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

50,458 miles · Sep 26, 2011

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING "LUNGING ISSUES" ALMOST HAD THREE ACCIDENTS, JUST FROM THE LUNGING. ONCE I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF, DEALER ADVISED THAT IT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY THAT THEY WILL REPLACE COSTING ME $900. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427518

35,000 miles · Sep 25, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

THIS CAR HAS LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. DEALERSHIP SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. WARRANTY IS WORTHLESS. AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT WHEN TEMP'S WERE OVER 105 DEGREES. OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427128

139,124 miles · Sep 25, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL "JUMP" WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE GEARS!! SOMETIMES THE CAR WONT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING GAS. WAS TOLD MY MULTIPLE MECHANICS THAT I WAS THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL CAUSING THIS BUT FORD WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427092

60,000 miles · Sep 18, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

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LAST YEAR I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THIS CAR UPON PUTTING IN GEAR TRYING TO EXIT MY GARAGE WOULD SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, WHATEVER WAY I WAS POINTED ,ABRUPTLY. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER I AM IN RESERVE OR DRIVE . I WOULD HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP IT. SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS BACKING OUT OR DRIVING FORWARD. IT DID NOT GO AWAY AND IN FACT BECAME WORSE. IT FINALLY LUNGED BACKWARD AS WE WERE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. A WRETCH SYMBOL CAME ON. WE TOOK IT TO FORD. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY PART. WAS FINE UNTIL THE LAST MONTH OR SO AND NOW IS WORSE. HAVE APPROX. 77 K MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE SCHEDULED TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THIS SURGING AND LUNGING COULD RESULT IN SOMEONES INJURY. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THIS PART. I HAVE NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET THAT ARE MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425936

56,000 miles · Sep 14, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 MY 2007 FORD 500 BEGAN TO "LEAP" FOWARD OR BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS ACTION HAS CONTINUED FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. IN MAY OF 2011 IT "LUNGED" WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND MY HUSBANDS WHO WAS PARKED NEAR ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AFTER IT "LUNGED" IN A PARKING LOT LAST WEEK ALMOST HITTING A CHILD WALKING BY. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, I AM TOLD IT'S A BAD ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM TOLD IT WILL GO OUT SOMETIME, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY OF KNOWING WHEN BUT IT WILL GO INTO "FAIL SAFE MODE". AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PART THAT INCLUDED MODELS OLDER THEN MINE. THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED AS MANY FORD OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425447

85,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN CAR IS IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE CAR IS IDLING THEN THE CAR WILL LUNG AND ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425253

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD OR IF PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE CAR WILL LURCH BACKWARD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE; CAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY BE IN THE MOTOR. I'M ALSO HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SOUNDING LIKE WATER BUILD UP INSIDE THE DOOR. I CHECK THE WEB TO FIND OUT IF FORD HAD A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES TO FIND THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424714

104,000 miles · Sep 4, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, THE CAR SURGES A LITTLE WHEN IT IS PUT INTO GEAR (DRIVE, REVERSE), MORE RECENTLY THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO SURGE AND OR LUNGE SOMETIMES DANGEROUSLY WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. (NOT ALL THE TIME, RANDOMLY) I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT ITS NOT COVERED …

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NHTSA ODI #10423209

80,000 miles · Sep 2, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AFTER BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT FOUND NO FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY THAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10423086

112,200 miles · Aug 31, 2011

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED WHICH CONSTANTLY ACCELERATES UNINTENTIONALLY. IT ALSO HAS BEGUN TO LOOSE ACCELERATION AND LUNGES EVERY TIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422823

Official recalls

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

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