IllustrationINSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT WORKING. OIL AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY. REVERSE LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ON ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICHLE. CRUISE DOES NOT WORK. BLINKERS DO NOT WORK. STARTS DOING THIS AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED. STARTED WHILE GOING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY NOW CONSTANT.
2005 Ford Five Hundred
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Five Hundred years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND JERKED. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND JERKED. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS EVEN ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55+ MPH CAUSING IT TO LOSE POWER. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
I OWN A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED CVT. 2 MONTHS AGO THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN ACTING UP. DRIVING ALONG AND THE "WRENCH" LITE COMES ON THEN THE "SKID" LITE COMES ON. THE CAR GOES INTO A LOSS OF POWER, LIKE LOW GEAR. IT MOVED BUT REVS UP AND WON'T SHIFTS UP. I KNOW ITS A CONSTANT VELOCITY TRANS SO IT IS AT IT'S LOWER RATIO. AFTER HOURS …
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I OWN A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED CVT. 2 MONTHS AGO THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN ACTING UP. DRIVING ALONG AND THE "WRENCH" LITE COMES ON THEN THE "SKID" LITE COMES ON. THE CAR GOES INTO A LOSS OF POWER, LIKE LOW GEAR. IT MOVED BUT REVS UP AND WON'T SHIFTS UP. I KNOW ITS A CONSTANT VELOCITY TRANS SO IT IS AT IT'S LOWER RATIO. AFTER HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC IT COMES DOWN TO THE TRANS CONTROL MODULE, AND STILL NOT SURE. THE OBD CODES SAY LOSS OF COMMUNICATION, A U CODE. EVERY INCH OF HARNESS HAS BEEN CHECKED THE WHOLE INTERIOR HAS BEEN REMOVED, DASH DISASSEMBLED. I'M INTO IT OVER $2,000. I LOVE THE CAR, IT RIDES GREAT. ITS HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. FORD I NEED HELP. NEED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE OR HOW ABOUT A P01 OR Z01 POLICY ADJUSTMENT.
TAKATA RECALL DOOR LATCHES AND LINKS. AS LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WHEN IT GETS COLD MY DOOR WILL OPEN BUT IT WILL NOT CLOSE. WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED MY DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.ON A CITY STREET AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE PRIMARILY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET AT ROUGHLY 35 TO 40 MPH UPHILL. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A STATIONARY VEHICLE THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY…
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THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE PRIMARILY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET AT ROUGHLY 35 TO 40 MPH UPHILL. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A STATIONARY VEHICLE THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER IN THE ACCIDENT. THEY CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BY THE APPEARANCE OF THE SENSOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,618.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,551.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHUT OFF. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND LOSES POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STUCK OPEN AND THE ECM NEEDED TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHUT OFF. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND LOSES POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STUCK OPEN AND THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,585.
AFTER IT RAINED, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW FREEZING. MY DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN, BUT WOULD NOT CLOSE OR LATCH. IT WAS FROZEN OPEN. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS, BUT FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA SAYS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO CARS IN THE SOUTH. A RECALL IS A RECALL. FIRST OF ALL, BOTH TN AND OK GET SNOW AND ICE, AND A RECALL I…
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AFTER IT RAINED, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW FREEZING. MY DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN, BUT WOULD NOT CLOSE OR LATCH. IT WAS FROZEN OPEN. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS, BUT FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA SAYS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO CARS IN THE SOUTH. A RECALL IS A RECALL. FIRST OF ALL, BOTH TN AND OK GET SNOW AND ICE, AND A RECALL IS A RECALL. IF I DECIDE TO MOVE BACK TO MAINE WITH THIS CAR, THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT FIXED FOR FREE? WHAT IF DECIDE TO GO SKIING IN COLORADO, BUT CANNOT LEAVE BECAUSE MY DOOR LATCHES FREEZE? *TR
Official recalls
206V383000 · 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
2PE11018 · 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.