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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

17 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2022
Unknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #11448311

190,000 miles · Feb 2, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DAYS LIGHTS FLICKER.

NHTSA ODI #11173716

130,000 miles · Jan 23, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

CAR WILL BE DRIVEING 55 AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LOSSING EVERYTHING INCLUDING POWERSTEARING. HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL N COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, SOMETIMES WILL RESTART, OTHERS IT WONT. ALSO WILL START BUCKING AND SHUT OFF. I CAN BE DOING 10MPH N GO TO TURN A CORNER N IT SHUTS OFF. CAN SEEM TO RUN FINE, BE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INT…

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CAR WILL BE DRIVEING 55 AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LOSSING EVERYTHING INCLUDING POWERSTEARING. HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL N COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, SOMETIMES WILL RESTART, OTHERS IT WONT. ALSO WILL START BUCKING AND SHUT OFF. I CAN BE DOING 10MPH N GO TO TURN A CORNER N IT SHUTS OFF. CAN SEEM TO RUN FINE, BE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULDNT RESTAR GOOD THING I CAN DRIVE AND KNEW WHAT TO DO OR I WOULD HAVE CRASHED NUMEROUS TIMES. HAVE CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY AND ACCELERATOR, N BOTH SENSORS. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. NOW SAYING IT'S THE PCM SHUTTING THE CAR OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11171676

98,100 miles · Oct 15, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or OtherFireInjury

PULLED IN DROP OFF A DONATION AT A SECOND HAND STORE. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; OPENED THE TRUNK; AND LOOKED UP STARTLED WHEN A GUY SITTING NEARBY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND ON FIRE (ABOUT 10 SECONDS SINCE I SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT). HE WAS ON THE RIGHT, SO I MOVED AROUND THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LO…

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PULLED IN DROP OFF A DONATION AT A SECOND HAND STORE. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; OPENED THE TRUNK; AND LOOKED UP STARTLED WHEN A GUY SITTING NEARBY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND ON FIRE (ABOUT 10 SECONDS SINCE I SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT). HE WAS ON THE RIGHT, SO I MOVED AROUND THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LOOKING TOWARDS THE ENGINE. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE STORE THAT WAS ON THE BACK, LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR POINTED TOWARDS AND SAID, 'LOOK! YOUR SIDE MIRROR IS ON FIRE!' I THEN SAW THE SMOKE BILLOWING TO THE LEFT (A STRONG AFTERNOON BREEZE WAS BLOWING NORTH). I CAME AROUND AND PEERED IN BEHIND THE ACTUAL 'MIRROR' PART; THE FIRE HAD JUST GONE OUT. LOOKING AT IT, I COULD SEE IT WAS THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE MIRROR; IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND FUSED TO THE MIRROR HOUSING- A BUBBLY MESS OF PLASTIC. IT SMELLED OF ACRID, MELTED PLASTIC AND BURNED ELECTRONICS. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MIRROR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED BURNING FOR A BIT BEFORE THE FUSE FINALLY BLEW. I AM SO GLAD MY BABY AND KINDERGARTENER WEREN'T IN THE CAR AT THIS TIME! THEY USUALLY ARE. THE LENGTH OF TIME OF TIME IT TOOK FOR THE FUSE TO FINALLY BLOW IS QUITE ALARMING! IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE RAPID SPREAD OF A FIRE THAT WOULD QUICKLY OVERTAKE THE VEHICLE. WHAT IF I WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHEN THEIR HAPPENED TO BE SOME PETROL-VAPOR PRESENT. MY NEXT STOP WAS TO GET TWO PROPANE TANKS FILLED. THEY HAVE TO BLEED OFF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROPANE EACH TIME WHEN FINISHED FILLING A TANK. IT ISN'T FAR FETCHED THAT THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH FAILED SAFEGUARDS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FAR MORE INJURY THAN MY SLIGHTLY BURNED FINGERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS TO SOMEONE. THIS IS A FANTASTIC CAR! WE LOVE IT. THIS IS PROBABLY AN EASY FIX, BUT IF IT ISN'T FIXED, MUCH WORSE COULD HAPPEN!

NHTSA ODI #11140496

110,886 miles · Jan 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THROTTLE BODY DEFECTED WENT OUT SHUT DOWN CAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED BUSY STREET MICHIGAN AVE DEARBORN, MI. NO RECALLS OR ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, AFTER RESEARCH IS KNOWN DEFECT AND BAD PART.

