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2007 Ford Five Hundred

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

179 reports with mileage · 20 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 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

199 reports
87,800 miles · Jan 11, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

THROTTLE BODY CAUSED SURGING AND THEN AFTER COUPLE MONTHS JUST STARTED STALLING OUT AND DYING EVERYTIME THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP OR COMING TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443515

27,890 miles · Dec 16, 2011
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainCrash

WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL UP TO RECEIVE MY FOOD, THE CAR LURCHED AHEAD OF THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PICK UP MY FOOD AND IT LURCHED SO FAST BACKWARD THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF IT, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN …

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WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL UP TO RECEIVE MY FOOD, THE CAR LURCHED AHEAD OF THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PICK UP MY FOOD AND IT LURCHED SO FAST BACKWARD THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF IT, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I AM A CAREFUL DRIVER. I RECEIVED A MOVING VIOLATION AND THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH CARS. ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVOLVED. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE LURCH PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, PLEASE, FORD, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FORDS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440192

84,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

AT A STOPLIGHT WITH THE BRAKE ON THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. AT THE NEXT LIGHT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT MY FINAL DESTINATION APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY MY SON (WHO WAS WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME = I WAS TAKING HIM BACK TO COLLEGE) TOLD ME TO LET THE CAR RUN TO SEE IF IT …

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AT A STOPLIGHT WITH THE BRAKE ON THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. AT THE NEXT LIGHT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT MY FINAL DESTINATION APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY MY SON (WHO WAS WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME = I WAS TAKING HIM BACK TO COLLEGE) TOLD ME TO LET THE CAR RUN TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (HARD) IT REVVED UP 2 MORE TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES TO AT LEAST 1500 RPM AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD BACK. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AT A COST OF $800. AFTER CALLING FORD AND REPORTING THE SITUATION THEY REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THIS OR MAKE A CASE NUMBER UNTIL I TOLD THEM I KNEW THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER [XXX] BUT WERE RUDE TO ME AND COULD NOT ANSWER IF THE REPLACEMENT PART ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AND HAS BEEN FIXED. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MILE, NEXT 100,000 MILES, OR NEVER AGAIN IF THEY WILL NOT SAY IF REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE CORRECTED A PROBLEM. IF A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN WERE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT DOUBT. THIS CAR HAS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON NOV. 27, 2011. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439966

47,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

AUTOMOBILE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLEANED THROTTLE PLATE, FUEL INJECTION THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMED POWERTRAIN CONTROL. SEEN ONLINE OTHERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM . CAR ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436151

23,030 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Traction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES GENERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN BACK T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES GENERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REPAIRS AND ANSWERS TO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,030. UPDATED11/29/11 *BF UPDATED 12/12/11

NHTSA ODI #10435186

53,000 miles · Nov 7, 2011
SteeringSuspensionWheels

MY FORD BEGAN ACTING STRANGELY WHEN TURNING, AND WOULD HYDROPLANE BADLY WHEN RAINING. I TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT RETAINING NUT HAD WORKED LOOSE. THAT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO MOVE IN TOWARD THE BALL JOINT AND THE JOINT OR NUT TORE THE TIRE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. …

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MY FORD BEGAN ACTING STRANGELY WHEN TURNING, AND WOULD HYDROPLANE BADLY WHEN RAINING. I TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT RETAINING NUT HAD WORKED LOOSE. THAT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO MOVE IN TOWARD THE BALL JOINT AND THE JOINT OR NUT TORE THE TIRE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE NUT WAS NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. OF COURSE, I HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINT REPLACED AND TWO NEW TIRES. I DID NOTIFY FORD MOTOR CO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434439

74,432 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN I SHIFT FROM A STOPPED POSITION, EITHER INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR LUNGES OR JUMPS FORWARD. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO FIX IT UNLESS A GOD AWFUL AMOUNT OF MONEY IS PAID IN REPAIR COSTS. THEN HE SAYS IT MAY HAPPEN AG…

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WHEN I SHIFT FROM A STOPPED POSITION, EITHER INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR LUNGES OR JUMPS FORWARD. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO FIX IT UNLESS A GOD AWFUL AMOUNT OF MONEY IS PAID IN REPAIR COSTS. THEN HE SAYS IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433160

67,000 miles · Oct 22, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

FORD FIVE HUNDRED STARTED LURCHING OR LUNGING WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. FROM A PARKED POSITION.. THE CAR LURCHED BACK INTO THE WALL OF THE CARPORT CRUSHING THE BACK BUMPER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CAR LURCHED WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPEN AND KNOCKED INTO THE CARPORT POST. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10432422

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2011
Power Train

THE VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE UPON STARTING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYTIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT IS A MARKED MOVE, ENOUGH TO GO THRU A GARAGE, JUMP A CURB OR HIT A PASSERBY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND THEN WAITING A FEW SECONDS BEFORE MOVING TH…

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THE VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE UPON STARTING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYTIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT IS A MARKED MOVE, ENOUGH TO GO THRU A GARAGE, JUMP A CURB OR HIT A PASSERBY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND THEN WAITING A FEW SECONDS BEFORE MOVING THE SHIFT (TIME TO PUT ON SEAT BELT). PUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFT TO GEAR AND WONDER IF IT WILL JUMP OR NOT. IT BECAME NOTICABLE AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES AND HAS BECOME WORSE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 76,000 MILES ON IT NOW. IT SEEMS OTHER FORD 500 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WOULD HOPE FORD DOES SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10432260

85,000 miles · Sep 30, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS USING MOST OF THE VEHICLE POWER AND CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PURCHASE TWO BATTERIES IN A ONE MONTH PERIOD AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS USING MOST OF THE VEHICLE POWER AND CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PURCHASE TWO BATTERIES IN A ONE MONTH PERIOD AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428053

Official recalls

1

11V355000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jul 13, 2011

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUEL TANK SPUD WELDS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STRENGTH IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE REAR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. AN IMPROPER WELD CAN RESULT IN A CRACK IN THE JOINT WHICH COULD ILLUMINATE THE EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT, CAUSE A FUEL ODOR, OR ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

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