Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
640–25K
7625–50K
8750–75K
8875–100K
79100–150K
49150K+
443 reports with mileage · 67 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.
Power Train. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 95 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 reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
510 reports
226,768 miles · Oct 23, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARD AND DELAYED UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. RPM GETS STUCK AROUND 3000 AT LOWER SPEEDS AND UPON ENGAGING INTO GEAR HAS MADE MY TIRES SQUAWK WITH A SUDDEN LUNGE IN SPEED AND SAME PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. IT ACTS A…
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TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARD AND DELAYED UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. RPM GETS STUCK AROUND 3000 AT LOWER SPEEDS AND UPON ENGAGING INTO GEAR HAS MADE MY TIRES SQUAWK WITH A SUDDEN LUNGE IN SPEED AND SAME PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL BUT THEN WHEN IT ENGAGES INTO GEAR SUDDEN CHANGES IN SPEED OCCUR CAUSING RAPID ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AFTER THE CAR IS UP TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT DOESN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AT COLDER OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET BACK UP TO SAFE HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER HAVING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC OR RED LIGHTS AS WELL AS HARD TO GET UP TO SPEED TO SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON RAMP. AS FAR AS "WHEN" THIS HAPPENED IT IS EVERY DAY AS I DRIVE DAILY.
NHTSA ODI #11365936
266,000 miles · Aug 11, 2020
Power Train
RECEIVED A CODE STATING THAT I HAVE A FAULTY PCM. WHEN I DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE SPEED GAUGE SHUTS DOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11348696
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON SO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND PUT NEW BATTERY PROBLEM STILL THERE. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT AND HE SAID CODES READING FUEL PROBLEM SO CHANGE OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT INJECTOR CLEANER. PROBLEM STILL THERE HE SAID MAYBE THE COMPUTER SO NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE PROBLEM IS CHECK EN…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON SO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND PUT NEW BATTERY PROBLEM STILL THERE. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT AND HE SAID CODES READING FUEL PROBLEM SO CHANGE OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT INJECTOR CLEANER. PROBLEM STILL THERE HE SAID MAYBE THE COMPUTER SO NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE PROBLEM IS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE THROTTLE DOES NOT GO PASS 3000 RPM.
NHTSA ODI #11322586
177,593 miles · Apr 24, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
THE FUEL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FUEL TANK HAS A CRACK CAUSED BY A WELDING POINT ON THE FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN LOOSE. OVER TIME I SAW MY FUEL GAUGE DROP DRAMATICALLY. THIS CAUSES ME TO GET GAS MORE OFTEN.
NHTSA ODI #11322158
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2020
Electrical SystemSuspensionUnknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO SHAKE VERY HARD WELL I HEARD A SNAP SOUND AND MY CAR STARTED TO DRAG I GOT OUT MY FRAME ABOVE MY RIGHT LOWER CONTROL HAD SNAPPED IVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I CONTACTES FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO WELL I'M OUT OF A VEHICLE BUT …
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO SHAKE VERY HARD WELL I HEARD A SNAP SOUND AND MY CAR STARTED TO DRAG I GOT OUT MY FRAME ABOVE MY RIGHT LOWER CONTROL HAD SNAPPED IVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I CONTACTES FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO WELL I'M OUT OF A VEHICLE BUT VEFORE ALL OF THIS I KEPT GOING THROUGH FUEL RELAY ISSUES AND EVENTUALLY STARTED LOSING MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SO NOW I'M FIGHTING WITH THEM TO DO THE REPAIRS
NHTSA ODI #11309959
178,000 miles · Feb 2, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATED.
NHTSA ODI #11306524
270,453 miles · Aug 18, 2019
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
(ETB) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ON MY CAR CAUSES AN ACCELERATION THAT MAKES THE CAR JERK FORWARD. I'VE ALMOST HIT A WALL, AND GOD FORBID THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ITS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. POOR DESIGN I GUESS BUT IT'S NOT WORTH MY LIFE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE THRU WHEN I TRIED …
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(ETB) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ON MY CAR CAUSES AN ACCELERATION THAT MAKES THE CAR JERK FORWARD. I'VE ALMOST HIT A WALL, AND GOD FORBID THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ITS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. POOR DESIGN I GUESS BUT IT'S NOT WORTH MY LIFE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE THRU WHEN I TRIED TO GO FORWARD IT IDLED REALLY HIGH THEN DROPPED DOWN. WOULD BOT ACCELERATE AFTERWARDS.
NHTSA ODI #11244759
140,000 miles · Jul 24, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY A MAJOR COMPLAINT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. ELDERLY MOTHER GOT STUCK ON A HILL AND COULD NOT GET CAR REST OF THE WAY UP THE HILL TO SAFETY. PAGE AFTER PAGE OF THIS COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. FORD AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND STILL REFUSES TO LAUNCH A RECALL. PART COST $500+ FOR THE PART A…
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ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY A MAJOR COMPLAINT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. ELDERLY MOTHER GOT STUCK ON A HILL AND COULD NOT GET CAR REST OF THE WAY UP THE HILL TO SAFETY. PAGE AFTER PAGE OF THIS COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. FORD AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND STILL REFUSES TO LAUNCH A RECALL. PART COST $500+ FOR THE PART AND DEALER WANTS ANOTHER $300+ FOR INSTALL. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING TO HAVE ELDERLY OR WOMEN WITH INFANT CHILDREN STUCK ON ROADWAYS WITH THIS ISSUE. WILL NEVER BUT FORD AGAIN BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEM TURNING THEIR BACK ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11234627
172,940 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS A FUEL LEAK PROBLEM AND FUEL TANK IS DAMAGE TO WELD DEFECT CIDE: P04442. ALSO PREVIOUS OWN INSTALLED A AFTERMARKET REMOTE CAR STARTER. NOW MY CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING EVER AFTER I REPLACED THE STARTER. PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE (ECU) ENGINE CONTROL UNIT NOW WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA ODI #11229975
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2019
Unknown Or Other
AS WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED CRACKING ALL THE GLASS. LUCKLEY THE PROTECTOR WAS CLOSED. IT SHOWED A BUMP LIKE SHAPE WITH THE CENTER CRACKED OPEN.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
2
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
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF PROPER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OPERATION.TYPICALLY, THE PROBLEM APPEARS AS THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND/OR TEMPERATURE) SWEEPS AND RESETS INTERMITTENTLY.FORD REPORTS THE PROBLEM AS MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTION CAUSES THE GAUGES TO SWEEP AND THEN RECOVER TO NORMAL FUNCTION.IN AUGUST 2006, FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-17-9) TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THIS CONDITION.ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S INFORMATIONREQUEST LETTER REVEALS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTS TO FORD (63%) INDICATE THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER.FORD REPORTS THAT THISLASTS FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS.ALSO FORD STATES, THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD NOT FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVEN IN THE EVENT OF POWER INTERRUPTION TO THE CLUSTER BECAUSE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE POWERED SEPARATELY AND DO NOT RELY ON ANY SIGNAL FROM THE CLUSTER.ADDITIONALLY, ODI CONTACTED COMPLAINANTS WHO AFFIRMED THE INTERMITTENT CONDITION AND THAT NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY POWER INTERRUPTIONS TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.ODI LAST RECEIVED A REPORT REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN AUGUST OF 2007.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.ODI WILL HOWEVER CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ISSUE AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
2005 Ford Five Hundred Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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