NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
364 reports23,000 miles · Jul 9, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES WENT OUT AT 23,000 MILES. NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND PADS. FORD MAKES DISPOSABLE ROTORS, IN THAT THEY CAN'T BE TURNED OR RESURFACED. THEY ARE THROW AWAY ROTORS, AND I HAD TO BUY ALL NEW ONES AT $100 A PIECE. WHY DID REAR GO OUT BEFORE FRONT? WHY DOES FORD MAKE DISPOSABLE PARTS? DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS A SHAME AND A RI…
Read full complaint
REAR BRAKES WENT OUT AT 23,000 MILES. NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND PADS. FORD MAKES DISPOSABLE ROTORS, IN THAT THEY CAN'T BE TURNED OR RESURFACED. THEY ARE THROW AWAY ROTORS, AND I HAD TO BUY ALL NEW ONES AT $100 A PIECE. WHY DID REAR GO OUT BEFORE FRONT? WHY DOES FORD MAKE DISPOSABLE PARTS? DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS A SHAME AND A RIP OFF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10195910
18,176 miles · Jun 25, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER STILL CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS PERFORMED BRAKE SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10193161
21,000 miles · Jun 17, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF OIL/LUBE AND FILTER THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED ON THE 2005 FORD 500 WITH 20,000 MILES. IT COST $375, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR BY DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10193550
26,800 miles · May 11, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKE DISCS LOCKED UP AND BEGAN TO GRIND. THE DISCS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPAIRED TWO ROTORS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILU…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKE DISCS LOCKED UP AND BEGAN TO GRIND. THE DISCS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPAIRED TWO ROTORS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE FAILURE BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE RESTITUTION. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,800. UPDATED 06/15/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10190498
3,000 miles · Feb 8, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TOO SMALL AND WEAR OUT BEFORE 10,000 MILES. AT 3,000 MILES I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT REAR WHEELS WERE COLLECTING LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST. SERVICE ADVISOR FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT THAT TIME. TEN MONTHS LATER, I WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE DESI…
Read full complaint
REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TOO SMALL AND WEAR OUT BEFORE 10,000 MILES. AT 3,000 MILES I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT REAR WHEELS WERE COLLECTING LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST. SERVICE ADVISOR FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT THAT TIME. TEN MONTHS LATER, I WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE DESIGNED TOO SMALL AND THE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THEY THEY WERE REPLACING REAR PADS AND ROTORS ON NUMEROUS FORD FIVE HUNDREDS PRIOR TO 10,000 MILES. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT FORD WOULD PAY THE COST IF VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OLD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10182048
3,000 miles · Dec 27, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD 500 IN JUNE OF 2006. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES GETTING VERY DUSTY (ON RIMS), SO I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AT THE TIME THE ANSWER WAS, "THOSE ARE THE BRAKES WHICH THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. SO, I HAD TO ACCEPT THIS ANSWER A…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD 500 IN JUNE OF 2006. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES GETTING VERY DUSTY (ON RIMS), SO I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AT THE TIME THE ANSWER WAS, "THOSE ARE THE BRAKES WHICH THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. SO, I HAD TO ACCEPT THIS ANSWER AND GO ON ABOUT MY BUSINESS. AT 12000 MILES (DECEMBER 2006) I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING MY CAR IN FOR THE OIL CHANGE THEY NOTICED A SQUEELING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. I GUESS THEY CHECKED THE REAR WHEELS AND FOUND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR BRAKES. ANYHOW, NOW THEY HAVE CHANGED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKES. I WAS TOLD WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THAT THERE WAS AN SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE BRAKE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10177046
17,000 miles · Dec 14, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WORE OUT QUICKLY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THERE WAS TOO MUCH BRAKE DUST IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10176154
26,000 miles · Oct 5, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT OF A CREEK FLIPPING THE VEHICLE ONTO ITS ROOF. THE FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. A FENCE POST WAS DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT OF A CREEK FLIPPING THE VEHICLE ONTO ITS ROOF. THE FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. A FENCE POST WAS DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR BUMPS AND BRUISES TO THE BODY AND HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #10170008
18,400 miles · Sep 25, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE CONSUMER STATED IF SEEMED AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 10/13/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10169189
1,100 miles · Aug 22, 2006
WheelsCrashInjury
2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND OVERTURN THE VEHICLE. *KB * THE CONSUMER STATED SHE FELT A VIBRATION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A TIRE FAILURE. POSSIBLY THE LUG NUTS AND WHEEL WERE THE CAUSE. UPDATED 09/24/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166953
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
Illustration