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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
80,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. I PURCHASED IT USED IN JAN 2012. MY CAR CONTINUALLY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COOL WHILE IDLING IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL GAUGES WILL BOTTOM OUT AND THEN REV …

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. I PURCHASED IT USED IN JAN 2012. MY CAR CONTINUALLY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COOL WHILE IDLING IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL GAUGES WILL BOTTOM OUT AND THEN REV UP TO THE HIGHEST. MY RPMS WILL DROP DOWN, THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO TO EMPTY AND AT NIGHT ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD NOTIFICATIONS WILL LIGHT UP AND THEN GO OFF. I CANNOT USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO OR ANYTHING ELSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE SOONER! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE!!! LOSING ALL POWER AND SPEED AND THEN HAVING THE VEHICLE LURCH FORWARD IS DANGEROUS! #SCAREDMOMOF3BABIES! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468444

122,000 miles · Jul 29, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE AND PUT CAR IN REVERSE. WHEN I LET MY FOOT OFF BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED BACK AND THE RPMS WENT UP WITHOUT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE GAS. AFTER FINALLY FIGHTING IT TO GET IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND NOT HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME I PUT IT IN DRIVE. ONCE IT WAS IN DRIVE IT DID T…

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WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE AND PUT CAR IN REVERSE. WHEN I LET MY FOOT OFF BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED BACK AND THE RPMS WENT UP WITHOUT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE GAS. AFTER FINALLY FIGHTING IT TO GET IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND NOT HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME I PUT IT IN DRIVE. ONCE IT WAS IN DRIVE IT DID THE SAME THING. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND IT WAS LUNGING FORWARD WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN PARKING LOT AND FROM A DEAD STOP. IT LUNGES AND JUMPS AT STOP SIGN, RED LIGHTS AND LOW SPEED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10468156

71,229 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,229. ....UPDATED 08-24-…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,229. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT THEN WENT INTO SAFE DRIVE MODE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET TO NO AVAIL. 08/30/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10468031

98,000 miles · Jul 26, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKING WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. I CAN HANDLE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT, BUT I HAD PLANNED TO GIVE T…

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CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKING WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. I CAN HANDLE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT, BUT I HAD PLANNED TO GIVE THIS CAR TO MY SOON TO BE LICENSED DAUGHTER AND I DON'T WANT HER HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR HITTING ANOTHER PERSON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467859

90,000 miles · Jul 26, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WOULD BE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND WOULD PUSH ON THE THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE. THE GUY WOULD NOT MOVE AT FIRST THEN WOULD "JUMP" AND ACCELERATE QUICKLY. I NEVER HIT ANYONE BECAUSE I WAS CAREFUL, BUT I TOOK IT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE IT. THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT COVER…

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I WOULD BE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND WOULD PUSH ON THE THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE. THE GUY WOULD NOT MOVE AT FIRST THEN WOULD "JUMP" AND ACCELERATE QUICKLY. I NEVER HIT ANYONE BECAUSE I WAS CAREFUL, BUT I TOOK IT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE IT. THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I PAID OVER $1,000 TO HAVE THEM REPLACE MY "THROTTLE BODY." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467814

85,235 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND STALLED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,235.

NHTSA ODI #10467131

85,000 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

150,000 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

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

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