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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

Electrical System complaints

51 reports
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90,000 miles · Oct 23, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES FAILED TO FUNCTION AND OFTEN FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES FAILED TO FUNCTION AND OFTEN FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10549263

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

CPSC: I1390188A. 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT HEAD LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE HAVING BEEN PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE GARAGE AND ENGINE WAS OFF. *LN THE FIRE DESTROYED THE LEFT FRONT ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI #10549160

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REFRIGERANT CONTROL VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10533086

65,000 miles · Jul 28, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

TWO PROBLEMS: 1. CAR SURGES SPORADICALLY (I.E. WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SURGES AS IF PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR). 2. WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASH GO OUT, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GO TO ZERO. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ONCE (SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, FORD REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST UND…

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TWO PROBLEMS: 1. CAR SURGES SPORADICALLY (I.E. WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SURGES AS IF PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR). 2. WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS ON DASH GO OUT, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GO TO ZERO. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ONCE (SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, FORD REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 12N03. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS NOW RE-OCCURRING. FORD HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE CAR AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532270

94,000 miles · Jun 3, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AND WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DRAINED THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AND WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DRAINED THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10514821

78,445 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND SLOWING DOWN THE CVT TRANSMISSION SURGES AHEAD AND THE CAR GOES INTO SAFE MODE ONLY ALLOWING IT TO GO 20 MPH WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. MANY NEAR MISSES ON ACCIDENTS. HAVE HAD CAR INTO DEALER 3 TIMES AND STILL UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. MAINTENANCE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED ON TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES …

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND SLOWING DOWN THE CVT TRANSMISSION SURGES AHEAD AND THE CAR GOES INTO SAFE MODE ONLY ALLOWING IT TO GO 20 MPH WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. MANY NEAR MISSES ON ACCIDENTS. HAVE HAD CAR INTO DEALER 3 TIMES AND STILL UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. MAINTENANCE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED ON TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES PER RECOMMENDATIONS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THERE ARE KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. DEALER STATES IT IS THE COMPUTER CAUSING THIS UNSURE WHO IS RIGHT. A TRANSMISSION SENSOR IS BEING REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2000. PLEASE HELP IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. JUST HAD A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490775

118,000 miles · Oct 30, 2012
Air BagsElectrical System

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER (I AM TALKING ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THE GAS GAUGE, AND THE TACHOMETER) SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND COMES BACK ON RANDOMLY. TEN DAYS AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE GAUGE CLUSTER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND ST…

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THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER (I AM TALKING ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THE GAS GAUGE, AND THE TACHOMETER) SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND COMES BACK ON RANDOMLY. TEN DAYS AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE GAUGE CLUSTER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND STAYED OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME TOPIC, AND THE BELIEF IS THAT IT IS DUE TO FAULTY SOLDERING ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482684

500,000 miles · Sep 8, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS ALSO LUNGES WHEN COMING TO A STOP VERY VIOLENTLY. I DRIVE WITH PLENTY OF SPACE IN FONT OF ME SO I HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING I'M SURPRISED NO ONE ELSE HAS EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474334

63,500 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR RPM GAUGE WAS MOVING UPWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL AT STEADY SPEED. WHEN I SLOWED AND STOPPED IT APPEARED TO CONTINUE TO LUNGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL SINCE I HAD SOME DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BY THE TIME I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS AFRAID THAT IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. IT SETTLE…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR RPM GAUGE WAS MOVING UPWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL AT STEADY SPEED. WHEN I SLOWED AND STOPPED IT APPEARED TO CONTINUE TO LUNGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL SINCE I HAD SOME DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BY THE TIME I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS AFRAID THAT IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. IT SETTLED WHEN I TRIED TO PARK FOR IT THEN CUT OFF. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EVENTS WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAD THREE (3) MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND NEW BATTERY ALONG WITH THE SAFETY SENSOR. IT COSTS MORE TO REPAIR THAN GENERAL MAINTENANCE. I SEE WHY THEY STOPPED MAKING THIS CAR. ITS DANGEROUS! I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WHICH MAY NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED OR WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469030

80,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. I PURCHASED IT USED IN JAN 2012. MY CAR CONTINUALLY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COOL WHILE IDLING IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL GAUGES WILL BOTTOM OUT AND THEN REV …

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. I PURCHASED IT USED IN JAN 2012. MY CAR CONTINUALLY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COOL WHILE IDLING IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL GAUGES WILL BOTTOM OUT AND THEN REV UP TO THE HIGHEST. MY RPMS WILL DROP DOWN, THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO TO EMPTY AND AT NIGHT ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD NOTIFICATIONS WILL LIGHT UP AND THEN GO OFF. I CANNOT USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO OR ANYTHING ELSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE SOONER! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE!!! LOSING ALL POWER AND SPEED AND THEN HAVING THE VEHICLE LURCH FORWARD IS DANGEROUS! #SCAREDMOMOF3BABIES! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468444

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