, I'VE OWNED 5 CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD AN INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED EVER. I'VE OWNED VEHICLES FOR 10 YEARS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE YET TO GET THE PART REPLACED, AS THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ONE YET. SO I RISK MY SAFETY EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222572

22,000 miles · Mar 26, 2008

Air BagsSeat BeltsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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TL*THE CONTACT'S CLIENT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE THE CLIENT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. THE CLIENT ALSO APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ENCOUNTERED A PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. SHE CROSSED OVER THE DOUBLE-YELLOW LINE ON A 2-LANE ROAD AND PASSED THE PICKUP TRUCK. THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP INFORMED POLICE THAT HE NOTICED BRAKES BEING APPLIED, SMELLED, AND SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CLIENT THEN SIDE SWIPED A GUARDRAIL FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET. THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE ROADWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET AND LANDED ON ITS SIDE. AT THAT TIME, ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED AT A RECENTLY PLANTED FLOWER BED. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DISENGAGED AS WELL. PART OF THE CRASH WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE BY A PENNSYLVANIA DOT SURVEILLANCE CAMERA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10222361

31,058 miles · Mar 21, 2008

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. ON JULY 11, 2007, THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON JULY 17, AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 25, OCTOBER 3, NOVEMBER 2, AND DECEMBER 18. THE DEALER DID NOT RETURN THE VEHICLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 23,2008. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AGAIN AND THE DEALER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 20, 2008. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 31,058.

NHTSA ODI #10221974

60,300 miles · Mar 14, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ON TUESDAY MORNING AND MY FORD 500 (2005) SHUT DOWN AND THE MESSAGE FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE CAME ON ALONG WITH A WRENCH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. CAR IS NOW IMMOVABLE AND WAITING TO BE TOWED IN TO …

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NHTSA ODI #10221199

Official recalls

06V383000 · 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

PE11018 · 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.