NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
104 reportsClear category filter150,000 miles · Jul 15, 2012
Power Train
CAR LUNGES FORWARD IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AND WHILE AT A STOP POSITION. MAINLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. I'M ALWAYS AFRAID OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE PARKING OR GOING IN REVERSE. GOD FORBID A PERSON IS WALKING ACROSS A CROSSWALK. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS HERE BUT NO ONE CHOOSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TOOK IT…
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CAR LUNGES FORWARD IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AND WHILE AT A STOP POSITION. MAINLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. I'M ALWAYS AFRAID OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE PARKING OR GOING IN REVERSE. GOD FORBID A PERSON IS WALKING ACROSS A CROSSWALK. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS HERE BUT NO ONE CHOOSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. WELL FORD WILL HAVE A LAWSUIT IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS THAT CAUSES INJURY OR A ACCIDENT TO A PARKED VEHICLE AND OR PERSON. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WEBSITE IS HERE IF NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT!!! I CAN SEE WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS ITS THE DEALERS PROBLEM. WE AREN'T ALL CRAZY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR VEHICLES SEEING HOW THERE SIMILAR STORIES HERE!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10465720
100,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
CAR SURGES ON ITS OWN, AFTER PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464223
42,000 miles · Jul 3, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE-HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING GEARS AND ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE-HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING GEARS AND ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA ODI #10464143
33,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Power Train
ON A DAILY BASIS, AT LOW SPEEDS, GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE, MY CAR WILL SURGE OR REV UP WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. OFTEN TIMES, IT IS WHEN I AM BACKING UP AND HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. IT WILL SURGE AND THE BRAKE HAS TO BE IMMEDIATELY PRESSED OR THE CAR WILL SURGE IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING. THIS SEEMS T…
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ON A DAILY BASIS, AT LOW SPEEDS, GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE, MY CAR WILL SURGE OR REV UP WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. OFTEN TIMES, IT IS WHEN I AM BACKING UP AND HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. IT WILL SURGE AND THE BRAKE HAS TO BE IMMEDIATELY PRESSED OR THE CAR WILL SURGE IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 500 OWNERS VERY SIMILAR TO THE FORD FREESTYLE. THIS COULD EASILY LEAD TO A FATALITY IF THE INCIDENT OCCURS AT THE CORRECT TIME. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10464020
76,318 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Power Train
I WAS TURNING ON TO A ROAD AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE JUST REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN TO BOB BOYD FORD 2 TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT IN THERE FOR THE JERKING THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUT…
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I WAS TURNING ON TO A ROAD AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE JUST REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN TO BOB BOYD FORD 2 TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT IN THERE FOR THE JERKING THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND IT NEEDED RESET. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT GOTTEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR THESE CARS. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT IN ONE MORE TIME BUT IF THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AGAIN I WILL BE PURSUING LEGAL HELP WITH GETTING A CLASS ACTION STARTED. IF THE NHTSA IS REALLY CONCERNED FOR PEOPLES SAFETY AND WELL BEING THEY SHOULD LOOK INTO THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS LOOK UP ON GOOGLE 2006 FORD 500 RECALLS AND I FOUND ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10463956
152,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Power Train
CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A "CLICKING" SOUND WHILE IN PARK, WE TOOK IT IN TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS UNDER A TSB, BUT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX IT. SO WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE PARTS TO BE MADE (AS WE WERE TOLD), THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS MY WIFE AND 7 MONTH OLD CHILD WERE DRIVING IT. SO NOW I HA…
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CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A "CLICKING" SOUND WHILE IN PARK, WE TOOK IT IN TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS UNDER A TSB, BUT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX IT. SO WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE PARTS TO BE MADE (AS WE WERE TOLD), THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS MY WIFE AND 7 MONTH OLD CHILD WERE DRIVING IT. SO NOW I HAVE A BROKEN CAR WITH NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX IT. REPEATED CALLS AND EMAILS TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAD OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463081
62,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
2006 FORD 500. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AT IDLE...IT ALSO SURGES DURING GEAR SHIFTS FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND PARK TO REVERSE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE OR INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN. ARFC WEBSITE HAS 125 REPORTS OF THIS PROB…
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2006 FORD 500. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AT IDLE...IT ALSO SURGES DURING GEAR SHIFTS FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND PARK TO REVERSE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE OR INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN. ARFC WEBSITE HAS 125 REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS TO GET WORSE AROUND THE 60-65,000 MILE RANGE....CONVENIENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. TAKING CAR TO DEALER TODAY FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10462963
150,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Power Train
5/29/2009 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86,000 AT A COST TO ME OF $5197.36 TOTAL. BRAND NEW FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WARRANTY GIVEN OF 3YEARS 100,000MILES. 6/21/2012 AGAIN TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 4WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THUIS CVT THAT THEY STOPP…
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5/29/2009 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86,000 AT A COST TO ME OF $5197.36 TOTAL. BRAND NEW FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WARRANTY GIVEN OF 3YEARS 100,000MILES. 6/21/2012 AGAIN TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 4WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THUIS CVT THAT THEY STOPPED INSTALLING THEM. FORD DEALER COMMENTED THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SO MANY AND ARE SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT OCCURRED. VERY DISTRAUGHT THAT I AM GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10462962
54,822 miles · Jun 17, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
THIS FORD FIVE HUNDRED SURGES OR REVS UP THE ENGINE, IN FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, USUALLY INTO PARKING SPACES OR AT RED LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WARNING THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS WORSE IF THE A/C IS ON. WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BY SLAMMING ON …
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THIS FORD FIVE HUNDRED SURGES OR REVS UP THE ENGINE, IN FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, USUALLY INTO PARKING SPACES OR AT RED LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WARNING THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS WORSE IF THE A/C IS ON. WE HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE, IT WILL EVEN CONTINUE TO SURGE IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HELD HARD TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS WITHIN THE FIRST 150 MILES THAT WE OWNED IT. THE INCIDENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10462017
106,223 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL..............THE CAR ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAUSING ME TO PASS RED LIGHT, ALMOST STRIKING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND DRIVING ONTO SIDEWALK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED DUE T…
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I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL..............THE CAR ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAUSING ME TO PASS RED LIGHT, ALMOST STRIKING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND DRIVING ONTO SIDEWALK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED DUE TO MY QUICK RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. I WAS PARKED IN A PUBLICS PARKING LOT WHEN I PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED ALMOST HITTING PARKED VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I WAS ADVISED THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE ON 2005 & 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED MODELS AND NO RECALL YET! THIS DEFECT CAUSES VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY (EVEN WHEN PARKED) OR NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. WHEN A LIFE IS LOST OR SOMEONE IS SEVERELY INJURED..................IS THAT WHEN SOME ACTION WILL BE TAKEN? ACCORDING TO REPORTS EVEN IF THE PART GETS REPLACED IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT GO BAD AGAIN. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO COST BETWEEN $450.00 TO $750.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461236
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