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2006 Ford Five Hundred

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

329 reports with mileage · 35 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 51 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 reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

364 reports
500,000 miles · Sep 8, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS ALSO LUNGES WHEN COMING TO A STOP VERY VIOLENTLY. I DRIVE WITH PLENTY OF SPACE IN FONT OF ME SO I HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING I'M SURPRISED NO ONE ELSE HAS EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474334

50,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

AT RANDOM, WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL REV UP AND LUNGE FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF IN REVERSE) VIOLENTLY. THE DISTANCE IT MOVES IS ENOUGH TO PUT OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIANS IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DOES THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN HOT WEATHER WITH T…

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AT RANDOM, WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL REV UP AND LUNGE FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF IN REVERSE) VIOLENTLY. THE DISTANCE IT MOVES IS ENOUGH TO PUT OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIANS IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DOES THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN HOT WEATHER WITH THE A/C TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472646

87,400 miles · Aug 21, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,400. UPDATED 09/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HAS REPLACED AN O RING AND FOUR (4) THROTTLE BODIES WHICH ONLY TURNED OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. NONE OF THE REPAIRS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. 09/20/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10471783

120,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED OR THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED OR THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470656

137,000 miles · Aug 7, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE WHEN REVER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE WHEN REVERSING AND GOING FOWARD AT LOW SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. UPDATED 09/26/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10469557

99,300 miles · Aug 5, 2012
Power Train

MY CAR HAS DONE THIS FOR A WHILE HOWEVER HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. IT WILL JERK WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS. IT IS SO BAD AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL OUT. ALONG WITH THE JERK IT WILL COMPLETELY GO OUT OF GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR ONLY RAMS IT UP. I HAVE BEEN PASSING CARS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT GO OUT OF GEAR, …

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MY CAR HAS DONE THIS FOR A WHILE HOWEVER HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. IT WILL JERK WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS. IT IS SO BAD AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL OUT. ALONG WITH THE JERK IT WILL COMPLETELY GO OUT OF GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR ONLY RAMS IT UP. I HAVE BEEN PASSING CARS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT GO OUT OF GEAR, I HAVE BEEN ON SIDE ROADS AND IT GO OUT OF GEAR AND ALL I CAN DO WHEN THAT HAPPENS IS ROLE UNTIL I CAN GET THE CAR PULLED OVER. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL JERK AND IT WILL GO BACK INTO GEAR. I HAVE NOT HAD A WRECK BUT HAVE COME VERY CLOSE JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE BEHIND ME AND THE CAR STALLING ALL OF A SUDDEN. GOD HAS JUST BEEN WITH US EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET FIXED AND MINE IS PARKED AS WE SPEAK BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD THE PART NOR THE LABOR. THE FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS THE VALVE BODY. IF I DRIVE IT MUCH MORE IT WILL COST DOUBLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF FIXED. I AM VERY UPSET DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DO REALLY LOVE THIS CAR. IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A FORUM THAT IS ON THE WEB THAT PEOPLE HAVE SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND WE ALL ARE ALIKE. IT IS A SHAME THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SO MANY WRECKS BEFORE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION IS MADE. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED OR HURT REALLY BAD TO PROVE THAT THIS IS A TRUE PROBLEM. IF THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION TROUBLES CAN THEY NOT SEE SOMETHING IS WRONG. THEY DIDN'T MAKE THIS CAR FOR VERY LONG. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT AND FORD DOESN'T WANT TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS ONLY MADE FOR 3 YEARS. MY REQUEST IS SINCERE AND I JUST HOPE THAT FORD WILL SEE THAT YES IT IS A GREAT CAR THAT THEY MADE, HOWEVER IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO SUE BEFORE FIXING IT AFTER EVERYONE TELLING THEM ABOUT, IT IS NOT GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469246

64,247 miles · Aug 5, 2012
Power Train

AT A REDUCED SPEED IN DRIVE AND REVERSE TRANSMISSION BECOMES ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469219

65,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AFTER SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO CONFIRMED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AFTER SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO CONFIRMED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10469136

63,500 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR RPM GAUGE WAS MOVING UPWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL AT STEADY SPEED. WHEN I SLOWED AND STOPPED IT APPEARED TO CONTINUE TO LUNGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL SINCE I HAD SOME DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BY THE TIME I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS AFRAID THAT IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. IT SETTLE…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR RPM GAUGE WAS MOVING UPWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL AT STEADY SPEED. WHEN I SLOWED AND STOPPED IT APPEARED TO CONTINUE TO LUNGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL SINCE I HAD SOME DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BY THE TIME I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS AFRAID THAT IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. IT SETTLED WHEN I TRIED TO PARK FOR IT THEN CUT OFF. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EVENTS WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAD THREE (3) MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND NEW BATTERY ALONG WITH THE SAFETY SENSOR. IT COSTS MORE TO REPAIR THAN GENERAL MAINTENANCE. I SEE WHY THEY STOPPED MAKING THIS CAR. ITS DANGEROUS! I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WHICH MAY NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED OR WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469030

105,500 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

ENGINE SURGED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHILE IN DRIVE AT IDLE OR WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE TO BE WIDESPREAD WHEN CHECKING FORUMS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT EXISTS FOR MANY CONSUMERS WITH THIS MODEL…

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ENGINE SURGED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHILE IN DRIVE AT IDLE OR WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE TO BE WIDESPREAD WHEN CHECKING FORUMS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT EXISTS FOR MANY CONSUMERS WITH THIS MODEL. A RECALL IS NEEDED SO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IS ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468744

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

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