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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
111,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Steering

STEERING BINDS WHILE TURNING FORCING DRIVER TO "MUSCLE" THE STEERING WHEEL THROUGH THE REST OF THE TURN; ALSO STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION WITHOUT DRIVER ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578499

167,000 miles · Apr 5, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH TOWARD ANN STREET IN MONTGOMERY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC AND MY KIDS AND I WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY STRANDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WAS THE HARDEST PART NOW I HAD TO GET SOME HELP WHEN I DID THE MAN THAT PULLED MY CAR TO HIS SHOP TOLD ME IT…

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I WAS TRAVELING NORTH TOWARD ANN STREET IN MONTGOMERY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC AND MY KIDS AND I WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY STRANDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WAS THE HARDEST PART NOW I HAD TO GET SOME HELP WHEN I DID THE MAN THAT PULLED MY CAR TO HIS SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS MY THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR MY WWWWWHHHHAAAT AND I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF R U SERIOUS I HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AFTER A YEAR OF HAVIN THE CAR WHICH COST ME 1400ARS AND NOW A THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR AND IT COST 746.00 WITH TAX AND 150 FOR THE LABOR MAN I SCREAMING NEED ANOTHER CAR BUT NOT FORD THEY LIED THEY R NOT BUILT FORD TOUGH UUUUUGGGGHHHHH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577630

39,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

MY WIFE WAS GOING TO WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. SHE GOT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND OFF THE STATE HIGHWAY. SHE CALLED ME CRYING AND VERY SHOOK UP THAT MORNING AND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN KILLED. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY WENT AND GOT THE CAR. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE PRO…

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MY WIFE WAS GOING TO WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. SHE GOT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND OFF THE STATE HIGHWAY. SHE CALLED ME CRYING AND VERY SHOOK UP THAT MORNING AND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN KILLED. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY WENT AND GOT THE CAR. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A PRICE OF $676.00 PLUS LABOR. THEY CALLED FORD MOTOR CO FOR FINANCIAL HELP AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND THEY CANNOT HELP. I DID NOT THINK THIS IS RIGHT. I KNOW THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. WE NEED SOME FINANCIAL HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574458

126,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS THE WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THE TRAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS THE WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10568357

162,299 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

WHEN I AM IN PARK OR NEUTRAL MY MOTOR MAKES A TICKING NOISE. WHEN IN DRIVE IT HOES AWAY. WEIRD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566318

124,586 miles · Feb 1, 2014
EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET AFTER A COLD START, CAR STARTED TO DRIVE SLOW, MADE A NOISE FROM LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WRENCH LITE CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LITE. I SCANNED FOR THE OBDII CODE AND IT PRESENTED CODE P0942. I ERASED THE CODE TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. LEFT IT ALONE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. NOW, WHEN STARTED,…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET AFTER A COLD START, CAR STARTED TO DRIVE SLOW, MADE A NOISE FROM LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WRENCH LITE CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LITE. I SCANNED FOR THE OBDII CODE AND IT PRESENTED CODE P0942. I ERASED THE CODE TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. LEFT IT ALONE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. NOW, WHEN STARTED, THERE IS A FAULTY BEARING NOISE WHICH IS PRESENT UNTIL TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. I WOULD PULL CAR FORWARD TEN FEET AND BACK IN REVERSE TO PARK. WHEN I DO THIS, NOISE GOES AWAY. AFTER DOING THIS FIVE (5) DAYS IN A ROW, I DRIVE CAR AROUND A CITY BLOCK. I COULD ONLY HEAR NOISE FAINTLY. NO WRENCH LITE OR ENGINE LITE CAME BACK DURING THIS SMALL DRIVE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN CAR SINCE RESEARCH OF CODE P0942 POINTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY START CAR NOW BECAUSE OF THE COLD WISCONSIN WEATHER. MY CONCERN NOW IS IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS CVT TRANSMISSION? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562534

180,000 miles · Dec 19, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE SAFE MODE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING AND DECELERATED. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE THROTTLE BO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE SAFE MODE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING AND DECELERATED. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE THROTTLE BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE RECALL WAS FOR THE CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY ONLY AND NOT THE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10556607

74,000 miles · Dec 11, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY CENSOR REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10555728

120,000 miles · Dec 6, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

DURING NORMAL DRIVING VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THEN BEGAN TO FLICKER WHILE BOTH GAUGES SPEEDO AND TACH WENT LEFT TO RIGHT ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER ON VEHICLE RENDERING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION.. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST…

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DURING NORMAL DRIVING VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THEN BEGAN TO FLICKER WHILE BOTH GAUGES SPEEDO AND TACH WENT LEFT TO RIGHT ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER ON VEHICLE RENDERING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION.. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER 500 DOLLAR EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555110

67,000 miles · Nov 14, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND UPON ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND UPON ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10552257

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