NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
118 reportsClear category filter85,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR HAD BEGUN SURGING HARD BOTH IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN FIRST PUTTING IT IN GEAR. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING YET, BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN. I'M SEEING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL FORUMS AND WEBSITES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A …
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THE CAR HAD BEGUN SURGING HARD BOTH IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN FIRST PUTTING IT IN GEAR. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING YET, BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN. I'M SEEING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL FORUMS AND WEBSITES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466999
151,000 miles · Jul 16, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING OR ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING OR ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA ODI #10465898
198,000 miles · Jul 12, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000 AND THE CURRENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
NHTSA ODI #10465435
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
MY CAR LUNGES WHEN THE AIR IS ON AND I COME TO COMPLETE STOP IN DRIVE OR WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IT IS DANGEROUS LUCKY I HAVENT BACKED INTO ANYTHING YET IS THIS A FORD DEFECT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANT A $120 JUST TO LOOK AT IT THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM , BUT LOOKING THRU THE INTERNET I SEE THE SAME P…
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MY CAR LUNGES WHEN THE AIR IS ON AND I COME TO COMPLETE STOP IN DRIVE OR WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IT IS DANGEROUS LUCKY I HAVENT BACKED INTO ANYTHING YET IS THIS A FORD DEFECT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANT A $120 JUST TO LOOK AT IT THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM , BUT LOOKING THRU THE INTERNET I SEE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF OTHER CARS MY YEAR , SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT ! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464805
170,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
1ST ISSUE: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO JUMP FORWARD EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I WORRY ABOUT REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE CAR BEGINS TO REV OR IDLE HIGH AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN PRESSED. 2ND ISSUE: WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVING AT…
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1ST ISSUE: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO JUMP FORWARD EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I WORRY ABOUT REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE CAR BEGINS TO REV OR IDLE HIGH AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN PRESSED. 2ND ISSUE: WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 30-35MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUITS WORKING AND THE A/C STOPS AS IF THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. IT'LL THEN COME BACK ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO COME ON AND OFF. THE BAD THING IS THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS WON'T EVEN WORK. THERE'S NO WARNING. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED LAST YEAR IN 2011 WHEN WE FOUND OUT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOR A RECALL ISSUED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464304
53,000 miles · Jul 4, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR HAD BEGUN SURGING HARD BOTH IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN FIRST PUTTING IT IN GEAR. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING YET, BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN. I'M SEEING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL FORUMS AND WEBSITES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WH…
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THE CAR HAD BEGUN SURGING HARD BOTH IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN FIRST PUTTING IT IN GEAR. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING YET, BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN. I'M SEEING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL FORUMS AND WEBSITES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10464219
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
92,000 miles · Jun 14, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD SLIGHTLY, WITH AN ABN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD SLIGHTLY, WITH AN ABNORMAL JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92000.
NHTSA ODI #10461785
75,000 miles · Jun 3, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 FORD 500 FOR 5 YRS AND HAVE HAD AND ISSUE FOR THE LAST 2 YRS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND I MEAN REALLY JUMP FORWARD (OR ALSO IN REVERSE) WHILE RPM'S SURGE/REV EXTREMELY HIGH CAUSING ME TO PRESS VERY,VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AT TIMES SLAMMING DOWN TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF.…
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I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 FORD 500 FOR 5 YRS AND HAVE HAD AND ISSUE FOR THE LAST 2 YRS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND I MEAN REALLY JUMP FORWARD (OR ALSO IN REVERSE) WHILE RPM'S SURGE/REV EXTREMELY HIGH CAUSING ME TO PRESS VERY,VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AT TIMES SLAMMING DOWN TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN THE RPM'S ARE DROPPING DOWN. THIS HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY AND SEEMS TO BE MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS WARMER. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE SLOWING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BACKING UP, PULLING AWAY FROM STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN.I AM ALWAYS EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO LESS THEN 15MPH OR BACK UP. THERE IS SOMETHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT SHOULD NEVER BE IN CONTROL OF MOVING BY ITSELF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THESE "SYMPTOMS" BUT THEY JUST SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE AND WILL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AS THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO MOST 500'S AND IT IS WELL KNOWN BY MANY BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE IS WITHIN 15FT WHEN THE CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL ALL BY ITSELF AND THE DRIVER IS NOT READY. PLEASE WATCH OUT IF YOU ARE NEXT TO A FORD 500. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460431
151,000 miles · May 9, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION AND STALLED. THE THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION AND STALLED. THE THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA ODI #10457899
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