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2007 Ford Five Hundred

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

179 reports with mileage · 20 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 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

59 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2023
Power Train

It's starting not going into highway gears (5&6) just revs real high and when it does finally, it kicks really hard. Sounds and feels like it's going to drop out from under the car.

NHTSA ODI #11554575

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2016
EnginePower Train

WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE OR DRIVES IT REVS. IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT I HAVE TO ENSURE THAT MY FEET ARE ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES! THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE I'VE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT ME!

NHTSA ODI #10898093

124,000 miles · Jun 1, 2016
EnginePower Train

THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN 2005, 2006, AND 2007 MY FORD 500/FREESTYLE AND MERCURY MONTEGO. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY & MAF SENSOR. WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING IS THE CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY BREAK DOWN AND COMPLETELY GOES DOWN. IT HAPPENS IN IDLE AND …

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THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN 2005, 2006, AND 2007 MY FORD 500/FREESTYLE AND MERCURY MONTEGO. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY & MAF SENSOR. WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING IS THE CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY BREAK DOWN AND COMPLETELY GOES DOWN. IT HAPPENS IN IDLE AND ALL OTHER GEARS. THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAS HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS, IN THE DRIVEWAY, BUT IT HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION ON STREETS/INTERSTATES. IF YOU SEARCH GOOGLE WITH THE CAR MAKES AND MODELS/SIBLINGS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. CARS WITH AS FEW AS 8,000 MILES DRIVE ON UP TO OURS, WHICH ONLY HAS 124,000 MILES DRIVEN, AND BEYOND. A FRIEND OF OURS HAS A 2007 FREESTYLE AND SHE HAS ALREADY HAD TO FULLY REPLACE HER TRANSMISSION. SOME PEOPLE HAVE STATED THAT THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES WERE NOT COMPATIBLE FULLY WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. SOME HAVE STATED THE ENGINE CAN'T FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE TORQUE AND SHIFTING OF GEARS OF THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS A DANGER TO ANYONE THAT OWNS ONE OF THE MENTIONED VEHICLES. IT HAPPENED TO US ON THE INTERSTATE AND WE WERE ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR LOST ALL DRIVE POWER AND BASICALLY STOPPED IN THE FAST LANE. IT IS MAKING A VERY STRANGE THUMPING NOISE IN IDLE IN BOTH PARK AND REVERSE AS WELL. A HELICOPTER-LIKE SOUND. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT WOULD THROW A WRENCH CODE ON THE DISPLAY WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION/POWERTRAIN ISSUE. IF THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DOORS OPENED, IT WOULD RESET AND DRIVE AS NORMAL. NOW, IT WILL NOT CLEAR NOR DRIVE. THE WRENCH SYMBOL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ILLUMINATED. WE WERE 100 MILES FROM HOME THE FINAL TIME (05-15-16) IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVEMENT IN TRAFFIC. IT IS NOW PARKED SINCE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ODI #10871761

27,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR IN THE MORNINGS IS ACCELERATED AND WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE IT MOVES BY ITSELF VERY ACCELERATED AND ITS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH NO SLOPES. TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF RUNNING FORCEFULLY BUT CHANGES GEARS I GUESS FINE JUST GOT THE CAR AND HAS LOW MILES AT 27000 MILES. AND DOES IT EVERYDAY.

NHTSA ODI #10822259

149,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ODI #10725709

165 miles · May 12, 2015
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE AND HAVE NO POWER, WHEN I PULL OVER AFTER ALMOST SMASHING UP THE CAR JERKED AND I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT ON ITS FINE BUT THIS SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING EVERY DAY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE A TRICK I PUT IT IN NUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF WHILE IM DRIVING AND THAT …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE AND HAVE NO POWER, WHEN I PULL OVER AFTER ALMOST SMASHING UP THE CAR JERKED AND I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT ON ITS FINE BUT THIS SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING EVERY DAY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE A TRICK I PUT IT IN NUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF WHILE IM DRIVING AND THAT WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM, IT WILL DO IT TEN TIMES IM A ROW AND ITS VERY DANGERIOUS, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PO 701 CODE CAME UP AND THEY SAID OT A INTERNAL FAILURE AND FOUND NO METAL SCRAPS UNDER THE PAN FILTER, SO FAR THEY SAOD THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND CANT BE REPAIR BUT AFTER 15,000 MILES LATER THE CAR STILL DRIVES BUT DOES THAT EVERYDAY, IS THERE AMYTHIMG I CAN DO TO REPAIR THIS TRANSMISSION I CANT AFFORD THE $7,500 PRICE QUOTE THEY SAID. I. NEED HELP WITH CAR AND STILL DRIVING IT TILL THIS DAY 5 12 15

NHTSA ODI #10716062

99,481 miles · May 7, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

MY THROTTLE BODY WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 99481 MILES. I PAID APPROX. $800 FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICE ON 12/11/2012 AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT THE THROTTLE BODY IN THIS MODEL THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR PREVIOUS SERVICES FOR ANY REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS MADE FOR THIS PAR…

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MY THROTTLE BODY WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 99481 MILES. I PAID APPROX. $800 FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICE ON 12/11/2012 AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT THE THROTTLE BODY IN THIS MODEL THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR PREVIOUS SERVICES FOR ANY REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS MADE FOR THIS PART. I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT PART USED WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND MADE MENTION OF MY CONCERN TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME. THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PART AS THE NEW PART THEY WERE USING A YEAR LATER WAS DIFFERENT. I HAVE HAD MY REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND RE-PROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR SINCE THE REPLACEMENT). FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL DO NOTHING NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS ABOUT AN $800 REPAIR. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THOSE OF US, WHO RECEIVED A FAULTY OR DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PART, US WHOLE. I HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL MAKE IT KNOWN IF THEY HAVE HAD A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715159

30,000 miles · Nov 6, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR WILL SURGE WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. DOES IT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I AM AWAY FROM A CAR OR BUILDING AS IT WILL JUMP INTO THEM. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO DO IT. I ESTIMATED WHEN IT STARTED AND IS STILL DOING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653138

95,455 miles · Oct 4, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT MIDNIGHT THE CAR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON (ABS, BATTERY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND FINALLY THE FACTORY STEREO/GPS UNIT) ONE BY ONE. THEN FOLLOWED BY THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION GOING OUT WHICH MEANS I NOW HAD NO TAILLIGHTS. THEN FINALLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKI…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT MIDNIGHT THE CAR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON (ABS, BATTERY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND FINALLY THE FACTORY STEREO/GPS UNIT) ONE BY ONE. THEN FOLLOWED BY THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION GOING OUT WHICH MEANS I NOW HAD NO TAILLIGHTS. THEN FINALLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO ILLEGALLY PARK THE CAR BLOCKING A DRIVEWAY AND FIRE HYDRANT. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I MAY HAVE HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENDING. A WEEK AFTER THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN ONLY I GOT NO LIGHTS ON, IT JUST DIED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK MY MECHANIC REPLACED A FAULTY GROUND AND THE BATTERY. THE CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. HE HAS NO IDEA WHY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641434

125,000 miles · Jul 4, 2014
Power Train

CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INCIDENT, OR WARNING. AS SOON PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS, IT MOVED AT 10-20 MPH. I STALLED COMPLETELY CLOSE TO HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608218

Official recalls

1

11V355000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jul 13, 2011

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUEL TANK SPUD WELDS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STRENGTH IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE REAR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. AN IMPROPER WELD CAN RESULT IN A CRACK IN THE JOINT WHICH COULD ILLUMINATE THE EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT, CAUSE A FUEL ODOR, OR ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

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