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

79,000 miles · Aug 21, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND LURCHES VIOLENTLY IN FORWARD AND REVERSE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. STARTED AT 45,000 MILES INFREQUENTLY AND NOW OCCURS ABOUT 3 TIME A MONTH. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420853

89,000 miles · Aug 21, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 FORD 500. THE CAR HAS STARTED LURCHING FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I HAVE BEEN READING FORUMS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY SAY IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY. FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE 500 .THE FORD FREESTYLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR BE RUN OVER BEFORE SOMETHING…

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NHTSA ODI #10420841

49,000 miles · Aug 15, 2011

Power Train

THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND TRANSMISSION IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY AS IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKING AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP , THEY SAID IT WAS THROTTLEBODY BUT REPLACED THAT AND TRANS FLUID BUT STILL HAVE SAME TROUBLE AFTER ABOUT 30 MILES OF DRIVING . THIS COULD GET PEOPLE KILLED AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED …

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NHTSA ODI #10419561

101,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEAT INDEX WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION AND WRENCH SYMBOLS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE SOME OF ITS POWER WHENEVER THE CONTACT DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND UPON RESTART IT WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10418541

5,000 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Equipment

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER IN ACTIVATION WHEN WARM AIR BEGAN EMITTING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10418240

60,000 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Unknown Or Other

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VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF EXECUTING A TURN, LEAVING THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE THROTTLE BODY, HOWEVER, AFTER REPLACING THE VERY EXPENSIVE THROTTLE BODY, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. A NON-FORD MECHANIC IS NOW SAYING IT IS MORE LIKELY LOOSE WIRING AND IS WORKING TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT WIRING ISSUE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THERE SEEM TO BE MANY PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME STALLING ISSUE. IN ADDITION TO THE STALLING, THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SURGING SPORADICALLY. IT SURGES FORWARD (OR BACKWARD) WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING PRESSED. IT APPEARS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRECARIOUS POSITION THEY ARE PUTTING VEHICLE OWNERS IN.

NHTSA ODI #10418828

73,000 miles · Aug 1, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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THE VEHICLE HAS RPM SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS EITHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. I NEARLY HAD 3-4 ACCIDENTS IN 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE UP TO 1000 RPMS BY ITSELF WHILE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AS SOON AS I BEGIN TO RELEASE PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKE WHILE TRYING TO PARK OR NEGOTIATE THE VEHICLE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE WILL JUST TAKE OFF. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARD CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO SLAM THE BRAKES ON. I ALMOST HIT A WOMAN WHO WAS PASSING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LANE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416483

130,195 miles · Jul 29, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

ON 7/27/11 CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED PAST NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS (LUNGING) SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2008, BUT HAS BEEN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A THROTTLE BODY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416287

89,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011

Unknown Or Other

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AS I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. IT HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR, BUT DURING THE PAST YEAR IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND PRONOUNCED. I WOULD NEED TO PUT IT IN PARK AT RED LIGHTS TO INSURE I DID NOT LURCH FORWARD INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOR ALMOST $900 THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, BUT NOT AS PRONOUNCED OR FREQUENT. HOWEVER NEW SYMPTOMS APPEARED INCLUDING INTERMITTENTLY DIMMING DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN TO SURGE UP AND DOWN ALMOST AS IF IT WERE GASPING FOR AIR. THIS LUNGING FORWARD WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE OR YOU ARE AT A MINIMAL SPEED COULD BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10415953

87,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THROTTLEBODY THAT CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS WITH STOPPING THE CAR. CAR LUNGES FORWARD CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMON ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS REFERENCED BY MANY PEOPLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION WHICH EXPLAINS FURTHER THE ISSUE AND WHY THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL: HTTP://WWW.FORDTAURUS.NET/…

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NHTSA ODI #10415265

Official recalls

06V383000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Oct 5, 2006

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.

05V515000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Nov 9, 2005

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

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

PE07058 · Instrument Cluster Failure

Opened Nov 16, 2007 · Closed Mar 11, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

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.