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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
62,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

2006 FORD 500. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AT IDLE...IT ALSO SURGES DURING GEAR SHIFTS FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND PARK TO REVERSE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE OR INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN. ARFC WEBSITE HAS 125 REPORTS OF THIS PROB…

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2006 FORD 500. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AT IDLE...IT ALSO SURGES DURING GEAR SHIFTS FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND PARK TO REVERSE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE OR INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN. ARFC WEBSITE HAS 125 REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS TO GET WORSE AROUND THE 60-65,000 MILE RANGE....CONVENIENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. TAKING CAR TO DEALER TODAY FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462963

150,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Power Train

5/29/2009 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86,000 AT A COST TO ME OF $5197.36 TOTAL. BRAND NEW FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WARRANTY GIVEN OF 3YEARS 100,000MILES. 6/21/2012 AGAIN TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 4WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THUIS CVT THAT THEY STOPP…

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5/29/2009 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86,000 AT A COST TO ME OF $5197.36 TOTAL. BRAND NEW FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WARRANTY GIVEN OF 3YEARS 100,000MILES. 6/21/2012 AGAIN TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 4WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THUIS CVT THAT THEY STOPPED INSTALLING THEM. FORD DEALER COMMENTED THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SO MANY AND ARE SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT OCCURRED. VERY DISTRAUGHT THAT I AM GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462962

64,400 miles · Jun 18, 2012
Seat Belts

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY WHEN PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE BUCKLE TO SEE IF THE RELEASE BUTTON WOULD WORK TO RELEASE THE BUCKLE. THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS STUCK DOWN IN THE BUCKLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BELT OUT. I HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT BELT …

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THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY WHEN PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE BUCKLE TO SEE IF THE RELEASE BUTTON WOULD WORK TO RELEASE THE BUCKLE. THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS STUCK DOWN IN THE BUCKLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BELT OUT. I HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. THE FIRST THING THAT RAN THROUGH MY MIND WAS THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. (I BOUGHT THIS NEW) THEN OF COURSE MY MIND STARTS WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER THIS WILL HAPPEN TO THE OTHER SEAT BELTS AND WHETHER I WILL BE ABLE TO GET MY SON OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. I CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO USE THE BELT AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE. OF COURSE FORD OFFERS NO HELP. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER ABOUT THE REPAIR DUE TO FAMILY DEMANDS, I AM A SINGLE PARENT WORKING FULL TIME AND MY MOTHER HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND NEEDS CARE AT HOME FOR AN INFECTION. I BARELY GET 5 HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT. I WILL BE CALLING A DEALER THIS WEEK HOWEVER, I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR A 6 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE ARE CARS 20-30 YEARS OLD THAT STILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL SEATBELTS THAT FUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM IN MY OPINION IS BECAUSE CAR MAKERS ARE TRYING TO PUT AN EXTRA DOLLAR IN THEIR POCKET BY BUYING CHEAPER, LOWER QUALITY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462034

54,822 miles · Jun 17, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

THIS FORD FIVE HUNDRED SURGES OR REVS UP THE ENGINE, IN FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, USUALLY INTO PARKING SPACES OR AT RED LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WARNING THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS WORSE IF THE A/C IS ON. WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BY SLAMMING ON …

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THIS FORD FIVE HUNDRED SURGES OR REVS UP THE ENGINE, IN FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, USUALLY INTO PARKING SPACES OR AT RED LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WARNING THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS WORSE IF THE A/C IS ON. WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE, IT WILL EVEN CONTINUE TO SURGE IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HELD HARD TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS WITHIN THE FIRST 150 MILES THAT WE OWNED IT. THE INCIDENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462017

92,000 miles · Jun 14, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD SLIGHTLY, WITH AN ABN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD SLIGHTLY, WITH AN ABNORMAL JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92000.

NHTSA ODI #10461785

106,223 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL..............THE CAR ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAUSING ME TO PASS RED LIGHT, ALMOST STRIKING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND DRIVING ONTO SIDEWALK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED DUE T…

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I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL..............THE CAR ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAUSING ME TO PASS RED LIGHT, ALMOST STRIKING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND DRIVING ONTO SIDEWALK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED DUE TO MY QUICK RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. I WAS PARKED IN A PUBLICS PARKING LOT WHEN I PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED ALMOST HITTING PARKED VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I WAS ADVISED THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE ON 2005 & 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED MODELS AND NO RECALL YET! THIS DEFECT CAUSES VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY (EVEN WHEN PARKED) OR NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. WHEN A LIFE IS LOST OR SOMEONE IS SEVERELY INJURED..................IS THAT WHEN SOME ACTION WILL BE TAKEN? ACCORDING TO REPORTS EVEN IF THE PART GETS REPLACED IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT GO BAD AGAIN. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO COST BETWEEN $450.00 TO $750.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461236

127,000 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE EGR VALVE. THE EGR VALVE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE EGR VALVE. THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127, 6000.

NHTSA ODI #10461177

75,000 miles · Jun 3, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 FORD 500 FOR 5 YRS AND HAVE HAD AND ISSUE FOR THE LAST 2 YRS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND I MEAN REALLY JUMP FORWARD (OR ALSO IN REVERSE) WHILE RPM'S SURGE/REV EXTREMELY HIGH CAUSING ME TO PRESS VERY,VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AT TIMES SLAMMING DOWN TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF.…

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I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 FORD 500 FOR 5 YRS AND HAVE HAD AND ISSUE FOR THE LAST 2 YRS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND I MEAN REALLY JUMP FORWARD (OR ALSO IN REVERSE) WHILE RPM'S SURGE/REV EXTREMELY HIGH CAUSING ME TO PRESS VERY,VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AT TIMES SLAMMING DOWN TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN THE RPM'S ARE DROPPING DOWN. THIS HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY AND SEEMS TO BE MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS WARMER. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE SLOWING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BACKING UP, PULLING AWAY FROM STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN.I AM ALWAYS EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO LESS THEN 15MPH OR BACK UP. THERE IS SOMETHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT SHOULD NEVER BE IN CONTROL OF MOVING BY ITSELF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THESE "SYMPTOMS" BUT THEY JUST SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE AND WILL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AS THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO MOST 500'S AND IT IS WELL KNOWN BY MANY BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE IS WITHIN 15FT WHEN THE CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL ALL BY ITSELF AND THE DRIVER IS NOT READY. PLEASE WATCH OUT IF YOU ARE NEXT TO A FORD 500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460431

105,247 miles · May 29, 2012
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THAT WILL LUNGE FORWARD AT ODD TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE A/C IS ON. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I BOUGHT MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED IN JAN 2008 AND IT HAS BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED WITH USED TRANSMISSION AND TWO WEEKS LATER THA…

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THAT WILL LUNGE FORWARD AT ODD TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE A/C IS ON. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I BOUGHT MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED IN JAN 2008 AND IT HAS BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED WITH USED TRANSMISSION AND TWO WEEKS LATER THAT ONE WAS DOING IT. PROBLEM STARTED FOR ME AT ABOUT 45,000 MI . THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT BUT NO RECALL SO I HAD TO TAKE THE USED TRANSMISSION OR BUY A NEW ONE.IT WILL JUST LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WHEN BRAKING OR STOPPED. WHAT A PAIN. I AM AMAZED I HAVEN'T REAR ENDED SOMEONE. PLEASE RECALL THIS FORD BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS HURT[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459960

65,000 miles · May 25, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHIFT HARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN SHIFTING OR WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHIFT HARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN SHIFTING OR WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'S DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10459634

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