IllustrationGOT 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.
2006 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
440–25K
5225–50K
7950–75K
6775–100K
62100–150K
25150K+
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
Structure complaints
17 reportsREAR ENDED AN 18 WHEELER AND TOTALLED THE CAR BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND IT WAS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT 91000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE VALVE SOLENOID AND REPROGRAM COMPUTER DONE BY FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 TO 3 MONTHS AT WHICH POINT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. IT WOULD STALL AND THEN SHIFT REALLY HARD WHEN COMING UP TO SPEED WHICH RESULTED …
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TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT 91000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE VALVE SOLENOID AND REPROGRAM COMPUTER DONE BY FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 TO 3 MONTHS AT WHICH POINT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. IT WOULD STALL AND THEN SHIFT REALLY HARD WHEN COMING UP TO SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A JERKING OF THE CAR. ALSO WOULD JERK WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I CAN NOT SPEED UP WITHOUT IT JERKING AND I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN FAST WITHOUT IT JERKING AND WANTING TO JUMP FORWARD. I HAVE PUT AN AFTERMARKET INLINE TRANSMISSION FILTER IN AND HAVE TO CHANGE THE FILTER AND FLUID EVERY 2500 TO 3500 MILES. WHEN I DO THIS IT HELPS FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN IT ACTS UP AGAIN. I KNOW THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AND I WILL EITHER END UP IN A CRASH OR HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY. *TR
THE FRONT LIP OF THE HOOD HAS PAINT PEELING OFF. *TR
ALL FOUR DOORS FILL WITH WATER. *TR
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM STOP WHEN BRAKE RELEASED. FROM SEPT 2006 UNTIL PRESENT. APPROX $3000 EACH TIME. HIT GARAGE WALL. (APPROX 5 COLLISIONS WITH WALL) STILL DOES IT. FINALLY FOUND OUT WHEN & WHY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IF THE RUST CONTINUED TO EXPAND, THE LATCH WOULD FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND COULD OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IF THE RUST CONTINUED TO EXPAND, THE LATCH WOULD FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND COULD OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THIS MORNING (FIRST SUB-FREEZING DAY HERE AND FIRST TIME THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN GARAGED), THE DRIVER DOOR DID NOT LATCH. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SECURE THE DOOR BOTH FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FAILED. I HELD THE DOOR CLOSED FOR A 10-MINUTE DRIVE AND PARTIALLY THROUGH THE TRIP IT PARTIALLY LATCHED …
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UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THIS MORNING (FIRST SUB-FREEZING DAY HERE AND FIRST TIME THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN GARAGED), THE DRIVER DOOR DID NOT LATCH. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SECURE THE DOOR BOTH FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FAILED. I HELD THE DOOR CLOSED FOR A 10-MINUTE DRIVE AND PARTIALLY THROUGH THE TRIP IT PARTIALLY LATCHED AND BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION THE DOOR LATCHED AND LOCKED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO AN EXISTING RECALL FOR 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDREDS (ID #06V383000) BUT IN SPEAKING WITH FORD OWNER SERVICES I AM TOLD THE RECALL HAS NOT EXTENDED TO 2006 MODEL YEAR FIVE HUNDREDS. I BELIEVE IT IS A SITUATION TO BE INVESTIGATED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
FRONT DRIVER FLOOR BOARD LEAKS WATER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS HUMID WEATHER. *TR
WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE REAR DOORS FILL UP WITH WATER. YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MUCH WATER OUT SO IT PROBABLY IS FORMING MOLD AND RUSTING THE CAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WHENEVER IT RAINS OR THE CAR IS WASHED IN THE CARWASH. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE11018 · 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