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2006 Ford Five Hundred

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

329 reports with mileage · 35 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 51 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 reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

364 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2022
Unknown Or Other

I would be driving on highway my wrench light would come on and my car would come to a crawl I always have kids in my car I could easily be rear ended and maybe hurt or killed I have to find a place to pull off where people behind me is cussing me out they think I did on purpose I then shut car off and tirn back on. Then ok till…

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I would be driving on highway my wrench light would come on and my car would come to a crawl I always have kids in my car I could easily be rear ended and maybe hurt or killed I have to find a place to pull off where people behind me is cussing me out they think I did on purpose I then shut car off and tirn back on. Then ok till happens again there should be a recall I am on a fixed income and can't afford another car please help

NHTSA ODI #11481505

60,000 miles · Aug 24, 2022
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the instrument cluster lights turned became inoperable. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the instrument cluster lights illuminated after 5 minutes. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the failure …

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The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the instrument cluster lights turned became inoperable. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the instrument cluster lights illuminated after 5 minutes. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the failure reoccurred on four different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11481067

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2022
Unknown Or Other

Door latch freezes i cold weather causing the door not to latch closed.

NHTSA ODI #11448311

Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

when I’m The vehicle and the temperature reaches middle temp ,the car starts to beep and all the dashboard lights go completely out and the head lights and tail lights be blinking as if they are about to go off . Even when I have the heater or a/c on they turns off and I’m a afraid that if or when I’m on the highway all my ligh…

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when I’m The vehicle and the temperature reaches middle temp ,the car starts to beep and all the dashboard lights go completely out and the head lights and tail lights be blinking as if they are about to go off . Even when I have the heater or a/c on they turns off and I’m a afraid that if or when I’m on the highway all my lights will just stop working on the middle of the highway at night and no one will be able to see me. And that will cause a big wreck and maybe kill myself or worst someone else. I have looked my car up to see if it has a recall but none are given. I’m afraid for the safety of my fellow drivers on the at night . And I don’t know what to do about this problem.

NHTSA ODI #11444954

104,000 miles · Nov 19, 2021
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. The contact restarted the vehicle and the transmission worked as designed for a while. While traveling up a hill or at a stop light, the vehicle would drift backwards. The contact had to let the vehicle d…

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The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. The contact restarted the vehicle and the transmission worked as designed for a while. While traveling up a hill or at a stop light, the vehicle would drift backwards. The contact had to let the vehicle drift to shift into gear. At times the vehicle failed to shift. The engine and wrench warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #11441008

201,000 miles · Jan 18, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME COMING DOWN FARROW RD. AND MY CAR STALLED OUT, SO I SLOWLY PULLED IN THE MEDIAN TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I GOT READY TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDIAN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO FASTER THAN 5 MILES AND HOUR. SO I HAD MY FRIEND HELP ME PULL IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND TAKE ME HOME AND TOW MY CAR TO THE HOUSE. WHEN I GOT…

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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME COMING DOWN FARROW RD. AND MY CAR STALLED OUT, SO I SLOWLY PULLED IN THE MEDIAN TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I GOT READY TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDIAN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO FASTER THAN 5 MILES AND HOUR. SO I HAD MY FRIEND HELP ME PULL IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND TAKE ME HOME AND TOW MY CAR TO THE HOUSE. WHEN I GOT IT HOME THERE WASN'T ANY ACCELERATION, RPMS WONT MOVE AT ALL, CAR HAS POWER AND CRANKS BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. IT STALLS AND CUTS OFF, EVEN IN NEUTRAL NO ACCELERATION. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AND CUTS ON BUT NO ACCELERATION. FROM MY PHOTOS BELOW YOU WILL SEE I HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR, THROTTLEBODY, THE RED AND BLACK WIRING ON THE BACK OF THE INTAKE I'VE CHECKED ALL MY HOSES THERE WAS NO SPLITS NO CUTS NO VACUUM LEAK AND EVERY TIME I GET A READING ON IT IT GIVES ME A DIFFERENT CODE PLEASE READ AND REPLY IF THIS IS A RECALL I NEED MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY

NHTSA ODI #11388625

134,167 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Power Train

VEHICLE STOPS AND STARTS WITH A JERK. JUMPING CAUSING SLOW DOWN EVEN WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE TO FIX IT. SEEMS LIKE EVERY FORD HAS THIS PROBLEM AT SOME POINT

NHTSA ODI #11386131

230,000 miles · Oct 21, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

BATTERY JUST GOES DEAD OVER NIGHT. SIGNAL LIGHTS MELTED AND QUIT WORKING. CLUSTER PANEL JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING AND CAN'T USE AIR, RADIO, WINDOWS, LOCKS, SEATS, ETC. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS SUGGESTED BY CODES. STILL NO FIX. WONT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AFTER CLUSTER PANEL SHUTS OFF. …

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BATTERY JUST GOES DEAD OVER NIGHT. SIGNAL LIGHTS MELTED AND QUIT WORKING. CLUSTER PANEL JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING AND CAN'T USE AIR, RADIO, WINDOWS, LOCKS, SEATS, ETC. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS SUGGESTED BY CODES. STILL NO FIX. WONT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AFTER CLUSTER PANEL SHUTS OFF. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE AN ELECTRICAL RECALL. HAPPENS RUNNING DRIVING AND SITTING STILL.

NHTSA ODI #11365647

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MELTING ON THE INSIDE CAUSING MELTING PLASTIC TO DRIP INTO THE THROTTLE BODY,CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN VERY POORLY ARE NOT AT ALL!!!

NHTSA ODI #11360327

80 miles · Sep 13, 2020
EngineSteeringStructureCrash

GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND RIGHT MIRROR WAS FULLY BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY WAS ALSO SMASHED IN. LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS.

NHTSA ODI #11354790

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

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