IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A STATIC BUILD UP AND ABOUT EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE TIME THE CONTACT EXITS THE VEHICLE THEY ARE SHOCKED. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHILE EXITING NOT ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND THE DEALER DETERMINED IT IS THE CLOTH SEATS AND IS NOT FIXABLE.
2006 Ford Five Hundred
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Five Hundred years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
440–25K
5225–50K
7950–75K
6775–100K
62100–150K
25150K+
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 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON 7-29-06 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE TIRE, RIM AND A PORTION OF THE WHEEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN THE CONTACT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE DRIFTE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON 7-29-06 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE TIRE, RIM AND A PORTION OF THE WHEEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN THE CONTACT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT RAPIDLY. BOTH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLINED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRIOR HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
I HAVE A 2006 FORD 500 THAT HAS A VERY BAD GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I INQUIRES ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS 3 SUCH COMPLAINTS MADE AT THAT SAME DEALERSHIP. I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE, IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY THE GLASS WAS MADE. *NM
BRAKES DRAG CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK, GRASP WHEN STOPPING. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THERE WAS A SMELLED OF SMOKE. THE SMELL MAY HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 8 TO 9 HOURS. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURN TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS OF AN ELECTRICAL…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THERE WAS A SMELLED OF SMOKE. THE SMELL MAY HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 8 TO 9 HOURS. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURN TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE AND SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE WIRE IN THE SPEAKER AREA LOCATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DURING SUMMER THERE IS A REFLECTION OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN VISIBILITY
PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH LOCATION IN THE 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. MY PASSENGER IN THE CAR ( FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SIDE) UNKNOWINGLY TAPPED OR BUMPED THE SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE CARS ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER AND THEN COMPLETELY STALL. DEALER ( SUNRISE FORD IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOLD ME TODAY IT WAS THIS SWITCH THAT…
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PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH LOCATION IN THE 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. MY PASSENGER IN THE CAR ( FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SIDE) UNKNOWINGLY TAPPED OR BUMPED THE SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE CARS ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER AND THEN COMPLETELY STALL. DEALER ( SUNRISE FORD IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOLD ME TODAY IT WAS THIS SWITCH THAT WAS ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING OF MY ENGINE. MY PASSENGER ( ADULT MALE- 6'2" LARGE SHOE SIZE) WAS WORKING WITH ME IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY ON 6/28/06. APPARENTLY HIS FOOT BUMPED THIS SWITCH WHICH HAS GOT TO BE IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION ( NOT CONCEALED). *JB
ACCELERATOR JUMPED TO FULL THROTTLE AS MY WIFE PULLED INTO PARKING SPOT-CAR JUMPED OVER CONCRETE CURB AND CROSSED A GRASSY STRIP AND STRUCK A PICKUP TRUCK. SHE WAS MOVING SLOWLY INTO THE SPOT WHEN CAR JUMPED ONTO FULL THROTTLE. *NM
AUTO HEADLIGHTS FAIL DURING OPERATION, DRIVING IN RURAL NON LIGHT SENSITIVE AREAS. *NM
THE REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM WORKED FLAWLESSLY FOR THE FIRST 5000 MILES. NOW IT GOES OFF EVERYTIME I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WHEN THERE IS NOTHING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR. NOW I DISREGARD THE WARNING BEEPS WHICH IS DANGEROUS. *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
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