NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
59 reportsClear category filter27,890 miles · Dec 16, 2011
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainCrash
WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL UP TO RECEIVE MY FOOD, THE CAR LURCHED AHEAD OF THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PICK UP MY FOOD AND IT LURCHED SO FAST BACKWARD THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF IT, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN …
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WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL UP TO RECEIVE MY FOOD, THE CAR LURCHED AHEAD OF THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PICK UP MY FOOD AND IT LURCHED SO FAST BACKWARD THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF IT, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I AM A CAREFUL DRIVER. I RECEIVED A MOVING VIOLATION AND THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH CARS. ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVOLVED. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE LURCH PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, PLEASE, FORD, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FORDS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440192
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2011
Power Train
THE VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE UPON STARTING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYTIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT IS A MARKED MOVE, ENOUGH TO GO THRU A GARAGE, JUMP A CURB OR HIT A PASSERBY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND THEN WAITING A FEW SECONDS BEFORE MOVING TH…
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THE VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE UPON STARTING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYTIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT IS A MARKED MOVE, ENOUGH TO GO THRU A GARAGE, JUMP A CURB OR HIT A PASSERBY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND THEN WAITING A FEW SECONDS BEFORE MOVING THE SHIFT (TIME TO PUT ON SEAT BELT). PUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFT TO GEAR AND WONDER IF IT WILL JUMP OR NOT. IT BECAME NOTICABLE AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES AND HAS BECOME WORSE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 76,000 MILES ON IT NOW. IT SEEMS OTHER FORD 500 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WOULD HOPE FORD DOES SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10432260
139,124 miles · Sep 25, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
CAR WILL "JUMP" WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE GEARS!! SOMETIMES THE CAR WONT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING GAS. WAS TOLD MY MULTIPLE MECHANICS THAT I WAS THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL CAUSING THIS BUT FORD WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10427092
56,000 miles · Sep 14, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 MY 2007 FORD 500 BEGAN TO "LEAP" FOWARD OR BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS ACTION HAS CONTINUED FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. IN MAY OF 2011 IT "LUNGED" WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND MY HUSBA…
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IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 MY 2007 FORD 500 BEGAN TO "LEAP" FOWARD OR BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS ACTION HAS CONTINUED FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. IN MAY OF 2011 IT "LUNGED" WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND MY HUSBANDS WHO WAS PARKED NEAR ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AFTER IT "LUNGED" IN A PARKING LOT LAST WEEK ALMOST HITTING A CHILD WALKING BY. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, I AM TOLD IT'S A BAD ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM TOLD IT WILL GO OUT SOMETIME, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY OF KNOWING WHEN BUT IT WILL GO INTO "FAIL SAFE MODE". AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PART THAT INCLUDED MODELS OLDER THEN MINE. THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED AS MANY FORD OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10425447
85,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN CAR IS IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE CAR IS IDLING THEN THE CAR WILL LUNG AND ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10425253
58,000 miles · Aug 16, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2007 FORD 500 THAT STARTED SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARD. I TOOK THE CAR AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD BACK-DATED MY WARRANTY TO THE TIME THE CAR WAS PUT IN SERVICE. (I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AS A "PROGRAM" CAR.) MY WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT ACCORD…
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I HAVE A 2007 FORD 500 THAT STARTED SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARD. I TOOK THE CAR AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD BACK-DATED MY WARRANTY TO THE TIME THE CAR WAS PUT IN SERVICE. (I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AS A "PROGRAM" CAR.) MY WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT ACCORDING TO THEM 6 DAYS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED A 5 YEAR, 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CAR IS STILL SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. I HAVE OWNED LINCOLNS AND FORDS ALL OF MY LIFE AND I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT FORD NEEDS TO REPAIR. SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SENT IN, FORD KNOWS THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG AND STILL THEY DO NOTHING. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10419614
49,226 miles · Aug 4, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REPAIRS FOR AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TRANS CONTROL AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REPAIRS FOR AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TRANS CONTROL AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN UPDATED THE PCM AND MADE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,226, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,623.
NHTSA ODI #10417031
70,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10413898
115,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD ON ITS OWN POWER. THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED AND IT IS NOT OBSTRUCTED BY ANY FOREIGN OR MANUFACTURED OBJECT. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MANY NEAR CRASHES. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413714
60,000 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Power Train
MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAS RECENTLY START "LUNGING" FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. RECENTLY WHEN I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. A FE…
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MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAS RECENTLY START "LUNGING" FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. RECENTLY WHEN I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. A FEW DAYS AGO SOMEONE WALKED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR HAPPENED TO LURCH FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT HIM FROM BEING RUN OVER. I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10409335
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