IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN MADE 1 BONG. FORD DEALER SAID I HAVE A BAD CONTROL MODULE AND PART IS NOT COVERED. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM SHOULD IT BE COVERED? SHOULD THIS MODULE BE RECALLED?
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
What owners actually said
510 reportsDRIVING WHEN THE CALL RPM DROP AND ABS GOES OUT CAR WON'T EXCELERATE "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE " IS WHAT IT SAYS N MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND RENCH LIGHT ON, HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON. CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM AND WILL RANDOMLY EXCE…
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DRIVING WHEN THE CALL RPM DROP AND ABS GOES OUT CAR WON'T EXCELERATE "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE " IS WHAT IT SAYS N MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND RENCH LIGHT ON, HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON. CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM AND WILL RANDOMLY EXCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH RPMS RISING AND YET I'M NO WHERE NEAR GAS PEDAL, I'M ON BRAKES. AS MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL MALFUNCTION AND ALL GAUGES WILL GO TO ZERO AND WIGGLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WILL BE DISPLAYED THEM GOES COMPLETELY BLACK, THIS HAS ALSO BEEN VERY UNSAFE OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE AT NIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR SPEND OR GAS OR ANYTHING. AND THE FAIL-SAFE MODE ALSO HAS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HAVE CRASHED AS WELL AS BEEN CRASHED INTO OVER FOUR DOZEN TIMES. SEEING HOW I PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED AND NOTHING CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT ... IT'S VERY SCARY AND I WORRY FOR MY LIFE EACH TIME I DRIVE
ESTABA MANEJANDO HACIA MI TRABAJO Y ME APARECIO EN EL PANEL FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE, NO PUDE SEGUIR MANEJANDO MAS POR QUE ME ESTABA FALLANDO EL ANDAR DEL AUTO.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE EVER AGAIN!!!!!! I OWN A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2012 ON THE THROTTLE BODY, A FORD DEALER SUPPOSABLY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, WELL NOW ITS NOT DRIVEABLE. WE HAVE SINCE TALKED TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS INCLUDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY , THEY ALL SAID IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILIT…
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I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE EVER AGAIN!!!!!! I OWN A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2012 ON THE THROTTLE BODY, A FORD DEALER SUPPOSABLY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, WELL NOW ITS NOT DRIVEABLE. WE HAVE SINCE TALKED TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS INCLUDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY , THEY ALL SAID IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE PART WAS RECALLED !!! THE CAR COULD STALL AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING PUTTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AT RISK, I DON'T THINK MUCH OF THIS AUTOMOBILE COMPANY FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THERE PRODUCT, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND A FORD VEHICLE TO FRIENDS,FAMILY OR EVEN MY WORST ENEMY NEVER NEVER AGAIN!!!!
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF MY CAR AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULDN'T HAVE AN POWER. I NOTICED THAT THE MESSAGE IN MY DASH READ: FAILED SAFE MODE. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I AFRAID,WE WOULD BE REAR ENDED BECAUSE THOUGH,THE CAR WAS ST…
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I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF MY CAR AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULDN'T HAVE AN POWER. I NOTICED THAT THE MESSAGE IN MY DASH READ: FAILED SAFE MODE. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I AFRAID,WE WOULD BE REAR ENDED BECAUSE THOUGH,THE CAR WAS STILL ON,I HAD NO POWER TO CONTINUE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT CONTINUED TO GO INTO FAIL SAFE MODE,THEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A WRENCH TOOL,ALSO IN THE MESSAGE BOARD. AFTER BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR 20 MINUTES,THE CAR FINALLY CRUNK UP,SO I COULD MOVE IT OUT THE ROAD. AS,I CRUNK THE CAR,I DIDN'T HAVE MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO PUT MY FEET IN THE BREAK BECAUSE THEY CAR WAS MOUNTING AS IF I WAS PUSHING THE GAS. WHEN I FINALLY GOT READY TO PULL OFF BARELY TOUCHING THE GAS,IT JERKED OFF REALLY FAST,CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TERRIFIED! I GOT THE CAR HOME AND CALLED MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME TO BRING TO HIM THE NEXT MORNING. I GET UP THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT REPEATEDLY WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE,WHERE I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I FINALLY GOT IT TO GO AFTER AN HOUR AND IT DID THE SAME,AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP.THE MECHANIC TESTED IT AND SAID,THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO,TOLD,THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE SAME CARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AS IM EXPERIENCING. I DID SOME RESEARCH MYSELF AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE FORD 500 FOR THROTTLE BODY. IM JUST NOT SURE,WHAT YEAR THEY WERE RECALLED. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 12N03. I HOPE I HAVE EXPLAINED IN FULL DETAIL,AS,IM JUST THANKFUL,THAT I,MY FAMILY OR OTHERS WERE INJURED,BEFORE I FIGURED OUT HOW DANGEROUS THIS CAR IS!!
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 45/55 MPH GOING AROUND A SLIGHT TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE MOUNT ITS BOLTED TO SNAPS LOSE AND I START DOING 360S THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN THE OTHER LANE THEY'D BE DEAD PROBABLY. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS POS CAR CUZ THAT'S DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM
2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LATCH MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN AN WET ENVIRONMENT RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOOR LATCHES COLLECTS WATER IN LOCKING MECHANISM/DOOR FRAME DUE TO MANUFACTURED DESIGN ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR/LATCH WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CONSUM…
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2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LATCH MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN AN WET ENVIRONMENT RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOOR LATCHES COLLECTS WATER IN LOCKING MECHANISM/DOOR FRAME DUE TO MANUFACTURED DESIGN ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR/LATCH WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRAIN 8-10 OUNCES OF WATER OUT OF THE DOOR CAVITIES, BY LIFTING THE RUBBER GASKET ON THE DOOR FRAME AT THE BOTTOM. *JB
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL ONLY BLOW WARM AIR IF THE RPM IS BELOW ABOUT 2000. THE HIGHER THE RPM THE COLDER THE AIR. IT IS NOT THE REFRIGERANT BEING LOW AS I HAVE CHECKED IT. I'VE HEARD FROM MANY ONLINE SOURCES THAT IT IS A VALVE INSIDE THE COMPRESSOR AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED. GIVEN TH…
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THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL ONLY BLOW WARM AIR IF THE RPM IS BELOW ABOUT 2000. THE HIGHER THE RPM THE COLDER THE AIR. IT IS NOT THE REFRIGERANT BEING LOW AS I HAVE CHECKED IT. I'VE HEARD FROM MANY ONLINE SOURCES THAT IT IS A VALVE INSIDE THE COMPRESSOR AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED. GIVEN THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE.
I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR I PUT 2000 DOLLARS OF WORK AND STILL DO NOT FEEL SAVE.
THIS CAR HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINT OF THE LURCHING DUE TO A SUDDEN MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY WHICH CAUSE IRREGULARITY IN THE SPEED AND MAY CAUSE CRASHES AND MIGHT END TO BODY INJURIES OR FATALITY.
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.