NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
364 reports73,000 miles · May 9, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TWENTY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TWENTY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,600 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 06/06/11 *BF UPDATED 09/19/11
NHTSA ODI #10399570
15,000 miles · Apr 27, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HIT A SHOPPING CART, WHICH IN TURN THE CART HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. APPRO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HIT A SHOPPING CART, WHICH IN TURN THE CART HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 08/10/11
NHTSA ODI #10397989
64,000 miles · Apr 25, 2011
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THE CLUSTER OF INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASHBOARD FAIL AND RETURN TO THEIR OFF POSITION. DASHBOARD GOES BLANK, REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON AND AIR CONDITIONING TURNS OFF. THIS LAST APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS AND THEN EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL.. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THIS FAILUR…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THE CLUSTER OF INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASHBOARD FAIL AND RETURN TO THEIR OFF POSITION. DASHBOARD GOES BLANK, REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON AND AIR CONDITIONING TURNS OFF. THIS LAST APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS AND THEN EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL.. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THIS FAILURE AND NO TURN SIGNALS. OBVIOUSLY FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND COULD CARE LESS UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. WILL NEVER PURCHASE FORD AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10397345
58,000 miles · Apr 7, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIANS WERE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIANS WERE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A NEW TRANSMISSION TO ARRIVE FOR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
NHTSA ODI #10395198
55,000 miles · Apr 2, 2011
Power Train
2006 FORD 500. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BUCKS WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. THE PROBLEMS OCCURS ALOT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO WARM UP AND THE TEMP OUTSIDE IS ABOVE 50. IT SEEM TO START AT ABOUT 55000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10394053
23,927 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1, PURCHASED MAY 2006 2, JULY 2007 LETTER FROM FORD EXTENDING WARRANTY ON REAR BRAKES. 3,MAY 2008 FORD REPLACED REAR BRAKES UNDER RECALL # 07N10N. 23,927 MILES ON CAR. 4, REAR BRAKES REPLACED 50,085 MILES 5, THE BRAKES REPLACED UNDER RECALL WERE THE SAME POOR QUALITY AS THEY REPLACED. 6, DEALER OFFERED NO HELP. 7, FORD SAID THA…
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1, PURCHASED MAY 2006 2, JULY 2007 LETTER FROM FORD EXTENDING WARRANTY ON REAR BRAKES. 3,MAY 2008 FORD REPLACED REAR BRAKES UNDER RECALL # 07N10N. 23,927 MILES ON CAR. 4, REAR BRAKES REPLACED 50,085 MILES 5, THE BRAKES REPLACED UNDER RECALL WERE THE SAME POOR QUALITY AS THEY REPLACED. 6, DEALER OFFERED NO HELP. 7, FORD SAID THAT ALL THEY WILL DO. 8,I FEEL THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE BRAKES WITH BETTER BRAKES THAT THE POOR QUALITY THEY USED ON THE RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392516
52,000 miles · Mar 11, 2011
Fuel System, Other
PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD QUITE EXCESSIVELY. CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MIGHT BE GUMMED UP AND THAT THE BATTERY ALSO FAILED AND COULD CAUSE THAT PROBLEM DUE TO RESETTING EVERYT…
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PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD QUITE EXCESSIVELY. CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MIGHT BE GUMMED UP AND THAT THE BATTERY ALSO FAILED AND COULD CAUSE THAT PROBLEM DUE TO RESETTING EVERYTIME THE CAR STARTS. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY PLATES AND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THAT SAME NIGHT THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10389833
79,008 miles · Mar 9, 2011
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train
ADDENDUM TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10386714 THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE INJECTORS FLUSHED - COST $800 ++. DEALER NOW STATES CODES SHOW PCM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR COVERED UNDER FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY (8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES) DUE TO MY CURRENT MILEAGE BEING 79,008 MILES. DEALER COVERED CAR RENT…
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ADDENDUM TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10386714 THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE INJECTORS FLUSHED - COST $800 ++. DEALER NOW STATES CODES SHOW PCM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR COVERED UNDER FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY (8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES) DUE TO MY CURRENT MILEAGE BEING 79,008 MILES. DEALER COVERED CAR RENTAL UNTIL PART ARRIVES AND IS INSTALLED. I HAVE A "BUCKING" BEHAVIOR, AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH (INTERSTATE TRAVEL). THE CAR WOULD LURCH SEVERELY AND HESITATE, THE ENGINE REVVED VERY LOUDLY, AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MPH, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR ON THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING AT CITY SPEEDS AND HAD LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION. DEALER SAID THE CODES SHOWED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD DO THE BUCKING AND LACK OF ACCELERATION AFTER THE PUMP HEATED UP. DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE INJECTORS FLUSHED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386944
79,108 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A "BUCKING" BEHAVIOR, AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH (INTERSTATE TRAVEL). THE CAR WOULD LURCH SEVERELY AND HESITATE, THE ENGINE REVVED VERY LOUDLY, AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MPH, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR ON THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING…
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I HAVE A "BUCKING" BEHAVIOR, AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH (INTERSTATE TRAVEL). THE CAR WOULD LURCH SEVERELY AND HESITATE, THE ENGINE REVVED VERY LOUDLY, AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MPH, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR ON THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING AT CITY SPEEDS AND HAD LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION. DEALER SAID THE CODES SHOWED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD DO THE BUCKING AND LACK OF ACCELERATION AFTER THE PUMP HEATED UP. DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE INJECTORS FLUSHED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386714
78,512 miles · Mar 6, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FUEL LINE SEPARATED FROM THE GAS FILTER, WHICH CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPILL EVERYWHERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AS LEAKING FUEL WAS A HAZED. DEALER REPLACED THE BROKEN FUEL LINE CLIP AT THE FUEL FILTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386607
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