NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
364 reports78,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WAR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80000. UPDATED 12/22/10 *BF UPDATED 12/23/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10353351
90,000 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY STALL OR JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL SURGING, WHICH WOULD OCCUR FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE INTO FAILSAFE MODE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY STALL OR JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL SURGING, WHICH WOULD OCCUR FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE INTO FAILSAFE MODE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN
NHTSA ODI #10352154
103,000 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVEHUNDRED, IT HAS BEEN LUNGING WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND EVEN SOMETIMES JUST AS YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT THE DRIVE THROUGH. LAST WEEK IT STARTING TO ACT AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE AND THEY STATED …
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FIVEHUNDRED, IT HAS BEEN LUNGING WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND EVEN SOMETIMES JUST AS YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT THE DRIVE THROUGH. LAST WEEK IT STARTING TO ACT AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE AND THEY STATED I WILL NEED THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $770 TO FIX IT AND THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351752
79,000 miles · Aug 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN REVERSE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, WHICH HE ADVISED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN REVERSE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, WHICH HE ADVISED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10350720
40,000 miles · Aug 17, 2010
Fuel System, Other
FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL REGARDING THE FIVE HUNDREDS LUNGING WHEN PUT IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. MINE STARTED THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I DON'T HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO IN REVERSE. EVEN WHEN PARKED DOWNHILL! MY HUSBAND AND I KNOW YOU MUST KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE ANYTIME YOU TAKE THE CAR O…
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FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL REGARDING THE FIVE HUNDREDS LUNGING WHEN PUT IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. MINE STARTED THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I DON'T HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO IN REVERSE. EVEN WHEN PARKED DOWNHILL! MY HUSBAND AND I KNOW YOU MUST KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE ANYTIME YOU TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. IT'S VERY SCARY AND WE WILL NOT LET ANYONE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349962
65,000 miles · Aug 14, 2010
Power Train
I HAVE A 2006 FORD 500 AND WHILE SITTING AT A RESTAURANT I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WHEN IT SURGED BACKWARD AND I HAD NO CONTROL. SO I BRAKED AND PUT IN FORWARD. THEN IT SURGED FORWARD AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE IT TO STOP THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD 500 AND WHILE SITTING AT A RESTAURANT I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WHEN IT SURGED BACKWARD AND I HAD NO CONTROL. SO I BRAKED AND PUT IN FORWARD. THEN IT SURGED FORWARD AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE IT TO STOP THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TAKEN IN. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BOTTLE. SINCE I WAS ABOUT 50 MILES FROM HONE I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MY CITY WHERE I AM HAVING THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349317
71,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Power Train
I OWN A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, LIMITED EDITION. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR, EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS 75% OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WITH 71,000 MILES, AND THOUGHT THE LURCHING WAS NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, LIMITED EDITION. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR, EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS 75% OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WITH 71,000 MILES, AND THOUGHT THE LURCHING WAS NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THEIR THEORY WAS FALSE, AND IT TURNS OUT THE THROTTLE BODY GOES BAD AFTER ABOUT 30,000 MILES. THE LURCHING OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT INJURED ANYONE WITH THE SUDDEN LURCHING BECAUSE I WORK IN A BUSY DOWNTOWN CITY. SINCE I PARK IN CROWDED LOTS AND GARAGES, I HAVE COME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HITTING OTHER VEHICLES WHILE I'M SIMPLY PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK. THE PROBLEM WASN'T AS BAD WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT NOW THAT IT'S GETTING OLDER, I'M REALLY NOTICING THE LURCHING OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN ANOTHER MEMBER OF MY FAMILY DROVE MY CAR RECENTLY, A FENCE ON OUR PROPERTY WAS STRUCK DUE TO THE LURCHING. THUS FAR, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED (THROTTLE BODY) IS CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER FOR A FEW MONTHS. I'M HOPING FORD IS FORCED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING DANGEROUS OR EVEN DEADLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349112
69,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. EXTREME PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO B…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. EXTREME PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON FAILURE AMONG HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10349073
37,200 miles · Aug 11, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND HAVING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN LETTING GO THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND HAVING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN LETTING GO THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY STATED THAT THE BODY THROTTLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DUE TO THE BACK ORDER ON THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37419. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF UPDATED 10/27/10 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10348724
27,890 miles · Aug 7, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ON JULY 17, 2010, MY 2006 FORD 500 BEGAN TO LURCH/SURGE FORWARD/ BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHETHER I WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. TOOK THE CAR TO FORD IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010, MY CAR BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK CAR BACK TO SAME DEALER. THEY…
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ON JULY 17, 2010, MY 2006 FORD 500 BEGAN TO LURCH/SURGE FORWARD/ BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHETHER I WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. TOOK THE CAR TO FORD IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010, MY CAR BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK CAR BACK TO SAME DEALER. THEY SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE THE THROTTLE BODY. RESEARCH SHOWING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347937
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