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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
50,000 miles · Oct 21, 2010
Tires

SEVERE SIDEWALL CRACKING OF CONTINENTAL CT95 TIRES. ISSUE WIDELY REPORTED ONLINE. TIRES AT 60% OF TREAD, 3.5 YEARS SINCE NEW. REMAINDER OF TIRE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361543

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING PREMATURE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND/OR DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE CONSUMER STATED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BRAKES IN 2007, BECAUSE F…

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2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING PREMATURE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND/OR DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE CONSUMER STATED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BRAKES IN 2007, BECAUSE FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALSO, THE BLOWER MOTOR BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE GASKET BETWEEN THE CRANK SHAFT SUPPORT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10358693

122,000 miles · Sep 29, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THROTTLE BODY FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO STALL ON HIGHWAY. THEN IT SURGED FORWARD LATER THAT DAY GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358281

10 miles · Sep 28, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2006 FORD FIVEHUNDRED. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, MY CAR HAS LUNGED/SURGED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE OFFICE ON THREE VARIOUS OCCASIONS TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK FOR A REPAIR. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE PROBLEM. ON SEPT. 27, 2010, AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CA…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD FIVEHUNDRED. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, MY CAR HAS LUNGED/SURGED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE OFFICE ON THREE VARIOUS OCCASIONS TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK FOR A REPAIR. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE PROBLEM. ON SEPT. 27, 2010, AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR SURGED TO 3000 RPM'S AND I WAS SCARED. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT I THOUGHT AT THAT SPEED, THE BRAKE MAY FAIL. I WAS GOING TO TURN THE CAR OFF, BUT INSTEAD, I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF AND THE SURGING WAS REDUCED TO 1000 RPM'S. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHAT IS FORD WAITING FOR? THE CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRS MADE, BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND LAW SUITS ENSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358039

57,000 miles · Sep 21, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD 500 SEL WITH CVT. CAR BUCKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPF. ALSO WILL NOT ACCELERATE SO I CANNOT PASS TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY. REAL DANGEROUS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL IN WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT TO TRY TO SELL ME A MASTER CONTROL FOR $2100 AND THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THIS WAS THE PROBLEM.…

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2006 FORD 500 SEL WITH CVT. CAR BUCKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPF. ALSO WILL NOT ACCELERATE SO I CANNOT PASS TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY. REAL DANGEROUS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL IN WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT TO TRY TO SELL ME A MASTER CONTROL FOR $2100 AND THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356809

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR STARTED LUNGING FORWARD AND DYING WHEN I WAS EITHER IDLE OR WHEN I STOPPED AND STARTED UP AGAIN. THE THROTTLE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WOULD TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTART THE THROTTLE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. I HAVE NOTICED SOME DIFFERENCE IN FUEL MILEAGE. IF I DON'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE B…

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MY CAR STARTED LUNGING FORWARD AND DYING WHEN I WAS EITHER IDLE OR WHEN I STOPPED AND STARTED UP AGAIN. THE THROTTLE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WOULD TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTART THE THROTTLE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. I HAVE NOTICED SOME DIFFERENCE IN FUEL MILEAGE. IF I DON'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT STARTS FORWARD SOMETIMES IT WOULD LUNGE, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO GET THE COMPUTER FLASHED BY A GOODYEAR PLACE IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES MORE SINCE THEY FLASHED IT. THAT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE DATE NOW IS SEPT. 20. I WANTED TO REPORT IT, BECAUSE WITH THE LUNGING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL REAR END SOMEONE ALL BECAUSE OF THE LUNGING, WHICH IS UNEXPECTED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ODI #10356594

40,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,600.

NHTSA ODI #10355275

87,102 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

WHEN YOU SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE THE CAR SURGES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU DON'T HOLD THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR YOU CAN'T STOP IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! WHEN UNLOADING MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL I ALMOST RAN OVER A CHILD DUE TO THIS DEFECT. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME …

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WHEN YOU SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE THE CAR SURGES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU DON'T HOLD THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR YOU CAN'T STOP IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! WHEN UNLOADING MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL I ALMOST RAN OVER A CHILD DUE TO THIS DEFECT. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. FORD WON'T RECALL IT AND THE PARTS (THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY $800) ARE ON A 2 MONTH BACK ORDER! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354962

58,000 miles · Sep 2, 2010
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD 500 USED IN 2009 AND ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTERWARDS I EXPERIENCED "LURCHING" OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS SLOWING ACCELERATING OR REVERSING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO MY GARAGE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM REVERSING IN A PARKING LOT AS THERE ARE PEDESTRIANS. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY FOR ABOUT 9 MONT…

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I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD 500 USED IN 2009 AND ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTERWARDS I EXPERIENCED "LURCHING" OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS SLOWING ACCELERATING OR REVERSING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO MY GARAGE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM REVERSING IN A PARKING LOT AS THERE ARE PEDESTRIANS. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS WITH NO AFTEREFFECTS. NO LIGHT TURNED ON OR ANYTHING SEEMED TO WRONG OTHER THAN THE RANDOM LURCHING. HOWEVER, 9 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WAS STOPPED IN DRIVE TO LET MY FAMILY OUT OF MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR LURCHED WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE GEAR IN DRIVE. THE WRENCH LIGHT THEN CAME ON AND THE CAR DROVE ODDLY (SOUNDED WEIRD AND DIDN'T ACCELERATE WELL) AFTER THAT. I EVENTUALLY PARKED IT AND WHEN I RETURNED AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE CAR SOUNDED FINE. THEN 2 MONTHS LATER I STARTED MY CAR AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE CAR SOUND WEIRD AGAIN AND WAS NOT ACCELERATING. I PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND BASICALLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET AS I AM FIGHTING WITH THEM ABOUT THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED AND TRYING TO FIND THE BEST PRICE AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353483

73,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 7 TO 8 TIMES AND THE FAILURE ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 7 TO 8 TIMES AND THE FAILURE ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10353381

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