NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
364 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 29, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
THE CAR IS SURGING AND FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD 500 I SEE THERE IS A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR AND SEEMS LIKE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SEE FORD IS AWAR…
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THE CAR IS SURGING AND FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD 500 I SEE THERE IS A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR AND SEEMS LIKE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SEE FORD IS AWARE OF THIS AND REFUSES TO FIX THIS ISSUE WHICH IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IM GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LAWYER TO GET ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THE CAR MAKES A LOUD KNOCK AND THE ENGINE DROPS BACK IN AND ITS BREAKING THE MOTOR MOUNTS
NHTSA ODI #11352005
95,000 miles · Feb 7, 2020
Service Brakes
THE BRAKES ARE SPONGY. VERY SELDOM THEY WILL BE NORMAL. MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL BE SOFT AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL BE FIRM FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN THE PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOORBOARDS. THIS OCCURS DURING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND STOPPING AND ALSO OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARKED. B…
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THE BRAKES ARE SPONGY. VERY SELDOM THEY WILL BE NORMAL. MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL BE SOFT AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL BE FIRM FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN THE PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOORBOARDS. THIS OCCURS DURING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND STOPPING AND ALSO OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARKED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY SERVICED INCLUDING HOOKED TO A COMPUTER FOR PROPER BLEEDING. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA ODI #11307809
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
CAUSE UNKNOWN- BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON MORE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING IN ALL MODES, LOCAL AUTO STORE DETERMINED IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR & STARTER. ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MUSTY SMELL & MANY ( IF NOT ALL) OF MY METAL PARTS ARE RUSTED.
NHTSA ODI #11297823
87,462 miles · Dec 18, 2019
Electrical System
THIS IS A LONG ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR FIVE MONTHS. STARTED OUT HAVING THE BATTERY CLUSTER LIGHT ON & CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. FOUND CHARGING A LITTLE LOW, HAD NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED. THEN WITH A WEEK, BATTERY, ENGINE LIGHT & AIRBAG LIGHT CLUSTER ARE ON, THEN THE FUN BEGAN…
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THIS IS A LONG ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR FIVE MONTHS. STARTED OUT HAVING THE BATTERY CLUSTER LIGHT ON & CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. FOUND CHARGING A LITTLE LOW, HAD NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED. THEN WITH A WEEK, BATTERY, ENGINE LIGHT & AIRBAG LIGHT CLUSTER ARE ON, THEN THE FUN BEGAN, THEN ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OFF AND YOU HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS, NO FANS, NO RADIO, NO ELECTRIC WINDOWS, NO DOOR LOCKS AND NO BREAK LIGHTS, (BUT BREAK LIGHTS DO COME ON WHEN YOU APPLY BREAKS AND THE BACK-UP LIGHTS COME ON. THE SYSTEM CAN COME AND GO ON AND OFF WHILE MOVING AND SETTING STILL. HAVE HAD SYSTEM CHECKED AND CODED, THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT IT IS A ELECTRIC PROBLEM, HAD ALL WIRING CHECKED, CLEANED. NO,FRAYED WIRE FOUNF AND NO DEFECTIVE COUPLING. AGAIN I GET IT A WIRE THAT IS GROUNDING AND CAUSING PROBLEM. ALL THE FUSES ARE OK AND KNOW HAVE BLOWN. THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD BACK IN 2006 OR 2007 AND THEY HAVE NOT PUT OUT ANY RECALL ON IT AND THERE DEALERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT TO DO BUT THEY WILL TRY AND FIND IT AT WHERE HOURLY RATE AND IT COULD BE A HOUR OR SEVERAL HOURS TO FIND PROBLEM. AS I'VE SAID THIS IS ON GOING IT CLEAR UP AND LAST FOR A WEEK UP TO SIX WEEKS AT A TIME.
NHTSA ODI #11289904
100,000 miles · Oct 18, 2019
Power Train
I OWN A 06 FORD FIVEHUNDRED AND AT ONLY 100,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING REALLY HARD DOWNSHIFTING AND SOMETIMES COMPLETE SLIP FROM GEAR SLAMMING BACK INTO GEAR AFTER ROLLING FREELY FOR A WHILE HAPPENS WHEN CAR REACHES NORMAL RUNNING TEMP WAS TOLD WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE WITH THIS VEHI…
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I OWN A 06 FORD FIVEHUNDRED AND AT ONLY 100,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING REALLY HARD DOWNSHIFTING AND SOMETIMES COMPLETE SLIP FROM GEAR SLAMMING BACK INTO GEAR AFTER ROLLING FREELY FOR A WHILE HAPPENS WHEN CAR REACHES NORMAL RUNNING TEMP WAS TOLD WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE WITH THIS VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #11269306
180 miles · Oct 5, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
MY 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED IS SURGING THERE'S NO POWER IT STUMBLES SHUTS OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11266547
102,797 miles · Aug 22, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, BUT IT LOST ACCELERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE FROM A PARK POSITION, IT LUNGED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, BUT IT LOST ACCELERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE FROM A PARK POSITION, IT LUNGED FORWARD AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED TWO MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH DUNCAN FORD (19999 VIRGIL H GOODE HWY, ROCKY MOUNT, VA 24151) FOR AUGUST 26, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,797.
NHTSA ODI #11245795
5,100 miles · Aug 17, 2019
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control
WHILE STOPING AT RED LIGHT CAR STALLS BUCKLES DOSE NOT GO OVER 50 MPH AS IT HITS 50 MPH RPMS GO TO6000 SPEED STAYS ON 50 MPH AND I CAN'T GO ON A HIGH WAY CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC NOISE COMING FROM MOTER CAR GOT HOT GOING UP HILLS IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER AND IT JUST ALL AROUND RUNS LIKE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUAN…
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WHILE STOPING AT RED LIGHT CAR STALLS BUCKLES DOSE NOT GO OVER 50 MPH AS IT HITS 50 MPH RPMS GO TO6000 SPEED STAYS ON 50 MPH AND I CAN'T GO ON A HIGH WAY CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC NOISE COMING FROM MOTER CAR GOT HOT GOING UP HILLS IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER AND IT JUST ALL AROUND RUNS LIKE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA ODI #11244657
128,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
EngineService Brakes
WHEN CAR IS ON, WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE OR REVERSING, CAR SURGES OR JUMPS FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11244415
120,000 miles · Jul 23, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System
DOOR FROZE SHUT AND EVER SINCE MANUALLY OPENING THE MESSAGE CENTER STATES DRIVER DOOR AJAR AND PASSENGER DOOR AJAR AND THEY ARE NOT. BUT I CAN'T RESET DRIVER CONTROLS UNTIL DOORS SHOW CLOSED. HAVE RUN CODE IN MY CAR AND ONLY CODE IS P0193 FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR. NO CODES FOR DOORS.
NHTSA ODI #11234304
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