NHTSA ODI #10819688

68,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHERS. MY FORD 500 , ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS WARM AND I AM USING THE A/C, WILL WITHOUT WARNING SURGE AHEAD, AND I MUST APPLY THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN . I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A HANDICAPPED SPOT IN EMERGENCY PARKING AREA AT THE HOSPITAL, WHERE I WAS TAKING MY…

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I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHERS. MY FORD 500 , ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS WARM AND I AM USING THE A/C, WILL WITHOUT WARNING SURGE AHEAD, AND I MUST APPLY THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN . I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A HANDICAPPED SPOT IN EMERGENCY PARKING AREA AT THE HOSPITAL, WHERE I WAS TAKING MY CRITICALLY ILL HUSBAND 2 WEEKS AGO. I WAS BRAKING, BUT THE CAR WAS SURGING AHEAD. THE SAME HAPPENED WHEN I WAS LEAVING. VERY FRIGHTENING!! CAN THIS BE FIXED WITHOUT CHARGE AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER? (GALPIN)

NHTSA ODI #10778311

145,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Unknown Or Other

I WAS GOING ALONG AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHINDI ENDED UPHAVING TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP COST 676.00 AND THEN IT KEPT DYING ON ME AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT IN AND ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE A THROTTLE BODY COST 938.00. SOME ONE TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM AND…

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I WAS GOING ALONG AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHINDI ENDED UPHAVING TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP COST 676.00 AND THEN IT KEPT DYING ON ME AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT IN AND ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE A THROTTLE BODY COST 938.00. SOME ONE TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM AND THEY SENT FORD THE RECEIPT AND THEY REIMBURSED THEM THE AMOUNT THEY HAD PAID.

NHTSA ODI #10744954

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2014
Unknown Or Other

DEAR SIR/MADAM, I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND HAS ABOUT 93K MILES ON IT.VIN # [XXX] . I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND HAVE NEVER MISSED ANY SERVICE. I ALWAYS HAD A KNOCKING SOUND ON TURNING ON AND TURNING OFF THE AC. (I HAD CHECKED A DEALER ONCE IN NEW YORK AND I WAS TOLD "WE ALL MAKE SOME NOISE" ANYWAYS, A WEEK AGO SUDDEN…

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DEAR SIR/MADAM, I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND HAS ABOUT 93K MILES ON IT.VIN # [XXX] . I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND HAVE NEVER MISSED ANY SERVICE. I ALWAYS HAD A KNOCKING SOUND ON TURNING ON AND TURNING OFF THE AC. (I HAD CHECKED A DEALER ONCE IN NEW YORK AND I WAS TOLD "WE ALL MAKE SOME NOISE" ANYWAYS, A WEEK AGO SUDDENLY THE AC HAS STOPPED WORKING ON IDLING AND ONLY WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AC ? FOLLOWING ARE THE LINKS TO THE WEB PAGES SHOWING THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING: HTTP://COMMUNITY.CARTALK.COM/DISCUSSION/2120935/FORD-FIVE-HUNDRED-A-C-PROBLEMS/P4 HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FIVE_HUNDRED/2006/AC_HEATER/BAD_AC_COMPRESSOR.SHTML I HAVE VERY SPARINGLY USED THE AC IN MY CAR AND AM CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE POOR QUALITY OF INSTALLED PARTS. I AM REQUESTING A FREE REPAIR OF THE ISSUE. IF NOT THEN I WILL TRY AND CONTACT SOME OTHER PEOPLE AND CONVINCE THEM FOR A COLLECTIVE ACTION. [XXX] ARE YOU THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE :YES VIN : [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643746

88,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Unknown Or Other

I HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRING. ALL THREE TIMES THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM (WHICH EVENTUALLY WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY). THREE DAYS AGO, ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WAS "LUNGING FORWARD" GOING BETWEEN A COMPLETE STOP TO 15 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE CAR DIE…

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I HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRING. ALL THREE TIMES THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM (WHICH EVENTUALLY WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY). THREE DAYS AGO, ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WAS "LUNGING FORWARD" GOING BETWEEN A COMPLETE STOP TO 15 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE CAR DIED ON ME AND I NEEDED TO PUSH IT OFF THE FREEWAY. EVENTUALLY THE CAR RESTARTED AND I DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST REPAIR YARD. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445934

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